FOOTWEAR ARTICLE INCLUDING CIRCULAR KNIT STRUCTURES
First Claim
1. A footwear article, comprising:
- a double layer knitted upper having a foot bed, an upper portion continuous with the foot bed, an ankle opening, and an inner void for receiving a foot of a wearer, the double layer knitted upper having;
a) an outer knit layer defining an exterior surface of the double layer knitted upper, the outer knit layer having a plurality of outer knit regions; and
b) an inner knit layer monolithically knit to the outer knit layer, the inner knit layer forming the inner void, wherein the inner knit layer has a plurality of inner knit regions that spatially correspond to the plurality of outer knit regions of the outer knit layer,wherein the outer knit layer and the inner knit layer substantially define the foot bed and the upper portion of the double layer knitted upper; and
a sole attached to at least the foot bed of the double layer knitted upper.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An aspect of the disclosure is a footwear article. The footwear article includes a double layer knitted upper having a foot bed, an upper portion continuous with the foot bed, an ankle opening, and an inner void for receiving a foot of a wearer. The double layer knitted upper has an outer knit layer defining an exterior surface of the double layer knitted upper. The double layer knitted upper also has an inner knit layer monolithically knit to the outer knit layer. The inner knit layer has a plurality of inner knit regions that spatially correspond to the plurality of outer knit regions of the outer knit layer. The outer knit layer and the inner knit layer substantially define the foot bed and the upper portion of the double layer knitted upper.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A footwear article, comprising:
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a double layer knitted upper having a foot bed, an upper portion continuous with the foot bed, an ankle opening, and an inner void for receiving a foot of a wearer, the double layer knitted upper having; a) an outer knit layer defining an exterior surface of the double layer knitted upper, the outer knit layer having a plurality of outer knit regions; and b) an inner knit layer monolithically knit to the outer knit layer, the inner knit layer forming the inner void, wherein the inner knit layer has a plurality of inner knit regions that spatially correspond to the plurality of outer knit regions of the outer knit layer, wherein the outer knit layer and the inner knit layer substantially define the foot bed and the upper portion of the double layer knitted upper; and a sole attached to at least the foot bed of the double layer knitted upper. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A circular knitted blank used to form an article of footwear and having a first terminal end and a second terminal end, the circular knitted blank comprising:
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a first circular knit section having a first toe portion defining the first terminal end of the circular knitted blank, a first upper portion, a first lower portion coupled to the first upper portion, a first heel portion, and a first ankle portion coupled to the first heel portion, wherein the first circular knit section has a first plurality of knit regions each having a different knit construction; and a second circular knit section having a second ankle portion that is monolithically knit to the first ankle portion, a second heel portion coupled to the second ankle portion, a second upper portion coupled to the second ankle portion, a second lower portion coupled to the second upper portion and the second heel portion, and a second toe portion defining the second terminal end of the circular knitted blank that is opposite to the first end of the circular knitted blank, wherein the second circular knit section includes a second plurality of knit regions each having a different knit construction; wherein the first plurality of knit regions correspond to the second plurality of knit regions, such that, when the first circular knit section is folded into the second circular knit section, the first plurality of knit regions and the second plurality of knit regions overly. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method for forming a footwear article, comprising:
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circular knitting a tubular knitted blank having a first knit section and a second knit section, wherein a) the first knit section includes a first toe portion, a first lower portion, a first upper portion, a first heel portion adjacent to the first lower portion, and a first ankle portion adjacent to the first heel portion and the first upper portion, and b) the second knit section includes a second toe portion, a second lower portion, a second upper portion, a second heel portion adjacent to the second lower portion, and a second ankle portion adjacent to the second heel portion and the second upper portion; folding the first knit section into the second knit section to form a double layer knitted upper of the footwear article, the double layer knitted upper comprising an outer knit layer defined by the second knit section and an inner knit layer defined by the first knit section, wherein the inner knit layer defines an inner void of the double layer knitted upper; and attaching a sole directly to the outer knit layer of the double layer knitted upper. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification