Patent classifications
A43B23/04
Method for providing blanks for the production of inshoes, footlets, no-show socks, shoes of the like with double layers, with a circular hosiery knitting machine, and intermediate manufacture obtained with the method
A method for providing intermediate manufactures for production of manufactures such as an inshoe, footlet, no-show sock, shoes or the like with double thickness, with a circular hosiery knitting machine and an intermediate manufacture obtained with the method. The method has the particularity that it comprises at least the following steps: a step of providing a first tubular portion of knitted fabric; a casting-off step, in which a portion of knitted fabric is provided by moving to knit a group of contiguous needles at the at least one feed; a casting-on step, in which a portion of knitted fabric is provided by moving to knit a group of contiguous needles at the at least one feed; a step of providing a second tubular portion of knitted fabric by actuating the needle cylinder with a continuous rotary motion about its own axis in one direction of rotation.
Knitted tensile structures
A knit component may include a knit-in tensile area, which may include an opening at least partially bounded by a first intersecting portion and a second intersecting portion. A course of tensile material that is integrally knitted with the first intersecting portion via a knit stitch may include a float extending from the first intersecting portion, across the opening, to the second intersecting portion. A knitting method may knit courses of the knit component on needle beds and then widen and/or narrow parts of the opening by transferring stitches of one of the courses of the knit component to different needles.
Footwear uppers and other textile components including reinforced and abutting edge joint seams
Textile Components, such as upper members for articles of footwear, include: (a) a first portion having a first edge, wherein the first edge includes a first portion of material engaged with a first seam support material via a first thermoplastic material; (b) a second portion having a second edge, wherein the second edge includes a second portion of material engaged with a second seam support material via a second thermoplastic material; and (c) structure to engage the first and second edges in an abutting edge joint (such as a zig-zag stitch). The resulting textile components may be lightweight and breathable (e.g., due to use of lightweight upper fabric), having a comfortable fit (e.g., due to the abutting edge joint), while still providing a strong, stable, and durable construction (e.g., due to the presence of the seam support member(s)).
Footwear uppers and other textile components including reinforced and abutting edge joint seams
Textile Components, such as upper members for articles of footwear, include: (a) a first portion having a first edge, wherein the first edge includes a first portion of material engaged with a first seam support material via a first thermoplastic material; (b) a second portion having a second edge, wherein the second edge includes a second portion of material engaged with a second seam support material via a second thermoplastic material; and (c) structure to engage the first and second edges in an abutting edge joint (such as a zig-zag stitch). The resulting textile components may be lightweight and breathable (e.g., due to use of lightweight upper fabric), having a comfortable fit (e.g., due to the abutting edge joint), while still providing a strong, stable, and durable construction (e.g., due to the presence of the seam support member(s)).
Footwear with waterproof seams
An article of footwear includes an upper having a quarter having a lower edge having a first slit defined therein and a vamp having an upper edge having a second slit defined therein. The quarter and the vamp are joined along a seam extending along the lower edge of the quarter and the upper edge of the vamp with the first slit and the second slit cooperating with one another. At least a portion of the lower edge of the quarter is adhesively sealed to an inner surface of the vamp.
Footwear with waterproof seams
An article of footwear includes an upper having a quarter having a lower edge having a first slit defined therein and a vamp having an upper edge having a second slit defined therein. The quarter and the vamp are joined along a seam extending along the lower edge of the quarter and the upper edge of the vamp with the first slit and the second slit cooperating with one another. At least a portion of the lower edge of the quarter is adhesively sealed to an inner surface of the vamp.
Article of footwear incorporating a knitted component
An article of footwear may include an upper incorporating a knitted component. An inlaid strand extends through the knitted component. A combination feeder may be utilized to inlay the strand within the knitted component. As an example, the combination feeder may include a feeder arm that reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position. In manufacturing the knitted component, the feeder inlays the strand when the feeder arm is in the extended position, and the strand is absent from the knitted component when the feeder arm is in the retracted position.
Article of footwear having an upper with separately securing medial and lateral side portions
An article of footwear comprises a sole, and an upper that has a medial side portion extending from the medial side of the sole with a first distal end remote from the medial side. The upper has a lateral side portion extending from the lateral side of the sole with a second distal end remote from the lateral side. The upper may include a support member extending at least partially across the foot-receiving surface with a first end remote from the medial side. The medial and lateral side portions wrap at least partially around a foot with the first distal end securable proximal to the lateral side, and the second distal end separately securable proximal to the medial side. An article of footwear has cables with proximal ends fixed to one side of the upper and that extend through looped cables on an opposite side of the upper.
Footwear upper including variable stitch density
An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper at least partially formed of a textile element. The textile element includes a yarn matrix having a plurality of interlocked strands oriented in predetermined directions. A structural element may be captured within the matrix at selected locations. In operation, the matrix is stitched onto a temporary substrate. The substrate is removed and the article coupled to a sole structure to form the article of footwear.
Article of footwear with upper incorporating knitted component providing variable compression
An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper that is attached to the sole structure. The upper includes a knitted component with a compression member that is configured to apply compression to the wearer. The knitted component also includes a selection element that is configured for selecting and changing the amount of compression applied by the compression member. The selection element is spaced away from the sole structure. The selection element includes a first area and a second area. The first area is configured to move relative to the second area between an unsecured position and a secured position to change the amount of compression applied by the compression member. The first area is spaced away from the second area in the unsecured position, and the first area is attached to the second area in the secured position.