Article of footwear having an upper with knitted elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017119084-A1
Application number	US-201715404635-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 12, 2017
Priority date	Oct 7, 2009
Publication date	May 4, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a collar element for an article of footwear is disclosed. The method comprises knitting the collar element comprising a tubular structure defining an interior cavity and a plurality of floating yarns within the cavity. The method further comprises securing the collar element to an upper of the article of footwear. A method of manufacturing an upper for an article of footwear having a collar element is also disclosed.

First claim

1 . A method of manufacturing a collar element for an article of footwear, the method comprising:
knitting the collar element comprising (a) a tubular structure defining an interior cavity and (b) a plurality of floating yams within the cavity; and securing the collar element to an upper of the article of footwear.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of knitting comprises flat knitting.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of knitting includes forming a flange that extends outward from the tubular structure.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of securing includes placing the flange adjacent to a material layer of the upper and joining the flange to the material layer.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of securing includes locating the collar element along a portion of a lateral side of the upper, around a heel area of the upper, and along a portion of a medial side of the upper.

6 . The method of claim 3 wherein the tubular structure of the collar element comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface.

7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the exterior surface is seamlessly joined to the interior surface in at least a lower portion of the collar element.

8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the flange extends seamlessly outward from the location in which the interior surface and exterior surface of the collar element are seamlessly joined.

9 . A method of manufacturing an upper for an article of footwear, the upper having an ankle opening that provides access to a void, the method comprising:
knitting an upper comprising at least an interior surface and an exterior surface adjacent the ankle opening, knitting the collar element comprising a tubular structure defining an interior cavity having a plurality of floating yarns within the cavity, wherein the collar element is formed of unitary knit construction and is formed as a separate component from other portions of the upper, securing the collar element to at least one of the exterior surface and the interior surface of the upper.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of knitting the collar element includes forming a flange that extends outward from the tubular structure.

11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the step of securing includes placing the flange between the interior surface and exterior surface of the upper.

12 . The method of claim 10 wherein the flange is secured to at least one of the interior surface and exterior surface of the upper.

13 . The method of claim 10 wherein the flange extends seamlessly outward from a location in which an interior surface and an exterior surface of the collar element are seamlessly joined.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Greene Pamela S
• Aveni Michael A
• Lyke Christopher James
• Farris Bryan N

Classifications

• A43B23/028

  Resilient uppers, e.g. shock absorbing · CPC title

• A43B23/026

  Laminated layers · CPC title

• A43B1/04 Primary

  braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted · CPC title

• A43B23/025

  assembled by stitching · CPC title

• A43B23/26

  Tongues for shoes · CPC title