Protected float

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11725311-B2
Application number	US-202017082537-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2020
Priority date	Jan 19, 2018
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

A knitted component may include a course of a first yarn type and a course of a second yarn type, a first surface at least partially formed by the course of the first yarn type, and a cavity formed within the knitted component that is recessed relative to the first surface. A first float formed by the course of the second yarn type may extend across the cavity and may be exposed, and the course of the second yarn type may include a stitch that is knitted into the knitted component adjacent the float.

First claim

We claim:

1. A knitted component, comprising:
a knit layer at least partially formed by a course of a first yarn type, wherein the knit layer comprises a first surface;
a first cavity and a second cavity, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are formed within the knitted component and are each recessed relative to the first surface; and
a first float and a second float, wherein the first float and the second float are formed by a second yarn type, wherein the first float extends across the first cavity, wherein the second float extends across the second cavity, wherein the course of the first yarn type is located on a first side of the first float and a second side of the second float such that the first float is exposed within the first cavity and the second float is exposed within the second cavity, and wherein a length of the first float is different than a length of the second float.

2. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the second yarn type has a tensile strength between 0.4 kg-f and 3.0 kg-f, inclusive.

3. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the second yarn type has a maximum elongation between 20% and 50%, inclusive.

4. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the second yarn type comprises a water repellent coating.

5. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the second yarn type comprises a visual characteristic different than a visual characteristic of the first yarn type.

6. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the second yarn type is a reflective thermoplastic polyurethane yarn.

7. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the first float extends straight across the first cavity.

8. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the first float extends in a U-shape across the first cavity.

9. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the first float rests on a surface of the first cavity.

10. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the second yarn type forms at least one stitch adjacent the first float that is visible from a perspective facing the first surface.

11. A knitted component, comprising:
a knit layer at least partially formed by a first yarn type, the knit layer comprising a first surface;
a first cavity and a second cavity, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are formed within the knitted component and are each recessed relative to the first surface, and wherein a depth of the first cavity is different than a depth of the second cavity; and
a first float and a second float, wherein the first float and the second float are formed with a second yarn type, wherein the first float extends across and is exposed within the first cavity, wherein the second float extends across and is exposed within the second cavity.

12. The knitted component of claim 11 , wherein a height of the first cavity is different than a height of the second cavity.

13. The knitted component of claim 11 , wherein a width of the first cavity is different than a width of the second cavity.

14. The knitted component of claim 11 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity extend in a course-wise direction.

15. The knitted component of claim 11 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity extend in a wale-wise direction.

16. The knitted component of claim 11 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity extend in both a course-wise direction and a wale-wise direction.

17. The knitted component of claim 11 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity extend in a direction other than a course-wise direction or a wale-wise direction.

18. A method of forming a knitted component, comprising:
forming a portion of a knit layer by knitting a course of a first yarn type on a first needle bed and a second needle bed;
forming a cavity in the knit layer by transferring a plurality of stitches of the course of the first yarn type from the first needle bed to the second needle bed; and
knitting a stitch of a second yarn type with the course of the first yarn type and forming a float of the course of the second yarn type that extends across the cavity and is recessed relative to a first surface of the knit layer.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Aceves Tinajero Juan L
• Halligan William P

Classifications

• D04B1/102 Primary

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

• D04B1/24

  wearing apparel · CPC title

• D10B2501/043

  Footwear · CPC title

• D04B1/10 Primary

  Patterned fabrics or articles · CPC title

• D10B2403/0331

  with one or more convex or concave portions of limited extension, e.g. domes or pouches · CPC title