Article of footwear having a flat knit upper construction or other upper construction

Abstract

Flat knitting allows production of textile structures (e.g., for use in footwear uppers) of a final desired shape such that textile cutting steps can be avoided. Flat knitted elements also can be formed directly in desired three dimensional shapes, which can help avoid the need to use additional support structures (e.g., in footwear construction). By selectively placing multiple different yarns and / or stitch patterns at multiple different locations in the overall structure during the knitting process, flat knitted products may have multiple different physical properties (e.g., different stretchability, different moisture management capabilities, etc.) at multiple different locations or zones within a single, unitary construction (e.g., different properties at different zones or locations within a single footwear structure). Additionally, flat knitting can be used to produce pockets, tunnels, or other layered structures in the final product.

Description

Background technique [0001] Traditional articles of athletic footwear include two primary elements, an upper structure and a sole structure. The upper provides coverage for the foot, the upper structure securely receiving and positioning the foot relative to the sole structure. Additionally, the upper may have a construction that protects the foot and provides breathability, thereby cooling the foot and removing moisture. The sole structure is secured to the lower surface of the upper and is generally positioned between the foot and the ground. In addition to cushioning ground reaction forces, the sole structure provides traction and controls foot movements such as pronation. Thus, the upper structure and the sole structure work together to provide a comfortable structure suitable for various athletic activities such as walking and running. The general features and construction of a conventional upper are described in detail below. [0002] The upper creates a cavity insid...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

For stretch resistance, US Patent 4,813,158 to Brown and US Patent 4,756,098 to Boggia both disclose a substantially inextensible material that is secured to the upper, thereby limiting the extent to which it stretches in certain portions of the upper

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