Article of footwear incorporating a curved knitted lacing element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10294592-B2
Application number	US-201615156044-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2016
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper incorporating a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction. The knitted component includes a curved lacing element formed by incorporating shortened knit courses relative to lace apertures along the lacing structure. After knitting, the knitted component may be steamed to create offset lace apertures as well as alternating convex and concave curves along the lacing element. The curved lacing element of the knitted component may be configured to distribute tension applied by a lace on the knitted component when the article of footwear is worn during a sport or athletic activity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A knitted lacing element comprising:
a boundary;
a first lace aperture disposed proximate the boundary, wherein the boundary defines a convex shape proximate the first lace aperture; and
a plurality of knit courses that comprise:
a first knit course and a second knit course extending from the boundary, wherein the first lace aperture is disposed between the first knit course and the second knit course; and
a first contour section comprising at least one shortened knit course extending between the first lace aperture and the boundary, and wherein
the first knit course and the second knit course are interlooped with the first contour section between the first lace aperture and the boundary, and
the first knit course is interlooped with the second knit course on an opposite side of the first lace aperture.

2. The knitted lacing element of claim 1 , wherein the boundary is an inner boundary and the knitted lacing element further comprises an outer boundary and a second lace aperture, the first lace aperture and the second lace aperture being disposed between the inner boundary and the outer boundary, and wherein the plurality of knit courses further comprises:
a third knit course and a fourth knit course extending between the inner boundary and the outer boundary, wherein the second lace aperture is disposed between the third knit course and the fourth knit course, the third knit course and the fourth knit course being interlooped between the second lace aperture and the inner boundary; and
a second contour section comprising at least one shortened knit course between the second lace aperture and the outer boundary, wherein the second contour section is interlooped with the third knit course and the fourth knit course between the second lace aperture and the outer boundary.

3. The knitted lacing element of claim 2 , wherein:
the outer boundary proximate the first lace aperture defines a concave shape; and
the inner boundary proximate the second lace aperture defines a concave shape and the outer boundary proximate the second lace aperture defines a convex shape.

4. The knitted lacing element of claim 2 , wherein the knitted lacing element is a lateral side knitted lacing element, the inner boundary comprises a lateral side inner boundary, and the outer boundary comprises a lateral side outer boundary.

5. The knitted lacing element of claim 2 , wherein the knitted lacing element is a medial side knitted lacing element, the inner boundary comprises a medial side inner boundary, and the outer boundary comprises a medial side outer boundary.

6. The knitted lacing element of claim 2 , wherein the knitted lacing element forms a u-shape, and wherein:
the inner boundary comprises a lateral side inner boundary portion, a medial side inner boundary portion and a forefoot inner boundary portion;
the outer boundary comprises a lateral side outer boundary portion, a medial side outer boundary portion and a forefoot outer boundary portion; and, wherein
the first lace aperture and the second lace aperture are disposed between the lateral side inner boundary portion and the lateral side outer boundary portion.

7. The knitted lacing element of claim 6 , further comprising:
a third lace aperture and a fourth lace aperture disposed between the medial side inner boundary portion and the medial side outer boundary portion;
a fifth knit course and a sixth knit course extending between the medial side inner boundary and the medial side outer boundary, wherein the third lace aperture is disposed between the fifth knit course and the sixth knit course, the fifth knit course and the sixth knit course being interlooped between the third lace aperture and the medial side outer boundary;
a third contour section comprising at least one shortened knit course between the third lace aperture and the medial side inner boundary portion, wherein the third contour section is interlooped with the fifth knit course and the sixth knit course between the third lace aperture and the medial side inner boundary;
a seventh knit course and an eighth knit course extending between the medial side inner boundary and the medial side outer boundary, wherein the fourth lace aperture is disposed between the seventh knit course and the eighth knit course, the seventh knit course and the eighth knit course being interlooped between the fourth lace aperture and the medial side inner boundary; and
a fourth contour section comprising at least one shortened knit course between the fourth lace aperture and the medial side outer boundary portion, wherein the fourth contour section is interlooped with the seventh knit course and the eighth knit course between the fourth lace aperture and the medial side outer boundary.

8. The knitted lacing element of claim 2 , wherein the first contour section and the second contour section each comprise at least two knit courses.

9. The knitted lacing element of claim 2 , wherein the first contour section and the second contour section each comprise three knit courses.

10. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper incorporating a knitted component comprising:
a first lacing element having a first inner boundary and a first lace aperture disposed proximate the first inner boundary, the first lacing element being formed by a first plurality of knit courses, wherein the first plurality of knit courses comprises:
a first contour section comprising at least one shortened knit course extending between the first lace aperture and the first inner boundary such that the first inner boundary includes a convex shape adjacent to the first inner boundary;
a first knit course and a second knit course extending from the first inner boundary, wherein the first lace aperture is disposed between the first knit course and the second knit course, and wherein:
the first knit course and the second knit course are interlooped with the first contour section between the first inner boundary and the first lace aperture; and
the first knit course is interlooped with the second knit course on an opposite side of the first lace aperture.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 10 , wherein the first lacing element is formed of unitary knit construction.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 10 , wherein the first lacing element further comprises a first outer boundary and a second lace aperture, the first lace aperture and the second lace aperture being disposed between the first inner boundary and the first outer boundary, and wherein the first plurality of knit courses further comprises:
a third knit course and a fourth knit course extending between the first inner boundary and the first outer boundary, wherein the second lace aperture is disposed between the third knit course and the fourth knit course, the third knit course being interlooped with the fourth knit course between the second lace aperture and the first inner boundary; and
a second contour section comprising at least one shortened knit course disposed between the second lace aperture and the first outer boundary, wherein the third knit course and the fourth knit course are interlooped with the second contour section between the second lace aperture and the first outer boundary.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 12 , wherein the first outer boundary is an outer perimeter edge of an upper.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 12 , wherein the first outer boundary is a transitional boundary between a first knitting technique and a second knitting technique of the first lacing element.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Uesato Lia

Classifications

• D10B2403/0311

  Small thickness fabric, e.g. ribbons, tapes or straps · CPC title

• A43B23/0265

  having different properties in different directions · CPC title

• A43B7/06

  ventilated · CPC title

• A43B7/34

  with protection against heat or cold · CPC title

• A43B23/0205 Primary

  characterised by the material (material of the lining A43B23/07, material of toe stiffeners or heel stiffeners A43B23/08) · CPC title