An upper for an article of footwear may be at least partially formed with a knitted component. The knitted component may include a first knitted portion and a second knitted portion, where the first knitted portion at least partially forms at least one of a medial side, a lateral side, and a toe area of the upper, and where the second knitted portion forms a tongue area of the upper. The second knitted portion may include a first end and a second end where one of the first end is secured to the first knitted portion via a common knit structure.

In one aspect, an upper for an article of footwear may include a knit element, a collar area configured to form an ankle opening, and a cuff in the collar area. The cuff may be at least partially formed by the knit element and may include a ribbed knit structure of the knit element. In another aspect, an upper for an article of footwear may include a knit element with a first area, the first area including a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side may be formed of at least 30% more material than the second side such that the first area is configured to curve convexly away from the first side.

An article of footwear includes a first envelope that extends lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and heightwise from a bottom side to a top side, the first envelope comprising yarns linked to one another mechanically, at least a portion of the yarns comprising at least one hot-melt filament. The yarns comprising at least one hot-melt filament are distributed over the entire first envelope, and the shape of the first envelope is set by melting the yarns that comprise at least one hot-melt filament.

Articles of footwear with a sock-like upper and methods for constructing thereof are provided. In one embodiment, an upper comprises a first layer including a first interior and a first exterior, a second layer including a second interior and a second exterior, where the first layer and the second layer comprise a same material and are physically coupled at one end of each layer, and a plurality of sub-structural components positioned between the first exterior and the second interior. In this way, manufacturing articles of footwear with a sock-like upper may be simplified, while the comfort and fit of the articles of footwear may be improved.

An article of footwear includes an upper with an outer layer, an elastic layer, and a lacing system. The outer layer extends through a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear and covers, at least partially, a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear. The elastic layer extends through the midfoot region and the heel region of the article of footwear and covers, at least partially, an instep region of the article of footwear. The lacing system extends, at least partially, across the instep region, and the outer layer includes a first elasticity and the elastic layer includes a second elasticity at least three times greater than the first elasticity.

Methods are provided for printing a three-dimensional structural component onto a base. For example, a method of printing is provided, including receiving a set of predetermined thicknesses for the three-dimensional structural component. The set of predetermined thicknesses has a first thickness and a second thickness. The first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The method further includes instructing a printing device to print a single layer for the three-dimensional structural component using the set of predetermined thicknesses. The method further includes printing a first portion of the single layer onto the base so that the first portion has the first thickness. The method further includes printing a second portion of the single layer onto the base so that the second portion has the second thickness.

A pool sock having an upper portion comprising a water-resistant material and a reinforced toe protection area material and a lower portion comprising a waterproof, non-slip sole. The water-resistant material may be a polyester Lycra material and the sole may be a synthetic polyvinyl chloride and cotton blend. The pool sock may further include an entry/exit portion that is an elastic ring that is coupled to the water-resistant material of the upper portion. The entry/exit portion may be a flexible ring that is enclosed within the water-resistant material of the upper portion. The pool sock may further include a pull-tab coupled to either the entry/exit portion or the water-resistant material of the upper portion near a heel area. The toe protection area material may be vinyl, neoprene rubber, or leather. A bottom surface of the sole may include treads or ribs.

An article of footwear may include a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction. The knitted component includes a sock portion and a tongue portion. The sock portion has a hollow structure (a) forming an ankle opening in a heel region of the footwear and (b) extending between the heel region and a forefoot region of the footwear to define a void within the footwear for receiving a foot. The tongue portion has an elongate configuration (a) extending through at least a portion of a length of a throat area of the upper and (b) including two knit layers that lay adjacent to each other.

A knitted upper for an article of footwear. The knitted upper is formed essentially as a single piece in a three-dimensional knitting process. The knitted upper includes at least one activated shrink yarn.

An article of footwear with an upper including a ribbon structure is disclosed. The ribbon structure comprises ribbon sections winding back and forth between the peripheral edges of the upper. At the peripheral edges, the ribbon loops around and some portions along the loops may raise up from a backing layer. An embroidered border element is applied over the peripheral edges to tack down or cover the raised portions of ribbon. The loops of ribbon may also be used as lace loops.