Method of knitting a knitted component for an article of footwear

• US 9,084,449 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2014
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Bell, Thomas G., Dua, Bhupesh, Huffman, Julie A., Lyttle, Amy
• Primary Examiner(s): Worrell, Danny
• Application Number:
  US14/271,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20140352179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 661/69.R, 661/70, 661/71, 661/77, 36/3.R, 36/3.A, 36/84, 361/14, 36/47, 36/54, 36/49
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/00 Footwear characterised by the material
• 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 23/024 Different layers of the same material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/028 Resilient uppers, e.g. shock absorbing
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/07 Linings therefor lining laminated with upper A43B23/026
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 11/00 Machines for preliminary treatment or assembling of upper-parts, counters, or insoles on their lasts preparatory to the pulling-over or lasting operations; Applying or removing protective coverings
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 111/00 Shoe machines with conveyors for jacked shoes or for shoes or shoe parts
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/102 with stitch pattern D04B1/06, D04B1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/24 wearing apparel
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/06 Patterned fabrics or articles open-work fabrics D04B21/10
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/207 Wearing apparel or garment blanks
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 9/42 specially adapted for producing goods of particular configuration
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/061 Piped openings (pockets)

Abstract

An article of footwear incorporates a textile upper. The upper comprises a knitted component. The knitted component may be warp knitted. The knitted component has an outer side and an inner side that can have different knit configurations. The knitted component can also incorporate portions of a single layer construction and portions of a double layer construction. The double layer construction forms pockets on portions of the knitted component. Inserts can be placed into the pockets to provide support, stability, or other desired properties to the portions of the knitted component.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper incorporating a knitted component;

the knitted component having a first portion that comprises a single layer of material and the knitted component having a second portion that comprises a plurality of areas of the knitted component having two layers of material that are separated to form a plurality of pockets in the knitted component; and

wherein an outer side of the first portion is formed of unitary knit construction with a first layer of the second portion and wherein an inner side of the first portion is formed of unitary knit construction with a second layer of the second portion.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the knitted component is a warp-knitted textile material.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the knitted component includes a knitted indicating portion corresponding to a portion for cutting open the second portion.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein an insert material is disposed within at least one of the plurality of pockets of the second portion.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 4, wherein the insert material is fixed in place within the at least one of the plurality of pockets.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the insert material is attached to a portion of the at least one of the plurality of pockets.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the insert material is disposed between opposite sides of the at least one of the plurality of pockets that are attached to each other.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the outer side comprises a first set of yarns and wherein the inner side comprises a second set of yarns that is substantially different from the first set of yarns.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns comprise substantially different materials.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the first set of yarns are knitted into a first knit configuration and wherein the second set of yarns are knitted into a second knit configuration that is substantially different from the first knit configuration.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the first layer of the second portion comprises the first set of yarns and wherein the second layer of the second portion comprises the second set of yarns.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pockets are located at least on two different portions of the article of footwear.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pockets includes pockets disposed along two or more of:

a medial side, a lateral side, a tongue, and a heel portion of the article of footwear.

14. A knitted component for incorporating into an upper of an article of footwear, the knitted component comprising:

a first portion that comprises a single layer of material; and

a second portion that comprises a plurality of areas of the knitted component having two layers of material that are separated to form a plurality of pockets in the knitted component;

wherein an outer side of the first portion is formed of unitary knit construction with a first layer of the second portion and wherein an inner side of the first portion is formed of unitary knit construction with a second layer of the second portion.

15. The knitted component according to claim 14, wherein the knitted component is removed from a knitted textile element.

16. The knitted component according to claim 15, wherein the knitted component includes a first section removed from the knitted textile element forming the upper of the article of footwear and a second section removed from the knitted textile element forming a tongue of the article of footwear.

17. The knitted component according to claim 14, wherein the knitted component is a warp-knitted textile material.

18. The knitted component according to claim 14, wherein the outer side comprises a first set of yarns and wherein the inner side comprises a second set of yarns that is substantially different from the first set of yarns.

19. The knitted component according to claim 18, wherein the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns comprise substantially different materials.

20. The knitted component according to claim 18, wherein the first set of yarns are knitted into a first knit configuration and wherein the second set of yarns are knitted into a second knit configuration that is substantially different from the first knit configuration.

21. The knitted component according to claim 18, wherein the first layer of the second portion comprises the first set of yarns and wherein the second layer of the second portion comprises the second set of yarns.

22. The knitted component according to claim 14, wherein the first portion comprising the single layer of material is disposed between at least two of the plurality of pockets.

23. The knitted component according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of pockets are located at least on two different portions of the knitted component.