Article of footwear with integrally knit tongue
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsTorrey J. Bell, Zhu Feixiang, Casey Pierson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A knitted component for an article of footwear comprises a knit element and a tongue integrally knitted with the knit element. The knit element includes a lateral throat portion overlapping a lateral edge of the tongue and a medial throat portion overlapping a medial edge of the tongue. The lateral throat portion and the tongue are joined by a first knit structure, and the medial throat portion and the tongue are joined by a second knit structure. The first and second knit structures each include one or more courses having a plurality of knit stitches. Each knit structure may also span multiple adjacent courses. A method of manufacturing the knitted component is also described herein.
Claims20
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper comprising a knit element incorporated into at least an instep region of the upper;
- a tongue integrally knit with the knit element and comprising a lateral edge and a medial edge;
- wherein the knit element comprises a lateral throat portion that overlaps the lateral edge of the tongue and a medial throat portion that overlaps the medial edge of the tongue;
- wherein a first knit structure joins the tongue to the lateral throat portion of the knit element;
- wherein a second knit structure joins the tongue to the medial throat portion of the knit element;
- wherein the first knit structure and the second knit structure each comprise multiple courses each comprising a plurality of knit stitches, and
- wherein each knit stitch of the plurality of knit stitches connects a course of the tongue and a course of the knit element.
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper comprising a knit element incorporated into at least an instep region of the upper;
- a tongue integrally knit with the knit element and comprising a lateral edge and a medial edge;
- wherein the knit element comprises a lateral throat portion that overlaps the lateral edge of the tongue and a medial throat portion that overlaps the medial edge of the tongue;
- wherein a first knit structure secures the tongue to the lateral throat portion of the knit element, and wherein a second knit structure secures the tongue to the medial throat portion of the knit element, the first knit structure and the second knit structure each comprising one or more courses each comprising a plurality of knit stitches;
- and
- a sole structure secured to the upper.
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper comprising a knit element incorporated into at least an instep region of the upper;
- a tongue integrally knit with the knit element and comprising a lateral edge and a medial edge;
- wherein the tongue comprises a forward end adjacent to a forefoot region of the upper, wherein the knit element comprises a lateral throat portion that overlaps the lateral edge of the tongue and a medial throat portion that overlaps the medial edge of the tongue;
- wherein a first knit structure joins the tongue to the lateral throat portion of the knit element, and wherein a second knit structure joins the tongue to the medial throat portion of the knit element, the first knit structure and the second knit structure each comprising one or more courses each comprising a plurality of knit stitches;
- and
- wherein the tongue comprises a rearward end opposite to the forward end, the rearward end comprising a detached lateral section and a detached medial section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.