Article of footwear incorporating a knitted component with an integral knit tongue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11319651-B2
Application number	US-201916450202-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2019
Priority date	Feb 20, 2012
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knitted component with a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, the interior surface defining a void. The knitted component may further include a tongue, where the tongue extends through a throat area of the upper, and where the tongue comprises a lateral edge and a medial edge. The knitted component may further include at least one raised element extending a height above the exterior surface of the knit element and extending a length along at least one of the lateral edge and the medial edge of the tongue, where the tongue and the at least one raised element have a common yarn.

First claim

We claim:

1. An upper of unitary knit construction for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:
a knitted component at least partially forming a tongue with at least one yarn, wherein the tongue includes a medial edge, a lateral edge, and a central portion located between the medial edge and the lateral edge;
a first integrally knit raised element continuously formed with the at least one yarn located proximate the medial edge of the tongue;
a second integrally knit raised element continuously formed with the at least one yarn located proximate the lateral edge of the tongue;
wherein the tongue comprises a first knit structure extending a width from at least one of the medial edge and the lateral edge to the central portion of the tongue,
wherein the central portion of the tongue comprises a second knit structure, and
wherein the first knit structure is different from the second knit structure.

2. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the first knit structure includes a first thickness, wherein the second knit structure includes a second thickness, and wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.

3. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the second knit structure is a double jersey knit structure.

4. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the first knit structure is a single jersey knit structure.

5. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the second knit structure includes a mesh.

6. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the first integrally knit raised element and the second integrally knit raised element extend a height above an exterior surface of the tongue.

7. The upper of claim 6 , wherein the first knit structure is adjacent to the first integrally knit raised element and the second integrally knit raised element include a single jersey knit structure.

8. The upper of claim 6 , wherein the first integrally knit raised element is secured to the knitted component with at least one knit stitch.

9. An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:
a knitted component, the knitted component comprising an integrally knit tongue and a first integrally knit raised element,
wherein the integrally knit tongue and the first integrally knit raised element have a common yarn,
wherein the first integrally knit raised element extends along at least one of a medial edge and a lateral edge of the integrally knit tongue,
wherein the integrally knit tongue comprises a first knit structure extending a first width from the medial edge and extending a second width from the lateral edge to a central portion of the integrally knit tongue, wherein the integrally knit tongue includes a second knit structure at the central portion, and
wherein the first knit structure is different from the second knit structure.

10. The upper of claim 9 , wherein the first knit structure includes a first thickness, wherein the second knit structure includes a second thickness, and wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.

11. The upper of claim 9 , wherein second knit structure is a double jersey knit structure.

12. The upper of claim 9 , wherein the first knit structure is a single jersey knit structure.

13. The upper of claim 9 , wherein the central portion of the integrally knit tongue includes a mesh.

14. The upper of claim 9 , wherein the first integrally knit raised element is secured to the knitted component with at least one knit stitch.

15. The upper of claim 9 , wherein the first integrally knit raised element extends along the lateral edge of the integrally knit tongue, and wherein the upper further comprises a second integrally knit raised element extending along the medial edge of the integrally knit tongue.

16. An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:
a knitted component, the knitted component comprising an integrally knit tongue, a first integrally knit raised element, and a second integrally knit raised element, wherein the integrally knit tongue, the first integrally knit raised element and the second integrally knit raised element have a common yarn,
wherein a central portion of the integrally knit tongue includes a double jersey knit structure, and
wherein a first area extending from a medial edge and a second area extending from a lateral edge to the central portion of the integrally knit tongue include a single jersey knit structure.

17. The upper of claim 16 , wherein the integrally knit tongue, the first integrally knit raised element, and the second integrally knit raised element have a common yarn.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Dua Bhupesh
• Meir Adrian
• Shaffer Benjamin A
• Huffa Bruce

Classifications

• A43B1/04 Primary

  braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted · CPC title

• D04B1/24 Primary

  wearing apparel · CPC title

• D10B2403/0113

  One surface including hollow piping or integrated straps, e.g. for inserts or mountings · CPC title

• D10B2403/0243

  enhancing functional properties · CPC title

• D04B7/28

  with stitch patterns · CPC title