Article of footwear incorporating a knitted component with inlaid tensile elements and method of assembly
DCFirst Claim
1. An article comprising:
- a plurality of webbed areas that include a plurality of courses formed from a first yarn, the webbed areas having a front surface, the webbed areas configured to move between a neutral position and an extended position, the webbed areas being biased to move toward the neutral position anda plurality of tubular structures that are adjacent to the webbed areas, the tubular structures including a plurality of courses;
wherein at least one of the webbed areas or tubular structures is configured to stretch to move the webbed areas to the extended position in response to a force applied to the articlewherein in the neutral position, a first area of the front surface is hidden from visual observation from a first viewing perspective, andwherein in the extended position, the first area of the front surface is revealed for visual observation from the first viewing perspective.
1 Assignment
Litigations
2 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various articles may include a knitted component formed of multiple knitted component portions. The knitted component is formed of unitary knit construction and includes multiple tubular rib structures and multiple webbed areas. An article of footwear may include an upper incorporating a knitted component. The upper may be assembled through a wrapping process. The upper may comprise areas with tubular rib structures arranged in different orientations over the forefoot region, the midfoot region, the vamp region, and the heel region of the article of footwear. Some regions of the upper may have a greater number of tubular rib structures than other regions, and some tubular rib structures can include tensile elements.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An article comprising:
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a plurality of webbed areas that include a plurality of courses formed from a first yarn, the webbed areas having a front surface, the webbed areas configured to move between a neutral position and an extended position, the webbed areas being biased to move toward the neutral position and a plurality of tubular structures that are adjacent to the webbed areas, the tubular structures including a plurality of courses; wherein at least one of the webbed areas or tubular structures is configured to stretch to move the webbed areas to the extended position in response to a force applied to the article wherein in the neutral position, a first area of the front surface is hidden from visual observation from a first viewing perspective, and wherein in the extended position, the first area of the front surface is revealed for visual observation from the first viewing perspective. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16, 17, 18)
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8. An upper comprising:
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a plurality of webbed areas and a plurality of tubular rib structures; the plurality of webbed areas having a front side and a back side; the tubular rib structures being disposed adjacent to the webbed areas; the tubular rib structures having a first curved portion with a first curve length extending from the front side of the webbed areas, and a second curved portion with a second curve length extending from the back side of the webbed areas, the first curve length being greater than the second curve length; the webbed areas configured to move between a neutral position and an extended position, the webbed areas being biased to move toward the neutral position; and at least one of the webbed areas and the tubular rib structures configured to stretch from the neutral position to the extended position in response to a force applied to the upper. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19)
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20. An article comprising:
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a plurality of webbed areas having a front surface, the webbed areas configured to move between a neutral position and an extended position, the webbed areas being biased to move toward the neutral position, and a plurality of tubular structures that are adjacent to the webbed areas, the tubular structures; wherein at least one of the webbed areas or tubular structures is configured to stretch to move the webbed areas to the extended position in response to a force applied to the article. wherein in the neutral position, a first area of the front surface is hidden from visual observation from a first viewing perspective, and wherein in the extended position, the first area of the front surface is revealed for visual observation from the first viewing perspective.
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Specification