Flat weft-knitted upper for sports shoes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10455885-B2
Application number	US-201514873605-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2015
Priority date	Oct 2, 2014
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

Described are uppers for a sports shoe with flat weft-knitted knitwear. The flat weft-knitted knitwear forms a top portion and a bottom portion of the upper. The top portion is formed as tube weft-knitted knitwear such that it is configured to surround a part of a shank of a wearer of the sports shoe when worn. The bottom portion is configured to cover at least a part of a foot of the wearer of the sports shoe when worn.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. An upper for a sports shoe comprising:
a weft-knitted element formed from at least one yarn mechanically manipulated in a weft-knitting process, the weft-knitted element comprising: a top portion comprising two-ply knitwear, wherein the two plies of the top portion are solely connected along edges to form a tube that surrounds a part of a shank of a wearer of the sports shoe when the sports shoe is worn; and
a bottom portion comprising two-ply knitwear, wherein the bottom portion and the top portion are unitarily knitted together in a single knitting process; and
wherein the two plies of the bottom portion are consistently connected to one another and substantially cover a top and sides of a foot of the wearer of the sports shoe when the sports shoe is worn.

2. The upper according to claim 1 , wherein the weft-knitted element is formed as single-surface knitwear.

3. The upper according to claim 1 , wherein the top portion and the bottom portion are adjacent to one another below an ankle of the wearer of the sports shoe when worn.

4. The upper according to claim 1 , wherein the top portion comprises a weft-knitted-in pocket for a shin guard.

5. The upper according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion comprises at least one lace bar, formed integrally with the weft-knitted element, with at least one lace eyelet.

6. The upper according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one lace bar is formed as a layer of the weft-knitted element.

7. The upper according to claim 5 , wherein the bottom portion comprises two lace bars, and the weft-knitted element is more elastic in an area between the two lace bars than in other areas.

8. The upper according to claim 1 , further comprising a front portion, wherein the weft-knitted element excludes the front portion.

9. The upper according to claim 8 , wherein the front portion comprises leather or artificial leather.

10. The upper according to claim 1 , wherein the top portion, at an upper edge, comprises an elastic cuff formed integrally with the weft-knitted element.

11. The upper according to claim 1 , wherein the top portion is adjusted to anatomical conditions of the shank of the wearer.

12. The upper according to claim 1 , wherein the top portion is tapered from an upper edge to an ankle area.

13. The upper according to claim 1 , wherein the top portion is elastic, and wherein the elastic is configured to exert pressure on at least a part of the shank.

14. The upper according to claim 13 , wherein a configuration of the elastic results in the pressure being specific to a sport for which the sports shoe is used.

15. The upper according to claim 13 , wherein a configuration of the elastic results in the pressure being respective to the wearer.

16. The upper according to claim 13 , wherein the top portion comprises an elastic yarn.

17. A sports shoe comprising:
the upper according to claim 1 ; and
a sole connected to the upper.

18. A method of manufacturing a shoe upper for a sports shoe, comprising:
flat knitting a weft-knitted element using at least one yarn, wherein the at least one yarn is mechanically manipulated in a weft-knitted process, wherein knitting the weft-knitted element includes:
forming a top portion using two-ply knitwear, wherein the two plies of the top portion are solely connected along edges to form a tube that surrounds a part of a shank of a wearer of the sports shoe when the sports shoe is worn; and
forming a bottom portion comprising two-ply knitwear unitarily with the top portion in a single knitting process, wherein the two plies of the bottom portion are consistently connected to one another and substantially cover a top and sides of a foot of the wearer of the sports shoe when the sports shoe is worn.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the top portion and the bottom portion are adjacent to one another below an ankle of the wearer.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein flat knitting the weft-knitted element includes using a flat weft-knitting machine with two beds of needles.

21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
securing a front portion to the shoe upper, wherein the weft-knitted element excludes the front portion.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the front portion comprises leather or artificial leather.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein forming the top portion includes using an elastic yarn at an upper edge of the top portion.

24. The method of claim 19 , wherein the top portion is tapered from an upper edge to an ankle area.

25. The method of claim 19 , where at least one of the two plies of the top portion is elastic, and wherein the elastic is configured to exert pressure on at least a part of the shank.

Assignees

• Adidas Ag

Inventors

• Tamm Stefan

Classifications

• D10B2501/043

  Footwear · CPC title

• D10B2501/061

  Piped openings (pockets) · CPC title

• A43B5/02

  Football boots {or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby} · CPC title

• A43B23/0245 Primary

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• D04B1/22

  specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration · CPC title