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 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 . A knitted component comprising:
a first surface and an opposite second surface, the first surface of the knitted component comprising:
first areas having a first coefficient of friction, the first areas comprising a thermoformed network of interlooped yarns comprising a first yarn having a core and a thermoformed thermoplastic polymeric composition, wherein the thermoformed thermoplastic polymeric composition consolidates the thermoformed network of interlooped yarns by surrounding at least a portion of the core and occupying at least a portion of spaces between the yarns in the thermoformed network of interlooped yarns; and
second areas having a second coefficient of friction that is different than the first coefficient of friction, the second areas comprising a second yarn, the second yarn being different from the first yarn,
wherein the first coefficient of friction is greater than the second coefficient of friction,
wherein the second coefficient of friction of the second areas is within a range from about 15% to about 60% less than the first coefficient of friction of the first areas,
wherein the second surface comprises a plurality of third areas comprising a third yarn, and wherein at least a portion of the thermoformed thermoplastic polymeric composition extends completely from the first surface into the second surface.
2 . The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the thermoformed thermoplastic polymeric composition comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.
3 . The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the first coefficient of friction and the second coefficient of friction are dynamic coefficients of friction.
4 . The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the second yarn does not include the thermoplastic polymeric composition of the first yarn.
5 . The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the first areas form an alternating pattern with the second areas, and wherein the alternating pattern is a concentric pattern such that the first areas and the second areas are coaxial and share a common center.
6 . The knitted component of claim 5 , wherein a first area of the first areas and a second area of the second areas are consecutive in the alternating pattern, wherein a boundary between the first area and the second area is curvilinear.
7 . The knitted component of claim 5 , wherein a first area of the first areas and a second area of the second areas are consecutive in the alternating pattern, wherein a boundary between the first area and the second area is linear.
8 . The knitted component of claim 5 , wherein the first surface comprises a plurality of raised elements that continuously extends across the first area and the second area, and wherein at least some of the plurality of raised elements of the first surface are part of the thermoformed network of interlooped yarns.
9 . A knitted article of footwear upper having an external-facing surface portion and an opposite internal-facing surface portion, the external-facing surface portion comprising: first areas having a first coefficient of friction, the first areas comprising a thermoformed network of interlooped yarns comprising a first yarn, the first yarn comprising a thermoplastic elastomer; and second areas having a second coefficient of friction, the second areas comprising a second yarn, the second yarn being different from the first yarn, wherein the first coefficient of friction is greater than the second coefficient of friction, wherein the second coefficient of friction of the second areas is within a range from about 20% to about 50% less than the first coefficient of friction of the first areas; wherein the second surface comprises a plurality of third areas comprising a third yarn, and wherein at least a portion of the thermoformed thermoplastic elastomer extends completely from the external-facing surface portion into the internal-facing surface portion.
10 . The knitted article of footwear upper of claim 9 , wherein the first areas and the second areas form an alternating pattern on 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.
11 . The knitted article of footwear upper of claim 9 , wherein a first region is on a medial portion of the knitted article of footwear upper and a second region is on a lateral portion of the knitted article of footwear upper.
12 . The knitted article of footwear upper of claim 10 , wherein the alternating pattern is a concentric pattern.
13 . The knitted article of footwear upper of claim 12 , wherein the alternating pattern comprises at least one of a curvilinear boundary between a first area of the first areas and a second area of the second areas or a linear boundary between the first area of the first areas and the second area of the second areas.
14 . The knitted article of footwear upper of claim 9 , wherein a first area of the first areas comprises a thermoformed network of interlooped yarns each having a core and the thermoplastic elastomer that consolidates 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, wherein the thermoformed network of interlooped yarns forms a skin that is water-resistant.
15 . The knitted article of footwear upper of claim 11 , wherein the first region extends across at least a portion of a toe area of the knitted article of footwear upper.
16 . The knitted article of footwear upper of claim 11 , wherein the first region extends across at least a portion of a toe area of the knitted article of footwear upper and at least one of a medial side and a lateral side of the knitted article of footwear upper.
17 . A method of manufacturing a knitted component having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the method comprising: knitting a first yarn and a second yarn into the knitted component, the first yarn comprising a thermoplastic elastomer, the second yarn being different from the first yarn; and thermoforming the first surface of the knitted component, wherein the first 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 having a core, such that the thermoplastic elastomer of a coating of the first yarn consolidates 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 yarns, and second areas having a second coefficient of friction that is different than the first coefficient of friction, the second areas comprising the second yarn, wherein the first coefficient of friction is greater than the second coefficient of friction, and wherein the second coefficient of friction of the second areas is within a range from about 20% to about 60% less than the first coefficient of friction of the first areas; wherein the second surface comprises a plurality of third areas comprising a third yarn, wherein at least a portion of the thermoplastic elastomer extends completely from the first surface into the second surface.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein thermoforming the first surface further comprises molding the first surface to form a plurality of raised elements on the first surface, wherein the plurality of raised elements are part of the thermoformed network of interlooped yarns.
19 . The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymeric composition comprises a thermoplastic elastomer that is melted and re-solidified to form the thermoformed network of interlooped yarns associated with the first coefficient of friction.
20 . The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the third yarn comprises an elastic material, and wherein the third yarn is absent from the first surface of the knitted component.
21 . The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the third yarn comprises an elastic polyurethane material.
22 . The knitted article of footwear upper of claim 9 , wherein the third yarn comprises an elastic polyurethane material.
23 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the third yarn comprises an elastic polyurethane material.
24 . The knitted component of claim 20 , wherein the third yarn increases resilience of the knitted component at the second surface.