Footwear Article Including Circular Knit Structures

• US 20190316281A1
• Filed: 04/25/2019
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: North Face Apparel Corporation (V.F. Corporation)
• Original Assignee: North Face Apparel Corporation (V.F. Corporation)
• Inventors: Ly, John
• Granted Patent: US 11,286,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/042 Uppers made of one piece one piece slippers A43B3/106; one piece sandals A43B3/124
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/02 Pile fabrics or articles having similar surface features
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/108 Gussets, e.g. pouches or heel or toe portions
• 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 1/26 stockings
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 7/32 tubular goods
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 9/46 stockings, or portions thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/023 Fabric with at least two, predominantly unlinked, knitted or woven plies interlaced with each other at spaced locations or linked to a common internal co-extensive yarn system
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear

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.

Claims

1. A footwear article, comprising:

an outer circular-knit layer defining an exterior surface, the outer circular-knit layer having a plurality of outer knit regions; and

an inner circular-knit layer coupled to the outer circular-knit layer, the inner circular-knit layer configured to be disposed adjacent at least a portion of the outer circular-knit layer when folded into the outer circular-knit layer thereby forming at least a portion of an inner void,

wherein the inner circular-knit layer has a plurality of inner knit regions each having a different knit construction that spatially correspond to one or more of a portion of a foot or at least one of the plurality of outer knit regions of the outer circular-knit layer when folded into the outer circular-knit layer.

2. The footwear article of claim 1, wherein the inner circular-knit layer covers only a portion of the outer circular-knit layer when folded into the outer circular-knit layer.

3. The footwear article of claim 1, further comprising a mid-sole positioned between the outer circular-knit layer and the inner circular-knit layer.

4. The footwear article of claim 1, wherein the outer circular-knit layer and the inner circular-knit layer each define a tubular knitted shape.

5. The footwear article of claim 1, wherein the inner circular-knit layer is monolithically knit to the outer circular-knit layer.

6. The footwear article of claim 1, wherein one or more of the inner knit layer and the outer knit layer comprises a toe portion and wherein the toe portion has a cushioned knit construction.

7. A method of making the footwear article of claim 1.

8. A footwear article, comprising:

an outer knit layer defining an exterior; and

an inner knit layer coupled to the outer knit layer, the inner knit layer configured to be disposed adjacent at least a portion of the outer knit layer when folded into the outer knit layer thereby forming at least a portion of an inner void,

wherein one or more of the inner knit layer or the outer knit layer has a plurality of knit regions each having a different knit construction that spatially correspond at least one portion of a foot of a wearer.

9. The footwear article of claim 8, wherein the inner knit layer covers only a portion of the outer knit layer when folded into the outer knit layer.

10. The footwear article of claim 8, further comprising a mid-sole positioned between the outer knit layer and the inner knit layer along the foot bed.

11. The footwear article of claim 8, wherein the outer knit layer and the inner knit layer each define a tubular knitted shape.

12. The footwear article of claim 8, wherein the inner knit layer is monolithically knit to the outer knit layer.

13. The footwear article of claim 8, wherein one or more of the inner knit layer and the outer knit layer comprises a toe portion and wherein the toe portion has a cushioned knit construction.

14. The footwear article of claim 8, further comprising a sole attached to one or more of the inner knit layer or the outer knit layer.

15. The footwear article of claim 8, wherein one or more of the inner knit layer or the outer knit layer is circular knit.

16. A method of making the footwear article of claim 8.

17. A footwear article, comprising:

a first knit layer; and

a second knit layer coupled to the first knit layer, the second knit layer configured to be disposed adjacent at least a portion of the first knit layer when folded into or around the first knit layer,

wherein one or more of the second knit layer or the first knit layer has a plurality of knit regions each having a different knit construction that spatially correspond at least one portion of a foot of a wearer.

18. The footwear article of claim 17, further comprising a sole attached to at least a foot bed of one or more of the first knit layer or the second knit layer.

19. The footwear article of claim 17, wherein one or more of the first knit layer or the second knit layer is circular knit.

20. A method of making the footwear article of claim 17.