Granted Patent B2

US 12,414,606 · App. 17/345,237 · Granted Sep 16, 2025

Inventor: Samantha Woodard (Beaverton, OR)

Assignee: NIKE, Inc.

A43B23/0245A43B21/24A43B23/0215A43B23/04D04B7/04D04B15/02A43B1/04A43B5/02A43B5/025A43B23/086G06T1/00

Abstract

Claims (43)

1. A method of forming an upper of an article of footwear, the method comprising:

knitting a first side of a knitted component;

knitting a second side of the knitted component, wherein the first side and the second side comprise an overfoot portion;

knitting an underfoot portion located between the first side and the second side;

knitting a toe portion on the first side of the knitted component, wherein the toe portion has an underfoot side, an overfoot side, and a cavity between the underfoot side and the overfoot side;

knitting the overfoot side of the toe portion while holding loops on a needle bed of a knitting machine, and joining the loops held on the needle bed to the underfoot side when knitting the underfoot side of the toe portion,

wherein a connection structure is formed when joining the loops held on the needle bed to the underfoot side, and wherein the connection structure joins the overfoot side and the underfoot side of the toe portion;

wherein the underfoot side of the toe portion includes a first edge, wherein the underfoot portion includes a second edge, and wherein the method includes joining the first edge to the second edge;

wherein at least a portion of the first side and at least a portion of the second side of the knitted component are both located on one of a medial side or a lateral side of the overfoot portion,

wherein when the first side and the second side are joined to form the overfoot portion, the first side is secured to the second side along an overlapped area on the one of the medial side or the lateral side, the overlapped area extending from a toe area to an ankle opening, and

wherein a knitted course extends from the first side, through the underfoot portion, and to the second side.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a connection structure connects the first edge and the second edge together.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the knitted component is knitted to include a cup-shaped heel portion.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first strand of yarn within the knitted course extends from the first side and terminates within the underfoot portion.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising manipulating the knitted component into a dimensional shape of the upper.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising concealing the seam.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first edge and the second edge are joined together via sewing.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first edge and the second edge are joined together via an adhesive.

9. A method of forming an upper of an article of footwear, the method comprising:

knitting a first side of a knitted component;

knitting a second side of the knitted component, wherein the first side and the second side are configured to overlap and wherein the first side and the second side collectively define an overfoot portion;

knitting an underfoot portion located between the first side and the second side, the underfoot portion comprising a first edge and a second edge;

knitting a toe portion on the first side of the knitted component, the toe portion comprising an underfoot side, an overfoot side, and a cavity located between the underfoot side and the overfoot side;

knitting the overfoot side of the toe portion while holding loops on a needle bed of a knitting machine;

joining the loops held on the needle bed to the underfoot side of the toe portion while knitting the underfoot side, thereby forming a connection structure that connects the overfoot side to the underfoot side;

manipulating the knitted component into a dimensional shape of the upper; and

joining the first edge and the second edge of the underfoot portion together along an overlapped area on a medial side or a lateral side of the overfoot portion, the overlapped area extending from a toe region to an ankle opening; and

knitting a knitted course that extends continuously from the first side, through the underfoot portion, and to the second side.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first edge comprises part of a boundary of a toe portion of the knitted component.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising joining the upper to a sole structure, wherein an entire length of the seam is covered by the sole structure.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first edge and the second edge are joined together via sewing.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first edge and the second edge are joined together via an adhesive.

14. A method, comprising:

knitting a first side of a knitted component;

knitting a second side of the knitted component, wherein the first side and the second side comprise an overfoot portion;

knitting an underfoot portion located between the first side and the second side;

knitting a toe portion on the first side of the knitted component, wherein the toe portion has an underfoot side, an overfoot side, and a cavity between the underfoot side and the overfoot side;

knitting the overfoot side of the toe portion while holding loops on a needle bed of a knitting machine, and joining the loops held on the needle bed to the underfoot side when knitting the underfoot side of the toe portion,

wherein a connection structure is formed when joining the loops held on the needle bed to the underfoot side, and wherein the connection structure joins the overfoot side and the underfoot side of the toe portion;

wherein the underfoot side of the toe portion includes a first edge, wherein the underfoot portion includes a second edge, and wherein the method includes joining the first edge to the second edge;

wherein at least a portion of the first side and at least a portion of the second side of the knitted component are both located on one of a medial side or a lateral side of the overfoot portion,

wherein when the first side and the second side are joined to form the overfoot portion, the first side is secured to the second side along an overlapped area on the one of the medial side or the lateral side, the overlapped area extending from a toe area to an ankle opening, and

wherein a knitted course extends from the first side, through the underfoot portion, and to the second side.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (82)