Resilient knitted component with wave features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10368606-B2
Application number	US-201414252948-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2014
Priority date	Apr 15, 2014
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

A knitted component formed of unitary knit construction includes a ridge structure and a channel structure. The ridge structure is biased to curl about a first axis in a first direction toward a compacted position. The channel structure is biased to curl about a second axis in a second direction toward a compacted position. The first direction is opposite the second direction. Courses of the ridge structure extend in the same direction as the first axis. Courses of the channel structure extend in the same direction as the second axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A knitted component that provides resiliency to an object, the knitted component comprising:
a ridge structure that includes a plurality of ridge courses, the ridge courses being inherently biased to curl about a first axis in a first direction toward a compacted position of the ridge structure, the first axis being parallel to a longitudinal direction of the ridge courses, and at least one ridge course of the plurality of ridge courses having loops that are intermeshed with an adjacent ridge course;
a channel structure that is adjacent the ridge structure, the channel structure including a plurality of channel courses, the channel courses being inherently biased to curl about a second axis in a second direction toward a compacted position of the channel structure, the second axis being parallel to a longitudinal direction of the channel courses, the first direction being opposite the second direction, and at least one channel course of the plurality of channel courses having loops that are intermeshed with an adjacent channel course; and
a first bridge portion, the first bridge portion including a yarn segment that extends across the channel structure to limit an extended position of the channel structure, wherein the yarn segment is excluded from all knitted loops of the knitted component,
the ridge structure configured to move between the compacted position and an extended position, the channel structure configured to move between the compacted position and the extended position,
the plurality of ridge courses extending in the same direction as the first axis, the plurality of channel courses extending in the same direction as the second axis, and
the ridge structure configured to uncurl toward the extended position of the ridge structure in response to a force applied to the ridge structure, and the channel structure being configured to uncurl toward the extended position of the channel structure in response to a force applied to the channel structure.

2. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the ridge structure includes an apex, a first side wall, and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the ridge structure extend away from each other from the apex,
wherein the channel structure includes a nadir, a first side wall, and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the channel structure extend away from each other from the nadir,
wherein the first side wall of the ridge structure is attached to the second side wall of the channel structure,
wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the ridge structure curl in the first direction when moving away from the extended position toward the compacted position, and
wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the channel structure curl in the second direction when moving away from the extended position toward the compacted position.

3. The knitted component of claim 1 ,
wherein the knitted component defines a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction,
wherein the knitted component further comprises an adjacent ridge structure, the adjacent ridge structure configured to move between a compacted position and an extended position, the adjacent ridge structure being biased to curl in the first direction toward the compacted position of the adjacent ridge structure,
wherein the ridge structure, the channel structure, and the adjacent ridge structure extend in the longitudinal direction,
wherein the ridge structure, the channel structure, and the adjacent ridge structure are spaced apart in the lateral direction,
wherein the channel structure is disposed between the ridge structure and the adjacent ridge structure, wherein the ridge structure is connected to the channel structure to define a first transition between the ridge structure and the channel structure, wherein the channel structure is connected to the adjacent ridge structure to define a second transition between the channel structure and the adjacent ridge structure, and
wherein the knitted component is configured to stretch in the lateral direction between a neutral position and a stretched position, the knitted component biased toward the neutral position, the first transition being closer to the second transition in the neutral position than in the stretched position.

4. The knitted component of claim 3 , wherein the ridge structure and the adjacent ridge structure abut when the knitted component is in the neutral position.

5. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the ridge structure includes a first yarn and the channel structure includes a second yarn.

6. The knitted component of claim 5 , wherein the first yarn and the second yarn differ in appearance.

7. The knitted component of claim 1 , further comprising: a second bridge portion being different than the channel structure and the ridge structure, wherein the second bridge portion extends across the ridge structure, and wherein the second bridge portion includes a second yarn segment that limits the extended position of the ridge structure, the second yarn segment being excluded from all knitted loops of the knitted component.

8. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the ridge structure has one of a front jersey knit structure and a reverse jersey knit structure, and wherein the channel structure has the other of the front jersey knit structure and the reverse jersey knit structure.

9. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the ridge structure includes at least four ridge courses, and wherein the channel structure includes at least four channel courses.

10. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the object is an upper of an article of footwear, and wherein at least one of the ridge structure and the channel structure is attached to an adjacent portion of the upper.

11. An article of footwear comprising:
a sole structure; and
an upper that is attached to the sole structure, the upper including a knitted component, the knitted component comprising:
a ridge structure that includes a plurality of ridge courses, the ridge courses being inherently biased to curl about a first axis in a first direction toward a compacted position of the ridge structure, the first axis being parallel to a longitudinal direction of the ridge courses;
a channel structure that is adjacent the ridge structure, the channel structure including a plurality of channel courses, at least one of the channel courses including a plurality of adjacent loops within the channel structure, where each loop of the plurality of adjacent loops is intermeshed with a loop of an adjacent channel course, the channel courses being inherently biased to curl about a second axis in a second direction toward a compacted position of the channel structure, the first direction being opposite the second direction, and the second axis being parallel to a longitudinal direction of the channel courses; and
a first bridge portion, the first bridge portion including a yarn segment that extends across the channel structure to limit an extended position of the channel structure, wherein the yarn segment is excluded from all knitted loops of the knitted component,
the ridge structure configured to move between the compacted position and an extended position, the channel structure configured to move between the compacted position and the extended position,
the plurality of ridge courses extending in the same direction as the first axis, the plurality of channel courses extending in the same direction as the second axis, wherein at least one ridge course includes a plurality of loops,
the ridge structure configured to uncurl toward the extended posi

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Meir Adrian

Classifications

• A43B23/027

  with a part of the upper particularly flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion · CPC title

• D04B1/102

  with stitch pattern (D04B1/06, D04B1/08 take precedence) · CPC title

• A43B1/0018

  made at least partially of flexible, bellow-like shaped material · CPC title

• D10B2501/043

  Footwear · CPC title

• A43B23/0205

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