Knitted component for articles of footwear
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsBilan Dedonato, Enkhbat Dorjgurkhem, Emily MacGregor, Hailey Robinson, Yang Zhao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aspects herein are directed to a knitted component and articles of footwear that incorporate the same having a heel portion integrally knit with lateral and medial midfoot portions along first and second folding areas. The knitted component is biased to fold along the first and second folding areas so the article of footwear can move between first and second wear configurations. In some aspects, the heel portion has a greater elasticity than the lateral and medial midfoot portions.
Claims20
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper having a heel region comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- the upper comprising a knitted component comprising a heel portion, a lateral midfoot portion, and a medial midfoot portion, the heel portion forming at least part of the interior surface and at least part of the exterior surface in the heel region of the upper, the heel portion being integrally knit with the lateral midfoot portion and with the medial midfoot portion, and
- the entire heel portion of the knitted component having a greater elasticity than the lateral midfoot portion and the medial midfoot portion.
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper comprising a knitted component comprising a heel portion, a lateral midfoot portion, and a medial midfoot portion, the heel portion being integrally knit with the lateral midfoot portion along a first folding area and integrally knit with the medial midfoot portion along a second folding area,
- the knitted component defining an ankle opening of the upper, and
- the knitted component being configured to move between a first wear configuration where the heel portion extends upwards and a second wear configuration where the heel portion is extended inwards into a foot-receiving void of the upper, wherein the ankle opening defined by the knitted component is larger in the second wear configuration than in the first wear configuration.
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper comprising a knitted component comprising:
- a heel portion, a lateral midfoot portion, and a medial midfoot portion;
- a first knitted tubular structure integrally knitted with and positioned between the heel portion and the lateral midfoot portion;
- and
- a second knitted tubular structure integrally knitted with and positioned between the heel portion and the medial midfoot portion,
- wherein the knitted component lacks knitted tubular structures within the heel portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.