Article of footwear incorporating a knitted component with a tongue

• US 8,448,474 B1
• Filed: 02/20/2012
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Tatler, Daren P., Podhajny, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Worrell, Danny
• Application Number:
  US13/400,511
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 36/10, 36/45, 36/3.A, 66/60, 66 64- 73, 661/77, 661/69.R, 661/70, 661/71
• US Class Current: 66/64
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• 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 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0265 having different properties in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/26 Tongues for shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/00 Footwear characterised by the assembling of the individual parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 5/00 Eyelets machines for setting eyelets A43D100/00
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/102 with stitch pattern D04B1/06, D04B1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/104 Openwork fabric, e.g. pelerine fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/12 characterised by thread material
• 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 1/126 with colour pattern, e.g. intarsia fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/22 specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/24 wearing apparel
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 15/56 for flat-bed knitting machines
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 19/00 Unravelling knitted fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 37/02 with weft knitting machines
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 7/24 for producing patterned fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 7/28 with stitch patterns
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/041 thermoplastic; thermosetting
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0113 : One surface including hollow piping or integrated straps, e.g. for inserts or mountings
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0114 : with one or more yarns appearing predominantly on one face, e.g. plated or paralleled yarns for pile fabrics D03D27/00, D04B1/02, D04B21/02; for intarsia fabrics D04B1/126
• 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 2403/0241 : enhancing mechanical properties
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/02411 : with a single array of unbent yarn, e.g. unidirectional reinforcement fabrics
• 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

Articles of footwear may have an upper that includes a knit element and a tongue. The knit element defines a portion of an exterior surface and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot. The tongue is formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element and extends through a throat area of the upper. Methods of manufacturing a knitted component for an article of footwear may include knitting a tongue. The tongue is held on needles of a knitting machine. A first portion of a knit element is formed with the knitting machine while the tongue is held on the needles. The tongue is then joined to the first portion of the knit element. Additionally, a second portion of the knit element is formed with the knitting machine.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a knitted component for an article of footwear, the method comprising:

knitting a tongue with a knitting machine;

holding the tongue on needles of the knitting machine;

knitting a first portion of a knit element with the knitting machine while the tongue is held on the needles;

joining the tongue to the first portion of the knit element; and

knitting a second portion of the knit element with the knitting machine.

2. The method recited in claim 1, further including a step of selecting the knitting machine to be a flat knitting machine.

3. The method recited in claim 1, further including a step of knitting an expansion section following the step of knitting the tongue, and wherein the step of knitting the first portion of the knit element includes unraveling the expansion section.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of knitting the tongue includes forming a course of the tongue to include at least one of (a) a fusible yarn and (b) cross-tuck stitches.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of joining the tongue includes forming a course with the knitting machine that joins the tongue to the knit element.

6. A method of manufacturing a knitted component for an article of footwear, the method comprising:

knitting a tongue with a knitting machine;

knitting a first portion of a knit element with the knitting machine, the tongue being stationary with respect to a needle bed of the knitting machine during knitting of the first portion of the knit element, and the first portion of the knit element moving with respect to the tongue during knitting of the first portion of the knit element;

forming a course with the knitting machine that joins the tongue to the knit element; and

knitting a second portion of the knit element with the knitting machine, the tongue and the first portion of the knit element moving together during knitting of the second portion of the knit element.

7. The method recited in claim 6, further including a step of selecting the knitting machine to be a flat knitting machine.

8. The method recited in claim 6, further including a step of knitting an expansion section following the step of knitting the tongue, and wherein the step of knitting the first portion of the knit element includes unraveling the expansion section.

9. The method recited in claim 6, wherein the step of knitting the tongue includes forming a final course of the tongue to include at least one of (a) a fusible yarn and (b) cross-tuck stitches.