Knitted component having a foam surface feature
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsAustin Baranek, Katharine Fraser, Stephen J. Hipp, James Molyneux, Kristen E. Orme, Margaret P. St. Clair, Yang Zhao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A knitted component may include a first area, where the first area includes a plurality of knit loops comprising a first yarn. The knitted component may also include a second yarn at least partially inlaid within the first area of the knitted component such that the second yarn extends between at least a first loop and a second loop of the plurality of knit loops. The second yarn may have a foamable material comprising a blowing agent and a thermoplastic polymer.
Claims18
A knitted component, comprising:
- a first area, wherein the first area includes a plurality of knit loops comprising a first yarn;
- and
- a second yarn at least partially inlaid within the first area of the knitted component such that the second yarn extends between at least a first loop and a second loop of the plurality of knit loops,
- wherein the second yarn includes a foamable material comprising a blowing agent and a thermoplastic polymer.
A knitted component, comprising:
- a first area having a first surface, wherein the first area is at least partially formed by a first knit course, the first knit course having a plurality of loops formed by a first yarn;
- and
- a multicellular foam material at least partially surrounding the first yarn in in the first area of the knitted component, wherein the multicellular foam material forms a first protrusion extending from the first surface of the first area.
A method, comprising:
- knitting a course with a first yarn, wherein the course comprises a plurality of loops;
- inlaying a foamable yarn at least partially within the first course;
- and
- transferring a loop of the first course from one needle bed to another needle bed such that at least a portion of the foamable yarn is exposed on a surface of a resulting knitted component. The method of claim 18, further comprising heating the knitted component such that the foamable yarn forms at least one foam protrusion on a surface of the knitted component. The method of claim 18, further comprising knitting at least one loop with a fusible yarn that is separate from the foamable yarn, and further comprising heating the fusible yarn such that the fusible yarn deforms when a foamable material of the foamable yarn expands.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.