Abstract
A shoe upper that includes a tubular knitted element. The tubular knitted element of the shoe upper includes an integrally-formed aperture. The aperture is formed by casting-off or binding-off at least one stitch, and the aperture includes at least a first width. The tubular knitted element includes an opening on at least one end of the tubular knitted element.
Claims
1. A shoe upper, comprising a tubular knitted element comprising an opening at an end of the tubular knitted element, wherein the tubular knitted element comprises an integrally-formed aperture; wherein the aperture is formed by casting-off or binding-off at least one stitch, wherein the aperture comprises at least a first width, and wherein the aperture is not joined with the opening at the end of the tubular knitted element.
2. The shoe upper according to claim 1, wherein the aperture further comprises at least a second width, wherein the first and second widths are different.
3. The shoe upper according to claim 2, wherein a width of the aperture changes essentially gradually from the first width to the second width.
4. The shoe upper of claim 1, wherein the tubular knitted element comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is folded into the second portion or the second portion is at least partially folded over the first portion such that an internal knitted portion and an external knitted portion are formed, and wherein the aperture is arranged at least on one of the first or the second portions, and the aperture is arranged over the second portion or the first portion.
5. The shoe upper according to claim 1, wherein the shoe upper comprises at least one elastic yarn, and wherein the elastic yarn is at least arranged adjacent to the aperture.
6. The shoe upper according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an edge of the aperture comprises one or more courses of knitted loops of elastic yarn and/or melt yarn.
7. The shoe upper according to claim 4, wherein the first portion comprises a first yarn and the second portion comprises a second yarn, wherein the first yarn has a first yarn thickness and the second yarn has a second yarn thickness, and wherein the first yarn thickness is smaller than the second yarn thickness.
8. The shoe upper according to claim 4, wherein the first portion comprises a first type of yarn and the second portion comprises a second type of yarn, wherein the first type of yarn and the second type of yarn are different.
9. A shoe comprising a shoe upper according to claim 1.
10. A method of producing a shoe upper using a knitting machine having needles, comprising: knitting a tubular knitted element; creating an integrally-formed aperture, comprising at least a first width, in the tubular knitted element by: stopping knitting with a first plurality of the needles such that the first plurality of the needles are inactive while continuing knitting one or more courses with a second plurality of the needles; casting-off or binding-off at least one stitch on the second plurality of the needles while the first plurality of the needles are inactive; and resuming knitting with the first plurality of the needles.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein creating the integrally-formed aperture further comprises shaping the aperture so that it comprises at least a second width which is different from the first width.
12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the tubular knitted element comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein creating an aperture in the tubular knitted element comprises integrally forming the aperture in the first portion and/or in the second portion, and folding the first portion into the second portion or folding the second portion at least partially over the first portion so as to form an internal knitted portion and an external knitted portion, and wherein the method further comprises integrally forming the aperture in at least one of the first or the second portions, and arranging the tubular knitted element such that the aperture at least partially overlaps with the second or the first portions, respectively.
13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising connecting the internal knitted portion and the external knitted portion.
14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the shoe upper comprises at least one melt yarn comprising a low-temperature meltable composition, wherein the melt yarn is arranged at least adjacent to the aperture.
15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the shoe upper comprises at least one elastic yarn, wherein the elastic yarn is arranged at least adjacent to the aperture.
16. A method of producing a shoe, comprising: producing a shoe upper according to claim 10; and attaching a sole element to the shoe upper.
17. A shoe upper, comprising a tubular knitted element, comprising: a first tubular portion having an integrally formed tongue region; a second tubular portion attached to the first tubular portion at a fold line; an aperture integrally formed with the tubular knitted element by casting-off or binding-off at least one stitch of the tubular knitted element; and an opening at an end of the first tubular portion, wherein the aperture is not joined with the opening at the end of the first tubular portion, wherein the first tubular portion of the tubular knitted element is folded into the second tubular portion at the fold line, such that the tongue region of the first tubular portion is arranged within the aperture.
Description
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
(1) In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the figures. The figures show:
(2) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary tubular knitted element for a shoe upper according to the present invention.
(3) FIG. 2 shows an exemplary circularly-knitted knitting scheme for the tubular knitted element shown in FIG. 1 according to the present invention.
(4) FIG. 3 shows an exemplary portion of a tubular knitted element, knitted by the knitting scheme shown in FIG. 2.
(5) FIG. 4 shows an exemplary tubular knitted element for a shoe upper according to the present invention.
(6) FIG. 5 shows an exemplary circularly-knitted knitting scheme for the tubular knitted element shown in FIG. 4 according to the present invention.
