Vamp incorporating knitted butterfly workpiece for article of footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear incorporating an upper formed from a forefoot component, a knit workpiece, and a heel component is described herein. Each of the forefoot component, the knitted workpiece, and the heel component is independent of one another and joined along a connection region. A reinforcing element covers the connection region. In one embodiment, the knitted workpiece includes a collar portion and a throat portion extending forward from the collar portion. The knitted workpiece also includes an inward lobe extending from a side of the throat portion and an outward lobe extending from a side of the throat portion opposite the inward lobe. The collar portion, the throat portion, the inward lobes, and the outward lobes form a single single piece knitted workpiece.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present embodiments generally relate to an upper for an article of footwear, and more particularly to an upper for an article of footwear incorporating a knitted butterfly workpiece. Background Art

[0002] Conventional footwear generally includes two main components: an upper and a sole assembly. The upper is secured to the sole assembly and forms a cavity within the footwear for comfortably and securely receiving the foot. The sole assembly is secured to a lower surface of the upper so as to be positioned between the upper and the ground.

[0003] There are various materials commonly used to make uppers. The materials can be selected based on various properties, including, for example, stretch resistance, wear resistance, flexibility, air permeability, compressibility, and moisture absorption, each material imparting different properties to the upper.

[0004] There is a need in the art for an article of footwear having an upper that provides a combination of properties for improving fit and feel for the wearer. Summary of the invention

[0005] In one aspect, a knitted workpiece is provided for incorporation into an upper of an article of footwear. The knitted workpiece includes a collar portion and a throat portion, the throat portion extending from a forward end of the collar portion. The knitted workpiece also includes an inward lobe and an outward lobe, wherein the inward lobe extends from one side of the throat portion and the outward lobe extends from a side of the throat portion opposite the inward lobe. The collar portion, the throat portion, the inward lobe, and the outward lobe form a single, one-piece knitted workpiece.

[0006] On the other hand, a shoe upper for a footwear article is provided. The shoe upper includes a knitted workpiece, which is disposed in at least a portion of a mid-shoe area of ​​the shoe upper and a heel area of ​​the shoe upper. The shoe upper also includes a forefoot component, which is disposed in the forefoot area of ​​the shoe upper. The forefoot component is configured to be attached to the knitted workpiece along a first attachment area on the medial side and a second attachment area on the lateral side. The shoe upper also includes a heel component, which is disposed in the heel area of ​​the shoe upper. The heel component is configured to be attached to the knitted workpiece along a third attachment area on the medial side and a fourth attachment area on the lateral side.

[0007] In another aspect, a footwear article is provided. The footwear article includes: an upper having a knitted workpiece, the knitted workpiece being arranged in at least a portion of a midfoot region of the upper and a heel region of the upper; a forefoot component, the forefoot component being arranged in the forefoot region of the upper, the forefoot component being configured to be attached to the knitted workpiece along a first attachment region on an inboard side and a second attachment region on an outboard side; and a heel component, the heel component being arranged in the heel region of the upper, the heel component being configured to be attached to the knitted workpiece along a third attachment region on the inboard side and a fourth attachment region on the outboard side. The upper also includes a first reinforcing element, a second reinforcing element, and a third reinforcing element, wherein the first reinforcing element is arranged on the third attachment region on the inboard side, the second reinforcing element is arranged on both the first attachment region on the inboard side and the second attachment region on the outboard side, and the third reinforcing element is arranged on the fourth attachment region on the outboard side. The upper also includes a sole assembly attached to the upper.

[0008] Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be or will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the following drawings and detailed description. All such additional systems, methods, features and advantages are intended to be included in this specification and this summary, are within the scope of the present disclosure, and are protected by the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present disclosure may be better understood with reference to the following drawings and descriptions. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but rather emphasize the principles of the present disclosure. In addition, in the drawings, the same reference numerals represent corresponding components in different views.

[0010] Figure 1 is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of an article of footwear including an upper incorporating a knitted butterfly workpiece;

[0011] Figure 2 is a lateral side view of an exemplary embodiment of an article of footwear including an upper incorporating a knitted butterfly workpiece;

[0012] Figure 3 is a medial side view of an exemplary embodiment of an article of footwear including an upper incorporating a knitted butterfly workpiece;

[0013] Figure 4 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of an article of footwear including an upper incorporating a knitted butterfly workpiece;

[0014] Figure 5 is a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of an article of footwear including an upper incorporating a knitted butterfly workpiece;

[0015] Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a collar portion of an exemplary embodiment of a knitted butterfly workpiece;

[0016] Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a throat portion of an exemplary embodiment of a knitted butterfly workpiece;

[0017] Figure 8 is an enlarged view of an inboard side of an exemplary embodiment of a knitted butterfly workpiece;

[0018] Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of an outward-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a knitted butterfly workpiece;

[0019] Fig.10 is an exploded view of components of an exemplary embodiment of an article of footwear including an upper incorporating a knitted butterfly workpiece; and

[0020] Fig.11 is a representative plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a knitted butterfly workpiece. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] This article describes a footwear article having an upper incorporating a knitted butterfly workpiece. The knitted butterfly workpiece can be combined with additional components to form the upper. The components selected to form the upper can provide various properties to different areas of the footwear article. The technology of the present embodiment provides an upper for a footwear article that provides improved fit and feel to the wearer's foot.

[0022] For consistency and convenience, directional adjectives are used throughout the detailed description corresponding to the illustrated embodiments. For the purposes of this disclosure, when used with reference to an article of footwear, the following directional terms refer to the article of footwear when placed in an upright position, with the sole facing the ground, i.e., the orientation of the article of footwear when worn by a wearer standing on a substantially horizontal surface. The terms "medial", "lateral", "front", "rear", etc. are intended to refer to anatomical directions corresponding to the person on whom the article is configured to be placed or worn. For example, "medial" refers to a relative position disposed toward the center of the human body, while "lateral" refers to a relative position disposed away from the center of the human body. With respect to footwear, the term "front" refers to a relative position closer to the toes of the wearer, and "rear" refers to a relative position closer to the heel of the wearer. In the absence of a wearer, the same directional terms may be used as if the article of footwear were worn in its intended configuration.

