Method of knitting a knitted component with an integral knit tongue
First Claim
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1. A method of manufacturing a knitted component for an article of footwear, the method comprising:
- knitting a portion of the knitted component defining an upper with a knitting machine, the upper including a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the knitted component and an opposite interior surface of the knitted component; and
knitting an integral knit tongue that is of unitary knit construction with the upper with the knitting machine, the integral knit tongue extending through a throat area of the knitted component;
wherein the integral knit tongue is joined by knitting with the knitting machine to a forward portion of the throat area and at least along a portion of a lateral side and a medial side of the throat area of the knitted component extending from the forward portion to an ankle opening of the upper;
wherein the integral knit tongue comprises a partially integral portion and a free portion, the method further comprising;
knitting the partially integral portion with the knitting machine of unitary knit construction with the upper at the forward portion of the throat area and at least along the portion of the lateral side and the medial side of the throat area of the knitted component; and
knitting the free portion with the knitting machines of unitary knit construction with the partially integral portion at a rearward portion of the integral knit tongue and remaining unattached to the remaining portions of the knitted component.
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Abstract
Methods of manufacturing a knitted component for an article of footwear that include knitting an upper with an integral knit tongue during a knitting process on a knitting machine are described. The knitting process forms the integral knit tongue of unitary knit construction with the upper so that the integral knit tongue extends through a throat area of the knitted component. The integral knit tongue can include raised elements formed of unitary knit construction with the tongue.
146 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing a knitted component for an article of footwear, the method comprising:
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knitting a portion of the knitted component defining an upper with a knitting machine, the upper including a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the knitted component and an opposite interior surface of the knitted component; and knitting an integral knit tongue that is of unitary knit construction with the upper with the knitting machine, the integral knit tongue extending through a throat area of the knitted component; wherein the integral knit tongue is joined by knitting with the knitting machine to a forward portion of the throat area and at least along a portion of a lateral side and a medial side of the throat area of the knitted component extending from the forward portion to an ankle opening of the upper; wherein the integral knit tongue comprises a partially integral portion and a free portion, the method further comprising; knitting the partially integral portion with the knitting machine of unitary knit construction with the upper at the forward portion of the throat area and at least along the portion of the lateral side and the medial side of the throat area of the knitted component; and knitting the free portion with the knitting machines of unitary knit construction with the partially integral portion at a rearward portion of the integral knit tongue and remaining unattached to the remaining portions of the knitted component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of manufacturing a knitted component for an article of footwear, the method comprising:
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knitting a first portion of the knitted component defining an upper with a first feeder of a knitting machine, the upper including a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the knitted component and an opposite interior surface of the knitted component; knitting a second portion of the knitted component defining the upper with a second feeder of the knitting machine; and knitting an integral knit tongue that is of unitary knit construction with the upper with at least one of the first feeder and the second feeder of the knitting machine, the integral knit tongue extending through a throat area of the knitted component; and wherein the integral knit tongue is joined by knitting with the knitting machine to a forward portion of the throat area and at least along a portion of a lateral side and a medial side of the throat area of the knitted component extending from the forward portion to an ankle opening of the upper. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of manufacturing a knitted component for an article of footwear, the method comprising:
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knitting a first portion of the knitted component defining an upper with a first feeder of a knitting machine, the upper including a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the knitted component and an opposite interior surface of the knitted component; knitting a second portion of the knitted component defining the upper with a second feeder of the knitting machine; and knitting an integral knit tongue that is of unitary knit construction with the upper with a third feeder of the knitting machine, the integral knit tongue extending through a throat area of the knitted component; and wherein the integral knit tongue is joined by knitting with the knitting machine to a forward portion of the throat area and at least along a portion of a lateral side and a medial side of the throat area of the knitted component extending from the forward portion to an ankle opening of the upper. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification