Knitted component, upper, and article of footwear with varying thermoplastic polymer concentrations
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsEnkhbat Dorjgurkhem, William P. Halligan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects herein are directed to, among other things, an article of footwear comprising an upper. The upper includes a knit textile of unitary construction having at least a first area and a second area that extends directly adjacent the first area from the toe end of the forefoot region to the forward end of the throat area. In some aspects, a concentration of thermoplastic polymer materials is optimized within and between the first area and the second area. The utilization of materials and knit structures within and between the first area and the second area helps to maintain a clear visual boundary between the first area and the second area.
Claims22
An article of footwear comprising an upper, the upper comprising:
- a knit textile forming at least part of a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a lateral side, and a medial side;
- a first area of the knit textile extending from a toe end of the forefoot region, through the forefoot region, and to a forward end of a throat area, the first area having a first visual property, and the first area further having a first concentration of a thermoplastic polymer material in the toe end of the forefoot region that is greater than a second concentration of the thermoplastic polymer material in the forward end of the throat area;
- and
- a second area of the knit textile having a second visual property that is different than the first visual property and extending adjacent to the first area from the toe end of the forefoot region to the forward end of the throat area.
An article of footwear comprising an upper, the upper comprising:
- a knit textile forming at least part of a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a lateral side, and a medial side;
- a first area of the knit textile extending from a toe end of the forefoot region, through the forefoot region, and to a forward end of a throat area, the first area further having a first concentration of a first thermoplastic polymer material in the toe end of the forefoot region that is greater than a second concentration of the first thermoplastic polymer material in the forward end of the throat area;
- and
- a second area of the knit textile extending adjacent to the first area from the toe end of the forefoot region to the forward end of the throat area, and the second area having a substantially consistent concentration of a second thermoplastic polymer material from the toe end of the forefoot region to the forward end of the throat area.
An article of footwear comprising an upper, the upper comprising:
- a knit textile comprising at least part of a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a lateral side, and a medial side;
- a first area of the knit textile extending from a biteline of the upper to a throat area of the upper, the first area comprising a first visual property, and the first area comprising a first concentration of a thermoplastic polymer material proximate to the biteline that is greater than a second concentration of the thermoplastic polymer material proximate to the throat area;
- and
- a second area of the knit textile comprising a second visual property that is different than the first visual property, the second area extending adjacent to the first area.
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper, comprising:
- a knit textile at least partially forming:
- a forefoot region,
- a midfoot region,
- a lateral side,
- a medial side, and
- an underfoot portion;
- a first area extending from the underfoot portion to a throat area of the upper, the first area comprising a first visual property and comprising a thermoplastic polymer material that transitions from a lower concentration proximate to the underfoot portion to a higher concentration proximate to the throat area;
- and
- a second area of the knit textile comprising a second visual property that is different than the first visual property, the second area extending adjacent to the first area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.