IP Library Granted Patent US 8,266,749
Granted Patent B2
US 8,266,749 · App. 13/236,742 · Granted Sep 18, 2012

Article of footwear having a textile upper

Assignee: Nike, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,266,749
App. No.
13/236,742
Granted
Sep 18, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction. The first area is formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area is formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying textures to a surface of the textile element. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element.

Claims (28)

1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising:

simultaneously knitting a textile element with a surrounding textile structure, the knitted textile element having at least one knitted texture that differs from a knitted texture in the surrounding knitted textile structure;

removing the knitted textile element from the surrounding knitted textile structure;

incorporating the knitted textile element into the article of footwear.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein simultaneously knitting a textile element with a surrounding textile structure includes simultaneously knitting a plurality of textile elements.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein simultaneously knitting a textile element with a surrounding textile includes knitting an outline of the knitted textile element.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the outline has the shape and proportion of the knitted textile element.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the knitted textile element has a substantially planar configuration upon removal from the surrounding knitted textile structure.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the knitted textile element includes longitudinal edges formed when the knitted textile element is removed from the surrounding knitted textile structure.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the longitudinal edges are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the knitted textile element has a plurality of different knitted textures formed by varying at least one of the stitch type and the yarn type.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein simultaneously knitting a textile element with a surrounding textile structure includes utilizing a wide-tube circular knitting machine.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein simultaneously knitting a textile element with a surrounding textile structure includes utilizing a jacquard double needle-bar raschel knitting machine.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein simultaneously knitting a textile element with a surrounding textile structure includes forming the knitted textile element to include a first area and a second area with a unitary construction, the first area being formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area being formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying textures to a surface of the knitted textile element.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein incorporating the knitted textile element into the article of footwear includes securing edges of the knitted textile element to form a seam that extends along a lower region of an upper and securing the upper to a sole structure.

13. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising:

knitting a first textile element and a second textile element simultaneously with knitting a surrounding textile structure, the first knitted textile element located within a first portion of the knitted textile structure, the second knitted textile element located within a second portion of the knitted textile structure,

varying at least one of the types of stitches or the types of yarns in the knitted textile structure to impart a texture to the first and second knitted textile elements different from a texture of the knitted textile structure extending between the first and second portions;

removing the first and second knitted textile elements from the knitted textile structure;

incorporating at least one of the first and second knitted textile elements into the article of footwear.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein knitting a first textile knitted element simultaneously with a surrounding knitted textile structure includes knitting an outline of the first knitted textile element.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first and second textile knitted elements have substantially planar configurations upon removal from the surrounding knitted textile structure.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first knitted textile element includes longitudinal edges formed when the first knitted textile element is removed from the surrounding knitted textile structure.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the longitudinal edges are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein incorporating the first knitted textile element into the article of footwear includes securing the longitudinal edges of the first knitted textile element to form a seam that extends along a lower region of an upper.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein knitting the first and second knitted textile elements simultaneously with a surrounding knitted textile structure includes utilizing a wide-tube circular knitting machine.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein knitting the first and second textile knitted elements simultaneously with a surrounding knitted textile structure includes utilizing a jacquard double needle-bar raschel knitting machine.

21. The method of claim 13 , wherein knitting the first knitted textile element simultaneously with a surrounding knitted textile structure includes forming the first knitted textile element to include a first area and a second area with a unitary construction, the first area being formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area being formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying textures to a surface of the first knitted textile element.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2019
From: DUA, BHUPESH; THOMAS, EDWARD NATHANIEL
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 049749/0295 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 12879517 · Sep 10, 2010
Continuation 12032995 · Feb 18, 2008
Division 10791289 · Mar 3, 2004
Related Publication 20120005922A1 · Jan 12, 2012