Knitted component for an article of footwear including a full monofilament upper
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorDaniel A. Podhajny
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An article of footwear including a full monofilament upper is described. The full monofilament upper incorporates a knitted component including a monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element is formed by knitting with a monofilament strand. The monofilament knit element is formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component, including peripheral portions that are knit using a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn. An inlaid tensile element can extend through the knitted component, including portions of the monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element may be knitted with a monofilament strand according to a variety of knit structures.
Claims25
A knitted component for incorporating into a full monofilament upper of an article of footwear, the knitted component comprising:
- a monofilament knit element formed by at least one monofilament strand, the monofilament knit element defining substantially all of an exterior surface of the full monofilament upper and an opposite interior surface of the full monofilament upper, the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot;
- wherein the monofilament knit element extends (a) through each of a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear, and (b) across a top of the full monofilament upper between a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear;
- wherein the monofilament knit element comprises two knitted layers formed of unitary knit construction, the two knitted layers being overlapping and at least partially coextensive with each other;
- wherein the monofilament knit element includes a first monofilament strand and a second monofilament strand;
- and
- wherein a first knitted layer is formed by the first monofilament strand and a second knitted layer is formed by the second monofilament strand.
A method of manufacturing a knitted component for incorporating into a full monofilament upper of an article of footwear, the method comprising:
- knitting a monofilament knit element using at least one monofilament strand, the monofilament knit element forming substantially all of an exterior surface of the full monofilament upper and an opposite interior surface of the full monofilament upper, the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot;
- wherein the monofilament knit element extends (a) through each of a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear, and (b) across a top of the full monofilament upper between a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear;
- wherein the step of knitting the monofilament knit element further comprises:
- knitting two knitted layers of unitary knit construction, the two knitted layers being overlapping and at least partially coextensive with each other;
- the step of knitting the two knitted layers including:
- knitting a first knitted layer using a first monofilament strand;
- and
- knitting a second knitted layer using a second monofilament strand.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.