Article of footwear having an upper with knitted elements
First Claim
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1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper including a tongue element comprising:
- a knitted component forming a majority of an exterior of the tongue element, including a first knit layer disposed on one side of the exterior of the tongue element and a second knit layer disposed on an opposite side of the exterior of the tongue element, the first knit layer and the second knit layer defining an interior cavity; and
a compressible material located within the cavity, the compressible material having a first planar surface and a second planar surface opposite the first planar surface, the first planar surface spaced from the second planar surface;
wherein the knitted component is designed to accommodate the compressible material, the first layer extends over the first planar surface and the second layer extends over the second planar surface;
wherein the knitted component is formed of unitary knit construction so that the first knit layer is a one piece element with the second knit layer along three sides of the knitted component, including along each of a lateral edge, a medial edge, and a first end;
the first knit layer extending continuously around the compressible material into the second knit layer along each of the lateral edge, the medial edge, and the first end, wherein the lateral edge, the medial edge, and the first end have a seamless configuration; and
wherein a second end of the knitted component is secured to a throat area of the upper.
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Abstract
An article of footwear may incorporate various elements that are at least partially formed through a knitting process, such as a circular knitting process or a flat knitting process. Examples of the elements include tongue elements, collar elements, and collar-throat elements. In some configurations, the elements include compressible areas and flange areas. The compressible areas may include foam cores or floating yarns that impart compressibility, and the flange areas may be utilized to join the components to the article of footwear.
61 Citations
19 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 tongue element comprising:
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a knitted component forming a majority of an exterior of the tongue element, including a first knit layer disposed on one side of the exterior of the tongue element and a second knit layer disposed on an opposite side of the exterior of the tongue element, the first knit layer and the second knit layer defining an interior cavity; and a compressible material located within the cavity, the compressible material having a first planar surface and a second planar surface opposite the first planar surface, the first planar surface spaced from the second planar surface; wherein the knitted component is designed to accommodate the compressible material, the first layer extends over the first planar surface and the second layer extends over the second planar surface; wherein the knitted component is formed of unitary knit construction so that the first knit layer is a one piece element with the second knit layer along three sides of the knitted component, including along each of a lateral edge, a medial edge, and a first end; the first knit layer extending continuously around the compressible material into the second knit layer along each of the lateral edge, the medial edge, and the first end, wherein the lateral edge, the medial edge, and the first end have a seamless configuration; and wherein a second end of the knitted component is secured to a throat area of the upper. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of manufacturing a tongue element for an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the method comprising:
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knitting a knitted component forming a majority of an exterior of the tongue element, including a first knit layer disposed on one side of the exterior of the tongue element and a second knit layer disposed on an opposite side of the exterior of the tongue element, the first knit layer and the second knit layer defining an interior cavity; wherein the knitted component has a tubular structure and is formed of unitary knit construction so that the first knit layer is a one piece element with the second knit layer along three sides of the knitted component, including along each of a lateral edge, a medial edge, and a first end, the first end having a closed configuration, the tubular structure further having a second end disposed opposite the first end, the second end having an open configuration; inserting a compressible material into the interior cavity through the second end, the compressible material having a first planar surface and a second planar surface opposite the first planar surface, the first planar surface spaced from the second planar surface; wherein the knitted component is designed to accommodate the compressible material, the first layer extends over the first planar surface and the second layer extends over the second planar surface; wherein the first knit layer extends continuously around the compressible material into the second knit layer along each of the lateral edge, the medial edge, and the first end so as to have a seamless configuration; and securing the second end of the knitted component to a throat area of the upper. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification