Reinforced knit channel for an article of footwear
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsChaokun Huangfu, Seth M. Wiberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aspects herein are directed to a reinforced knit channel for an upper configured to receive a lace. The knit channel includes a first knit layer and a second knit layer that at least partially overlaps the first knit layer and is interlooped with the first knit layer at a first interlooped area and a second interlooped area. A channel region is present between the first and second interlooped areas. A first portion of a tensile strand is integrated into the first knit layer in the channel region, and a second portion of the tensile strand extends over a surface of the first knit layer within the channel region. The tensile strand helps to reinforce openings into the channel region.
Claims21
A reinforced knit channel for an upper for an article of footwear, the reinforced knit channel comprising:
- a first knit layer;
- a second knit layer at least partially overlapping the first knit layer and interlooped with the first knit layer at a first interlooped area and a second interlooped area, the second knit layer being freely separable from the first knit layer between the first interlooped area and the second interlooped area to form a channel region, wherein the second knit layer comprises a first free edge forming a first opening of the channel region and a second free edge forming a second opening of the channel region such that the channel region extends between the first opening and the second opening;
- and
- a tensile strand comprising a first portion integrated into the first knit layer in the channel region and a second portion extending over a surface of the first knit layer within the channel region and freely separable from the first knit layer and the second knit layer.
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper, comprising:
- a first knit layer forming at least a portion of the upper;
- a second knit layer at least partially overlapping the first knit layer, the second knit layer interlooped with the first knit layer at a first interlooped area and at a second interlooped area, the second knit layer being freely separable from the first knit layer between the first interlooped area and the second interlooped area to form a channel region, wherein the second knit layer comprises a first free edge forming a first opening of the channel region and a second free edge forming a second opening of the channel region such that the channel region extends between the first opening and the second opening;
- and
- a tensile strand comprising a portion that is integrated into the first knit layer in the channel region and a portion that is spaced from the first knit layer within the channel region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.