A shoe having an upper and a sole connected to the upper. The upper has, at least in part, a knitted material forming its outer surface. To ensure sufficient longitudinal elasticity in the forefoot region and a good fit, along with efficient production, the knitted material consists of a first knitted material layer produced from a first thread, wherein the first material layer has arranged on it a second knitted material layer produced from a second thread. The second material layer at least partially covers the first material layer. In the region of the front half, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the shoe, and/or in the heel region of the shoe, the second material layer runs, at least in part, in strip form in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the shoe so as to form a number of strips running parallel to one another.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a knitted component comprising a course with a plurality of loops. An inlaid strand formed of a second yarn may be included in the knitted component. A first portion of the course may be formed with a first yarn and a second portion of the course may be formed with the second yarn. The inlaid strand may be inlaid within the first portion of the course.

An article of footwear includes a knitted upper component and a thermoplastic polyurethane yarn stitched into a region of the knitted upper component. The thermoplastic polyurethane yarn is fused with the knitted component at the region of the knitted upper component. The article of footwear may include at least one of an outer sole and a midsole connected to the upper, with at least one of the outer sole and the midsole formed of knitwear.

Articles of wear having one or more textiles that include a low processing temperature polymeric composition and a high processing temperature polymeric composition, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The low processing temperature polymeric composition and the high processing temperature polymeric composition can be selectively incorporated into a textile to provide one or more structural properties and/or other advantageous properties to the article. The textile can be thermoformed to impart such structural and/or other advantageous properties to the article of wear. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

An article of footwear can include a braided upper. The structure of the braided upper may be manufactured using an article forming member and a braiding apparatus. The article forming member includes a body portion substantially similar to a last for shoemaking, as well as a flange portion that extends outward from the body portion. The article forming member moves through the braiding apparatus in varying orientations that can improve the efficiency of the braiding, enhance the braiding pattern, and enhance structural support of the braided upper.

A knitted article having a first layer and a second layer is described. The first layer is formed from a first yarn having a first shrinkage rate and the second layer is formed by a second yarn having a second shrinkage rate. The shrinkage rate of the first yarn is greater than the shrinkage rate of the second yarn when subjected to heat. Upon heat exposure, the second layer forms a raised structure. The raised structures have a length that is generally perpendicular to the lateral-to-medial course-wise direction of the knitted article. Methods of forming raised structures are also disclosed.

An article of footwear can include an upper. The upper includes a knitted portion having yarns partially fused to adjacent yarns and filaments of the partially fused yarns that are partially fused to adjacent filaments. Methods for manufacturing an article of footwear including an upper having a partially fused knitted portion are also described.

Systems and methods for automatically producing a cord structure are provided herein. In one embodiment, a method comprises automatically forming, with at least one robotic arm, a first plurality of loops in a first plane, and automatically forming, with the at least one robotic arm, a second plurality of loops in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane, the second plurality of loops slippably engaged with the first plurality of loops. In this way, cord structures may be quickly constructed, thereby reducing labor input and expense.

A knitted component may include a first portion, where the first portion at least partially forms an underfoot area of an article of footwear. A second portion may be included, where the second portion at least partially forms an outer surface of a medial or a lateral side of an article of footwear. A forward portion may extend from an end of the first portion and may include a toebox area in a toe region of the knitted component. A knitted connection structure may be located between the toebox area of the forward portion and the second portion, where the second portion includes a first course, where the toebox area of the second portion includes a second course, and where the first course is secured to the second course through the knitted connection structure.

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).