The present invention relates to a shoe upper including a knitted component having a plurality of integrally knitted lines of loops including a set of consecutive lines, wherein each line in the set of consecutive lines includes a plurality of consecutive loops which are interlooped with adjacent loops of the respective line and not interlooped with loops of a line which is not contained in the set, and wherein the set of consecutive lines forms at least a portion of an eyelet which is configured to receive a lace.

A method of manufacturing a preform including a core and a sole includes contour weaving the preform on a lap roller having a groove or an outgrowth allowing shape weaving of the core and the sole of the preform. At least one portion of the core and at least one portion of the sole include weft yarns which cross each other on common warp yarns.

The present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper. An inlaid strand may extend through the knit element, and a tongue and the knit element may have a common yarn at least at a forward portion of the tongue, and the tongue may extend through a throat area of the upper.

An article of fabric of a generally tubular shape body having an inner skin-facing surface with a generally symmetric inner circumference and an outer-facing surface having a generally non-symmetric outer circumference.

A multi-ply knit fabric containing a first knit ply containing a plurality of first and second yarns, where the first knit ply forms the upper surface of the fabric. The first knit ply contains a first knit pattern having a repeating pattern of first areas and second areas, where within the first areas the first and second yarns are knitted together and within the second areas the first yarns are knitted together and the second yarns float across approximately the entire second areas. The first areas and second areas have at least one dimension within the plane of the first ply knit of at least about 0.5 mm. The fabric also contains a second knit ply forming the lower surface of the fabric and a plurality of stuffer yarns located between the first and second knit ply.

Provided is a footwear knitting method for knitting footwear that partially has a two-layer structure. The footwear knitting method is a method for knitting footwear (1) provided with a base knitted fabric portion (2) that has a foot insertion opening (5), and is shape of an item of footwear, using a flat knitting machine. The footwear knitting method includes: starting knitting of the base knitted fabric portion (2) from a toe side or a heel side of the base knitted fabric portion (2) to complete the base knitted fabric portion (2) with a left side part and a right side part of the base knitted fabric portion (2) facing each other in a front-back direction of needle beds; knitting an additional knitted fabric portion (3) that is separate from the base knitted fabric portion (2), and is bag-shaped with one end open and the other end closed, before or during the knitting of the base knitted fabric portion (2); and joining, using double stitches, a part of an opening edge of the additional knitted fabric portion (3) with a toe-side edge part or a heel-side edge part of an edge of the foot insertion opening (5) of the base knitted fabric portion (2).

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for knitting a fabric using a knitting machine. The knitting machine is arranged to knit with a plurality of yarns using a corresponding plurality of knitting needles, each knitting needle being arranged during knitting of a stitch to connect with and knit with one of the plurality of yarns. The method controllably varies the stitch length for each stitch in dependence on the pattern to be knitted.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a knitted component forming an overfoot portion and an underfoot portion of an article of footwear. The knitted component may include a first layer defining a void and a second layer second layer at least partially surrounding the first layer. The second layer may form an outer surface on the overfoot portion and the underfoot portion, and a portion of the first layer may be continuous with a portion of the second layer in an ankle region of the knitted component. An interstitial space may be formed between the first layer and the second layer, and a component may be disposed between the first layer and the second layer.

Three-dimensional weaving, knitting, or braiding tools may be used to create three-dimensional fabric (24) with internal pockets (56). The pockets (56) may be shaped to receive electrical components such as switch electrodes (46A, 46B) for a switch (18). The fabric (24) may have adjacent first and second layers that are interposed between the switch electrodes (46A, 46B). The switch electrodes (46A, 46B) may be biased apart using magnets (46A-1, 46B-1) or other biasing structure. In a region of the fabric (24) that overlaps the first and second switch electrodes (46A, 46B), the first and second layers of fabric may be disconnected from each other. This allows the first and second layers to pull away from each other so that the electrodes (46A, 46B) are separated by the biasing force from the biasing structure. The switch (18) can be closed by pressing the electrodes (46A, 46B) together.

The present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knitted component having a first yarn and a second yarn, where the first yarn comprises a core with a sheath, the sheath being formed of a thermoplastic material having a melting temperature. The second yarn may be substantially free of the thermoplastic material. The knitted component may further comprise a first layer having a first surface and a second layer having a second surface, where the first layer and the second layer are secured via a knit structure of the knitted component, and where the knitted component further comprises a first region and a second region.