Knitted loft zones
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsAndreas I. Schoppel, Erin C. Stevens, Seth M. Wiberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A knitted component may include a loft zone having at least one first loft portion that is integrally knit. The loft portion may include a first knitted layer having an elasticated first material, a second knitted layer, a void between the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer, and at least one course of a second material that is knitted within the void and causes the second knitted layer to extend away from the first knitted layer by a first distance. The at least one course of the second material may include at least one float and may project into the void. The second material may have a greater resistance to bending than the elasticated first material.
Claims20
A knitted component, comprising:
- a loft zone comprising at least one first loft portion that is integrally knit, comprising:
- 1) a first knitted layer comprising an elasticated first material, 2) a second knitted layer 3) a void between the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer, and 4) at least one course of a second material that is knitted within the void and causes the second knitted layer to extend away from the first knitted layer by a first distance;
- wherein the at least one course of the second material comprises at least one float and projects into the void;
- and
- wherein the second material has a greater resistance to bending than the elasticated first material.
An article of footwear, comprising;
- a knitted component defining at least part of a void and comprising 1) an interior layer comprising an elasticated first material knitted with 2) an exterior layer;
- a first loft zone knitted into the knitted component comprising at least one first loft portion extending away from the void, the at least one first loft portion comprising a space formed between freely separable areas of the interior and exterior layers and at least one course of a second material knitted within the space;
- wherein the at least one course of the second material projects into the space, causing the exterior layer to extend away from the interior layer;
- and
- wherein the at least one first loft portion has a first width and extends away from the void by a first distance.
A method of knitting a component, comprising:
- knitting a pocket between overlapping and integrally knit areas of an elasticated first layer and a second layer;
- and
- knitting at least one course of a material within the pocket such that the material projects into the pocket and causes the second layer to extend away from the first layer;
- and
- wherein knitting the pocket comprises knitting at least one connection point between the elasticated first layer and the second layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.