Article of footwear incorporating a knitted component with an integral knit ankle cuff

• US 9,392,835 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Dekovic, Denis, Droege, John, Fahmi, Windra, Lee, Jeongwoo, Podhajny, Daniel A., Seamarks, Karl, Wilken, Doug D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrup, Clinton T
• Assistant Examiner(s): SPATZ, ABBY M
• Application Number:
  US14/574,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20150101212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 36/84, 661/77, 661/96, 66/64, 223/9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/02 Uppers; Boot legs
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0205 characterised by the material material of the lining A43B23/07, material of toe stiffeners or heel stiffeners A43B23/08
• 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 23/027 with a part of the upper particularly flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0275 with a part of the upper particularly rigid, e.g. resisting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/042 Uppers made of one piece one piece slippers A43B3/106; one piece sandals A43B3/124
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 7/00 Holding-devices for laces
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 7/02 Flaps; Pockets
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/104 Openwork fabric, e.g. pelerine fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/106 at a selvedge, e.g. hems or turned welts
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/14 Other fabrics or articles characterised primarily by the use of particular thread materials
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/22 specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/24 wearing apparel
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/061 elastic
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/032 Flat fabric of variable width, e.g. including one or more fashioned panels
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 : Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/062 : Buttonholes

Abstract

An article of footwear with a knitted component including an upper and an integral knit ankle cuff is provided. The upper and the ankle cuff are formed as a one-piece knit element. The knit element forms a portion of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface forming a void for receiving a foot. The ankle cuff is formed of unitary knit construction with the upper as a one-piece knit element and extends above a throat area of the upper. The ankle cuff includes malleolus zones on medial and lateral sides to correspond with the ankle bones of a wearer. The knit component further incorporates features to assist with providing entry for a foot of a wear, providing comfort to a wearer, and to assist with orientation of the upper of the article of footwear when being worn.

Claims

1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper including a knitted component, the knitted component including:

a foot region forming a majority of the upper, the foot region extending through a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear, the foot region including an instep area that extends between a medial side and a lateral side of the upper;

a plurality of lace apertures configured to receive a lace, the plurality of lace apertures being disposed in a longitudinal direction along the upper on each of the medial side and the lateral side of the instep area;

wherein at least two of the plurality of lace apertures on the medial side are disposed in a pair that are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction and wherein at least two of the plurality of lace apertures on the lateral side are disposed in a pair that are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction;

an ankle region forming a portion of the upper that extends above the foot region, the ankle region including an ankle cuff that defines a throat opening to a void within the upper that is configured to receive a foot;

wherein the ankle cuff is formed of unitary knit construction with at least the instep area of the foot region and a portion of the foot region disposed on the medial side and lateral side in the heel region;

wherein the ankle cuff further comprises at least one malleolus zone disposed on at least one of the medial side and the lateral side of the upper, the at least one malleolus zone being disposed at a location that is configured to correspond to at least one of a medial malleolus bone and a lateral malleolus bone of a foot of a wearer, and the at least one malleolus zone including a plurality of indentations in a first knit layer comprising an exterior surface of the ankle cuff; and

wherein the at least one malleolus zone includes a first knit structure and a remaining portion of the ankle cuff includes a second knit structure, the first knit structure being different than the second knit structure; and

wherein the knitted component further comprises a tied-lace receiving aperture formed into at least one of the instep area and the ankle cuff, and wherein the tied-lace receiving aperture defines an opening, the opening being larger than openings in a knit structure surrounding the tied-lace receiving aperture and the tied-lace receiving aperture is configured to receive loose ends of a tied lace within an interior of the upper and wherein the tied-lace receiving aperture is located above a top-most set of lace apertures and off-center towards a lateral side of the footwear.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the ankle cuff comprises at least two knit layers;

and

wherein the first knit layer comprises a majority of the exterior surface of the ankle cuff and a second knit layer comprises a majority of an interior surface of the ankle cuff.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of indentations are formed by voids in the first knit layer that expose the second knit layer.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the voids in the first knit layer comprise at least one of a 1×

1 mock mesh knit structure and a 2×

2 mock mesh knit structure.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of indentations is arranged in a hexagonal-shape.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the instep area further comprises a stretch padding zone disposed between the medial side and the lateral side of the upper along a top portion of the article of footwear;

the stretch-padding zone being configured to stretch in a lateral direction across the article of footwear between an unstretched condition and a stretched condition; and

wherein the stretch padding zone has a first thickness in the unstretched condition and a second thickness in the stretched condition, the first thickness being larger than the second thickness.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the lace passes through at least one aperture of the pair of apertures on the medial side, extends under the knitted component, and exits the knitted component through the other aperture of the pair of apertures on the medial side.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the lace passes through at least one aperture of the pair of apertures on the lateral side, extends under the knitted component, and exits the knitted component through the other aperture of the pair of apertures on the lateral side.

9. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper including a knitted component, the knitted component including:

a foot region forming a majority of the upper, the foot region extending through a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear, the foot region including an instep area that extends between a medial side and a lateral side of the upper;

a plurality of lace apertures configured to receive a lace, the plurality of lace apertures being disposed in a longitudinal direction along the upper on each of the medial side and the lateral side of the instep area;

wherein at least two of the plurality of lace apertures on the medial side are disposed in a pair that are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction and wherein at least two of the plurality of lace apertures on the lateral side are disposed in a pair that are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction;

an ankle region forming a portion of the upper that extends above the foot region, the ankle region including an ankle cuff that defines a throat opening to a void within the upper that is configured to receive a foot;

the instep area further including a stretch padding zone surrounded by and formed of unitary knit construction with the instep area, the stretch padding zone being disposed between the medial side and the lateral side of the upper along a top portion of the article of footwear;

the stretch adding zone being configured to stretch in a lateral direction across the article of footwear between an unstretched condition and a stretched condition;

wherein the stretch padding zone is formed by a first knit structure and a remaining portion of the instep area being formed by a second knit structure, the first knit structure being different than the second knit structure; and

wherein the stretch padding zone has a first thickness in the unstretched condition and a second thickness in the stretched condition, the first thickness being larger than the second thickness

wherein the ankle cuff further comprises at least one malleolus zone disposed on at least one of the medial side and the lateral side of the upper, the at least one malleolus zone including a plurality of indentations in an exterior surface of the ankle cuff and wherein the at least one malleolus zone includes a first knit structure and a remaining portion of the ankle cuff includes a second knit structure, the first knit structure being different than the second knit structure;

wherein the knitted component further comprises a tied-lace receiving aperture formed into at least one of the instep area and the ankle cuff, and wherein the tied-lace receiving aperture defines an opening, the opening being larger than openings in a knit structure surrounding the tied-lace receiving aperture and the tied-lace receiving aperture is configured to receive loose ends of a tied lace within an interior of the upper and wherein the tied-lace receiving aperture is located above a top-most set of lace apertures and off-center towards a lateral side of the footwear.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the stretch padding zone defines an elongated diamond shape.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the second knit structure includes at least one of a jersey knit structure and a double jersey knit structure.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the stretch padding zone extends between the plurality of lace apertures on each of the medial side and the lateral side of the instep area.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the stretch padding zone is formed of unitary knit construction with the ankle cuff such that the stretch padding zone includes at least one course in common with the ankle cuff.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the ankle cuff is formed of unitary knit construction with at least the instep area of the foot region and a portion of foot region disposed on the medial side and lateral side in the heel region.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the first knit structure includes a knit structure formed by alternating knit and tuck stitches on both a front needle bed and a back needle bed of a flat knitting machine.

15. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper including a knitted component, the knitted component including:

a foot region forming a majority of the upper, the foot region extending through a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear, the foot region including an instep area that extends between a medial side and a lateral side of the upper;

a plurality of lace apertures configured to receive a lace, the plurality of lace apertures being disposed in a longitudinal direction along the upper on each of the medial side and the lateral side of the instep area;

wherein at least two of the plurality of lace apertures on the medial side are disposed in a pair that are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction and wherein at least two of the plurality of lace apertures on the lateral side are disposed in a pair that are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction;

an ankle region forming a portion of the upper that extends above the foot region, the ankle region including an ankle cuff that defines a throat opening to a void within the upper that is configured to receive a foot;

wherein the knitted component further comprises a tied-lace receiving aperture formed into at least one of the instep area and the ankle cuff, and wherein;

the tied-lace receiving aperture defines an opening, the opening being larger than openings in a knit structure surrounding the tied-lace receiving aperture;

wherein the tied-lace receiving aperture is configured to receive loose ends of a tied lace within an interior of the upper and wherein the tied-lace receiving aperture is located above a top-most set of lace apertures and off-center towards a lateral side of the footwear; and

wherein the ankle cuff further comprises at least one malleolus zone disposed on at least one of the medial side and the lateral side of the upper, the at least one malleolus zone including a plurality of indentations in an exterior surface of the ankle cuff and wherein the at least one malleolus zone includes a first knit structure and a remaining portion of the ankle cuff includes a second knit structure, the first knit structure being different than the second knit structure.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the knitted component comprises a knit element having two sides, including a first side forming a majority of an exterior surface of the upper and a second side disposed opposite the first side, the second side forming a majority of an interior surface disposed within the interior of the upper;

wherein the tied-lace receiving aperture defines a hole that extends through the first side and the second side of the knit element; and

wherein the loose ends of the tied lace are configured to rest along the interior surface within the interior of the upper when disposed through the hole of the tied-lace receiving aperture.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the tied-lace receiving aperture comprises a button-hole stitch in the knitted component.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the ankle cuff is formed of unitary knit construction with at least the instep area of the foot region and a portion of foot region disposed on the medial side and lateral side in the heel region.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the instep area further comprises a stretch padding zone disposed between the medial side and the lateral side of the upper along a top portion of the article of footwear;

the stretch padding zone being configured to stretch in a lateral direction across the article of footwear between an unstretched condition and a stretched condition; and

wherein the stretch padding zone has a first thickness in the unstretched condition and a second thickness in the stretched condition, the first thickness being larger than the second thickness.