Article of footwear incorporating a lenticular knit structure

• US 9,078,488 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2014
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Meir, Adrian, Podhajny, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAYS, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US14/535,448
• Time in Patent Office: 249 Days
• Field of Search: 36/9.R, 36/45
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/04 Uppers made of one piece; Uppers with inserted gussets
• 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: D10B 2403/0113 One surface including hollow piping or integrated straps, e.g. for inserts or mountings
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/02411 with a single array of unbent yarn, e.g. unidirectional reinforcement fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear including an upper incorporating a knitted component having color-shifting properties is provided. Color-shift properties can be generated by one or more lenticular knit structures disposed across the upper of the article of footwear. The lenticular knit structures are formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component. The lenticular knit structures have portions formed with different yarns. The different yarns on the portions of the lenticular knit structures generate a visual effect that changes the color of the article of footwear depending on the viewing angle.

Claims

1. An article of footwear including an upper and a sole structure attached to the upper, the upper incorporating a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction, the knitted component comprising:

at least one lenticular knit structure including a first portion and a second portion disposed on opposite sides of the lenticular knit structure; and

a base portion disposed adjacent to the at least one lenticular knit structure;

wherein the at least one lenticular knit structure extends away from the base portion on an exterior surface of the upper; and

wherein the first portion of the at least one lenticular knit structure is associated with a first visual effect when the upper is viewed from a first viewing angle and the second portion of the at least one lenticular knit structure is associated with a second visual effect when the upper is viewed from a second viewing angle that is different than the first viewing angle.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the at least one lenticular knit structure is formed using a first yarn and the second portion of the at least one lenticular knit structure is formed using a second yarn, the first yarn and the second yarn having different characteristics.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the first yarn and the second yarn are one or more of different yarn types, different colors, different textures, and different deniers.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the first yarn substantially generates the first visual effect when the upper is viewed from the first viewing angle and the second yarn substantially generates the second visual effect when the upper is viewed from the second viewing angle.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the knitted component further comprises a plurality of lenticular knit structures.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of lenticular knit structures comprises a first lenticular knit structure and a second lenticular knit structure, the first lenticular knit structure having the first portion formed using a first yarn and the second portion formed using a second yarn, and the second lenticular knit structure having the first portion formed using the first yarn, the second portion formed using the second yarn, and an upper portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the upper portion being formed using a third yarn.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein one or more of the second lenticular knit structures are located in a first area on the knitted component and the remaining portion of the knitted component includes a plurality of the first lenticular knit structures.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein the first yarn, the second yarn, and the third yarn are different colors.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein the upper portion generates a third visual effect that is visible from both the first viewing angle and the second viewing angle.

10. A knitted component for incorporating into an article, the knitted component comprising:

a plurality of lenticular knit structures, each of the lenticular knit structures including a first portion formed using a first yarn on one side of the lenticular knit structure and a second portion formed using a second yarn disposed on an opposite side of the lenticular knit structure, the first yarn and the second yarn being different; and

a base portion disposed between adjacent lenticular knit structures;

wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the base portion are formed of unitary knit construction with the knitted component; and

wherein the first portion of the lenticular knit structure is associated with a first visual effect when the knitted component is viewed from a first viewing angle and the second portion of the at least one lenticular knit structure is associated with a second visual effect when the knitted component is viewed from a second viewing angle that is different than the first viewing angle.

11. The knitted component according to claim 10, wherein the base portion is formed using a yarn that is different from the first yarn and the second yarn;

and

wherein the base portion includes at least one course that is connected to;

(a) at least one course of the first yarn forming the first portion, and (b) at least one course of the second yarn forming the second portion.

12. The knitted component according to claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of lenticular knit structures have the configuration of a tubular rib structure, including a hollow unsecured area disposed between overlapping knit layers of the tubular rib structure.

13. The knitted component according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the plurality of lenticular knit structures further includes a tensile element disposed within the hollow unsecured area.

14. The knitted component according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of lenticular knit structures comprises a first lenticular knit structure and a second lenticular knit structure, the first lenticular knit structure having the first portion formed using the first yarn and the second portion formed using the second yarn, and the second lenticular knit structure having the first portion formed using the first yarn, the second portion formed using the second yarn, and an upper portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the upper portion being formed using a third yarn.

15. The knitted component according to claim 14, wherein the upper portion generates a third visual effect that is visible from both the first viewing angle and the second viewing angle.

16. A method of manufacturing a knitted component for incorporating into an article, the method comprising:

knitting a base portion of the knitted component;

knitting a first portion of a lenticular knit structure using a first yarn;

knitting a second portion of the lenticular knit structure using a second yarn, the second yarn being different from the first yarn;

the lenticular knit structure being formed so that the first portion and the second portion are disposed on opposite sides of the lenticular knit structure and the lenticular knit structure extends away from the base portion in a vertical direction; and

wherein the first portion of the lenticular knit structure is associated with a first visual effect when the knitted component is viewed from a first viewing angle and the second portion of the at least one lenticular knit structure is associated with a second visual effect when the knitted component is viewed from a second viewing angle that is different than the first viewing angle.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the base portion, the first portion, and the second portion are formed of unitary knit construction during a knitting process.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the method further comprises knitting an upper portion of the lenticular knit structure disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the upper portion being knit using a third yarn.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the upper portion generates a third visual effect that is visible from both the first viewing angle and the second viewing angle.

20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising inlaying a tensile element within the lenticular knit structure.