(7) FIG. 6 shows an exemplary portion of a tubular knitted element, knitted by the knitting scheme shown in FIG. 5.
(8) FIGS. 7A-C show an exemplary tubular knitted element for a shoe upper according to the present invention (FIG. 7A), the corresponding exemplary knitting scheme (FIG. 7B), and an exemplary portion of a tubular knitted element (FIG. 7C).
(9) FIGS. 8A-B show an exemplary knitting scheme (FIG. 8A), and an exemplary portion of a tubular knitted element (FIG. 8B).
(10) FIG. 9 shows an exemplary tubular knitted element for a shoe upper according to the present invention.
(11) FIGS. 10A-C show an exemplary tubular knitted element for a shoe upper according to the present invention (FIGS. 10A and 10B) and the resulting shoe upper (FIG. 10C).
(12) FIG. 11 shows an exemplary upper according to the present invention.
(13) FIG. 12 shows an exemplary shoe according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(14) In the following, only some possible embodiments of the invention are described in detail. It is to be understood that these exemplary embodiments can be modified in a number of ways and combined with each other whenever compatible and that certain features may be omitted in so far as they appear dispensable.
(15) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary tubular knitted element 10 for a shoe upper according to the present invention. The tubular knitted element 10 includes an integrally-formed aperture 11, formed by dropping several stitches off a set of needles and wherein the set of needles remain inactive, i.e. do not knit, for a certain number of knitting rows (courses). The last courses prior to the drop-off are indicated with reference numeral 12. The knitting direction 15 is from bottom to top. The tubular knitted element 10 includes a knit 13, surrounding the aperture 11 and an opening 14 at an end. In this example, the tubular knitted element 10 is knitted on a small circular knitting machine. However, it is also possible to knit the tubular knitted element 10 on a flat knitting machine.
(16) FIG. 2 shows an exemplary knitting schematic 20 for producing the tubular knitted element 10 shown in FIG. 1. Needles are knitting in the areas indicated with reference numeral 23 and 22 but are not knitting in the area indicated with reference numeral 21. The last courses knitted prior to the drop-off are indicated with reference numeral 22. The knitting direction 15 is from bottom to top. The last courses are knitted only on those needles that will undergo the drop-off, i.e., the other needles are not knitting at that time, and help prevent fraying. During this time, the rest of the needles are inactive, holding the existing stitches. This is also called partial knitting herein. These last courses are knitted with a blend of elastic yarn and melt yarn. Reference numeral 24 indicates the drop-off, also known as cast-off, beyond which the exemplary nine adjacent needles indicated do not knit until they start knitting again at reference numeral 25.
(17) FIG. 3 shows an exemplary portion 30 of a tubular knitted element 10, knitted by the knitting scheme shown in FIG. 2. The exemplary portion comprises an aperture 11 formed by the drop-off described with respect to the previous figure for nine adjacent needles. The knitting direction 15 is from bottom to top. The aperture 11 therefore has a first width w1 approximately equal to the width of nine adjacent wales. In this example, the width of the aperture 11 is constant, i.e. does not change essentially gradually. In particular, the width equals the first width w1. The last courses prior to drop-off are indicated with reference numeral 12 and the knit 13 surrounding the aperture 11 is indicated with reference numeral 13.
(18) FIG. 4 shows another exemplary tubular knitted element 10 for a shoe upper according to the present invention. The tubular knitted element 10 comprises an aperture 11, formed by dropping several stitches. The knitting direction 15 is from bottom to top. In this example, a width of the aperture 11 changes essentially gradually. In particular, the width changes from a first width w1 to a second width w2, wherein the second width is zero. The last courses prior to the drop-off are indicated with reference numeral 12. The tubular knitted element 10 comprises a knit 13, surrounding the aperture 11 and an opening 14 at an end.
(19) FIG. 5 shows an exemplary knitting schematic 20 for producing the tubular knitted element 10 shown in FIG. 4. Needles are knitting in the areas indicated with reference numeral 23 and 22 but are not knitting in the area indicated with reference numeral 21. The knitting direction 15 is from bottom to top. The last courses knitted prior to the drop-off are indicated with reference numeral 22. The last courses are knitted only on those needles that will undergo the drop-off, i.e., the other needles are not knitting at that time, and help prevent fraying. During this time, the rest of the needles are inactive, holding the existing stitches. This is also called partial knitting herein. These last courses are knitting with a blend of elastic yarn and melt yarn. Reference numeral 24 indicates the drop-off, also known as cast-off, beyond which 9 adjacent needles initially do not knit. In this example, needles resume knitting essentially gradually, thereby creating an aperture 11 with an essentially gradually-varying width, that is reduced by the width of two wales every four courses. At point 25a, two needles at the edges of the aperture 11 resume knitting, at each of the points 25b, 25c, 25d, two further needles at the edges of the aperture 11 resume knitting. Finally, at point 25e, all needles resume knitting.
