# US 11,898,279 B2 · Knitted component with a fused surface region located on a tubular knit structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,898,279 B2 - Document ID: US11898279B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/748,991 - Filed: 2022-05-19 - Published: 2022-09-01 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-09 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: William C. McFarland, II; Leah M. Resneck; Nikita A. Troufanov - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898279B2 ## CPC - D04B 1/12: characterised by thread material - D04B 1/123: {with laid-in unlooped yarn, e.g. fleece fabrics (with elastic weft yarn D04B1/18)} - D04B 1/24: wearing apparel - D10B 2401/041: thermoplastic; thermosetting - D10B 2403/0113: One surface including hollow piping or integrated straps, e.g. for inserts or mountings - D10B 2403/0114: with one or more yarns appearing predominantly on one face, e.g. plated or paralleled yarns (for pile fabrics D03D27/00, D04B1/02, D04B21/02; for intarsia fabrics D04B1/126) - D10B 2501/043: Footwear - D04B: KNITTING - D10B: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES ## Abstract A knitted component may include a first side and an opposite second side and a first tubular knit structure having a first portion on the first side and a second portion on the second side, where the first portion is at least partially formed with a first yarn and where the second portion is at least partially formed with a different second yarn, and where the first yarn includes a thermoplastic polymer material with a melting point of about 200° C. or less. The knitted component may further include a fused surface region on the first side of the knitted component formed with the thermoplastic polymer material of the first yarn. The knitted component may further include an inlaid strand extending through a passage formed by the first tubular knit structure between the first portion and the second portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A knitted component, comprising: a first side and an opposite second side; a tubular knit structure having a first portion located on the first side and a second portion located on the second side; a fused surface region located on the first side of the knitted component; and an inlaid strand extending through a passage formed by the tubular knit structure between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the inlaid strand extends through a webbed region of the knitted component in a compacted state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The knitted component of claim 1, wherein the fused surface region is at least partially transparent or translucent. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The knitted component of claim 1, wherein the webbed region comprises a non-tubular structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The knitted component of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a first yarn, wherein the second portion comprises a second yarn that is different than the first yarn, and wherein the first yarn comprises a thermoplastic polymer material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The knitted component of claim 4, wherein the first yarn is further located on the second side of the knitted component in the webbed region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The knitted component of claim 1, wherein a polyester yarn is located on the first side of the knitted component in the webbed region. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The knitted component of claim 1, wherein the webbed region extends through multiple courses of the knitted component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The knitted component of claim 1, wherein the webbed region comprises a non-linear shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The knitted component of claim 1, wherein, in the tubular knit structure, the inlaid strand has a first diameter, wherein, in the webbed region, the inlaid strand has a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The knitted component of claim 1, wherein the knitted component forms part of an article of footwear. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The knitted component of claim 1, wherein the knitted component forms part of an upper of an article of footwear. ### Claim 12 An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising: a knitted component, comprising: a first side and an opposite second side; a tubular knit structure having a first portion located on the first side and a second portion located on the second side; a fused surface region located on the first side of the knitted component; and an inlaid strand extending through a passage formed by the tubular knit structure between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the inlaid strand extends through a webbed region of the knitted component in a compacted state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The upper for an article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the fused surface region is at least partially transparent or translucent. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The upper for an article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the webbed region comprises a non-tubular structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The upper for an article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the first portion comprises a first yarn, wherein the second portion comprises a second yarn that is different than the first yarn, and wherein the first yarn comprises a thermoplastic polymer material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The upper for an article of footwear of claim 15, wherein the first yarn is further located on the second side of the knitted component in the webbed region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The upper for an article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the webbed region extends through multiple courses of the knitted component. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The upper for an article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the webbed region comprises a non-linear shape. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The upper for an article of footwear of claim 12, wherein, in the tubular knit structure, the inlaid strand has a first diameter, wherein, in the webbed region, the inlaid strand has a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter. ### Claim 20 An article of footwear, comprising: an upper that includes a knitted component, the knitted component comprising: a tubular knit structure having a first side and an opposite second side, wherein: the first side and the second side comprise a passage there between, and the first side comprises a fused surface region; a webbed region comprising a non-tubular, double-knit structure; and an inlaid strand extending through the passage and, in a compacted state, extending through the webbed region.