# US 2014/0150294 A1 · Article Of Footwear Having A Textile Upper > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150294 A1 - Document ID: US20140150294A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/079,748 - Filed: 2013-11-14 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2004-03-03 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: Nike, Inc. - Inventors: Edward N. Thomas; Bhupesh Dua - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150294A1 ## CPC - A43B 1/04: braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted - A43B 7/085: {in the upper} - A43B 7/14: with foot-supporting parts - A43B 7/1495: {with arch-supports of the bracelet type} - A43B 9/02: Footwear stitched or nailed through - A43B 23/0205: {characterised by the material (material of the lining A43B23/07, material of toe stiffeners or heel stiffeners A43B23/08)} - A43B 23/021: {Leather} - A43B 23/0215: {Plastics or artificial leather} - A43B 23/0235: {Different layers of different material} - A43B 23/026: {Laminated layers} - A43B 23/0265: {having different properties in different directions} - A43B 23/0275: {with a part of the upper particularly rigid, e.g. resisting articulation or torsion} - A43B 23/028: {Resilient uppers, e.g. shock absorbing} - A43B 23/04: Uppers made of one piece; Uppers with inserted gussets - A43B 23/042: {Uppers made of one piece (one piece slippers A43B3/106; one piece sandals A43B3/124)} - A43B 23/08: Heel stiffeners; Toe stiffeners - A43D 8/00: Machines for cutting, ornamenting, marking or otherwise working up shoe part blanks (pulling-over or lasting A43D9/00 - A43D23/00; making or fastening soles, heels or welts A43D25/00 - A43D83/00) - A43D 8/02: Cutting-out (cutting in general B26D, B26F; of leather articles in general C14B5/00) - A43D 111/00: Shoe machines with conveyors for jacked shoes {or for shoes or shoe parts} - D04B 1/102: {with stitch pattern (D04B1/06, D04B1/08 take precedence)} - D04B 1/104: {Openwork fabric, e.g. pelerine fabrics} - D04B 1/24: wearing apparel - D04B 21/20: specially adapted for knitting articles of particular configuration - D04B 21/207: {Wearing apparel or garment blanks} - D10B 2401/10: porous - D10B 2501/043: Footwear - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - A43D: MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT OR METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING OR REPAIRING FOOTWEAR - D04B: KNITTING - D10B: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES ## Abstract An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction. The first area is formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area is formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying textures to a surface of the textile element. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article of footwear comprising: an upper incorporating a warp-knitted textile element having edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot, wherein the warp-knitted textile element incorporates a single type of textile having a plurality of knit constructions; and a sole structure secured to the upper. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the warp-knitted textile element includes a first area and a second area that have a unitary construction, the first area including a first of the knit constructions and the second area includes a second of the knit constructions, the first of the knit constructions being different than the second of the knit constructions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The article of footwear recited in claim 2, wherein the first of the knit constructions includes apertures that extend through the warp-knitted textile element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the warp-knitted textile element forms at least a portion of a lateral side, a medial side, and an instep region of the upper. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the edges are joined together form a seam extending longitudinally along a lower region of the upper. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the edges are joined together to form a seam extending along a heel region of the upper. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The article of footwear recited in claim 6, wherein the seam extends vertically in the heel region of the upper. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the warp-knitted textile element is one of an exterior layer, an intermediate layer, and an interior layer of the upper. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the warp-knitted textile element forms at least a portion of both an interior surface and an exterior surface of the upper. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the warp-knitted textile element forms a portion of an exterior surface of the upper. ### Claim 11 An article of footwear comprising: an upper incorporating a warp-knitted textile element having a first area and a second area with a unitary construction, the first area being formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area being formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying properties to the textile element; and a sole structure secured to the upper. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the first stitch configuration provides a substantially smooth texture to the first area, and the second stitch configuration provides a texture to the second area that is rougher than the smooth texture. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The article of footwear recited in claim 12, wherein the second stitch configuration forms a rib structure in the second area. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein at least one of the first stitch configuration and the second stitch configuration forms an aperture in the warp-knitted textile element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the warp-knitted textile element is one of an exterior layer, an intermediate layer, and an interior layer of the upper. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the warp-knitted textile element forms at least a portion of both an interior surface and an exterior surface of the upper. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the warp-knitted textile element forms a portion of an exterior surface of the upper. ### Claim 18 An article of footwear comprising: an upper incorporating a warp-knitted textile element having a first area and a second area formed of unitary construction, the first area having a first stitch type and the second area having a second stitch type, the first stitch type being different than the second stitch type; and a sole structure secured to the upper. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The article of footwear recited in claim 18, wherein the warp-knitted textile element has edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The article of footwear recited in claim 19, wherein the edges are joined together form a seam extending longitudinally along a lower region of the upper. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The article of footwear recited in claim 19, wherein the edges are joined together to form a seam extending along a heel region of the upper. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The article of footwear recited in claim 21, wherein the seam extends vertically in the heel region of the upper. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The article of footwear recited in claim 18, wherein the warp-knitted textile element forms at least a portion of a lateral side, a medial side, and an instep region of the upper. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The article of footwear recited in claim 18, wherein the warp-knitted textile element is one of an exterior layer, an intermediate layer, and an interior layer of the upper. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The article of footwear recited in claim 18, wherein the warp-knitted textile element forms at least a portion of both an interior surface and an exterior surface of the upper. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) The article of footwear recited in claim 18, wherein the warp-knitted textile element forms a portion of an exterior surface of the upper. ### Claim 27 An article of footwear comprising: an upper incorporating a warp-knitted textile element that forms at least a portion of (a) a lateral side, a medial side, and an instep region of the upper and (b) an interior surface and an exterior surface of the upper, the interior surface defining a void within the upper for receiving a foot of a wearer, and the warp-knitted textile element having a first area and a second area formed of unitary construction, the first area having a first stitch type and the second area having a second stitch type, the first stitch type being different than the second stitch type, and the first stitch type forming apertures that extend through the warp-knitted textile element; and a sole structure secured to the upper. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The article of footwear recited in claim 27, wherein the warp-knitted textile element has a pair of edges that are joined together to form a seam extending longitudinally along a lower region of the upper. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The article of footwear recited in claim 27, wherein the warp-knitted textile element has a pair of edges that are joined together to form a seam extending along a heel region of the upper. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The article of footwear recited in claim 29, wherein the seam extends vertically in the heel region of the upper.