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US 2014/0150296 A1Published application
Article Of Footwear Incorporating A Knitted Component With A Tongue
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsBhupesh Dua, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Bruce Huffa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Articles of footwear may have an upper that includes a knit element and a tongue. The knit element defines a portion of an exterior surface and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot. The tongue is formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element and extends through a throat area of the upper.
Claims20
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
- a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot;
- and
- a tongue formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element such that the tongue and the knit element comprise a one piece element, and wherein the tongue extends through a throat area of the upper;
- the tongue comprising:
- peripheral areas disposed along each of a lateral edge and a medial edge of the tongue, the lateral edge and the medial edge of the tongue being unsecured to the knit element along a medial side and a lateral side of the throat area of the upper;
- and
- at least two areas having knit apertures disposed adjacent to the peripheral areas and spaced apart from the lateral edge and medial edge of the tongue;
- and
- wherein the tongue is secured to the knit element in a forward portion of the throat area such that the tongue is joined along at least one common course with the knit element to form the one-piece element.
6 more elements
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
- a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot;
- and
- a tongue formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element such that the tongue and the knit element comprise a one piece element, and wherein the tongue extends through a throat area of the upper;
- wherein a central area of the tongue includes a first knitted layer, a second knitted layer, and a plurality of free yarn sections, the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer being overlapping and at least partially coextensive through the central area so as to form a tubular structure, and the plurality of free yarn sections being located between the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer within the tubular structure;
- and
- wherein the tongue is secured to the knit element in a forward portion of the throat area such that the tongue is joined along at least one common course with the knit element to form the one-piece element.
3 more elements
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
- a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot, the knit element having opposite inner edges on a medial side and a lateral side that are spaced apart from each other to define a throat area extending along a longitudinal direction of the upper;
- and
- a tongue formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element such that the tongue and the knit element comprise a one piece element, and wherein the tongue extends through the throat area of the upper;
- wherein the tongue comprises a lateral edge and a medial edge, the lateral edge and the medial edge of the tongue being secured to the knit element at a location that is spaced outward from each of the inner edges along the medial side and the lateral side of the throat area of the upper;
- and
- wherein the tongue is secured to the knit element in a forward portion of the throat area such that the tongue is joined along at least one common course with the knit element to form the one-piece element.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.