[0023] As used throughout this detailed description and in the claims, the term "longitudinal" refers to a direction extending the length of an article. In some cases, the longitudinal direction may extend from a forefoot region to a heel region of the article. Also, as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims, the term "lateral" refers to a direction extending the width of the article. In other words, the lateral direction may extend between an inboard side and an outboard side of the article.

[0024] Terms such as "upper," "lower," "vertical," "horizontal," and the like should be understood in the context of the particular article in question. For example, the article can be oriented about defined X-, Y-, and Z-axes, with the X-axis corresponding to the longitudinal direction and the Y-axis corresponding to the lateral direction. In those examples, the XY plane would define a horizontal, with upper being defined as the positive Z direction and lower being defined as the negative Z direction. Additionally, as used throughout this detailed description and the claims, the term "vertical" refers to a direction that is generally perpendicular to the XY plane and / or the lateral and longitudinal directions. For example, with the article lying flat on the ground, the vertical direction may extend upward from the ground. It should be understood that each of these directional adjectives may be applied to various components of the article, such as the upper and / or the sole structure.

[0025] Figures 1 to 11 An exemplary embodiment of an article of footwear 100 is shown. For clarity, the following detailed description discusses the exemplary embodiment in the form of a running shoe, but it should be noted that the technology described herein can be applied to any form of footwear, including but not limited to: athletic shoes, training shoes, yoga shoes, soccer shoes, football shoes, basketball shoes, baseball shoes, rugby shoes, other types of athletic shoes, casual shoes, hiking boots, and other types of footwear. Figures 1 to 11 As shown, article of footwear 100 (also referred to simply as article 100 ) is intended for use with a left foot; however, it should be understood that the following discussion may apply equally to a mirror image of article of footwear 100 intended for use with a right foot.

[0026] refer to Figures 1 to 11 , for reference purposes, article 100 may include a forefoot region 10, a midfoot region 20, and a heel region 30. Forefoot region 10 may be generally associated with the toes and the joints connecting the metatarsal bones with the phalanges. Midfoot region 20 may be generally associated with the arch of the foot. Likewise, heel region 30 may be generally associated with the heel including the calcaneus. In addition, article 100 may include a medial side 40 and a lateral side 50. In particular, medial side 40 and lateral side 50 may be opposite sides of article 100. In addition, both medial side 40 and lateral side 50 may extend through forefoot region 10, midfoot region 20, and heel region 30.

[0027] It should be understood that forefoot region 10, midfoot region 20, and heel region 30 are intended for descriptive purposes only and are not intended to demarcate precise areas of article 100, but rather to describe relative locations. Likewise, medial side 40 and lateral side 50 are intended to generally represent two sides of the article, rather than precisely dividing article 100 into two halves. Furthermore, forefoot region 10, midfoot region 20, and heel region 30, as well as medial side 40 and lateral side 50, may also apply to various components of an article, such as a sole assembly and / or an upper.

[0028] Article 100 may include an upper 110 and a sole assembly 120. In some embodiments, sole assembly 120 may be configured to provide traction to article 100. In addition to providing traction, sole assembly 120 may reduce ground reaction forces when compressed between the foot and the ground during walking, running, or other ambulatory activities. The configuration of sole assembly 120 may vary significantly in different embodiments to include various conventional or unconventional structures. In some cases, the configuration of sole assembly 120 may be configured according to one or more types of ground on which sole assembly 120 may be used. Examples of ground include, but are not limited to, dirt, concrete, paved roads, natural turf, synthetic turf, and other surfaces.

[0029] The sole assembly 120 is fixed to the upper 110 and extends between the foot and the ground when the article 100 is worn. In different embodiments, the sole assembly 120 may include different components. For example, the sole assembly 120 may include an outsole, a midsole, and / or an insole. In some cases, one or more of these components may be optional. In addition, in some cases, the sole assembly 120 itself may be optional.

[0030] The upper 110 may generally be configured to receive and cover a foot. In some embodiments, the upper 110 may be combined with a knitting workpiece 112. In an exemplary embodiment, the knitting workpiece 112 may extend through a majority of the midfoot region 20 and at least a portion of the heel region 30 of the upper 110. In one embodiment, the knitting workpiece 112 is a single, single-piece knitting workpiece formed from a single-piece knitting composition made by looping at least one continuous yarn / thread into a plurality of rows defining the shape of the knitting workpiece 112. The single-piece knitting workpiece 112 may be incorporated into the upper 110 and may be combined with additional components to form the upper 110 of the footwear article 100. These additional components may include one or more separate workpieces that, when combined with the single-piece knitting workpiece 112, form portions of the upper 110.

[0031] For example, in some embodiments, knitted workpiece 112 may be combined with forefoot component 114 and / or heel component 116. In one embodiment, forefoot component 114 extends through a majority of forefoot region 10 of upper 110, and heel component 116 extends through a majority of heel region 30 of upper 110. Each of forefoot component 114 and heel component 116 are made separately from knitted workpiece 112 and are joined or attached to knitted workpiece 112 to form upper 110.

[0032] Additional components may also include one or more yarns / threads that are stitched to form seams to join portions of the single-piece knitted workpiece 112 together and / or to attach other components that may be separately formed from similar or different materials, including the forefoot component 114 and / or the heel component 116. Additional components may also include structural elements, such as overlays, base layers, reinforcements, laces, cushioning pads or liners, coverings, etc., and / or decorative elements, such as designs, logos, pictures, colored coverings or films, etc. Other techniques, such as bonding using adhesives, heat and / or pressure, or overmolding, may be used to attach components to the upper 110, including the knitted workpiece 112 and / or other workpieces, such as the forefoot component 114 and / or the heel component 116, to form the upper 110.

