Article of footwear incorporating a knitted component
An article of footwear may include an upper incorporating a knitted component. An inlaid strand extends through the knitted component. A combination feeder may be utilized to inlay the strand within the knitted component. As an example, the combination feeder may include a feeder arm that reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position. In manufacturing the knitted component, the feeder inlays the strand when the feeder arm is in the extended position, and the strand is absent from the knitted component when the feeder arm is in the retracted position.
1 . An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:
a knitted component comprising a knit element and an inlaid strand, wherein the inlaid strand is inlaid within, and extends through, at least one course of the knit element,
wherein the knit element comprises a first perimeter edge and a second perimeter edge, wherein the knit element defines a lace aperture proximate the second perimeter edge and a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an interior surface of the upper, and
wherein a first portion of the inlaid strand extends continuously from the first perimeter edge of the knit element toward the second perimeter edge of the knit element, around the lace aperture while remaining between the exterior surface and the interior surface of the upper proximate the second perimeter edge, and back to the first perimeter edge of the knit element, the lace aperture being structured to receive a lace as the inlaid strand extends around the lace aperture.
2 . The upper for an article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the inlaid strand has a greater stretch-resistance than the knit element, and wherein the inlaid strand has a greater thickness than yarns forming the knit element.
3 . The upper for an article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the upper comprises part of an article of footwear.
4 . The upper for an article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the knit element extends from a throat area of the upper to a lower area of the upper.
5 . The upper for an article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the first perimeter edge of the knit element lies against a surface of a sole structure of the article of footwear when the upper is secured to the sole structure.
6 . The upper for an article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein a second portion of the inlaid strand exits the knit element at a location along the first perimeter edge of the knit element and re-enters the knit element at a different location along the first perimeter edge.
7 . The upper for an article of footwear of claim 6 , wherein the second portion of the inlaid strand forms a loop adjacent to the first perimeter edge between the location where the second portion of the inlaid strand exits the knit element and the location where the second portion of the inlaid strand re-enters the knit element.
8 . The upper for an article of footwear of claim 7 , wherein the first portion of the inlaid strand is configured to be adjusted using the loop formed by the second portion of the inlaid strand.
9 . The upper for an article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the first portion of the inlaid strand remains between the exterior surface and the interior surface of the upper as it extends from the first perimeter edge to the lace aperture defined by the knit element.
10 . The upper for an article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the lace aperture is located in a throat area of the upper.
11 . An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:
a knitted component comprising a knit element and an inlaid strand, wherein the inlaid strand is inlaid within, and extends through, at least one course of the knit element,
wherein the knit element defines a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an interior surface of the upper,
wherein a first portion of the inlaid strand extends from a first perimeter edge of the upper, around a first lace aperture of the knit element while remaining between the exterior surface and the interior surface of the upper proximate a second perimeter edge of the upper, and back to the first perimeter edge of the upper, the first lace aperture being structured to receive a lace as the inlaid strand extends around the first lace aperture, and
wherein a second portion of the inlaid strand, continuous with the first portion, extends from the first perimeter edge of the upper and turns in an area adjacent, and between, the first lace aperture and a second lace aperture proximate the second perimeter edge of the upper while remaining between the exterior surface and the interior surface, and extends back to the first perimeter edge of the upper, without extending around a lace aperture.
12 . The upper for an article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the inlaid strand has a greater stretch resistance than the knit element.
13 . The upper for an article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the inlaid strand has a greater thickness than yarns forming the knit element.
14 . The upper for an article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein a third portion of the inlaid strand extends outward from a first location of the first perimeter edge of the upper and forms a loop, re-entering the first perimeter edge of the upper at a second location, the first location being different than the second location, where at the first location the third portion of inlaid strand is continuous with the first portion of inlaid strand as the first portion extends around the first lace aperture in a throat area to the first perimeter edge, and at the second location the third portion of inlaid strand is continuous with the second portion of inlaid strand as the second portion extends from the first perimeter edge to the throat area of the upper.
15 . The upper for an article of footwear of claim 14 , wherein a first section of the first portion of the inlaid strand extends along a first course of the knit element, and wherein a second section of the first portion of the inlaid strand extends along a second course of the knit element.
16 . An article of footwear, comprising:
an upper, comprising:
an inner perimeter edge;
an outer perimeter edge;
an interior surface;
an exterior surface; and
a knit element forming at least part of the upper, the knit element comprising:
a lace aperture proximate the inner perimeter edge; and
a strand inlaid into the knit element, wherein the strand extends from the outer perimeter, around the lace aperture, and back toward the outer perimeter while remaining within the knit element between the interior surface and the exterior surface; and
a sole structure attached to the upper.
17 . The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein the lace aperture is located in a throat area of the upper.
18 . The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein the inlaid strand has a greater stretch resistance than the knit element.
19 . The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein the inlaid strand has a greater thickness than yarns forming the knit element.
20 . The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein the outer perimeter edge of the knit element lies against a surface of the sole structure of the article of footwear when the upper is attached to the sole structure.