Article of footwear including a monofilament knit element with peripheral knit portions
First Claim
1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper including a knitted component comprising:
- a monofilament knit element formed by at least one monofilament strand, the monofilament knit element forming a substantial majority of the upper and extending through at least a portion of each of a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear; and
a peripheral portion formed by a first yarn, the first yarn being a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn;
wherein the monofilament knit element is formed of unitary knit construction with the peripheral portion of the knitted component such that the knitted component is a one-piece element;
the knitted component further comprising a boundary zone disposed between the monofilament knit element and the peripheral portion, the boundary zone defining a transition in the knitted component between the monofilament knit element and the peripheral portion, wherein the boundary zone includes at least one course formed using the at least one monofilament strand that is continuous with at least one course formed using the first yarn; and
wherein the monofilament knit element is substantially free of the first yarn and wherein the peripheral portion is substantially free of the at least one monofilament strand.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An article of footwear including a knitted component having a monofilament knit element with peripheral knit portions is described. The knitted component includes a monofilament knit element formed by knitting with a monofilament strand. The monofilament knit element is formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component, including peripheral portions that are knit using a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn. An inlaid tensile element can extend through the knitted component, including portions of the monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element may be knitted with a monofilament strand according to a variety of knit structures.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper including a knitted component comprising:
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a monofilament knit element formed by at least one monofilament strand, the monofilament knit element forming a substantial majority of the upper and extending through at least a portion of each of a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear; and a peripheral portion formed by a first yarn, the first yarn being a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn; wherein the monofilament knit element is formed of unitary knit construction with the peripheral portion of the knitted component such that the knitted component is a one-piece element; the knitted component further comprising a boundary zone disposed between the monofilament knit element and the peripheral portion, the boundary zone defining a transition in the knitted component between the monofilament knit element and the peripheral portion, wherein the boundary zone includes at least one course formed using the at least one monofilament strand that is continuous with at least one course formed using the first yarn; and wherein the monofilament knit element is substantially free of the first yarn and wherein the peripheral portion is substantially free of the at least one monofilament strand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper including a knitted component, the method comprising:
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knitting a monofilament knit element using at least one monofilament strand, the monofilament knit element forming a substantial majority of the upper and extending through at least a portion of each of a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear; knitting a peripheral portion using a first yarn, the first yarn being a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn; and knitting the monofilament knit element of unitary knit construction with the peripheral portion of the knitted component so as to form the knitted component as a one-piece element; the method further comprising knitting a boundary zone disposed between the monofilament knit element and the peripheral portion, the boundary zone defining a transition in the knitted component between the monofilament knit element and the peripheral portion, wherein knitting the boundary zone includes knitting at least one course using the at least one monofilament strand to be continuous with at least one course knitted using the first yarn; and wherein the monofilament knit element is substantially free of the first yarn and wherein the peripheral portion is substantially free of the at least one monofilament strand. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification