Article Of Footwear Having A Knit Upper With A Polymer Layer
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorBhupesh Dua
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An article of footwear has an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The upper includes a knitted component and a polymer layer. The knitted component is formed of unitary knit construction and extends along a lateral side of the upper, along a medial side of the upper, over a forefoot region of the upper, and around a heel region of the upper. The polymer layer is bonded to the knitted component and may form a majority of an exterior surface of the upper. The polymer layer may be formed from a thermoplastic polymer material.
Claims23
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
- a knitted component defining a tubular structure formed of unitary knit construction;
- a strand having a configuration of a one-dimensional material, the strand extending through at least a portion of a length of the tube;
- and
- a polymer layer bonded to the knitted component and forming a majority of an exterior surface of the upper.
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
- a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction and extending along a lateral side of the upper, along a medial side of the upper, over a forefoot region of the upper, and around a heel region of the upper;
- and
- at least one strand located within the knitted component on the lateral side and the medial side, the strand extending upward from an area proximal the sole structure, and the strand extending outward from the knitted component to form a lateral loop on the lateral side and a medial loop on the medial side;
- a lace extending through the lateral loop and the medial loop;
- and
- a polymer layer bonded to the knitted component and forming a majority of an exterior surface of the upper.
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
- a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction and extending along a lateral side of the upper, along a medial side of the upper, over a forefoot region of the upper, and around a heel region of the upper;
- and
- a polymer layer bonded to the knitted component and forming a majority of an exterior surface of the upper, the polymer layer being formed from a thermoplastic polymer material.
A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising:
- utilizing a flat knitting process to form a knitted component having a first surface and an opposite second surface;
- bonding a polymer layer to the first surface of the knitted component;
- and
- incorporating the knitted component and the polymer layer into an upper of the article of footwear, the polymer layer forming a majority of an exterior surface of the upper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.