Knitted component for an article of footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11419385-B2
Application number	US-201815994030-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2018
Priority date	May 31, 2017
Publication date	Aug 23, 2022
Grant date	Aug 23, 2022

Abstract

A knitted component may include a first portion, where the first portion at least partially forms an underfoot area of an article of footwear. A second portion may be included, where the second portion at least partially forms an outer surface of a medial or a lateral side of an article of footwear. A forward portion may extend from an end of the first portion and may include a toebox area in a toe region of the knitted component. A knitted connection structure may be located between the toebox area of the forward portion and the second portion, where the second portion includes a first course, where the toebox area of the second portion includes a second course, and where the first course is secured to the second course through the knitted connection structure.

First claim

We claim:

1. A knitted component for an upper for an article of footwear, the knitted component comprising:
a first portion forming a toe area, a midfoot area, and a heel area of the upper, the first portion having a first layer and a second layer, the first layer forming an overfoot portion of the upper, the second layer at least partially forming an underfoot area of the upper, and the first layer and the second layer forming a void therebetween for receiving a foot, and the first layer and the second layer being secured via a first knit structure of the knitted component at a boundary of the first portion;
a second portion secured to the first portion at the boundary of the first portion via at least one common knit structure, wherein the second portion at least partially forms an outer surface of a medial side or a lateral side of the article of footwear;
a forward portion extending from an end of the first portion and secured at the boundary of the first portion via at least one common knit structure with the first portion, wherein the forward portion includes a toebox area in the toe area of the knitted component and a continuously knit tongue extending from the toebox area over a throat area, wherein the forward portion has an edge and the second portion has an edge, the edge of the forward portion and the edge of the second portion converging at the boundary of the first portion in the toe area; and
a knitted connection structure in the toe area that includes a knit loop securing the edge of the forward portion and the edge of the second portion.

2. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the second portion includes a first edge region adjacent to the first portion, wherein the first edge region includes a first knit structure, and wherein a second region of the second portion is located adjacent to the first edge region and includes a second knit structure being different than the first knit structure.

3. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the toe box area of the forward portion is curved such that a cavity is formed between the toe box area and the underfoot area, and wherein the cavity defines a void for the article of footwear.

4. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein at least part of the edge region of the second portion overlaps the tongue.

5. The knitted component of claim 1 ,
wherein the second portion forms the outer surface on the lateral side of the article of footwear, the knitted component further comprising:
a third portion forming the outer surface on the medial side of the article of footwear,
wherein the toe box area of the first portion is secured to the third portion via a second knitted connection structure.

6. A knitted component, the knitted component comprising:
a first portion forming a toe area, a midfoot area, and a heel area of the upper, the first portion having a first layer and a second layer, the first layer forming an overfoot portion of the upper, the second layer at least partially forming an underfoot area of an article of the upper, and the first layer and the second layer forming a void therebetween for receiving a foot, and the first layer and the second layer being secured via a first knit structure of the knitted component at a boundary of the first portion;
a second portion extending from at least one of a medial side and a lateral side of the first portion and secured to the first portion at the boundary of the first portion via at least one common knit structure;
a forward portion extending from a toe region of the first portion and including a toe box area in the toe region, wherein the forward portion is secured to the first portion at the boundary of the first portion via at least one common knit structure with the first portion, wherein the forward portion includes a continuously knit tongue extending from the toe box area over a throat area, wherein an edge region of the second portion overlaps the tongue; and
a knitted connection structure directly securing the forward portion to the second portion such that the toe box area curves to form an over foot area of the knitted component.

7. The knitted component of claim 6 , wherein the second portion includes a first edge region adjacent to the first portion, wherein the first edge region includes a first knit structure, and wherein a second region of the second portion is located adjacent to the first edge region and includes a second knit structure being different than the first knit structure.

8. The knitted component of claim 6 , wherein the toe box area of the forward portion is curved such that a cavity is formed between the toe box area and the underfoot area, wherein the cavity forms a void of an article of footwear.

9. The knitted component of claim 6 ,
wherein the second portion forms an outer surface on the lateral side of the article of footwear, the knitted component further comprising:
a third portion forming the outer surface on the medial side of the article of footwear,
wherein the toe box area of the forward portion is secured to the third portion via a second knitted connection structure.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Hancock Walter M

Classifications

• D10B2403/0332

  with gussets folding into three dimensional shape, e.g. seat covers · CPC title

• D04B21/207

  Wearing apparel or garment blanks · CPC title

• D04B21/06

  Patterned fabrics or articles (open-work fabrics D04B21/10) · CPC title

• D10B2501/043

  Footwear · CPC title

• A43B23/0265

  having different properties in different directions · CPC title