IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,486,600
Granted Patent B2
US 12,486,600 · App. 18/083,262 · Granted Dec 2, 2025

Article of footwear incorporating a knitted component with a tongue

Inventors: Bhupesh Dua (Portland, OR); Daniel A. Podhajny (Beaverton, OR); Benjamin A. Shaffer (Sarasota, CA); Daren P Tatler (Hillsboro, OR); Bruce Huffa (Encino, CA)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
D04B1/24A43B1/04A43B23/0205A43B23/0245A43B23/0265A43B23/26A43C5/00D04B1/102D04B1/104D04B1/12D04B1/123D04B1/126D04B1/22D04B7/24D04B7/28D04B15/56D04B37/02D04B19/00D10B2401/041D10B2403/0113D10B2403/0114D10B2403/023D10B2403/0241D10B2403/032D10B2501/043
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,486,600
App. No.
18/083,262
Granted
Dec 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper. An inlaid strand may extend through the knit element, and a tongue and the knit element may have a common yarn at least at a forward portion of the tongue, and the tongue may extend through a throat area of the upper.

Claims (35)

1 . An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper, comprising:

a knit element forming at least part of:

a forefoot region of the upper, and

a tongue,

wherein the tongue is integrally knitted with the forefoot region at a forward portion of the tongue,

wherein the knit element extends continuously across and over the forefoot region between a medial side of the upper and a lateral side of the upper, and

wherein, in a throat area of the upper, at least one of a lateral edge of the tongue and a medial edge of the tongue overlaps with the knit element.

2 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the tongue is formed of a unitary knit construction with the knit element.

3 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the knit element comprises a perimeter edge that extends continuously between the medial side and the lateral side and around the forefoot region.

4 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the knit element integrally extends from the forefoot region of the upper to a distal end of the tongue proximate to a collar area of the upper, and wherein the lateral edge of the tongue and the medial edge of the tongue are coextensive with the knit element in the forefoot region.

5 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the knit element comprises an inlaid strand.

6 . An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper, comprising:

a knit element that integrally extends from a medial side of the upper, over a forefoot region of the upper, and to a lateral side of the upper; and

a tongue that integrally extends from the forefoot region into a throat area of the upper, wherein the tongue comprises a first knit layer and a second knit layer that are at least partially coextensive, and wherein at least one yarn present in the first knit layer is excluded from the second knit layer.

7 . The article of footwear of claim 6 , wherein the tongue is formed of a unitary knit construction with the knit element.

8 . The article of footwear of claim 6 , wherein the knit element comprises a perimeter edge that extends continuously between the medial side and the lateral side and around the forefoot region.

9 . The article of footwear of claim 6 , wherein the knit element integrally extends from the forefoot region of the upper to a distal end of the tongue proximate to a collar area of the upper, and wherein the first knit layer is part of an interior facing surface of the tongue and the second knit layer is part of an exterior facing surface of the tongue.

10 . The article of footwear of claim 6 , wherein the knit element comprises an inlaid strand.

11 . An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper, comprising:

a knit element that forms at least part of the upper and a tongue, wherein the knit element is integrally knit with the tongue in a medial direction, in a lateral direction, in a forefoot direction, and in a throat direction, wherein the tongue comprises a first knit layer and a second knit layer that are overlapping and coextensive with one another, and wherein the knit element comprises a first knitted structure and the tongue comprises a second knitted structure that is different than the first knitted structure.

12 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the first knit layer forms an inner facing surface of the tongue and the second knit layer forms an outer facing surface of the tongue, and wherein at least one yarn included in the first knit layer is excluded from the second knit layer.

13 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the knit element integrally extends from a forefoot region of the upper to a distal end of the tongue proximate to a collar area of the upper, and wherein the knit element integrally extends between a medial side of the upper and a lateral side of the upper in the forefoot region.

14 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the knit element comprises an inlaid strand.

15 . An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper, comprising:

a knit element forming at least part of:

a forefoot region of the upper; and

a tongue comprising a first knit layer on an interior side and a second knit layer on an exterior side, wherein at least one yarn present in the first knit layer is excluded from the second knit layer,

wherein the tongue and the forefoot region are formed of a unitary knit construction, such that the tongue integrally extends from the forefoot region into a throat area, and

wherein the knit element extends seamlessly between a medial side of the forefoot region and a lateral side of the forefoot region.

16 . The article of footwear of claim 15 , wherein the tongue comprises a first side edge adjacent to a medial side of the upper and a second side edge adjacent to a lateral side of the upper, wherein the first side edge and the second side edge each overlap part of the knit element.

