Knitted components exhibiting color shifting effects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12359352-B2
Application number	US-202318302621-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2023
Priority date	Sep 30, 2014
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

A knitted component may include a knitted base portion located between a first non-planar structure and a second non-planar structure. The knitted base portion may include a first area located adjacent to the first non-planar structure, and the first area may include at least one course of a first base yarn. The knitted base portion may include a second area located adjacent to the second non-planar structure, and the second area may include at least one course of a second base yarn. The first base yarn may have a first color and the second base yarn may have a second color different from the first color.

First claim

We claim:

1. A knitted component for an article of footwear, the knitted component comprising:
at least one raised knit structure including a first portion and a second portion disposed on opposite sides of the at least one raised knit structure; and
a base portion integrally knit with and disposed adjacent to the at least one raised knit structure, wherein the at least one raised knit structure extends away from the base portion;
wherein the first portion of the at least one raised knit structure exhibits a first visual effect when the at least one raised knit structure is viewed from a first viewing angle and the second portion of the at least one raised knit structure exhibits a second visual effect when the at least one raised knit structure is viewed from a second viewing angle that is different than the first viewing angle, wherein the at least one raised knit structure has a first segment extending in a first direction and a second segment extending in a second direction that is different than the first direction.

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

3. The knitted component of claim 2 , wherein the second visual effect is a second color.

4. The knitted component of claim 3 , wherein the first color is exhibited by a first yarn forming the first portion of the at least one raised knit structure.

5. The knitted component of claim 4 , wherein the second color is exhibited by a second yarn forming the second portion of the at least one raised knit structure.

6. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the first portion is a first circumferential portion forming a first side of the at least one raised knit structure and the second portion is a second circumferential portion forming a second side of the at least one raised knit structure.

7. An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:
at least one raised knit structure including a first portion and a second portion disposed on opposite sides of the at least one raised knit structure; and
a base portion integrally knit with and disposed adjacent to the at least one raised knit structure, wherein the at least one raised knit structure extends away from the base portion on an exterior surface of the upper;
wherein the first portion of the at least one raised knit structure exhibits a first visual effect when the at least one raised knit structure is viewed from a first viewing angle and the second portion of the at least one raised knit structure exhibits a second visual effect when the at least one raised knit structure is viewed from a second viewing angle that is different than the first viewing angle, wherein the at least one raised knit structure has a first segment extending in a first direction and a second segment extending in a second direction that is different than the first direction.

8. The upper of claim 7 , wherein the first visual effect is a first color.

9. The upper of claim 7 , wherein the second visual effect is a second color.

10. The upper of claim 8 , wherein the first color is exhibited by a first yarn forming the first portion of the at least one raised knit structure.

11. The upper of claim 9 , wherein the second color is exhibited by a second yarn forming the second portion of the at least one raised knit structure.

12. An article of footwear, comprising:
an upper, comprising:
a knitted component, comprising:
a base portion; and
a raised knit structure integrally knitted with the base portion, the raised knit structure comprising a first portion and a second portion positioned on opposite circumferential sides of the raised knit structure, wherein the first portion exhibits a first visual effect when viewed from a first viewing angle and wherein the second portion exhibits a second visual effect when viewed from a second viewing angle.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the first visual effect is a first color and wherein the second visual effect is a second color.

14. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the raised knit structure comprises a tubular knit structure.

15. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the raised knit structure comprises a tubular rib structure.

16. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the raised knit structure comprises one of a plurality of raised knit structures, and wherein the base portion comprises one of a plurality of base portions separating the plurality of raised knit structures, wherein each base portion comprises a color, wherein the color is exposed by stretching the knitted component to shift the plurality of raised knit structures apart from each other.

17. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the base portion comprises an elastic material, and wherein the raised knit structure comprises a first raised knit structure, and the base portion is positioned between the first raised knit structure and a second raised knit structure, wherein the base portion is substantially obscured when the base portion is in an unstretched configuration, and wherein the base portion is visible when the base portion is in a stretched configuration.

18. An article of footwear, comprising:
an upper, comprising:
a knitted component, comprising:
a base portion;
a first tubular knit structure; and
a second tubular knit structure;
wherein the first tubular knit structure and the second tubular knit structure are separated by the base portion, the base portion being integrally knitted with the first tubular knit structure and the second tubular knit structure, wherein the base portion can shift between an unstretched configuration and a stretched configuration, wherein, in the stretched configuration, the base portion reveals a color.

19. The article of footwear of claim 18 , wherein the first tubular knit structure comprises a first circumferential portion that comprises a first yarn comprising a first color and a second circumferential portion that comprises a second yarn comprising a second color.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Meir Adrian
• Podhajny Daniel A

Classifications

• A43B23/04

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

• D10B2403/0113

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

• D10B2403/02411

  with a single array of unbent yarn, e.g. unidirectional reinforcement fabrics · CPC title

• D10B2501/043

  Footwear · CPC title

• D10B2401/20

  optical · CPC title