ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR HAVING A FLAT KNIT UPPER CONSTRUCTION OR OTHER UPPER CONSTRUCTION

• US 20080110049A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Dua, Bhupesh, Sokolowski, Susan L., Thomas, Edward Nathaniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,225,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/50.1
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 11/00 Hosiery; Panti-hose elastic stockings for curative purposes A61F13/08
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/02 Uppers; Boot legs
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/04 Uppers made of one piece; Uppers with inserted gussets
• 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 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/04 with rings or loops
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/14 Clamp fastenings , e.g. strap fastenings; Clamp-buckle fastenings; Fastenings with toggle levers
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/1493 Strap fastenings having hook and loop-type fastening elements
• 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 2403/0113 One surface including hollow piping or integrated straps, e.g. for inserts or mountings
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/032 Flat fabric of variable width, e.g. including one or more fashioned panels
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0331 with one or more convex or concave portions of limited extension, e.g. domes or pouches
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/061 Piped openings (pockets)

Abstract

An article of footwear may include an upper with a knitted element formed through a flat knitting process. In one configuration, the knitted element has an area with a first layer and a second layer at least partially coextensive with the first layer. The first layer is formed of unitary construction with the second layer, and the second layer is joined to the first layer at opposite sides of the second layer. In another configuration, a knitted element for footwear includes a foot-receiving portion and one or more straps formed of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion. The foot-receiving portion defines a void for receiving the foot, and the strap(s) extend outward from sides of the foot-receiving portion.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising a knitted element that includes a foot-receiving portion and a pair of straps formed of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion, the foot-receiving portion defining a void for receiving the foot, and the straps extending outward from sides of the foot-receiving portion.

2. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the foot-receiving portion includes an opening that provides access to the void, and the straps are joined with the foot-receiving portion adjacent the opening.

3. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein widths of the straps are tapered.

4. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein each strap has a first width adjacent the foot-receiving portion and a second width at an end portion, the first width being greater than the second width.

5. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein each of the straps includes corresponding portions of a fastener.

6. The article of footwear recited in claim 5, wherein the corresponding portions of the fasteners are located adjacent end portions of the straps.

7. An article of footwear at least partially formed from a knitted element, the knitted element comprising:

a foot-receiving portion that defines a void for receiving the foot, the foot-receiving portion including an opening that provides access to the void;

a pair of straps formed of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion, the straps being joined to the foot-receiving portion adjacent the opening, and the straps extending outward from sides of the foot-receiving portion; and

a fastener system, each of the straps including corresponding portions of the fastener system.

8. The article of footwear recited in claim 7, wherein widths of the straps are tapered.

9. The article of footwear recited in claim 7, wherein each strap has a first width adjacent the foot-receiving portion and a second width at an end portion, the first width being greater than the second width.

10. The article of footwear recited in claim 7, wherein the corresponding portions of the fastener system are located adjacent end portions of the straps.

11. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, comprising:

forming a knitted element that includes a foot-receiving portion and a pair of straps of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion;

securing corresponding portions of a fastener to ends of the straps; and

incorporating the knitted element and corresponding portions of the fastener into the article of footwear.

12. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the forming includes utilizing a flat knitting process to form the knitted element.

13. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the forming includes locating the straps to be adjacent an opening in the foot-receiving portion.

14. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the forming includes tapering the straps.

15. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the forming includes structuring each strap to have a first width adjacent the foot-receiving portion and a second width at an end portion, the first width being greater than the second width.

16. An article of footwear, comprising:

a knitted element that includes a foot-receiving portion and a first strap formed of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion, the foot-receiving portion defining a void for receiving the foot, and the first strap extending outward from a side of the foot-receiving portion.

17. The article of footwear recited in claim 16, wherein the foot-receiving portion includes an opening that provides access to the void, and the first strap is joined with the foot-receiving portion adjacent the opening.

18. The article of footwear recited in claim 16, wherein the first strap includes at least a portion of a fastener.

19. The article of footwear recited in claim 16, further comprising:

a second strap formed of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion, the second strap extending outward from a side of the foot-receiving portion.

20. The article of footwear recited in claim 19, wherein the first strap extends outward from the same side of the foot-receiving portion as the second strap.

21. The article of footwear recited in claim 19, wherein the first strap extends outward from a different side of the foot-receiving portion as compared to the second strap.

22. The article of footwear recited in claim 16, further comprising:

a second strap formed of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion, the second strap extending outward from the same side of the foot-receiving portion as the first strap;

a third strap formed of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion, the third strap extending outward from an opposite side of the foot-receiving portion as the first strap; and

a fourth strap formed of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion, the fourth strap extending outward from the opposite side of the foot-receiving portion as the first strap.

23. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, comprising:

forming a knitted element that includes a foot-receiving portion and a first strap of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion;

securing at least a portion of a fastener to an end of the first strap; and

incorporating the knitted element and the portion of the fastener into the article of footwear.

24. The method recited in claim 23, wherein the forming includes utilizing a flat knitting process to form the knitted element.

25. The method recited in claim 23, wherein the forming includes locating the first strap to be adjacent an opening in the foot-receiving portion.

26. The method recited in claim 23, wherein the forming includes forming a second strap of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion.

27. The method recited in claim 26, wherein the first strap and the second strap are on opposite sides of the foot-receiving portion.

28. The method recited in claim 26, wherein the first strap and the second strap are on the same side of the foot-receiving portion.

29. The method recited in claim 23, wherein the forming includes forming a second strap of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion on the same side of the foot-receiving portion as the first strap, forming a third strap of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion on an opposite side of the foot-receiving portion from the first and second straps, and forming a fourth strap of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion on the opposite side of the foot-receiving portion from the first and second straps.

30. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, comprising:

forming a knitted element that includes a foot-receiving portion and a first strap of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion; and

incorporating the knitted element into the article of footwear.

31. The method recited in claim 30, wherein the forming includes utilizing a flat knitting process to form the knitted element.

32. The method recited in claim 30, wherein the forming includes forming a second strap of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion.

33. The method recited in claim 32, wherein the first strap and the second strap are on opposite sides of the foot-receiving portion.

34. The method recited in claim 32, wherein the first strap and the second strap are on the same side of the foot-receiving portion.

35. The method recited in claim 30, wherein the forming includes forming a second strap of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion on the same side of the foot-receiving portion as the first strap, forming a third strap of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion on an opposite side of the foot-receiving portion from the first and second straps, and forming a fourth strap of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion on the opposite side of the foot-receiving portion from the first and second straps.