Upper for an article of footwear with first and second knitted portions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018317593-A1
Application number	US-201815969994-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 3, 2018
Priority date	May 5, 2017
Publication date	Nov 8, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An upper may include a first knitted portion configured to form an outer surface of the upper, a second knitted portion configured to form an inner surface of the upper, where the second knitted portion is at least partially coextensive with the first knitted portion, an interstitial space between the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion, and a knitted connection structure connecting the first knitted portion to the second knitted portion. The knitted connection structure may extend at least partially along at least one of a tongue and a collar of the upper, and the second knitted portion may include at least one double jersey knit structure that is coextensive with the first knitted portion.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An upper, the upper comprising:
a first knitted portion configured to form an outer surface of the upper; a second knitted portion configured to form an inner surface of the upper, wherein the second knitted portion is at least partially coextensive with the first knitted portion; an interstitial space between the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion; and a knitted connection structure connecting the first knitted portion to the second knitted portion, wherein the knitted connection structure extends at least partially along at least one of a tongue and a collar of the upper, and wherein the second knitted portion includes at least one double jersey knit structure that is coextensive with the first knitted portion.

2 . The upper of claim 1 , wherein the first knitted portion includes a first plurality of courses, wherein the second knitted portion includes a second plurality of courses, and wherein the knitted connection structure is located between the first plurality of courses and the second plurality of courses with respect to a knitting direction.

3 . The upper of claim 2 , wherein at least one course of the first plurality of courses and at least one course of the second plurality of courses each include a double jersey knit structure.

4 . The upper of claim 1 , wherein the first knitted portion is secured to the second knitted portion at least partially along a biteline of the upper.

5 . The upper of claim 1 , wherein the first knitted portion includes a window, and wherein an area of the second knitted portion is visible through the window.

6 . The upper of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion includes an inlaid bulking yarn configured to provide cushioning to the upper.

7 . The upper of claim 1 , wherein the upper includes a lateral heel area and a medial heel area that meet at a seam.

8 . The upper of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion includes at least one inlaid tensile strand.

9 . The upper of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion includes a tubular knitted structure forming a pocket.

10 . An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:
a first knitted portion forming an outer surface of the upper; a second knitted portion forming an inner surface of the upper; and a connection structure securing the first knitted portion with the second knitted portion, wherein the connection structure includes at least one loop incorporated into a course of the first knitted portion and at least one loop incorporated into a course of the second knitted portion, and wherein the second knitted portion includes at least one double jersey knit structure that is coextensive with the first knitted portion.

11 . The upper of claim 10 , wherein the first knitted portion includes a first plurality of courses, wherein the second knitted portion includes a second plurality of courses, and wherein the connection structure is located between the first plurality of courses and the second plurality of courses with respect to a knitting direction.

12 . The upper of claim 11 , wherein at least one course of the first plurality of courses and at least one course of the second plurality of courses includes a double jersey knit structure.

13 . The upper of claim 10 , wherein the connection structure extends at least partially around a collar of the upper.

14 . The upper of claim 10 , further comprising a seam where a lateral heel area and a medial heel area are connected, wherein the lateral heel area and the medial heel area are each at least partially formed by the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion.

15 . A method of forming an upper, the method comprising:
knitting a first knitted portion configured to form an outer surface of the upper; knitting a second knitted portion configured to form an inner surface facing a void formed by the upper; and knitting a connection structure connecting the first knitted portion to the second knitted portion, wherein the connection structure extends at least partially along at least one of a tongue and a collar of the upper, and wherein the second knitted portion includes at least one double jersey knit structure that is coextensive with the first knitted portion.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising inverting at least one of the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion during a folding step.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the upper includes a lateral heel area and a medial heel area when folded, and wherein the method further comprises securing the lateral heel area to the medial heel area at a seam.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the connection structure extends along a tongue of the upper and along a collar of the upper.

19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising inlaying a tensile strand in at least one of the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion includes a tubular knitted structure forming a pocket for receiving an insert.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Dealey Stuart W

Classifications

• A43B23/0215

  Plastics or artificial leather · CPC title

• D04B1/22

  specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration · CPC title

• A43B23/26

  Tongues for shoes · CPC title

• D10B2403/032

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

• A43B9/00

  Footwear characterised by the assembling of the individual parts · CPC title