Article of footwear incorporating a trimmed knitted upper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9339076-B2
Application number	US-201414191619-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2014
Priority date	Sep 5, 2013
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper that is connected to the sole structure. The upper includes a flat knitted component formed of unitary knit construction. The flat knitted component includes a trim region that defines a trimmed outer edge of the flat knitted component. The trimmed outer edge is disposed proximate to the sole structure. The trimmed outer edge defines a first dimension of the flat knitted component that corresponds to a first foot size. The trim region further defines a trim line that is spaced from the trimmed outer edge in an inboard direction on the flat knitted component. The trim line defines a second dimension of the flat knitted component that corresponds to a second foot size.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of footwear associated with one of a first foot size and a second foot size, the article of footwear comprising:
a sole structure; and
an upper that is connected to the sole structure, the upper including a flat knitted component formed of unitary knit construction;
the flat knitted component including a trim region that defines a trimmed outer edge of the flat knitted component, the trimmed outer edge being disposed proximate to the sole structure;
wherein the trimmed outer edge of the flat knitted component is associated with a first dimension of the upper that corresponds to the first foot size;
wherein the trim region further comprises a trim line that is spaced from the trimmed outer edge in an inboard direction on the flat knitted component; and
wherein the trim line defines a second dimension of the upper that corresponds to the second foot size, the second foot size being smaller than the first foot size.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , the upper further comprising a skin layer, the skin layer being attached to the flat knitted component along a portion of the trimmed outer edge to prevent unraveling of the flat knitted component at the trimmed outer edge.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the flat knitted component includes at least one fusible strand that is disposed proximate the trimmed outer edge, the at least one fusible strand being configured to prevent unraveling of the flat knitted component at the trimmed outer edge.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the flat knitted component comprises a knit element and at least one tensile strand, the knit element and the tensile strand being formed of unitary knit construction;
wherein the knit element includes the trim region;
wherein the at least one tensile strand further includes an inlaid portion that is inlaid within the knit element and an exposed portion that is exposed from the knit element;
wherein the exposed portion of the at least one tensile strand is disposed adjacent the trimmed outer edge and is configured to be manipulated for moving and adjusting the inlaid portion relative to the knit element; and
wherein the exposed portion is spaced from the trimmed outer edge in the inboard direction on the flat knitted component.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4 , wherein the inlaid portion is a first inlaid portion, the at least one tensile strand further including a second inlaid portion that is inlaid within the knit element; and
wherein the exposed portion of the at least one tensile strand extends continuously between the first inlaid portion and the second inlaid portion.

6. The article of footwear of claim 4 , wherein the knit element includes a first layer and a second layer formed of unitary knit construction;
wherein the first layer and the second layer overlay each other and are disconnected in the trim region;
wherein the first layer and the second layer cooperate to define the trimmed outer edge; and
wherein the exposed portion of the at least one tensile strand is disposed between the first layer and the second layer in the trim region.

7. The article of footwear of claim 4 , wherein the knit element includes a body that is at least partially bordered by the trim region;
wherein the knit element includes a first layer and a second layer formed of unitary knit construction, wherein the first layer and the second layer overlay each other and are connected in the body;
wherein the first layer extends away in an outboard direction from the body and the second layer to define the trim region and the trimmed outer edge; and
wherein the exposed portion of the at least one tensile strand is disposed on the first layer within the trim region.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the trimmed outer edge extends continuously between a medial side of the upper, a forefoot region of the upper, and a lateral side of the upper.

9. An article of footwear configured to fit a foot size, the article of footwear comprising:
a sole structure; and
an upper that is connected to the sole structure, the upper including a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction, the knitted component comprising:
a knit element that includes a trim region that defines a trimmed outer edge of the knitted component, wherein the trimmed outer edge is trimmed to a predetermined dimension, the predetermined dimension corresponding to the foot size; and
a tensile strand formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element, the tensile strand including an inlaid portion that is inlaid within the knit element, the tensile strand further including an exposed portion that is exposed from the knit element;
wherein the exposed portion is disposed adjacent the trimmed outer edge;
wherein the exposed portion is configured to be manipulated for moving and adjusting the inlaid portion relative to the knit element; and
wherein the exposed portion is spaced from the trimmed outer edge in an inboard direction on the knit element.

10. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the inlaid portion is a first inlaid portion, the tensile strand further including a second inlaid portion that is inlaid within the knit element; and
wherein the exposed portion extends continuously between the first inlaid portion and the second inlaid portion.

11. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the knit element includes a first layer and a second layer formed of unitary knit construction;
wherein the first layer and the second layer overlay each other and are disconnected in the trim region;
wherein the first layer and the second layer cooperate to define the trimmed outer edge; and
wherein the exposed portion is disposed between the first layer and the second layer in the trim region.

12. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the knit element further includes a body that is at least partially bordered by the trim region;
wherein the knit element includes a first layer and a second layer formed of unitary knit construction;
wherein the first layer and the second layer overlay each other and are connected in the body;
wherein the first layer extends away in an outboard direction from the body and the second layer to define the trim region and the outer edge; and
wherein the exposed portion of the tensile strand is disposed on the first layer within the trim region.

13. A knitted component configured to be integrated into an upper of an article of footwear, the knitted component formed of unitary knit construction, the knitted component comprising:
a knit element, the knit element including a body and a trim region, the body configured to define at least a portion of the upper, the trim region defining an outer edge of the knit element, a first dimension of the knit element defined at least partly by the outer edge, the trim region configured to be trimmed along a predetermined trim line to reduce the first dimension to a second dimension; and
a tensile strand, the tensile strand being formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element, the tensile strand comprising:
an inlaid portion that is inlaid within the knit element; and
an exposed portion that is exposed from the knit element, the exposed portion being disposed adjacent the outer edge of the knit element;
wherein the exposed portion is configured to be manipulated for moving and adjusting the inlaid portion relative to the knit element; and
wherein the exposed portion is spaced from the outer edge of the knit element in an inboard direction on the knit element.

14. The knitted component of claim 13 , further

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Droege John
• Podhajny Daniel A

Classifications

• A43B3/0089

  with means to identify the size of the shoe · CPC title

• A43B23/086

  made of impregnated fabrics, plastics or the like · CPC title

• D10B2403/032

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

• A43B23/0275

  with a part of the upper particularly rigid, e.g. resisting articulation or torsion · CPC title

• A43B23/0255

  assembled by gluing or thermo bonding · CPC title