IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,319,651
Granted Patent B2
US 11,319,651 · App. 16/450,202 · Granted May 3, 2022

Article of footwear incorporating a knitted component with an integral knit tongue

Inventors: Bhupesh Dua (Portland, OR); Adrian Meir (Portland, OR); Benjamin A. Shaffer (Portland, OR); Bruce Huffa (Encino, CA)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
D04B1/24A43B1/04A43B23/0205A43B23/0245A43B23/0265A43B23/26D04B1/22D04B7/28D04B15/56D10B2403/0113D10B2403/0243D10B2403/02411D10B2403/032D10B2501/043
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 11,319,651
App. No.
16/450,202
Granted
May 3, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knitted component with 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, the interior surface defining a void. The knitted component may further include a tongue, where the tongue extends through a throat area of the upper, and where the tongue comprises a lateral edge and a medial edge. The knitted component may further include at least one raised element extending a height above the exterior surface of the knit element and extending a length along at least one of the lateral edge and the medial edge of the tongue, where the tongue and the at least one raised element have a common yarn.

Claims (31)

1. An upper of unitary knit construction for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:

a knitted component at least partially forming a tongue with at least one yarn, wherein the tongue includes a medial edge, a lateral edge, and a central portion located between the medial edge and the lateral edge;

a first integrally knit raised element continuously formed with the at least one yarn located proximate the medial edge of the tongue;

a second integrally knit raised element continuously formed with the at least one yarn located proximate the lateral edge of the tongue;

wherein the tongue comprises a first knit structure extending a width from at least one of the medial edge and the lateral edge to the central portion of the tongue,

wherein the central portion of the tongue comprises a second knit structure, and

wherein the first knit structure is different from the second knit structure.

2. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the first knit structure includes a first thickness, wherein the second knit structure includes a second thickness, and wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.

3. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the second knit structure is a double jersey knit structure.

4. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the first knit structure is a single jersey knit structure.

5. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the second knit structure includes a mesh.

6. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the first integrally knit raised element and the second integrally knit raised element extend a height above an exterior surface of the tongue.

7. The upper of claim 6 , wherein the first knit structure is adjacent to the first integrally knit raised element and the second integrally knit raised element include a single jersey knit structure.

8. The upper of claim 6 , wherein the first integrally knit raised element is secured to the knitted component with at least one knit stitch.

9. An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:

a knitted component, the knitted component comprising an integrally knit tongue and a first integrally knit raised element,

wherein the integrally knit tongue and the first integrally knit raised element have a common yarn,

wherein the first integrally knit raised element extends along at least one of a medial edge and a lateral edge of the integrally knit tongue,

wherein the integrally knit tongue comprises a first knit structure extending a first width from the medial edge and extending a second width from the lateral edge to a central portion of the integrally knit tongue, wherein the integrally knit tongue includes a second knit structure at the central portion, and

wherein the first knit structure is different from the second knit structure.

10. The upper of claim 9 , wherein the first knit structure includes a first thickness, wherein the second knit structure includes a second thickness, and wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.

11. The upper of claim 9 , wherein second knit structure is a double jersey knit structure.

12. The upper of claim 9 , wherein the first knit structure is a single jersey knit structure.

13. The upper of claim 9 , wherein the central portion of the integrally knit tongue includes a mesh.

14. The upper of claim 9 , wherein the first integrally knit raised element is secured to the knitted component with at least one knit stitch.

15. The upper of claim 9 , wherein the first integrally knit raised element extends along the lateral edge of the integrally knit tongue, and wherein the upper further comprises a second integrally knit raised element extending along the medial edge of the integrally knit tongue.

16. An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:

a knitted component, the knitted component comprising an integrally knit tongue, a first integrally knit raised element, and a second integrally knit raised element, wherein the integrally knit tongue, the first integrally knit raised element and the second integrally knit raised element have a common yarn,

wherein a central portion of the integrally knit tongue includes a double jersey knit structure, and

wherein a first area extending from a medial edge and a second area extending from a lateral edge to the central portion of the integrally knit tongue include a single jersey knit structure.

17. The upper of claim 16 , wherein the integrally knit tongue, the first integrally knit raised element, and the second integrally knit raised element have a common yarn.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2019
From: NIKE, INC.
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 049678/0163 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2019
From: DUA, BHUPESH; MEIR, ADRIAN; SHAFFER, BENJAMIN A.
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 049569/0152 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 15369419 · Dec 5, 2016
Continuation 13781525 · Feb 28, 2013
Continuation In Part 13474531 · May 17, 2012
Continuation 13400511 · Feb 20, 2012
Related Publication 20190309453A1 · Oct 10, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,486,600