(20) FIG. 6 shows an exemplary portion 30 of a tubular knitted element 10, knitted by the knitting scheme shown in FIG. 5. The exemplary portion comprises an aperture 11 formed by the drop-off described with respect to the previous figure. The knitting direction 15 is from bottom to top. The aperture 11 therefore has a first width w1 approximately equal to the width of nine adjacent wales. In this example, the width of the aperture 11 is reduced essentially gradually by the width of two wales every four courses from the first width w1 to the second width w2, wherein the second width is essentially the width of one wale. The last courses prior to drop-off are indicated with reference numeral 12 and the knit 13 surrounding the aperture 11 is indicated with reference numeral 13.
(21) FIG. 7A shows another exemplary tubular knitted element 10 for a shoe upper according to the present invention. The tubular knitted element 10 comprises an aperture 11, wherein the aperture 11 has a first width w1 and a second width w2. The last courses prior to the drop-off are indicated with reference numeral 12. The knitting direction 15 is from bottom to top. The tubular knitted element 10 comprises a knit 13, surrounding the aperture 11 and an opening 14 at an end.
(22) FIG. 7B shows an exemplary knitting schematic 20 for producing the tubular knitted element 10 shown in FIG. 7A. Needles are knitting in the areas indicated with reference numeral 23 and 22 but are not knitting in the area indicated with reference numeral 21. The last courses knitted prior to the drop-off are indicated with reference numeral 22. The last courses are knitted only on those needles that will undergo the drop-off, i.e. the other needles are not knitting at that time, and help prevent fraying. These last courses are knitting with a blend of elastic yarn and melt yarn. Reference numeral 24 indicates the drop-off, also known as cast-off, beyond which 9 adjacent needles initially do not knit. In this example, some of the needles resume knitting at point 25a. Therefore, the aperture 11 of the formed tubular knitted element 10 comprises a first width w1 and a second width w2. The knitting direction 15 is from bottom to top.
(23) FIG. 7C shows an exemplary portion 30 of a tubular knitted element 10, knitted by the knitting scheme shown in FIG. 7B. The exemplary portion includes an aperture 11 formed by the drop-off described with respect to FIG. 7B. The aperture 11 has a first width w1 and a second width w2. The last courses prior to drop-off are indicated with reference numeral 12 and the knit 13 surrounding the aperture 11 is indicated with reference numeral 13. The knitting direction 15 is from bottom to top.
(24) FIG. 8A shows an exemplary knitting schematic 20 for producing the portion 30 of the tubular knitted element 10 shown in FIG. 8B. Needles are knitting in the areas indicated with reference numeral 23 and 22 but are not knitting in the area indicated with reference numeral 21. The last courses knitted prior to the drop-off are indicated with reference numeral 22. The last courses are knitted only on those needles that will undergo the drop-off, i.e. the other needles are not knitting at that time, and help prevent fraying. These last courses are knitting with a blend of elastic yarn and melt yarn. Reference numeral 24 indicates the drop-off, also known as cast-off. In this example, there are three separate cast-offs, of which two occur on the same course. Therefore, the aperture 11 of the formed tubular knitted element 10 has a first width w1 and a second width w2 (as shown in FIG. 8B). The knitting direction 15 is from bottom to top.
(25) FIG. 8B shows an exemplary portion 30 of a tubular knitted element 10, knitted by the knitting scheme shown in FIG. 8A. The exemplary portion comprises an aperture 11 formed by the drop-off described with respect to FIG. 8A. The aperture 11 comprises a first width w1 and a second width w2. The last courses prior to drop-off are indicated with reference numeral 12 and the knit 13 surrounding the aperture 11 is indicated with reference numeral 13. The knitting direction 15 is from bottom to top.
(26) FIG. 9 shows an exemplary tubular knitted element for a shoe upper according to the present invention. The tubular knitted element 10 comprises an aperture 11, formed by dropping several stitches. The last courses prior to the drop-off are indicated with reference numeral 12, after which the needles which dropped the stitches are inactive, thus forming the aperture 11. The needles which dropped the stitches then resume knitting at the restarting position 16. The knitting direction 15 is from left to right. The tubular knitted element 10 comprises a knit 13, surrounding the aperture 11 and an opening 14 at both ends.
