Article incorporating a knitted component with zonal stretch limiter

• US 9,510,637 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2014
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Podhajny, Daniel A., Cross, Tory M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Worrell, Danny
• Application Number:
  US14/305,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20150359290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0265 having different properties in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/04 Uppers made of one piece; Uppers with inserted gussets
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/123 with laid-in unlooped yarn, e.g. fleece fabrics with elastic weft yarn D04B1/18
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/24 wearing apparel
• 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

Abstract

An article includes a knitted component. The knitted component includes a knit element that is configured to stretch between a neutral position and a stretched position. The knitted component also includes a tensile strand. The tensile strand is at least partially inlaid within the knit element. The tensile strand includes a portion that is arranged as a stretch limiter element that is configured to move between a slack position and a taut position as the knit element moves between the neutral position and the stretched position. The stretch limiter element is in the slack position when the knit element is in the neutral position, and the stretch limiter element is in the taut position when the knit element is in the stretched position to prevent stretch of the knit element beyond the stretched position.

Claims

1. An article comprising:

a knitted component comprising;

a knit element that is configured to stretch between a neutral position and a stretched position; and

a tensile strand that is at least partially inlaid within the knit element,

the tensile strand including a portion that is arranged as a stretch limiter element that is configured to move between a first slack position and a taut position as the knit element moves between the neutral position and the stretched position,

the stretch limiter element being in the first slack position when the knit element is in the neutral position,

the stretch limiter element being in the taut position when the knit element is in the stretched position to prevent stretch of the knit element beyond the stretched position,

wherein the tensile strand has a second slack position, and wherein the tensile strand is adjustable between the first slack position and the second slack position.

2. The article of claim 1,

wherein the knit element is configured to stretch within a first range of stretching motion as the tensile strand moves from the first slack position to the taut position, and

wherein the knit element is configured to stretch within a second range of stretching motion as the tensile strand moves from the second slack position to the taut position, wherein the first range of stretching motion is greater than the second range of stretching motion.

3. The article of claim 2, wherein the tensile strand includes an end that is exposed from the knit element, wherein the end is configured to secure the tensile strand in at least one of the first slack position and the second position.

4. The article of claim 1, further comprising a sole structure and an upper of an article of footwear, wherein the upper is attached to the sole structure,

wherein the knit element includes a medial portion, a lateral portion, and a base portion formed of unitary knit construction with the medial portion and the lateral portion,

wherein the medial portion at least partially defines a medial side of the upper, wherein the lateral portion at least partially defines a lateral side of the upper, wherein the base portion is disposed proximate the sole structure, and

wherein the tensile strand extends continuously across the medial portion, the base portion, and the lateral portion.

5. The article of claim 4, wherein the tensile strand includes an exposed section that is exposed from the knit element.

6. The article of claim 5, wherein the exposed section is a first exposed end of the tensile strand, wherein the tensile strand includes a second exposed end,

wherein the first exposed end and the second exposed end are configured to move between a secured position and an unsecured position, wherein the first exposed end and the second exposed end are secured together in the secured position, and wherein the first exposed end and the second exposed end are unsecured from each other in the unsecured position.

7. The article of claim 4, wherein the stretch limiter element is disposed proximate the base portion.

8. The article of claim 1, wherein the stretch limiter element is inlaid within the knit element.

9. The article of claim 1, wherein the stretch limiter element is exposed from the knit element.

10. The article of claim 9, further comprising a sole structure and an upper of an article of footwear, wherein the upper is attached to the sole structure,

wherein the knitted component defines at least a portion of the upper, and

wherein the stretch limiter element is attached to the sole structure.

11. The article of claim 1, wherein the stretch limiter element extends along a substantially linear path across the knit element when the stretch limiter element is in the taut position, and

wherein the stretch limiter element extends along a nonlinear path across the knit element when the stretch limiter element is in the first slack position.

12. An article comprising:

a knitted component comprising;

a knit element that includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being stretchable relative to the second portion between a neutral position and a stretched position; and

a tensile strand extending across at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the knit element,

the tensile strand being at least partially inlaid within the knit element,

the tensile strand including an area that is arranged as a stretch limiter element that is configured to move between a slack position and a taut position as the first portion stretches between the neutral position and the stretched position,

the tensile strand including a second area that is movable relative to at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the knit element,

the stretch limiter element being in the slack position when the first portion is in the neutral position, and

the stretch limiter element being in the taut position when the first portion is in the stretched position to prevent stretch of the first portion beyond the stretched position.

13. The article of claim 12, further comprising a sole structure and an upper of an article of footwear, wherein the upper is attached to the sole structure,

wherein the first portion at least partially defines one of a heel region of the upper, a midfoot region of the upper, and a forefoot region of the upper, and

wherein the second portion at least partially defines another of the heel region, the midfoot region, and the forefoot region.

14. The article of claim 12, wherein the slack position of the tensile strand is a first slack position, wherein the tensile strand has a second slack position, wherein the tensile strand is adjustable between the first slack position and the second slack position,

wherein the first portion is stretchable relative to the second portion within a first range of stretching motion as the tensile strand moves from the first slack position to the taut position, and

wherein the first portion is stretchable relative to the second portion within a second range of stretching motion as the tensile strand moves from the second slack position to the taut position, wherein the first range of stretching motion is greater than the second range of stretching motion.

15. An article comprising:

a knitted component comprising;

a knit element that includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion both being stretchable; and

a first tensile strand that is at least partially inlaid within the knit element and that is configured to limit a range of stretching motion of the first portion, the first tensile strand including a portion that is arranged as a first stretch limiter element, the first stretch limiter element being configured to move between a slack position and a taut position as the first portion stretches,

a second tensile strand that is at least partially inlaid within the knit element and that is configured to limit a range of stretching motion of the second portion, the second tensile strand including a portion that is arranged as a second stretch limiter element, the second stretch limiter element being configured to move between a slack position and a taut position as the second portion stretches,

wherein the first stretch limiter element, in the slack position, is configured to allow stretch of the first portion, and wherein the first stretch limiter element, in the taut position, is configured to prevent stretch of the first portion,

wherein the second stretch limiter element, in the slack position, is configured to allow stretch of the second portion, and wherein the second stretch limiter element, in the taut position, is configured to prevent stretch of the second portion, and

wherein the first tensile strand includes a first end that is exposed from the knit element.

16. The article of claim 15, further comprising a sole structure and an upper of an article of footwear, wherein the upper is attached to the sole structure,

wherein the first portion at least partially defines one of a heel region of the upper, a midfoot region of the upper, and a forefoot region of the upper, and

wherein the second portion at least partially defines another of the heel region, the midfoot region, and the forefoot region.

17. The article of claim 15, wherein the first stretch limiter element is adjustable for varying the range of stretching motion of the first portion.

18. The article of claim 15 wherein the second tensile strand includes a second end, wherein the first end and the second end are attached together to maintain the range of stretching motion of the first portion.

19. The article of claim 18, wherein the first end and the second end are braided together.

20. The article of claim 19, wherein the first tensile strand further includes a third end, and wherein the second tensile strand includes a fourth end, and wherein the first end, the second end, the third end, and the fourth end are braided together.