IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,344,972
Granted Patent B2
US 12,344,972 · App. 18/505,722 · Granted Jul 1, 2025

Upper for an article of footwear having two yarn types

Inventors: Ashleigh S. Line (Portland, OR); Nicolino Matteo (Hillsboro, OR); Juan L. Aceves Tinajero (Beaverton, OR)
Assignee: Nike, Inc.
D04B1/24A43B1/028A43B1/04D10B2501/043
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,344,972
App. No.
18/505,722
Granted
Jul 1, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An upper for an article of footwear may include a first area located on at least one of a lateral and a medial side of the upper and a second area located adjacent to the first area. The first area may include first knit courses, at least a majority of which are at least partially formed by a first yarn, and the second area may include a plurality of second knit courses, at least a majority of which are formed by a second yarn. In some aspects, the second area includes one or more knit anchors. In some aspects, a third yarn extends from a biteline to an edge between the first area and the second area. In some aspects, a third yarn is included in the first area and has one or more of an interloped portion and a floating portion in the first area.

Claims (28)

1. An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:

a first area located on at least one of a lateral side and a medial side of the upper, wherein the first area comprises a plurality of first knit courses, and wherein at least a majority of the plurality of first knit courses are at least partially formed by a first yarn; and

a second area located adjacent to the first area of the upper, wherein the second area extends through at least part of one of a lateral side and a medial side of a throat area of the upper, wherein the second area comprises a plurality of second knit courses, and wherein at least a majority of the plurality of second knit courses are formed by a second yarn,

wherein a third yarn extends from a biteline to an edge between the first area and the second area, and wherein the third yarn extends over the edge into the second area without interlooping with any of the plurality of second knit courses.

2. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the third yarn extends over the edge into the second area through a first knit course of the plurality of first knit courses, and extends back over the edge into the first area through a second knit course of the plurality of first knit courses.

3. The upper of claim 2 , wherein the second knit course of the plurality of first knit courses is located adjacent to the first knit course of the plurality of first knit courses.

4. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the third yarn extends into the second area, and wherein the third yarn extends at least partially around a lace opening of the upper.

5. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the second yarn is the same yarn type as the third yarn.

6. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the third yarn is a high-tenacity yarn.

7. An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:

a first area located on at least one of a lateral side and a medial side of the upper, wherein the first area comprises a plurality of first knit courses, and wherein at least a majority of the plurality of first knit courses are at least partially formed by a first yarn; and

a second area located adjacent to the first area of the upper, wherein the second area extends through at least part of one of a lateral side and a medial side of a throat area of the upper, wherein the second area comprises a plurality of second knit courses, and wherein at least a majority of the plurality of second knit courses are formed by a second yarn,

wherein the second area includes one or more knit anchors, and wherein each of the one or more knit anchors comprises a pathway between two lace loops.

8. The upper of claim 7 , wherein the pathway between two lace loops of each of the one or more knit anchors comprises a tubular structure.

9. The upper of claim 7 , wherein the second area includes a first portion having a tubular knit structure comprising a first layer and a second layer, and wherein the first layer remains separable from the second layer in the first portion.

10. The upper of claim 9 , wherein the second area includes a second portion having a single-layer construction.

11. The upper of claim 9 , wherein a course at an end of the tubular knit structure secures the first layer to the second layer and defines an edge of a knit anchor within the one or more knit anchors.

12. The upper of claim 7 , wherein each of the one or more knit anchors is associated with its own separate pocket.

13. The upper of claim 7 , wherein the one or more knit anchors extend through a majority of at least one of the lateral side and the medial side of the throat area of the upper.

14. The upper of claim 7 , wherein the one or more knit anchors extend longitudinally in a wale-wise direction along at least one of the lateral side and the medial side of the throat area of the upper.

15. An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:

a first area located on at least one of a lateral side and a medial side of the upper, wherein the first area comprises a plurality of first knit courses, and wherein at least a majority of the plurality of first knit courses are at least partially formed by a first yarn; and

a second area located adjacent to the first area of the upper, wherein the second area extends through at least part of one of a lateral side and a medial side of a throat area of the upper, wherein the second area comprises a plurality of second knit courses, and wherein at least a majority of the plurality of second knit courses are formed by a second yarn,

wherein the first area includes a third yarn having one or more of an interlooped portion and a floating portion, and wherein the floating portion of the third yarn extends past two or more needles.

16. The upper of claim 15 , wherein each floating portion is spaced apart by an interlooped portion within the one or more interlooped portions.

17. The upper of claim 15 , wherein the second area includes the third yarn having floating portions.

18. The upper of claim 15 , wherein the third yarn extends in the first area and into the second area through a first course of the plurality of first knit courses, and wherein the third yarn extends back into the first area from the second area through a second course of the plurality of first knit courses.

19. The upper of claim 15 , wherein the third yarn extends from a biteline of the upper.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2023
From: ACEVES TINAJERO, JUAN L.; LINE, ASHLEIGH S.; MATTEO, NICOLINO
To: NIKE INC.
Reel/Frame 065584/0514 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 18156805 · Jan 19, 2023
Continuation 17144368 · Jan 8, 2021
Provisional Application 62958493 · Jan 8, 2020
Related Publication 20240068137A1 · Feb 29, 2024
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