[0033] As described above, the knitted workpiece 112 can be made of a single piece of knitted composition, and additional components can be formed separately from similar or different materials. In an exemplary embodiment, the forefoot component 114 and / or the heel component 116 can be made of one or more material elements, including but not limited to textiles, leather, synthetic leather, polymer sheets, and combinations thereof, which are joined, for example, by stitching or bonding. The knitted workpiece 112, the forefoot component 114, and the heel component 116 together form the upper 110.

[0034] In some embodiments, upper 110 may include opening 118 that provides access to the interior of upper 110 and / or article 100. In an exemplary embodiment, knitting workpiece 112 may extend longitudinally from opening 118 through an instep area of ​​upper 110 in a direction toward forefoot component 114 and forefoot region 10 to which knitting workpiece 112 is attached.

[0035] Additionally, the upper 110 may include a plurality of reinforcing elements 122 positioned along a connection area of ​​the upper 110 where the knitted workpiece 112 is attached or joined to the forefoot component 114 and / or the heel component 116. In an exemplary embodiment, the reinforcing elements 122 may be located at a connection area of ​​the upper 110 generally between the forefoot region 10 and the midfoot region 20 where the forefoot component 114 and the knitted workpiece 112 meet, and may also be located at a connection area of ​​the upper 110 generally between the midfoot region 20 and the heel region 30 where the heel component 116 and the knitted workpiece 112 meet. In some embodiments, the plurality of reinforcing elements 122 may cover seams or joints at the connection areas where separate components are joined or attached to form the upper 110 and provide reinforcement and / or structural support to the seams or joints.

[0036] In some embodiments, plurality of reinforcing elements 122 may also include provisions for tightening or otherwise securing upper 110 and article 100 to a wearer's foot. Although not shown in this embodiment, some embodiments of article 100 may include laces or other fastening members that may be used to adjust the fit of upper 110 around a wearer's foot. For example, plurality of reinforcing elements 122 may be provided with plurality of apertures 124 configured to receive laces for tightening upper 110.

[0037] Figure 2 The lateral side 50 of the article 100 is shown. In an exemplary embodiment, the upper 110 of the article 100 extends from a toe end 200 located at a front portion of the article 100 to a heel end 202 located at a rear portion of the article 100 longitudinally opposite the toe end 200. In one embodiment, the sole assembly 120 extends through each of the forefoot region 10, the midfoot region 20, and the heel region 30 of the article 100 from the toe end 200 to the heel end 202. Figure 2 As shown, sole assembly 120 includes a lower surface 204 extending along the bottom of sole assembly 120. In an exemplary embodiment, lower surface 204 of sole assembly 120 is configured to contact the ground when article 100 is worn. In one embodiment, sole assembly 120 can extend in a vertical direction from lower surface 204 to an upper edge 206 adjacent upper 110 of article 100. In some cases, upper edge 206 can define a bite line or boundary where upper 110 and sole assembly 120 meet on each side of article 100 (e.g., on medial side 40 and lateral side 50).

[0038] In an exemplary embodiment, article 100 includes a plurality of reinforcing elements 122 positioned along the following connection areas of upper 110 where knitted workpiece 112 is attached or joined to forefoot component 114 and / or heel component 116. Figure 2 As shown, the plurality of reinforcing elements 122 include at least a first reinforcing element 208 disposed on the lateral side 50. The first reinforcing element 208 is positioned along a connection area where the knitted workpiece 112 is attached or joined to the heel component 116. The first reinforcing element 208 covers and covers the seam or joint between the knitted workpiece 112 and the heel component 116 and provides reinforcement and structural support to the connection area joining these separate components.

[0039] In one embodiment, first reinforcement element 208 has a generally curved U-shape having a bend 214 that separates a first portion 216 extending vertically along lateral side 50 toward sole assembly 120 and a second portion 218 extending longitudinally along lateral side 50 in a direction toward heel end 202 .

[0040] The plurality of reinforcing elements 122 may also include a second reinforcing element 210. The second reinforcing element 210 extends across a top portion of the upper 110 from the lateral side 50 to the opposite medial side 40. The second reinforcing element 210 is positioned along a connection area where the knitted workpiece 112 is attached or joined to the forefoot component 114. The second reinforcing element 210 caps and covers the seam or joint between the knitted workpiece 112 and the forefoot component 114 and provides reinforcement and structural support to the connection area joining these separate components.

[0041] In one embodiment, the second reinforcement element 210 has a generally curved U-shape, with the center portion 220 being located approximately in the middle of the top portion of the upper 110, thereby separating a first curved portion 222 that extends longitudinally along the lateral side 50 in a direction away from the toe 200 and then changes direction at the lateral bend 224 and extends downward toward the sole assembly 120.

[0042] Figure 3 1 and 10. In an exemplary embodiment, upper 110 may have a similar arrangement on each of medial side 40 and lateral side 50. In other embodiments, upper 110 of article 100 may have an asymmetrical arrangement such that a portion of upper 110 on medial side 40 is different from a portion of upper 110 on lateral side 50. Additionally, in this embodiment, sole assembly 120 has a substantially similar arrangement on each of medial side 40 and lateral side 50. For example, as shown in FIG. Figure 3As shown, sole assembly 120 extends vertically from lower surface 204 to upper edge 206 that is adjacent to upper 110 of article 100 on medial side 40 in a similar manner as on lateral side 50. However, in other embodiments, sole assembly 120 may extend vertically to different heights on medial side 40 and lateral side 50 of upper 110.

[0043] like Figure 3 As shown, the plurality of reinforcing elements 122 also includes a third reinforcing element 212 disposed on the medial side 40. The third reinforcing element 212 is positioned along a connection area where the knitted workpiece 112 is attached or joined to the heel component 116. With this arrangement, the third reinforcing element 212 covers and covers the seam or joint between the knitted workpiece 112 and the heel component 116 and provides reinforcement and structural support to the connection area joining these separate components.

[0044] In one embodiment, third reinforcing element 212 has a generally curved U-shape having a bend 300 that separates a first portion 302 that extends vertically along medial side 40 toward sole assembly 120 and a second portion 304 that extends longitudinally along medial side 40 in a direction toward heel end 202. In an exemplary embodiment, third reinforcing element 212 is disposed on medial side 40 directly opposite first reinforcing element 208 on lateral side 50. In some cases, third reinforcing element 212 and first reinforcing element 208 may be similarly shaped, thereby being symmetrical on each of medial side 40 and lateral side 50. In other cases, the shape and / or arrangement of third reinforcing element 212 and first reinforcing element 208 on each of medial side 40 and lateral side 50 may be different, thereby being asymmetrical on opposite sides of upper 110.

[0045] like Figure 3 1 , the second reinforcing element 210 extends across the top portion of the upper 110 from the medial side 40 to the opposite lateral side 50. The second reinforcing element 210 is positioned along the connection area where the knitting workpiece 112 is attached or joined to the forefoot component 114. The second reinforcing element 210 covers and covers the seam or joint between the knitting workpiece 112 and the forefoot component 114, and provides reinforcement and structural support for the connection area joining these separate components. In one embodiment, the second reinforcing element 210 has a generally curved U-shape, wherein the central portion 220 is approximately located in the middle of the top portion of the upper 110, thereby separating the second curved portion 306, which extends longitudinally along the medial side 40 in a direction away from the toe 200, and then changes direction at the medial bend 308 and extends downwardly toward the sole assembly 120.

[0046] Reference now Figure 4, a top view of article 100 and upper 110 is shown. In some embodiments, upper 110 may be formed from a combination of separate or individually manufactured components that are combined to assemble upper 110. In an exemplary embodiment, upper 110 includes forefoot component 114, knit workpiece 112, and heel component 116. In this embodiment, knit workpiece 112 extends through most of midfoot region 20 and a portion of heel region 30.

[0047] In an exemplary embodiment, the knitted workpiece 112 includes a throat portion 400 and a collar portion 402. The throat portion 400 of the knitted workpiece 112 extends forward from the opening 118 through the instep area of ​​the upper 110 in a direction toward the forefoot component 114 and the forefoot area 10 to which the knitted workpiece 112 is attached. The collar portion 402 of the knitted workpiece 112 extends rearward from the throat portion 400 and surrounds or encircles the opening 118. In an exemplary embodiment, the collar portion 402 includes a forward end 404 where the throat portion 400 begins, and the collar portion 402 is joined along a seam at a rear end opposite the forward end 404. In one embodiment, a tab 408 may be located at the rear end of the collar portion 402 to cover the seam joining the rear edge of the collar portion 402 and assist the wearer when the wearer inserts the foot into the opening 118 of the article 100.

[0048] In this embodiment, the throat portion 400 of the knitted workpiece 112 extends longitudinally from the forward end 404 of the collar portion 402 at the opening 118 in a direction toward the forefoot region 10 through the instep region of the upper 110 to the forward end 406 of the throat portion 400. In some embodiments, the plurality of reinforcing elements 122 are configured to cover and / or cover connection areas between separate components of the upper 110. For example, the first reinforcing element 208 and the third reinforcing element 212 are configured to cover and reinforce the connection area between the knitted workpiece 112 and the heel component 116, and the second reinforcing element 210 is configured to cover and reinforce the connection area between the knitted workpiece 112 and the forefoot component 114. Figure 4 As shown, the front end 406 of the throat portion 400 is disposed at or adjacent to the central portion 220 of the second reinforcing element 210 where the knitted workpiece 112 and the forefoot component 114 are joined or attached to each other. In an exemplary embodiment, the throat portion 400 of the knitted workpiece is configured to cover the instep of the foot of the wearer of the article 100. However, in other embodiments, a tongue may be provided.

[0049] Figure 55 is a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of an article of footwear 100 including an upper 110 incorporating a knitted workpiece 112. In this embodiment, tabs 408 are shown covering the seams that join the sides of the collar portion 402 of the knitted workpiece 112, which are joined along the rear of the upper 110. In some embodiments, a covering 500 may be disposed on or along a connection area at the rear of the upper 110 where the collar portion 402 of the knitted workpiece 112 and the heel component 116 are joined or attached. In this embodiment, the covering 500 is a thin sheet of a thermoplastic polymer or similar film-like material that may be attached to the connection area between the knitted workpiece 112 and the heel component 116 using heat and / or pressure to bond with the surfaces of the knitted workpiece 112 and the heel component 116. In other embodiments, adhesives or other types of attachments, such as stitching, may be used.

[0050] Reference now Figure 6 , shows an enlarged view of the collar portion 402 of the knitted workpiece 112. In some embodiments, the collar portion 402 of the knitted workpiece 112 can have an asymmetrical arrangement between the medial side 40 and the lateral side 50. For example, Figure 6 As shown, the upper edge 600 of the collar portion 402 extends around and surrounds the opening 118. On each of the medial side 40 and the lateral side 50, a recess is provided in the upper edge 600 of the collar portion 402 to accommodate the ankle of the wearer's foot. In this embodiment, the upper edge 600 of the collar portion 402 includes an outward recess 602 on the lateral side 50 of the collar portion 402 and an inward recess 604 on the medial side 40 of the collar portion 402.

[0051] In one embodiment, outward recess 602 and inward recess 604 may have an asymmetrical arrangement such that outward recess 602 and inward recess 604 have different locations in the longitudinal direction (i.e., closer to or farther from heel end 202 of article 100), and / or have different heights in the vertical direction (i.e., closer to or farther from sole assembly 120). Figure 6 As shown, outwardly facing recess 602 is located closer to heel end 202 of article 100 along a longitudinal direction of upper 110 and article 100 than inwardly facing recess 604 (eg, outwardly facing recess 602 is located rearward of inwardly facing recess 604 ).

