Footwear uppers with knitted tongue elements
First Claim
1. A tongue element of an article of footwear comprising a knitted component having a compressible area and a flange area extending outward from the compressible area, the compressible area including a first knit layer and a second knit layer formed of unitary knit construction, wherein (a) areas of the first knit layer and the second knit layer are spaced from each other to define a cavity within the knitted component, (b) edges of the first knit layer and the second knit layer are joined to each other around at least a portion of the cavity, and (c) a plurality of free yarn sections is located within the cavity, wherein the plurality of free yarn sections is a plurality of material loops.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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 free yarn sections that impart compressibility, and the flange areas may be utilized to join the components to the article of footwear.
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Citations
18 Claims
- 1. A tongue element of an article of footwear comprising a knitted component having a compressible area and a flange area extending outward from the compressible area, the compressible area including a first knit layer and a second knit layer formed of unitary knit construction, wherein (a) areas of the first knit layer and the second knit layer are spaced from each other to define a cavity within the knitted component, (b) edges of the first knit layer and the second knit layer are joined to each other around at least a portion of the cavity, and (c) a plurality of free yarn sections is located within the cavity, wherein the plurality of free yarn sections is a plurality of material loops.
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7. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
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a material layer forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper; and a tongue element including a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction, the knitted component having a compressible area and a flange area extending outward from the compressible area, the compressible area forming portions of both the exterior surface and an opposite interior surface of the upper and defining a cavity within the knitted component that includes a plurality of free yarn sections, and the flange area being located inward from the material layer and secured adjacent to the material layer, wherein the plurality of free yarn sections is a plurality of material loops. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
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a first knitted component defining at least a portion of a void within the upper for receiving a foot, and the first knitted component defining an ankle opening to provide the foot with access to the void; and a tongue element joined to the first knitted component, the tongue element including a second knitted component being formed of unitary knit construction and defining an interior cavity, a plurality of free yarn sections being located within the cavity, wherein the plurality of free yarn sections is a plurality of material loops. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification