US 12,577,709 B2 · Article comprising a knit element

Abstract

A customized, flat-knit multi-zonal element for a shoe upper and a method of producing such an element that allows for continuous knitting while controlling positioning of individual threads. One or more carriages may move continuously along the needle bed while threads are provided to the needles for a complete stroke. Knit elements may include multiple zones with differing properties. Threads may alter positions within knit structures from zone to zone. A knit element may include a first zone in a first plane that includes at least two merged threads to form a merged knit structure and a second zone in a second plane connected to the first zone seamlessly. Some knit structures may be positioned throughout the knit element such that they control a position of zones relative to each other.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A flat-knit element for a shoe upper, comprising:

a first section comprising a first thread and a second thread merged together and forming merged knit structures in at least one layer of the first section;
and
a second section coupled seamlessly to the first section, the second section comprising:
a first knit layer comprising at least one first knit structure formed from the first thread of the first section on the first knit layer of the flat-knit element, wherein the first thread is separated from the second thread in the first knit layer;
and
a second knit layer comprising at least one second knit structure formed from the second thread of the first section formed on the second knit layer of the flat-knit element, wherein the second thread is separated from the first thread in the second knit layer.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Article comprising a knit element

Life of this patent

Article comprising a knit element

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20