[0052] In addition, in this embodiment, the outward recess 602 extends from the upper edge 600 of the collar portion 402 toward the sole assembly 120 by a distance that is greater than the distance that the inward recess 604 extends from the upper edge 600 (e.g., the outward recess 602 extends farther downward in the vertical direction than the inward recess 604). In other words, the outward recess 602 is closer to the sole assembly 120 than the inward recess 604. This asymmetric arrangement of the outward recess 602 and the inward recess 604 on the collar portion 402 of the knitted workpiece 112 accommodates the ankle of the wearer's foot. However, in other embodiments, the arrangement of the outward recess 602 and the inward recess 604 may be different, including a configuration in which the inward recess 604 is closer to the heel end 202 and / or closer to the sole assembly 120 than the outward recess 602. In other embodiments, the outward notches 602 and the inward notches 604 may have a substantially similar arrangement on each of the outward side 50 and the inward side 40 , thereby being symmetrical.

[0053] In some embodiments, knitted workpiece 112 may have a butterfly arrangement having portions extending in a lateral direction from throat portion 400 that form at least a portion of medial side 40 and lateral side 50 of upper 110. Referring now to Figure 7 , shows an enlarged view of the throat portion 400 of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112. In this embodiment, the throat portion 400 of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 extends longitudinally from the front end 404 of the collar portion 402 to the front end 406. In some embodiments, the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 may also include a portion extending laterally outward from the side of the throat portion 400 in a direction toward the medial side 40 and the lateral side 50.

[0054] In an exemplary embodiment, the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 includes an outward leaf 700 extending outward from one side of the throat portion 400 in the lateral direction and an inward leaf 702 extending outward from the opposite side of the throat portion 400 in the lateral direction. In some embodiments, the outward leaf 700 and the inward leaf 702 are configured to be joined to a separate forefoot component 114 along the front sides of the outward leaf 700 and the inward leaf 702, and to be joined to a separate heel component 116 along the rear sides of the outward leaf 700 and the inward leaf 702. With this arrangement, the outward leaf 700 of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 forms at least a portion of the upper 110 on the lateral side 50 of the article 100, and the inward leaf 702 of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 forms at least a portion of the upper 110 on the inward side 40 of the article 100.

[0055] As described above, in some embodiments, upper 110 is formed from a plurality of separate components that are joined along connection areas to assemble upper 110. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, upper 110 is formed from a knitted butterfly workpiece 112 that is joined or attached to a separate forefoot component 114 and a separate heel component 116 along a plurality of connection areas where portions of knitted workpiece 112 meet or abut portions of forefoot component 114 and / or portions of heel component 116. In some embodiments, upper 110 may include provisions for reinforcement at the plurality of connection areas, such as a plurality of reinforcement elements 122 that are configured to cover the connection areas and provide reinforcement and structural support to these connection areas on upper 110.

[0056] Reference now Figure 8 , shows an enlarged view of the medial side 40 of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112. In this embodiment, a portion of the second reinforcing element 210 covers and reinforces the first connection area 800 between the knitted workpiece 112 and the forefoot component 114, and the third reinforcing element 212 covers and reinforces the third connection area 802 between the knitted workpiece 112 and the heel component 116. In particular, the first portion 302 of the third reinforcing element 212 covers and reinforces a portion of the third connection area 802 between the medial lobe 702 of the knitted workpiece 112 and the heel component 116, and the second portion 304 of the third reinforcing element 212 covers and reinforces a portion of the third connection area 802 between the collar portion 402 of the knitted workpiece 112 and the heel component 116.

[0057] The inward lobe 702 of the knitted workpiece 112 is joined to the forefoot component 114 at a first connection area 800 extending along the front side of the inward lobe 702. The inward lobe 702 of the knitted workpiece 112 is joined to the heel component 116 at a third connection area 802 extending along the rear side of the inward lobe 702. Figure 8 As shown, a portion of the second reinforcement element 210 is disposed on the first connection region 800 , and the third reinforcement element 212 is disposed on the third connection region 802 .

[0058] In some embodiments, the reinforcing elements may include a ridge extending generally through the middle of each reinforcing element to provide structural rigidity to the reinforcing element. Figure 8As shown, the second reinforcing element 210 includes a first ridge 804, and the third reinforcing element 212 includes a second ridge 814. In some cases, the first ridge 804 and the second ridge 814 can be formed by molding the ridges into the material (e.g., a rigid plastic or polymer material) forming the corresponding reinforcing element. In other cases, the first ridge 804 and the second ridge 814 can be separate elements or parts attached or bonded to the reinforcing element, such as a length of metal wire, rigid plastic or other generally non-flexible material, to provide structural rigidity to each corresponding reinforcing element.

[0059] In some embodiments, the reinforcing element (including the second reinforcing element 210 and / or the third reinforcing element 212) can be provided with a plurality of holes 124, which are configured to receive shoelaces as described above. In this embodiment, the portion of the second reinforcing element 210 on the medial side 40 includes a first shoelace hole 806 and a second shoelace hole 808 disposed on one side of the first ridge 804 (e.g., above the first ridge 804). The portion of the second reinforcing element 210 on the medial side 40 also includes a third shoelace hole 810 and a fourth shoelace hole 812 disposed on the side of the first ridge 804 opposite to the first shoelace hole 806 and the second shoelace hole 808 (e.g., below the first ridge 804). With this arrangement, the force applied to the shoelace extending through one or more of the first shoelace hole 806, the second shoelace hole 808, the third shoelace hole 810, and the fourth shoelace hole 812 can be distributed across the second reinforcing element 210 on both sides of the first ridge 804.

