Article comprising a knit element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12577709-B2
Application number	US-202318480908-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2023
Priority date	Sep 8, 2020
Publication date	Mar 17, 2026
Grant date	Mar 17, 2026

Abstract

A customized, flat-knit multi-zonal element for a shoe upper and a method of producing such an element that allows for continuous knitting while controlling positioning of individual threads. One or more carriages may move continuously along the needle bed while threads are provided to the needles for a complete stroke. Knit elements may include multiple zones with differing properties. Threads may alter positions within knit structures from zone to zone. A knit element may include a first zone in a first plane that includes at least two merged threads to form a merged knit structure and a second zone in a second plane connected to the first zone seamlessly. Some knit structures may be positioned throughout the knit element such that they control a position of zones relative to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A flat-knit element for a shoe upper, comprising:
a first section comprising a first thread and a second thread merged together and forming merged knit structures in at least one layer of the first section; and a second section coupled seamlessly to the first section, the second section comprising: a first knit layer comprising at least one first knit structure formed from the first thread of the first section on the first knit layer of the flat-knit element, wherein the first thread is separated from the second thread in the first knit layer; and a second knit layer comprising at least one second knit structure formed from the second thread of the first section formed on the second knit layer of the flat-knit element, wherein the second thread is separated from the first thread in the second knit layer.

2 . The flat-knit element of claim 1 , further comprising a third thread connecting the first and second knit layers of the second section using tuck stitches, loops, or a combination of tuck stitches and loops at at least some stitch positions.

3 . The flat-knit element of claim 2 , wherein the second section comprises a spacer mesh construction.

4 . The flat-knit element of claim 1 , further comprising a third thread in the second section, wherein the third thread is absent from the first section.

5 . The flat-knit element of claim 1 , further comprising a third thread in the first and second sections, wherein the third thread forms part of one or more of the merged knit structures in the first section and connects the layers of the second section.

6 . The flat-knit element of claim 1 , wherein the first thread and the second thread comprise at least one predetermined characteristic selected from elasticity, melt temperature, an ability to thermally regulate, antistatic properties, antibacterial properties, abrasion resistance, cut resistance, heat resistance, water resistance, chemical resistance, flame resistance, grip, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, data transmission, strength, elongation, weight, breathability, moisture wicking capability, water-repellence, compression, shrinkability, cushioning, reflectivity, insulation, durability, washability, reactivity, predetermined energy absorption and/or luminescence.

7 . The flat-knit element of claim 1 , wherein the first thread of the first section forms a first plurality of knitting structures on the first knit layer of the second section of the flat-knit element, and wherein the second thread of the first section forms a second plurality of knitting structures on the second knit layer of the second section of the flat-knit element.

8 . The flat-knit element of claim 1 , further comprising a third section seamlessly coupled to the second section and formed from the first thread and the second thread of the first section as merged threads forming one or more merged knit structures in the third section.

9 . The flat-knit element of claim 1 , further comprising a third section comprising one or more knit structures formed from the first thread and the second thread of the first section such that a pocket is formed in the second section.

10 . The flat-knit element of claim 1 , wherein the first thread and the second thread have been positioned using exchange plating, merging, diverging, intarsia, or jacquard knitting to create a predetermined design.

11 . The flat-knit element of claim 1 , wherein the first section connects to second section seamlessly using at least one of tuck stitches, loops, and floats.

12 . The flat-knit element of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the flat-knit element is a double-layer.

13 . The flat-knit element of claim 1 , wherein the flat-knit element comprises a plurality of flat-knit elements of a predetermined design each having stitch sizes within a predetermined stitch size tolerance relative to each other.

14 . A custom flat-knit element for a shoe upper, comprising:
a first section comprising a first thread and a second thread merged together and forming merged knit structures; and a second section seamlessly coupled to at least a portion of the first section, the second section comprising:
a first knit layer comprising at least one first knit structure formed from the first thread of the first section on the first knit layer of the knit element, wherein the first thread is separated from the second thread in the first knit layer; and
a second knit layer comprising at least one second knit structure formed from the second thread of the first section formed on the second knit layer of the knit element, wherein the second thread is separated from the first thread in the second knit layer; and
wherein at least one of the first and second knit layers of the second section comprises a third thread.

15 . The custom flat-knit element of claim 14 , wherein the third thread connects the layers of the second section using tuck stitches, loops, or a combination of tuck stitches and loops at at least some stitch positions.

16 . The custom flat-knit element of claim 14 , wherein the second section comprises a spacer mesh construction.

17 . The custom flat-knit element of claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the flat-knit element is a double-layer and wherein each of the first and second knit structures comprises a loop, a tuck stitch, or a float insertion positioned on an external layer, an internal layer, or in an interstitial space between the layers.

18 . The custom flat-knit element of claim 14 , wherein one of more of the first thread, the second thread, and the third thread comprise at least one predetermined characteristic selected from elasticity, melt temperature, an ability to thermally regulate, antistatic properties, antibacterial properties, abrasion resistance, cut resistance, heat resistance, water resistance, chemical resistance, flame resistance, grip, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, data transmission, strength, elongation, weight, breathability, moisture wicking capability, water-repellence, compression, shrinkability, cushioning, reflectivity, insulation, durability, washability, reactivity, predetermined energy absorption and/or luminescence.

19 . The custom flat-knit element of claim 14 , further comprising a third section comprising one or more knit structures formed from the first and second threads of the first section such that a pocket is formed in the second section.

20 . The custom flat-knit element of claim 14 , wherein each of the first and second sections of the flat-knit element has a predetermined design and at least some of the threads have been positioned using exchange plating, merging, diverging, intarsia, or jacquard knitting.

Assignees

• Adidas Ag

Inventors

• Poegl Florian
• Rempp Wolfgang R
• Jenter Roland
• Linz Matthias
• Filipescu Florin
• Tamm Stefan

Classifications

• A43B1/04

  braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted · CPC title

• D04B15/48

  Thread-feeding devices · CPC title

• D04B1/12

  characterised by thread material · CPC title

• D10B2403/032

  Flat fabric of variable width, e.g. including one or more fashioned panels · CPC title

• D10B2501/043

  Footwear · CPC title