Article incorporating a lenticular knit structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11142853-B2
Application number	US-201916242747-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2019
Priority date	Sep 30, 2014
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

An article of footwear including an upper incorporating a knitted component having color-shifting properties is provided. Color-shift properties can be generated by one or more lenticular knit structures disposed across the upper of the article of footwear. The lenticular knit structures are formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component. The lenticular knit structures have portions formed with different yarns. The different yarns on the portions of the lenticular knit structures generate a visual effect that changes the color of the article of footwear depending on the viewing angle.

First claim

We claim:

1. A knitted component having a front side and an opposite-facing back side, the knitted component comprising:
a base portion; and
a raised knit structure extending away from the base portion, the raised knit structure disposed on the front side of the knitted component,
wherein the raised knit structure comprises:
a first portion on a first side of the raised knit structure, wherein the first portion is formed at least partially with a first yarn associated with a first visual effect; and
a second portion on a second side of the raised knit structure, wherein the second side is opposite the first side, and wherein the second portion is formed at least partially with a second yarn associated with a second visual effect, the second visual effect different from the first visual effect,
wherein the first portion comprises a first quantity of knit courses,
wherein the second portion comprises a second quantity of knit courses, and
wherein the first quantity of knit courses is greater than the second quantity of knit courses.

2. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the first visual effect is a first color, and wherein the second visual effect is a second color, the second color different from the first color.

3. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the first portion excludes the second yarn.

4. The knitted component of claim 3 , wherein the second portion excludes the first yarn.

5. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein from a first viewing angle, the first portion of the raised knit structure is visible and the second portion of the raised knit structure is at least partially blocked.

6. The knitted component of claim 5 , wherein from a second viewing angle, the second portion of the raised knit structure is visible and the first portion of the raised knit structure is at least partially blocked.

7. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the raised knit structure includes a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the third portion is formed with a third yarn that is associated with a third visual effect.

8. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the base portion is disposed between the raised knit structure and an adjacent second raised knit structure.

9. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the raised knit structure is formed as a tubular knit structure.

10. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the raised knit structure extends longitudinally along a course-wise direction of the knitted component.

11. A lenticular knit structure disposed on a front side of a knitted component, the lenticular knit structure comprising:
a first portion on a first side of the lenticular knit structure, wherein the first portion is formed at least partially with a first yarn associated with a first visual effect; and
a second portion on a second side of the lenticular knit structure, wherein the second side is opposite the first side, the second portion formed at least partially with a second yarn associated with a second visual effect, the second visual effect different from the first visual effect,
wherein the first portion comprises a first quantity of knit courses and the second portion comprises a second quantity of knit courses, and
wherein the first quantity of knit courses is greater than the second quantity of knit courses forming the second portion.

12. The lenticular knit structure of claim 11 , wherein the first visual effect is a first color, and wherein the second visual effect is a second color, the second color different from the first color.

13. The lenticular knit structure of claim 11 , wherein the first portion excludes the second yarn.

14. The lenticular knit structure of claim 11 , wherein from a first viewing angle, the first portion of the lenticular knit structure is visible and the second portion of the lenticular knit structure is at least partially blocked.

15. The lenticular knit structure of claim 14 , wherein from a second viewing angle, the second portion of the lenticular knit structure is visible and the first portion of the lenticular knit structure is at least partially blocked.

16. The lenticular knit structure of claim 11 , wherein the lenticular knit structure includes a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the third portion is formed with a third yarn that is associated with a third visual effect.

17. The lenticular knit structure of claim 11 , wherein the front side of the knitted component forms an outer surface of an upper for an article of footwear.

18. A method, comprising:
knitting a base portion of a knitted component, the knitted component having a front side and an opposite-facing back side; and
knitting a raised knit structure that extends from the base portion and is disposed on the front side of the knitted component, wherein the raised knit structure comprises:
a first portion on a first side of the raised knit structure, wherein the first portion is formed at least partially with a first yarn associated with a first visual effect; and
a second portion on a second side of the raised knit structure, wherein the second side is opposite the first side, the second portion formed at least partially with a second yarn associated with a second visual effect, the second visual effect different from the first visual effect,
wherein the first portion comprises a first quantity of knit courses and the second portion comprises a second quantity of knit courses, and
wherein the first quantity of knit courses is greater than the second quantity of knit courses forming the second portion.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first visual effect is a first color, and wherein the second visual effect is a second color, the second color different from the first color.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first portion excludes the second yarn, and wherein the second portion excludes the first yarn.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Meir Adrian
• Podhajny Daniel A

Classifications

• D10B2401/20

  optical · CPC title

• D04B1/126 Primary

  with colour pattern, e.g. intarsia fabrics · CPC title

• A43B23/04

  Uppers made of one piece; Uppers with inserted gussets · CPC title

• D04B1/22

  specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration · CPC title

• D10B2501/043

  Footwear · CPC title