ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH UPPER INCORPORATING KNITTED COMPONENT PROVIDING VARIABLE COMPRESSION

• US 20150250256A1
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Published: 09/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Podhajny, Daniel A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,383,388 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/02 made of fibres or fabrics made therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• 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 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/1493 Strap fastenings having hook and loop-type fastening elements
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/02 Pile fabrics or articles having similar surface features
• 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 2501/0632 of the touch-and-close type

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper that is attached to the sole structure. The upper includes a knitted component with a compression member that is configured to apply compression to the wearer. The knitted component also includes a selection element that is configured for selecting and changing the amount of compression applied by the compression member. The selection element is spaced away from the sole structure. The selection element includes a first area and a second area. The first area is configured to move relative to the second area between an unsecured position and a secured position to change the amount of compression applied by the compression member. The first area is spaced away from the second area in the unsecured position, and the first area is attached to the second area in the secured position.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole structure; and

an upper that is attached to the sole structure, the upper defining a void that is configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper including a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction,

the knitted component including a compression member that is configured to apply an amount of compression to the wearer to secure the article of footwear to the wearer'"'"'s foot,

the knitted component further including a selection element that is configured for selecting and changing the amount of compression applied by the compression member, the selection element being spaced away from the sole structure,

the selection element including a first area and a second area, the first area configured to move relative to the second area between an unsecured position and a secured position to change the amount of compression applied by the compression member, the first area spaced away from the second area in the unsecured position, the first area attached to the second area in the secured position.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first area is configured to move relative to the second area between a first secured position and a second secured position, the first area being attached to the second area in both the first secured position and the second secured position,

wherein the selection element is configured to apply a first amount of compression to the wearer in the first secured position, the selection element is further configured to apply a second amount of compression to the wearer in the second secured position, and the second amount of compression is greater than the first amount of compression.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the compression member is elastic and the compression member is configured to stretch between a first position and a stretched position,

wherein the amount of compression applied by the compression member changes between the first position and the stretched position, and

wherein the selection element is configured to stretch the compression member between the first position and the stretched position as the first area moves between the unsecured position and the secured position.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the upper includes a collar with a rim, the rim defining a collar opening, and

wherein the first area and the second area of the selection element are defined proximate the rim.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the upper includes a throat portion and a forefoot portion, the throat portion extending from the rim toward the forefoot portion, and

wherein the first area and the second area of the selection element are defined proximate the throat portion.

6. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the selection element further includes an aperture that separates the first area and the second area, and

wherein the aperture is open to the collar opening.

7. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein the first area is defined by the rim and by a first area edge and wherein the second area is defined by the rim and by a second area edge,

wherein the aperture is defined between the first area edge and the second area edge, and

wherein the first area edge and the second area edge have substantially corresponding curvature.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first area overlaps the second area in the secured position, and further comprising an attachment member configured to secure the first area to the second area in the secured position.

9. The article of footwear of claim 8, wherein the attachment member includes a hook and a loop, wherein the hook is secured to one of the first area and the second area, wherein the loop is secured to the other of the first area and the second area, and wherein the hook is configured to secure to the loop in the secured position.

10. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the knitted component includes a plurality of strands, wherein at least one of the plurality of strands defines either the hook or the loop, and wherein the at least one of the plurality of strands is formed of unitary knit construction with an adjacent portion of the knitted component.

11. An article of footwear for supporting a wearer comprising:

a sole structure; and

an upper that includes a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction, wherein the knitted component includes a collar and an adjacent region that is proximate the collar, the collar having a rim that at least partially defines a collar opening, the collar having a greater elasticity than the adjacent region,

the knitted component further including a selection element with a first area and a second area, the first area configured to move relative to the second area between an unsecured position and a secured position, the first area spaced away from the second area in the unsecured position, the first area attached to the second area in the secured position,

wherein the selection element is configured to stretch the collar between a first position and a stretched position when moving between the unsecured position and the secured position, and the collar is configured to compress against the wearer in the stretched position at a greater amount as compared to the first position.

12. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the selection element further includes an aperture that separates the first area and the second area, and

wherein the first area is configured to span across the aperture and stretch the collar when moving from the unsecured position to the secured position.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the first area is configured to cover over and close off the aperture when in the secured position.

14. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the first area overlaps the second area when in the secured position.

15. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the aperture extends from the rim and is open to the collar opening.

16. The article of footwear of claim 15, further comprising an attachment member,

wherein the attachment member includes a hook and a loop, the hook being secured to one of the first area and the second area, and the loop being secured to the other of the first area and the second area,

wherein the knitted component includes a plurality of strands, and

wherein at least one of the plurality of strands defines either the hook or the loop.

17. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the at least one of the plurality of strands is formed of unitary knit construction with an adjacent portion of the knitted component.

18. A method of manufacturing an upper for an article of footwear, the upper including a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction, the method comprising:

manipulating a first strand to at least partially form a first area of the knitted component;

breaking the first strand to form a hook in the first area; and

knitting a second area of the knitted component, the first area configured to move relative to the second area between an unsecured position and a secured position, the hook spaced away from the second area in the unsecured position, the hook secured to the second area in the secured position.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein manipulating the first strand includes holding the first strand with a needle of a knitting machine, and wherein breaking the first strand includes tensioning the first strand to fracture the first strand away from the needle to form the hook.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising encircling the first strand around the needle before breaking the first strand.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein knitting the second area includes manipulating a second strand to form a loop within the second area, the loop configured to attach to the hook in the secured position.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising manipulating a third strand such that the first strand and the third strand extend along a common course of the first area of the knitted component, wherein breaking the first strand includes breaking the first strand within the common course, and further comprising securing the third strand to an adjacent course of the first area of the knitted component, wherein the adjacent course is disposed adjacent to the common course.