Article Of Footwear Incorporating A Knitted Component

• US 20140245636A1
• Filed: 05/09/2014
• Published: 09/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Seamarks, Karl, Woodman, Phil, Podhajny, Daniel A., Baines, Simon John, Molyneux, James
• Granted Patent: US 9,642,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/84
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/00 Uppers; Boot legs; Stiffeners; Other single parts of footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0205 characterised by the material material of the lining A43B23/07, material of toe stiffeners or heel stiffeners A43B23/08
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0255 assembled by gluing or thermo bonding
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/026 Laminated layers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0275 with a part of the upper particularly rigid, e.g. resisting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/07 Linings therefor lining laminated with upper A43B23/026
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/088 Heel stiffeners A43B23/10, A43B23/14, A43B23/16, A43B23/17 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/26 Tongues for shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/06 Running shoes; Track shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/12 Special watertight footwear overshoes A43B3/16
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/20 Fastenings with tightening devices mounted on the tongue
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 8/00 Machines for cutting, ornamenting, marking or otherwise working up shoe part blanks pulling-over or lasting A43D9/00 - A43D23/00; making or fastening soles, heels or welts A43D25/00 - A43D83/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/123 with laid-in unlooped yarn, e.g. fleece fabrics with elastic weft yarn D04B1/18
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/22 specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0112 One smooth surface, e.g. laminated or coated
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0243 : enhancing functional properties
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/032 : Flat fabric of variable width, e.g. including one or more fashioned panels
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 : Footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear has an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The upper includes a knitted component and, in some configurations, a skin layer secured to the knitted component. The knitted component may have a plurality of protruding areas that extend outward and away from a void within the upper for receiving a foot of a wearer. The protruding areas may include one or both of (a) a first tubular structure and an inlaid strand extending through the first tubular structure and (b) a second tubular structure and yarn sections extending across the second tubular structure.

Claims

1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:

a knitted component extending through a throat area of the upper that corresponds with an upper surface of a foot of a wearer, the knitted component defining a channel in the throat area, the channel including two overlapping knit layers formed of unitary knit construction;

a plurality of lace-receiving elements located on opposite sides of the throat area, two of the lace-receiving elements being located adjacent to opposite ends of the channel; and

a lace extending through the channel and engaging the two of the lace-receiving elements.

2. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the channel is oriented diagonally with respect to a longitudinal axis of the article of footwear.

3. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the lace follows a zigzagging path between the lace-receiving elements, and the lace extends through the channel and a plurality of additional channels that include two overlapping knit layers formed of unitary knit construction.

4. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the channel is formed in a tongue of the upper.

5. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the knitted component extends through a lateral side of the upper and a medial side of the upper, the throat area being positioned between the lateral side and the medial side.

6. The article of footwear recited in claim 5, wherein an inlaid strand passes through at least one of the lateral side and the medial side, the inlaid strand extending from at least one of the lace-receiving elements to an area where the upper is joined with the sole structure.

7. The article of footwear recited in claim 6, wherein the knitted component forms a protruding area along a portion of the inlaid strand.

8. The article of footwear recited in claim 7, wherein a skin layer is secured to the knitted component and covers the protruding area, the skin layer forming a portion of an exterior surface of the upper.

9. The article of footwear recited in claim 5, wherein a skin layer is secured to the knitted component and covers a majority of the knitted component located in the lateral side and the medial side.

10. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the knitted component includes (a) a foot part for covering at least a portion of the foot of the wearer and (b) an ankle part for covering at least a portion of an ankle of the wearer, the foot part having less stretch than the ankle part.

11. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:

a knitted component extending through a lateral side of the upper, a medial side of the upper, and a throat area of the upper that is located between the lateral side and the medial side, the knitted component defining a plurality of channels in the throat area that are oriented diagonally with respect to a longitudinal axis of the article of footwear, each of the channels including two overlapping knit layers formed of unitary knit construction; and

a lace extending through the channels.

12. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein a plurality of lace-receiving elements are located on opposite sides of the throat area, ends of each of the channels being positioned adjacent to one of the lace-receiving elements.

13. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the channels are formed in a tongue of the upper.

14. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein at least one of the channels has a length that is greater than three centimeters.

15. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein an inlaid strand passes through at least one of the lateral side and the medial side, the inlaid strand extending from the throat area to an area where the upper is joined with the sole structure.

16. The article of footwear recited in claim 15, wherein the inlaid strand forms a loop and the lace passes through the loop.

17. The article of footwear recited in claim 15, wherein the knitted component forms a protruding area along a portion of the inlaid strand.

18. The article of footwear recited in claim 17, wherein a skin layer is secured to the knitted component and covers the protruding area, the skin layer forming a portion of an exterior surface of the upper.

19. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein a skin layer is secured to the knitted component and covers a majority of the knitted component located in the lateral side and the medial side.

20. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the knitted component includes (a) a foot part for covering at least a portion of a foot of a wearer and (b) an ankle part for covering at least a portion of an ankle of the wearer, the foot part having less stretch than the ankle part.