[0060] Additionally, in this embodiment, third reinforcing element 212 includes fifth and sixth shoelace holes 816, 818 disposed on one side of second ridge 814 (e.g., above second ridge 814), and seventh and eighth shoelace holes 820, 822 disposed on the opposite side of second ridge 814 from fifth and sixth shoelace holes 816, 818 (e.g., below second ridge 814). With this arrangement, forces applied to the lace extending through one or more of fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth shoelace holes 816, 818, 820, and 822 can be distributed across third reinforcing element 212 on both sides of second ridge 814.

[0061] In some embodiments, the central portion of the throat portion 400 of the knitted workpiece 112 (including the inward lobe 702) is substantially free of lace holes. Figure 8As shown, the area of ​​knitted workpiece 112 including inward lobe 702 located between the portions of third reinforcing element 212 and second reinforcing element 210 on medial side 40 does not include any lace holes in plurality of holes 124. With this arrangement, inward lobe 702 of knitted workpiece 112 can allow the side of the wearer's foot to flex and bulge when article 100 is worn and during activities such as running or walking.

[0062] Fig. 9 An enlarged view of the outward side 50 of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 is shown. In this embodiment, a portion of the second reinforcing element 210 covers and reinforces the second connection area 900 between the knitted workpiece 112 and the forefoot component 114, and the first reinforcing element 208 covers and reinforces the fourth connection area 902 between the knitted workpiece 112 and the heel component 116. The outward lobe 700 of the knitted workpiece 112 is engaged with the forefoot component 114 at the second connection area 900 extending along the front side of the outward lobe 700. In particular, the first portion 216 of the first reinforcing element 208 covers and reinforces a portion of the fourth connection area 902 between the outward lobe 700 of the knitted workpiece 112 and the heel component 116, and the second portion 218 of the first reinforcing element 208 covers and reinforces a portion of the fourth connection area 902 between the collar portion 402 of the knitted workpiece 112 and the heel component 116.

[0063] The outward lobe 700 of the knitted workpiece 112 is joined to the heel component 116 at a fourth connection area 902 extending along the rear side of the outward lobe 700. Fig. 9 As shown, a portion of the second reinforcement element 210 is disposed on the second connection region 900 , and the first reinforcement element 208 is disposed on the fourth connection region 902 .

[0064] As described above, in some embodiments, the reinforcing elements may include a ridge extending generally through the middle of each reinforcing element to provide structural rigidity to the reinforcing element. Fig. 9 As shown, the second reinforcement element 210 includes the first ridge 804, and the first reinforcement element 208 includes the third ridge 912. The third ridge 912 may be formed in a substantially similar manner as the first ridge 804 and / or the second ridge 814, including similar materials as described above.

[0065] In some embodiments, the second reinforcing element 210 and / or the first reinforcing element 208 may be provided with a plurality of holes 124, as described above, which are configured to receive shoelaces. In this embodiment, the portion of the second reinforcing element 210 on the lateral side 50 includes a ninth shoelace hole 904 and a tenth shoelace hole 906 disposed on one side of the first ridge 804 (e.g., above the first ridge 804). The portion of the second reinforcing element 210 on the lateral side 50 also includes an eleventh shoelace hole 908 and a twelfth shoelace hole 910 disposed on the side of the first ridge 804 opposite to the ninth shoelace hole 904 and the tenth shoelace hole 906 (e.g., below the first ridge 804). With this arrangement, the force applied to the shoelace extending through one or more of the ninth shoelace hole 904, the tenth shoelace hole 906, the eleventh shoelace hole 908, and the twelfth shoelace hole 910 can be distributed across the second reinforcing element 210 on both sides of the first ridge 804.

[0066] Additionally, in this embodiment, the first reinforcing element 208 includes a thirteenth and fourteenth shoelace holes 914, 916 disposed on one side of the third ridge 912 (e.g., above the third ridge 912), and a fifteenth and sixteenth shoelace holes 918, 920 disposed on the opposite side of the third ridge 912 from the thirteenth and fourteenth shoelace holes 914, 916 (e.g., below the third ridge 912). With this arrangement, a force applied to the shoelace extending through one or more of the thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth shoelace holes 914, 916, 918, and 920 can be distributed across the first reinforcing element 208 on both sides of the third ridge 912.

[0067] In some embodiments, the central portion of the throat portion 400 of the knitted workpiece 112 (including the outward lobe 700) is substantially free of lace holes. Fig. 9 As shown, the area of ​​knitted workpiece 112 including outward lobe 700 between the portions of first reinforcement element 208 and second reinforcement element 210 on outward side 50 does not include any lace holes in plurality of holes 124. With this arrangement, outward lobe 700 of knitted workpiece 112 can allow the side of the wearer's foot to flex and bulge when article 100 is worn and during activities such as running or walking.

[0068] In some embodiments, the reinforcing elements on each of medial side 40 and lateral side 50 are symmetrical. That is, the generally curved U-shape of first reinforcing element 208 on lateral side 50 is substantially similar to the generally curved U-shape of third reinforcing element 212 on medial side 40. Additionally, the generally curved U-shape of second reinforcing element 210 is symmetrical on both sides of central portion 220. However, in other embodiments, the reinforcing elements may have different or varying shapes, including an asymmetrical arrangement between medial side 40 and lateral side 50 of upper 110.

[0069] Fig.10 1 is an exploded view of components of an exemplary embodiment of a footwear article 100 including an upper 110 incorporating a knitted butterfly workpiece 112. According to the technology of the present embodiment described herein, the upper can be formed by a combination of multiple individual components, including at least one knitted workpiece. Each individual component forming the upper can be configured to provide different or varying characteristics or properties to the upper and the article formed therefrom. For example, the components can have different or varying amounts of stretch resistance, durability, rigidity, support, comfort, and cushioning, as well as other characteristics or properties, and can be made or formed from different or varying materials.

