Article of footwear having an upper incorporating a knitted component
First Claim
1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
- a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction, the knitted component including at least one tubular structure disposed on the upper;
the at least one tubular structure comprising a first knitted layer and a second knitted layer that are at least partially coextensive with each and are joined along edges of the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer to form a tube defining an unsecured central area of the tubular structure;
a strand having a configuration of a one-dimensional material, the strand extending through the unsecured central area of the tube between the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer;
wherein the tube formed by the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer has a unitary knit construction so as to be a one-piece element with the upper; and
the knitted component including at least one yarn formed from a thermoplastic polymer material and incorporated into one of the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer, wherein the thermoplastic polymer material is fused to at least a portion of the strand extending through the tube.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An article of footwear has an upper that includes a knitted component and a sole structure secured to the upper. The knitted component may define a tube formed of unitary knit construction, and a strand may extend through a length of the tube. As another example, the knitted component may have a pair of at least partially coextensive knitted layers formed of unitary knit construction, and a plurality of floating yarns may extend between the knitted layers. In some configurations, the knit type or yarn type may vary in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. Additionally, the knitted component may incorporate a thermoplastic yarn that is fused in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. A flat knitting process or a variety of other knitting processes may be utilized to form the knitted component.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
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a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction, the knitted component including at least one tubular structure disposed on the upper; the at least one tubular structure comprising a first knitted layer and a second knitted layer that are at least partially coextensive with each and are joined along edges of the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer to form a tube defining an unsecured central area of the tubular structure; a strand having a configuration of a one-dimensional material, the strand extending through the unsecured central area of the tube between the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer; wherein the tube formed by the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer has a unitary knit construction so as to be a one-piece element with the upper; and the knitted component including at least one yarn formed from a thermoplastic polymer material and incorporated into one of the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer, wherein the thermoplastic polymer material is fused to at least a portion of the strand extending through the tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 17)
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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 first yarn forming a first knitted layer that comprises at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper; a second yarn forming a second knitted layer that comprises at least a portion of an interior surface of the upper, the second knitted layer formed of unitary knit construction with the first knitted layer, the second knitted layer being positioned adjacent to the first knitted layer and at least partially coextensive with the first knitted layer; at least one tubular structure comprising the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer, the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer overlapping and joined to each other along opposite edges to define sides of a tube between the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer; and a strand having a configuration of a one-dimensional material, the strand extending through the tube and between the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer; wherein the tube formed by the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer has a unitary knit construction so as to be a one-piece element with the upper; and wherein at least one of the first yarn and the second yarn includes a thermoplastic polymer material fused to at least a portion of the strand extending through the tube. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18)
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15. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
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a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction, the knitted component comprising a first knitted layer and a second knitted layer that are at least partially coextensive with each other; the knitted component including a plurality of tubular structures, the plurality of tubular structures comprising the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer that are overlapping and joined to each other along opposite edges to define sides of a first tube and a second tube, the first tube and the second tube being formed by the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer to have unitary knit construction so as to be a one-piece element with the remaining portion of the knitted component, the first tube disposed at a first location on the knitted component, the second tube disposed at a second location on the knitted component, the first tube and the second tube extending in an upward direction from an area proximal the sole structure, and first ends of the first tube and the second tube being located in an upper area of the upper and second ends of the first tube and the second tube being located in the area proximal the sole structure; a strand extending through the first tube and the second tube, a portion of the strand extending between the first ends of the first tube and the second tube to form a loop, wherein at least one of the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer are formed by a yarn made of a thermoplastic polymer material that is fused to at least a portion of the strand extending through the first tube and the second tube. - View Dependent Claims (16, 19, 20)
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Specification