Knitted components and articles for improved ball control and durability
A knitted component with a surface that includes first areas and second areas having different relative coefficient of frictions and that are formed in an alternating pattern. The first areas of the first surface are 40% to 80% of the total surface area for the first surface. The alternating pattern may be in the form of concentric shapes. The alternating pattern may have linear boundaries and curvilinear boundaries between first areas and second areas. The first areas can be formed from a first yarn having a core and a coating. The coating at least partially surrounds the core.
1 . An article of footwear comprising:
an upper comprising:
a knitted component comprising an inner-facing surface of the upper and an outer-facing surface of the upper, the outer-facing surface comprising:
first areas comprising a thermoformed network of interlooped yarns comprising a first yarn comprising a core and a thermoplastic polymeric composition at least partially surrounding the core; and
second areas comprising a second yarn different from the first yarn,
wherein the first areas have a higher coefficient of friction than the second areas for increased ball traction;
wherein the first areas form an alternating pattern with the second areas such that the first areas are 40% to 80% of a total surface area of the outer-facing surface of the upper,
wherein the alternating pattern extends in at least a forefoot region of the article of footwear; and
wherein the inner-facing surface comprises a third area opposite to the first areas and the second areas located on the outer-facing surface, the third area including a third yarn comprising an elastic material;
wherein at least a portion of the thermoformed thermoplastic polymeric composition that is thermoformed extends completely from the outer-facing surface into the inner-facing surface.
2 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymeric composition comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.
3 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the second areas exclude the thermoformed network of interlooped yarns.
4 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the coefficient of friction of the first areas and the coefficient of friction of the second areas are dynamic coefficients of friction.
5 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second yarn is exposed adjacent to the thermoformed network of interlooped yarns.
6 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the alternating pattern is a concentric pattern.
7 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the first areas comprise a plurality of raised elements and wherein a boundary between the first areas and second areas is curvilinear.
8 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein a boundary between the first areas and second areas is linear.
9 . An article of footwear comprising:
a knitted upper comprising an external-facing surface portion and an opposite internal-facing surface portion, the external-facing surface portion comprising:
first areas comprising a thermoformed network of interlooped yarns comprising a first yarn; and
second areas comprising a second yarn,
wherein the first areas have a higher coefficient of friction than the second areas for increased ball traction;
wherein the first areas form a first alternating pattern with the second areas in a first region of the external-facing surface portion such that the first areas are 40% to 80% of a total surface area of the external-facing surface portion in the first region,
wherein a plurality of raised elements on the external-facing surface portion continuously extends across a first area of the first areas; and
wherein the internal-facing surface portion comprises a third area opposite to the first areas and the second areas located on the external-facing surface portion, the third area comprising an elastic material;
wherein at least a portion of the thermoformed network of interlooped yarns extends completely from the external-facing surface portion into the internal-facing surface portion.
10 . The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the first areas and the second areas form a second alternating pattern in a second region of the external-facing surface portion such that the first areas are 40% to 80% of a total surface area of the external-facing surface portion in the second region.
11 . The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the first region is on a medial portion of the knitted upper and the second region is on a lateral portion of the knitted upper.
12 . The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the first alternating pattern is a concentric pattern.
13 . The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the first alternating pattern comprises at least one of a curvilinear boundary and a linear boundary located between a first area of the first areas and a second area of the second areas.
14 . The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the first yarn comprises a core, and wherein a thermoplastic elastomer is thermoformed and interconnects the interlooped yarns by surrounding at least a portion of the core and occupying at least a portion of spaces between yarns in the thermoformed network of interlooped yarns.
15 . The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the first region extends across at least a portion of a toe area of the knitted upper.
16 . The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the third area comprises a third yarn that is elastic, and wherein the third yarn is absent from the external-facing surface portion of the knitted upper.
17 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprising an upper that comprises a knitted component comprising an outer-facing surface of the upper and an inner-facing surface opposite to the outer-facing surface, the method comprising:
knitting a first yarn and a second yarn into the knitted component; and
thermoforming the outer-facing surface of the knitted component, wherein the outer-facing surface of the knitted component comprises:
first areas having a first coefficient of friction, the first areas comprising a thermoformed network of interlooped yarns, each yarn having a core and a thermoplastic elastomer that interconnects the interlooped yarns by surrounding at least a portion of each core and occupying at least a portion of spaces between yarns in the thermoformed network of interlooped yarn, and
second areas having a second coefficient of friction that is less than the first coefficient of friction, the second areas comprising a second yarn that is different than the first yarn,
wherein the first areas have a higher coefficient of friction than the second areas for increased ball traction,
wherein the first areas form an alternating pattern with the second areas such that the first areas are 40% to 80% of a total surface area of the outer-facing surface,
wherein thermoforming the outer-facing surface comprises molding the outer-facing surface to form one or more raised elements on the outer-facing surface,
wherein the inner-facing surface of the upper comprises a third area opposite to the first areas and the second areas located on the outer-facing surface, the third area comprising an elastic material; wherein at least a portion of the thermoplastic elastomer is thermoformed such that it extends completely from the outer-facing surface and into the inner-facing surface; and
securing the upper to a sole structure.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the molding includes an application of heat and/or an application of pressure.
19 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the third yarn comprises an elastic polyurethane material.
20 . The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the elastic material includes a third yarn comprising an elastic polyurethane material.
21 . The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of raised elements are located on a lateral side of the knitted upper.
22 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the elastic material includes a third yarn comprising an elastic polyurethane material.
23 . The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein at least some of the plurality of raised elements are located on a medial side of the knitted upper, wherein a lateral side of the knitted upper has a greater quantity of raised elements than the medial side.
24 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the third yarn of the third area remains non-thermoformed.
25 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the alternating pattern extends continuously across both a medial portion and a lateral portion of the upper.