[0070] In an exemplary embodiment, upper 110 is formed of at least knitted workpiece 112, forefoot component 114, and heel component 116, which are joined or attached together to assemble upper 110. Fig.10 As shown, the forefoot component 114 is configured to be joined or attached to the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 along a first connection area 800 and a second connection area 900, where the front edges of the outward lobe 700 and the inward lobe 702 of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 meet or abut the edge of the forefoot component 114. The heel component 116 is configured to be joined or attached to the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 along a third connection area 802 and a fourth connection area 902, where the rear edges of the outward lobe 700 and the inward lobe 702 of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 meet or abut the edge of the heel component 116.

[0071] In some embodiments, the degree or amount of stretch resistance of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 is lower than the degree or amount of stretch resistance of the forefoot component 114 and / or the heel component 116, so that when the article 100 is worn, the portion of the upper 110 in the midfoot area 20 that is primarily formed by the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 allows for movement of the wearer's foot. For example, the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 allows the upper 110 to flex and twist in the midfoot area 20 to accommodate the changes in the shape of the wearer's foot as the foot moves. In such embodiments, the forefoot component 114 and / or the heel component 116 can provide a greater degree or amount of stretch resistance to provide support and stability to the toes and heels of the wearer's foot of the upper 110 and the article 100.

[0072] like Fig.10 As shown, additional components may be attached or joined to the knitted workpiece 112, the forefoot component 114, and the heel component 116 as part of the upper 110 and / or the article 100. For example, as described above, the reinforcing elements may be disposed at one or more connection areas between the individual components forming the upper 110. In this embodiment, the first reinforcing element 208 is configured to cover and reinforce the fourth connection area 902 between the heel component 116 and the edge of the outward lobe 700 of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 on the outward side 50, and the third reinforcing element 212 is configured to cover and reinforce the third connection area 802 between the heel component 116 and the edge of the inward lobe 702 of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 on the inward side.

[0073] The second reinforcing element 210 is configured to cover and reinforce the first connection area 800 and the second connection area 900 between the forefoot component 114 and the edges of the outward lobe 700 and the inward lobe 702. In addition, the second reinforcing element 210 covers the front end 406 of the throat portion 400 of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112, where the edge of the throat portion 400 meets or abuts the top edge of the forefoot component 114. In addition, as shown in FIG. Fig.10 As shown, the covering 500 may extend over and cover the following connection area at the rear of the article 100 where the edge of the collar portion 402 of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 meets or abuts the top edge of the heel component 116.

[0074] In an exemplary embodiment, upper 110 may be configured to be joined or attached to sole assembly 120 to form article of footwear 100. For example, Fig.10As shown, the upper surface 1000 of the sole assembly 120 can be attached to portions of the upper 110, including portions of the knitted workpiece 112, the forefoot component 114, and / or the heel component 116. In some cases, a strobel sock, sockliner, insole, midsole, or other component can be used to engage the bottom edges of the knitted workpiece 112, the forefoot component 114, and / or the heel component 116 to close the upper 110 and provide a mating surface between the upper 110 and the upper surface 1000 of the sole assembly 120. In an exemplary embodiment, the bottom edges of the outward leaf 700 and / or the inward leaf 702 are configured to terminate just past or adjacent to the upper edge 206 of the sole assembly 120, so that when worn, the outward leaf 700 and / or the inward leaf 702 do not extend under the foot of the wearer of the footwear article 100.

[0075] Reference now Fig.11 , a representative plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a knitted workpiece 112 is shown isolated from other components of the upper 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the knitted workpiece 112 is a single, one-piece knitted workpiece formed of a single piece of knitted composition made by looping at least one continuous yarn / thread into a plurality of rows that define the shape of the knitted workpiece 112. In this embodiment, the knitted workpiece 112 has a butterfly shape having an outward lobe 700 extending outward in a lateral direction from one side of the throat portion 400 and an inward lobe 702 extending outward in a lateral direction from an opposite side of the throat portion 400. That is, the outward lobe 700 and the inward lobe 702 give the appearance of a wing extending laterally outward from the throat portion 400 to give the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 its butterfly shape.

[0076] In one embodiment, the rear edges of the collar portion 402 of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 are attached or joined to each other to close and define the opening 118. In the exemplary embodiment, the inner and outer collar rear edges are joined by a seam 1112 to define the opening 118 of the collar portion 402 for receiving the wearer's foot.

[0077] like Fig.11As shown, the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 includes a peripheral edge 1100 extending around the periphery of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112. In this embodiment, the peripheral edge 1100 extends through the front end 406 of the instep area 1102 of the throat portion 400, extends in a direction away from the front end 406, and changes direction at the front side edge 1104 of the inboard lobe 702. The peripheral edge 1100 continues from the front side edge 1104 along the inboard side edge 1106 of the inboard lobe 702, and changes direction at the rear side edge 1108 of the inboard lobe 702. The peripheral edge 1100 extends from the rear side edge 1108 through the inboard side edge 1110 of the collar portion 402 to the inboard collar rear edge where the seam 1112 is located.

[0078] Continuing from the outward collar rear edge of the collar portion 402 on the opposite side of the seam 1112, the peripheral edge 1100 extends through the outward side edge 1114 of the collar portion 402 to the rear side edge 1116 of the outward lobe 700. The peripheral edge 1110 changes direction at the rear side edge 1116 of the outward lobe 700 and extends forward along the outward side edge 1118 of the outward lobe 700. The peripheral edge 1100 changes direction again at the front side edge 1120 of the outward lobe 700 and continues to the front end 406 of the instep area 1102 of the throat portion 400.

[0079] The exemplary embodiment of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 has a generally butterfly shape, as shown. However, it should be understood that other shapes and arrangements of portions of a knitted workpiece (eg, knitted workpiece 112) may be provided in various embodiments.