17 . The article of footwear of claim 15 , wherein the knit element comprises a mesh zone comprising a plurality of apertures.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2023
From: DUA, BHUPESH; PODHAJNY, DANIEL A.; SHAFFER, BENJAMIN A.; TATLER, DAREN P.
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 062535/0240 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 17510331 · Oct 25, 2021
Continuation 16413997 · May 16, 2019
Continuation 15268086 · Sep 16, 2016
Continuation 14091367 · Nov 27, 2013
Continuation 13474531 · May 17, 2012
Continuation 13400511 · Feb 20, 2012
Related Publication 20230124221A1 · Apr 20, 2023
References Cited (249)
US 601192A · Woodside · 1898 [cited by applicant]
US 1215198A · Rothstein · 1917 [cited by applicant]
US 1597934A · Stimpson · 1926 [cited by applicant]
US 1888172A · Joha · 1932 [cited by applicant]
US 1902780A · Holden et al. · 1933 [cited by applicant]
US 1910251A · Joha · 1933 [cited by applicant]
US 2001293A · Wallace · 1935 [cited by applicant]
US 2047724A · Zuckerman · 1936 [cited by applicant]
US 2147197A · Glidden · 1939 [cited by applicant]
US 2314098A · Raymond · 1943 [cited by applicant]
US 2330199A · Holmes · 1943 [cited by applicant]
US 2343390A · Ushakoff · 1944 [cited by applicant]
US 2400692A · Herbert · 1946 [cited by applicant]
US 2440393A · Clark · 1948 [cited by applicant]
US 2569764A · Jonas · 1951 [cited by applicant]
US 2586045A · John · 1952 [cited by applicant]
US 2608078A · Anderson · 1952 [cited by applicant]
US 2641004A · Whiting et al. · 1953 [cited by applicant]
US 2675631A · Carr · 1954 [cited by applicant]
US 2994322A · Cullen et al. · 1961 [cited by applicant]
US 3284931A · Adolf · 1966 [cited by applicant]
US 3583081A · Hayashi · 1971 [cited by applicant]
US 3694940A · Stohr · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3704474A · Winkler · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3766566A · Tadokoro · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 3778856A · Chriestie et al. · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 3952427A · Von et al. · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 3972086A · Belli et al. · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 4027402A · Liu et al. · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4031586A · Von et al. · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4211806A · Civardi et al. · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4232458A · Bartels · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4255949A · Thorneburg · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4258480A · Famolare, Jr. · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4317292A · Melton · 1982 [cited by applicant]
US 4373361A · Thorneburg · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4447967A · Zaino · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4465448A · Aldridge · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4499741A · Harris · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4607439A · Sogabe et al. · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4737396A · Kamat · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4750339A · Simpson et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4756098A · Boggia · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4785558A · Shiomura · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4813158A · Brown · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4843653A · Coble · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 5031423A · Ikenaga · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5095720A · Tibbals, Jr. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5117567A · Berger · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5152025A · Hirmas · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5192601A · Neisler · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5345638A · Nishida · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5353524A · Brier · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5371957A · Gaudio · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5461884A · Mccartney et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5511323A · Dahlgren · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5572860A · Mitsumoto et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5575090A · Condini · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5623840A · Roell · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5729918A · Smets · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5735145A · Pernick · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5746013A · Fay, Sr. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5765296A · Ludemann et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5823012A · Hacskaylo · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5884419A · Davidowitz et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5996189A · Wang · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6029376A · Cass · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6032387A · Johnson · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6052921A · Oreck · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6088936A · Bahl · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6151802A · Reynolds · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6170175B1 · Funk · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6299962B1 · Davis et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6308438B1 · Throneburg et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6321574B1 · Marker et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6333105B1 · Tanaka et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6401364B1 · Burt · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6558784B1 · Norton et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6588237B2 · Cole et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6754983B2 · Hatfield et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6910288B2 · Dua · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6922917B2 · Kerns et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6931762B1 · Dua · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US D517297S · Jones et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7051460B2 · Orei et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7056402B2 · Koerwien et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7347011B2 · Dua et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7441348B1 · Dawson · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7543397B2 · Kilgore et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7568298B2 · Kerns · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7682219B2 · Falla · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7752775B2 · Lyden · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7770306B2 · Lyden · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7774956B2 · Dua et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7814598B2 · Dua et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 8196317B2 · Dua et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8215033B2 · Carboy et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8225530B2 · Sokolowski et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8266749B2 · Dua et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8448474B1 · Tatler et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8490299B2 · Dua et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8621891B2 · Dua et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8650916B2 · Dua et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8745895B2 · Sokolowski et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8800172B2 · Dua et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8973410B1 · Podhajny · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9032763B2 · Meir et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9060562B2 · Meir et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9445640B2 · Dua et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9498023B2 · Craig · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9510636B2 · Dua et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 10378130B2 · Dua et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 11155945B2 · Dua et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11319651B2 · Dua · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 11566354B2 · Dua · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20020078599A1 · Delgorgue et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020148258A1 · Cole et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20030126762A1 · Tseng · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030191427A1 · Jay et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030200679A1 · Wilson et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20040118018A1 · Dua · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040181972A1 · Csorba · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050115284A1 · Dua · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050193592A1 · Dua et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050273988A1 · Christy · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050284000A1 · Kerns · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060059715A1 · Aveni · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060130359A1 · Dua et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060162187A1 · Byrnes et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070022627A1 · Sokolowski et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070180730A1 · Greene et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070227038A1 · Edington et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070294920A1 · Baychar · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080017294A1 · Bailey et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080078102A1 · Kilgore et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080110048A1 · Dua et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080110049A1 · Sokolowski et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080189830A1 · Egglesfield · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080313939A1 · Ardill · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090068908A1 · Hinchcliff · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100015425A1 · Bindschedler et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100018075A1 · Meschter et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100037483A1 · Meschter et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100043253A1 · Dojan et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100051132A1 · Glenn · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100077634A1 · Bell · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100154256A1 · Dua · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100170651A1 · Scherb et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100175276A1 · Dojan et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110030244A1 · Motawi et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110041359A1 · Dojan et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110078921A1 · Greene et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110162239A1 · Bier et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110185592A1 · Nishiwaki et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120011744A1 · Bell et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120023686A1 · Huffa et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120124864A1 · Aveni et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120233882A1 · Huffa et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120233884A1 · Greene · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120234052A1 · Huffa et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120240429A1 · Sokolowski et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120255201A1 · Little · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130212907A1 · Dua et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130239438A1 · Shaffer et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130239625A1 · Tatler et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140144190A1 · Tatler et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140150296A1 · Dua et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140245545A1 · Meir et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150216257A1 · Meir et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20170000216A1 · Dua et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170079367A1 · Dua et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20190269195A1 · Dua et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190309453A1 · Dua et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20220042219A1 · Dua et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220282410A1 · Dua et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
CN 2220179Y · 1996 [cited by applicant]
CN 1317061A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
CN 1518910A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
CN 1782156A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
CN 101460072A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
CN 101583294A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
CN 102271548A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
CN 102655776A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
CN 202697860U · 2013 [cited by applicant]
DE 870963C · 1953 [cited by applicant]
DE 1084173B · 1960 [cited by applicant]
DE 4027790A1 · 1992 [cited by applicant]
DE 29700546U1 · 1997 [cited by applicant]
DE 19738433A1 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
DE 19728848A1 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
EP 0279950A2 · 1988 [cited by applicant]
EP 0448714A1 · 1991 [cited by applicant]
EP 0568700A1 · 1993 [cited by applicant]
EP 0569159A2 · 1993 [cited by applicant]
EP 0649286A1 · 1995 [cited by applicant]
EP 0728860A1 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
EP 0758693A1 · 1997 [cited by applicant]
EP 0898002A2 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
EP 1233091A1 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
EP 1437057A1 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
EP 1563752A1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
EP 1602762A1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
EP 1972706A1 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
EP 2875745A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
FR 2171172A1 · 1973 [cited by applicant]
GB 538865A · 1941 [cited by applicant]
GB 2018837A · 1979 [cited by applicant]
GB 1603487A · 1981 [cited by applicant]
JP S5964905U · 1984 [cited by applicant]
JP H06113905A · 1994 [cited by applicant]
JP H08109553A · 1996 [cited by applicant]
JP H08158208A · 1996 [cited by applicant]
JP H11302943A · 1999 [cited by applicant]
JP 2001340102A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 2004230151A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005000234A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005058301A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005160697A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007090040A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008291402A · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010508994A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2011528935A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012512698A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012533404A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013502299A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013502300A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013502301A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016508426A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
NL 7304678A · 1974 [cited by applicant]
TW 200531649A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO 9003744A1 · 1990 [cited by applicant]
WO 9400033A1 · 1994 [cited by applicant]
WO 0030448A1 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
WO 0030480A1 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
WO 0032861A1 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
WO 0231247A1 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010080182A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010098052A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011043998A2 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012101553A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO 2013126313A2 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
David J. Spencer, knitting Technology: A Comprehensive Handbook and Practical Guide (Third ed., Woodhead Publishing Ltd., 2001, 413 pages. [cited by applicant]
Declaration of Dr. Edward C. Frederick from the US Patent and Trademark Office Inter Partes Review of U.S. Pat. No. 7,347,011, 178 pages. [cited by applicant]
Letter from Bruce Huffa, Dec. 23, 2013, 71 pages. [cited by applicant]
Eberle et al., “Clothing Technology”, Sixth German Edition and Third English Edition, Petitioner adidas AG—Exhibit 1013, 2002, 3 pages. [cited by applicant]
Office Action received for European Application No. 19189163.9, mailed on Oct. 30, 2024, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report received for European Application No. 24213857.6, mailed on Jan. 7, 2025, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action received for U.S. Appl. No. 17/700,101, mailed on Jul. 18, 2024, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance received for U.S. Appl. No. 17/700,101, mailed on Dec. 4, 2024, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]