Knitted components having self supportive heel
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsKevin S. DeWillie, Scott R. Kamrowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one aspect of the disclosure, a knitted component may have a medial part, a lateral part, a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a rearfoot region. The rearfoot region may include a first zone having a first level of stretch and extending from a lower region of one of the medial part and the lateral part toward an upper heel region. The first zone may have an elongate portion. The knitted component may include a second zone adjacent the first zone and having a second level of stretch greater than the first level of stretch. The second zone may extend into the medial part and the lateral part and may substantially cover a calcaneus region.
Claims20
An article of footwear, comprising:
- a knitted heel region, comprising:
- a first zone comprising a thermoplastic polymer material that is fused;
- and
- a second zone that has a higher degree of elasticity than the first zone,
- wherein the first zone extends below the second zone between the second zone and a sole structure.
An article of footwear, comprising:
- a knitted heel region, comprising:
- a first zone comprising an elongate portion comprising a first extension and a second extension;
- and
- a second zone comprising a greater elasticity than the first zone,
- wherein the first extension extends around a first side of the second zone and the second extension extends around a second side of the second zone, and the second zone is separate from a collar portion.
An article of footwear, comprising:
- a knitted heel region, comprising:
- a first zone comprising a thermoplastic polymer material that is fused and that forms at least part of an outer-facing surface of the knitted heel region;
- and
- a second zone that has a higher degree of elasticity than the first zone,
- wherein the first zone extends below the second zone between the second zone and a sole structure of the article of footwear, and wherein the second zone is spaced from a collar portion of the article of footwear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.