Article of footwear incorporating a knitted component with body and heel portions
First Claim
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 body element forming a majority of the upper, the body element extending through a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and at least partially into a heel region of the article of footwear, the body element being formed of unitary knit construction; and
a heel element forming a portion of the upper that extends above the body element, the heel element extending through the heel region and including a cuff that defines a throat opening within the upper for receiving a foot, the heel element being formed of unitary knit construction;
wherein the body element and the heel element are joined along adjacent edges extending along each of a medial side and a lateral side of the upper to form the knitted component; and
wherein the body element is joined to the heel element by a seam that extends from a lower area of the upper adjacent to the sole structure towards an instep area of the upper in a vertically upwards and forward direction, from the heel region toward the forefoot region, on each of the medial side and the lateral side;
wherein the heel element further includes at least one flex notch located below the cuff and entirely outside of the body element; and
wherein the at least one flex notch is separated from the sole structure by a first distance, and an uppermost point of the body element is separated from the sole structure by a second distance, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An article of footwear may include a knitted component formed of multiple knitted component portions. The knitted component includes a body portion and a heel portion. The body portion is formed of unitary knit construction and extends through a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and at least partially into a heel region of the article of footwear. The heel portion is formed of unitary knit construction and extends through the heel region and includes a cuff that defines a throat opening of the upper for receiving a foot. The body portion and the heel portion are joined along adjacent edges to form the knitted component. Knitting directions of the knitted component portions vary along the adjacent edges. An overlay element may also be provided to cover a seam attaching the adjacent edges of the knitted component portions.
147 Citations
19 Claims
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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 body element forming a majority of the upper, the body element extending through a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and at least partially into a heel region of the article of footwear, the body element being formed of unitary knit construction; and
a heel element forming a portion of the upper that extends above the body element, the heel element extending through the heel region and including a cuff that defines a throat opening within the upper for receiving a foot, the heel element being formed of unitary knit construction;
wherein the body element and the heel element are joined along adjacent edges extending along each of a medial side and a lateral side of the upper to form the knitted component; and
wherein the body element is joined to the heel element by a seam that extends from a lower area of the upper adjacent to the sole structure towards an instep area of the upper in a vertically upwards and forward direction, from the heel region toward the forefoot region, on each of the medial side and the lateral side;
wherein the heel element further includes at least one flex notch located below the cuff and entirely outside of the body element; and
wherein the at least one flex notch is separated from the sole structure by a first distance, and an uppermost point of the body element is separated from the sole structure by a second distance, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- a body element forming a majority of the upper, the body element extending through a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and at least partially into a heel region of the article of footwear, the body element being formed of unitary knit construction; and
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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 body element forming a majority of the upper, the body element extending through a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and at least partially into a heel region of the article of footwear, the body element being formed of unitary knit construction with a plurality of courses extending along a first knitting direction; and
a heel element forming a portion of the upper that extends above body element, the heel element extending through the heel region and including a cuff that defines a throat opening within the upper for receiving a foot, the heel element being formed of unitary knit construction with a plurality of courses extending along a second knitting direction;
wherein the heel element further includes at least one flex notch located below the cuff and located entirely outside of the body element;
wherein the at least one flex notch is separated from the sole structure by a first distance, and an uppermost point of the body element is separated from the sole structure by a second distance, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance;
wherein the body element and the heel element are joined along adjacent edges extending along each of a medial side and a lateral side of the upper to form the knitted component;
wherein the body element comprises an outer perimeter edge that includes a pair of rear edges disposed on opposite sides of the upper;
wherein the heel element includes a pair of lower angled edges disposed along opposite sides of the heel element; and
wherein the pair of rear edges and the pair of lower angled edges are attached by a seam on each of the medial side and the lateral side; and
wherein the seam extends from a lower area of the upper adjacent to the sole structure towards an instep area of the upper in a vertically upwards and forward direction, from the heel region toward the forefoot region, on each of the medial side and the lateral side; and
wherein the first knitting direction and the second knitting direction are disposed in different directions at the adjacent edges joining the body element and the heel element. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
- a body element forming a majority of the upper, the body element extending through a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and at least partially into a heel region of the article of footwear, the body element being formed of unitary knit construction with a plurality of courses extending along a first knitting direction; and
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13. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper including a knitted component formed of multiple knitted component portions, the knitted component including:
- a foot element extending through a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear, the foot element including an instep area that extends between a medial side and a lateral side of the upper;
an ankle element, wherein the entire ankle element extends outside of the foot region, the ankle element including a cuff that defines a throat opening for providing access to a void within the upper for receiving a foot;
wherein the cuff extends continuously around the heel region of the upper between the medial side and the lateral side;
wherein the foot element is joined to the ankle element by a seam that extends from a lower area of the upper adjacent to the sole structure towards an instep area of the upper in a vertically upwards and forward direction, from the heel region toward the forefoot region, on each of the medial side and the lateral side;
wherein the ankle element further includes at least one flex notch located below the cuff and entirely outside of the foot element; and
wherein the at least one flex notch is separated from the sole structure by a first distance, and an uppermost point of the body element is separated from the sole structure by a second distance, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- a foot element extending through a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear, the foot element including an instep area that extends between a medial side and a lateral side of the upper;
Specification