IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,306,420
Granted Patent B2
US 11,306,420 · App. 16/242,723 · Granted Apr 19, 2022

Article incorporating a lenticular knit structure

Inventors: Adrian Meir (Portland, OR); Daniel A. Podhajny (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
D04B1/126A43B1/04D04B1/22D10B2403/0113D10B2403/02411D10B2501/043
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,306,420
App. No.
16/242,723
Granted
Apr 19, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An article of footwear including an upper incorporating a knitted component having color-shifting properties is provided. Color-shift properties can be generated by one or more lenticular knit structures disposed across the upper of the article of footwear. The lenticular knit structures are formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component. The lenticular knit structures have portions formed with different yarns. The different yarns on the portions of the lenticular knit structures generate a visual effect that changes the color of the article of footwear depending on the viewing angle.

Claims (35)

1. A knitted component comprising:

a plurality of raised knit structures each extending away from a first side of a knitted base portion,

a first region that includes at least a first raised knit structure of the plurality of raised knit structures, wherein the first raised knit structure extends lengthwise in a first direction; and

a second region that includes at least a second raised knit structure of the plurality of raised knit structures, wherein the second raised knit structure extends lengthwise in a second direction, and wherein the second direction is different than the first direction,

wherein the first raised knit structure of the plurality of raised knit structures includes:

a first portion on a first side, the first portion having a first color, and

a second portion on a second side, the second portion having a second color different from the first color.

2. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the first raised knit structure includes a first yarn with the first color, and wherein the second portion of the first raised knit structure includes a second yarn having the second color.

3. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein from a first viewing angle, the first portion of the first raised knit structure is visible and the second portion of the first raised knit structure is at least partially blocked.

4. The knitted component of claim 3 , wherein from a second viewing angle, the second portion of the first raised knit structure is visible and the first portion of the first raised knit structure is at least partially blocked.

5. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the first raised knit structure includes a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the third portion having a third color that is different than the first color and the second color.

6. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the knitted component forms an outer surface of an upper for an article of footwear, wherein the first region is located on at least one of a lateral and a medial side of the article of footwear, and wherein the second region is located in a heel area of the article of footwear.

7. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the first region connects to the second region at a seam.

8. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein the knitted base portion is disposed between adjacent raised knit structures of the plurality of raised knit structures.

9. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein each of the raised knit structures of the plurality of raised knit structures is formed as a tubular knit structure.

10. The knitted component of claim 1 , wherein each of the raised knit structures extends longitudinally along a course-wise direction of the knitted component.

11. A knitted component comprising:

a plurality of lenticular knit structures extending from a first side of the knitted component;

a first region comprising at least a first lenticular knit structure of the plurality of lenticular knit structures, wherein the first lenticular knit structure within the first region extends lengthwise in a first direction; and

a second region comprising at least a second lenticular knit structure of the plurality of lenticular knit structures, wherein the second lenticular knit structure within the second region extends lengthwise in a second direction, wherein the second direction is different than the first direction.

12. The knitted component of claim 11 , wherein a first side of the first lenticular knit structure of the plurality of lenticular knit structures includes a first color, and wherein a second side of the first lenticular knit structure includes a second color, the first color being different from the second color.

13. The knitted component of claim 12 , wherein the first lenticular knit structure includes an upper portion disposed between the first side and the second side, the upper portion having a third color that is different than the first color and the second color.

14. The knitted component of claim 11 , wherein the knitted component forms an outer surface of an upper for an article of footwear.

15. The knitted component of claim 14 , wherein the first region is located on at least one of a lateral and a medial side of the upper for the article of footwear, and wherein the second region is located in a heel area of the upper for the article of footwear.

16. The knitted component of claim 11 , wherein the first region connects to the second region at a seam.

17. The knitted component of claim 11 , wherein a knitted base portion is disposed between adjacent lenticular knit structures of the plurality of lenticular knit structures.

18. A method, comprising:

knitting a first region of a knitted component, wherein the first region includes at least a first raised knit structure of a plurality of raised knit structures extending from a first side of the knitted component, wherein the first raised knit structure within the first region extends lengthwise in a first direction; and

knitting a second region of the knitted component, wherein the second region includes at least a second raised knit structure of the plurality of raised knit structures, wherein the second raised knit structure within the second region extends lengthwise in a second direction,

wherein the second direction is different than the first direction, and

wherein at least the first raised knit structure and the second raised knit structure of the plurality of raised knit structures comprises:

a first portion on a first side of the respective first and second raised knit structures, the first portion having a first color, and

a second portion on a second side of the respective first and second raised knit structures, the second portion having a second color different than the first color.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising attaching the first region and the second region via a seam.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the seam is formed after knitting the first region and the second region.

Continuity (6)
Continuation 15799677 · Oct 31, 2017
Continuation 14734422 · Jun 9, 2015
Continuation 14535448 · Nov 7, 2014
Provisional Application 62057264 · Sep 30, 2014
Provisional Application 62057293 · Sep 30, 2014
Related Publication 20190142101A1 · May 16, 2019