(27) FIG. 10A shows another example of a tubular knitted element 10 for a shoe upper 40 according to the present invention, including a first portion 41 and a second portion 42 separated at a fold line 43, as well as aperture 11. In this example, the tubular knitted element 10 is open at opening 14. The tubular knitted element 10 also includes a region 44 for the tongue of the shoe upper 40.
(28) FIG. 10B illustrates an intermediate step of a method by which the first portion 41 is folded into the second portion 42 about the fold line 43.
(29) FIG. 10C shows a shoe upper 40 resulting from the folding operation illustrated in FIG. 10B. In this example, the inner knitted portion 51 and the outer knitted portion 52 do not overlap completely. In particular, the tongue 54, which forms part of the inner knitted portion 51, includes only a single layer. In this example, the tubular knitted element 10 includes an opening 14 at one end of the tubular knitted element 10, and, the aperture 11 is not joined to the opening.
(30) FIG. 11 shows a shoe upper 40 according to the present invention. The shoe upper 40 includes a tubular knitted element 10, wherein the tubular knitted element 10 includes an integrally-formed aperture 11, wherein the aperture 11 is formed by casting-off or binding-off at least one stitch, and wherein the aperture 11 has at least a first width.
(31) In this example, the tubular knitted element 10 includes an opening 14 at one end of the tubular knitted element 10, and, the aperture 11 is joined to the opening 14. The shoe upper therefore provides a great amount of torsional freedom, which may be advantageous in sports that require a quick change of direction.
(32) FIG. 12 shows an exemplary shoe 60 according to one of the preceding embodiments. The shoe 60 also includes a sole element 64. The sole element 64 includes a midsole having preferred cushioning properties and an outsole to facilitate a preferred level of grip on the ground and protection of the foot. The shoe upper 40 includes a single-layer portion 61, which offers good flexibility and breathability as well as a double-layer portion 62 which offers improved support. The shoe upper 40 also includes an element 63 comprising polyurethane to further reinforce the region around the lace eyelets.
(33) Some embodiments described herein relate to a shoe upper having a tubular knitted element, wherein the tubular knitted element comprises an integrally-formed aperture, and wherein the aperture is formed by casting-off or binding-off at least one stitch, and wherein the aperture comprises at least a first width.
(34) In any of the various embodiments described herein, a width of the aperture may change essentially gradually.
(35) In any of the various embodiments described herein, the internal knitted portion and the external knitted portion may be connected.
(36) In any of the various embodiments described herein, the shoe upper may include at least one melt yarn having a low-temperature meltable composition. In some embodiments, the melt yarn may at least be arranged adjacent to the aperture.
(37) In any of the various embodiments described herein, the shoe upper may include at least one elastic yarn.
(38) In any of the various embodiments described herein, the tubular knitted element may be knitted by a small circular knitting machine.
(39) In any of the various embodiments described herein, the tubular knitted element may be knitted by a flat knitting machine.
(40) Some embodiments described herein relate to a method of producing a shoe upper that includes knitting a tubular knitted element, and creating an integrally-formed aperture, comprising at least a first width, in the tubular knitted element by casting-off or binding-off at least one stitch.
(41) In any of the various embodiments described herein, the method of producing a shoe upper may further include changing a width of the aperture essentially gradually.
(42) In any of the various embodiments described herein, a width of the aperture changes essentially gradually from a first width to a second width.
(43) In any of the various embodiments described herein, the method of producing a shoe upper may further include knitting at least a portion of an edge of the aperture using one or more courses of knitted loops of elastic yarn and/or melt yarn.
(44) In any of the various embodiments described herein, knitting may include using a first yarn in the first portion and a second yarn in the second portion, wherein the first yarn has a first yarn thickness and the second yarn has a second yarn thickness, and wherein the first yarn thickness is smaller than the second yarn thickness.
(45) In any of the various embodiments described herein, knitting may include using a first type of yarn for the first portion and a second type of yarn for the second portion, wherein the first and second types of yarn are different.
REFERENCE SIGNS
(46) 10: tubular knitted element 11: aperture 12: last rows of courses 13: knit 14: opening 15: knitting direction 16: restarting point w1: first width 20: knitting schematic 21: region in which needles are not knitting 22: last rows of courses 23: wales and courses 24: stitch drop-off region 25: drop-off needles resume knitting 30: portion of knitted tube w2: second width 40: upper 41: first portion 42: second portion 43: fold line 44: region for tongue 51: inner knitted portion 52: outer knitted portion 53: melt yarn 54: tongue 55: elastic yarn 60: shoe 61: single-layer portion 62: double-layer portion 63: element 64: sole element
