US 9,003,836 B1Granted

Method of knitting a gusseted tongue for a knitted component

AssigneeNIKE, Inc.

InventorDaniel A. Podhajny

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Abstract

A knitted component including a knit element and a gusseted tongue is incorporated into an upper of an article of footwear. The knit element defines a portion of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot. The knit element and the gusseted tongue are formed together as a knitted component during a knitting process as a one-piece element. The gusseted tongue is formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element and is joined with the knit element in an instep area of the upper. The knitting process includes steps of forming portions of the knitted component, transferring portions of the knitted component to opposite needle beds, shifting needle beds along a lateral direction to cause portions to overlap, and joining the overlapped portions by knitting to form the gusseted tongue.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of manufacturing a knitted component for an article of footwear, the knitted component defining an upper including an exterior surface and an opposite interior surface, the method comprising:

knitting a first portion of the knitted component with a knitting machine, the first portion including at least a portion of one of a lateral side and a medial side of the upper;
knitting a tongue portion of the knitted component with the knitting machine;
transferring the first portion to a first set of needles associated with a first needle bed of the knitting machine;
transferring the tongue portion to a second set of needles associated with a second needle bed of the knitting machine, the second needle bed being disposed opposite the first needle bed on the knitting machine;
shifting at least one of the first needle bed and the second needle bed in a lateral direction relative to the other, thereby causing at least a portion of the first portion and a portion of the tongue portion to overlap;
knitting at least one course of the knitted component with the knitting machine to join the overlapped first portion and tongue portion to form a combined portion;
and
knitting the remaining portion of the knitted component with the knitting machine.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/273,641Filed 9 May 2014 · continuation
Priority: 3 Feb 2014
Granted: 14 Apr 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification18 codes

D04B 7/04
Flat-bed knitting machines with independently-movable needles: with two sets of needles
A43B 1/04
Made of fibres or fabrics made therefrom: braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
A43B 23/0205
Uppers; Boot legs: characterised by the material
A43B 23/024
Characterised by the material: different layers of the same material