[0080] In some embodiments, portions of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112 may have different amounts or degrees of stretch resistance to provide different stretch zones to the knitted butterfly workpiece 112. In one embodiment, the stretch resistance of the outward lobe 700 and the inward lobe 702 may be different. For example, the amount or degree of stretch resistance of the outward lobe 700 may be greater than the amount or degree of stretch resistance of the inward lobe 702 (i.e., the outward lobe 700 stretches less than the inward lobe 702), or the amount or degree of stretch resistance of the inward lobe 702 may be greater than the amount or degree of stretch resistance of the outward lobe 700 (i.e., the inward lobe 702 stretches less than the outward lobe 700).

[0081] In another embodiment, the amount or degree of stretch resistance of the central portion of the throat area 400 disposed between the outward lobe 700 and the inward lobe 702 may be different from the amount or degree of stretch resistance of other portions of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112, such as the instep area 1102, the outward lobe 700, the inward lobe 702, and / or the collar portion 402. For example, the amount or degree of stretch resistance of the central portion of the throat area 400 between the outward lobe 700 and the inward lobe 702 may be greater than the amount or degree of stretch resistance of one or more of the instep area 1102, the outward lobe 700, the inward lobe 702, and / or the collar portion 402, such that the central portion stretches less than other portions of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112. With this arrangement, the upper 110 and the article 100 may be provided with stretch zones having different amounts or degrees of stretch resistance in different portions of the knitted butterfly workpiece 112.

[0082] Although various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, the description is intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that more embodiments and implementations within the scope of the present disclosure are possible. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited except in accordance with the appended claims and their equivalents. Moreover, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A knitted workpiece for incorporation into an upper of an article of footwear, the knitted workpiece comprising: Shoe collar part; A shoe throat portion, the shoe throat portion extending from the front end of the shoe collar portion; an inward leaf extending from one side of the throat portion; as well as an outward lobe extending from a side of the throat portion opposite the inward lobe; Wherein, the collar portion, the throat portion, the inward lobe and the outward lobe form a single, one-piece knitted workpiece.

2. The knitted workpiece according to claim 1, wherein: The inward facing lobe and the outward facing lobe are symmetrical.

3. The knitted workpiece according to claim 1, wherein: The shoe collar portion includes a shoe collar upper edge; and Wherein, the inner side of the upper edge of the shoe collar is asymmetrical to the outer side of the upper edge of the shoe collar.

4. The knitting workpiece of claim 3, wherein the collar upper edge comprises an inward notch on the inward side and an outward notch on the outward side; and in, The outward notch extends from the upper edge of the shoe collar on the outward side by a distance greater than the inward notch extends from the upper edge of the shoe collar on the inward side.

5. The knitted workpiece according to claim 1, wherein: The medial lobe and the lateral lobe are configured to be joined to a separate forefoot component along a front side.

6. The knitted workpiece according to claim 1, wherein: The medial lobe and the lateral lobe are configured to be joined to a separate heel component along a rear side.

7. The knitted workpiece according to claim 1, wherein: The shoe collar portion includes an inner shoe collar rear edge and an outer shoe collar rear edge; and The inner shoe collar rear edge and the outer shoe collar rear edge are joined by a seam to close the shoe collar portion and define an opening for receiving a wearer's foot.

8. The knitted workpiece of claim 1 further comprising at least two portions having different amounts of resistance to stretch.

9. A shoe upper for a footwear article, the shoe upper comprising: a knitting workpiece disposed in at least a portion of a midfoot region of the upper and a heel region of the upper; a forefoot component disposed in a forefoot region of the upper, the forefoot component being configured to be attached to the knitted workpiece along a first attachment region on a medial side and a second attachment region on a lateral side; as well as A heel component is disposed in a heel region of the upper, the heel component being configured to be attached to the knitted workpiece along a third attachment region on the medial side and a fourth attachment region on the lateral side. 10 . The upper of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of reinforcing elements disposed on the first attachment area, the second attachment area, the third attachment area, and the fourth attachment area.

11. The shoe upper according to claim 10, wherein: a first reinforcement element of the plurality of reinforcement elements being disposed on a third attachment area on the inwardly facing side, wherein a second reinforcement element of the plurality of reinforcement elements is disposed on both the first attachment area on the inwardly facing side and the second attachment area on the outwardly facing side; and Therein, a third reinforcement element of the plurality of reinforcement elements is arranged on a fourth attachment area on the outward side.

12. The shoe upper according to claim 11, wherein: The knitting workpiece comprises: a collar portion located in a heel region of the upper, the collar portion defining an opening of the upper; and A throat portion extends from a forward end of the collar portion to a forward end in a direction toward a forefoot region of the upper.

13. The shoe upper according to claim 12, wherein: The second reinforcing element is further disposed on a front end of the throat portion of the knitted workpiece and the forefoot component.

14. The upper of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of apertures for receiving a lace on one or more of the plurality of reinforcement elements.

15. The shoe upper according to claim 14, wherein: Each reinforcement element of the plurality of reinforcement elements includes a ridge extending through a middle of the reinforcement element.

16. The shoe upper according to claim 15, wherein: At least two lace holes of the plurality of holes are located above the ridge of each reinforcing element; and Wherein at least two holes of the plurality of holes are located below the ridge of each reinforcing element.

17. An article of footwear, comprising: The shoe upper comprises: a knitting workpiece disposed in at least a portion of a midfoot region of the upper and a heel region of the upper; a forefoot component disposed in a forefoot region of the upper, the forefoot component being configured to be attached to the knitted workpiece along a first attachment region on a medial side and a second attachment region on a lateral side; and a heel component disposed in a heel region of the upper, the heel component being configured to be attached to the knitted workpiece along a third attachment region on the medial side and a fourth attachment region on the lateral side; a first reinforcement element disposed on a third attachment area on the inwardly facing side; a second reinforcement element disposed on both the first attachment area on the inboard side and the second attachment area on the outboard side; a third reinforcing element disposed on a fourth attachment area on the outwardly facing side; and A sole assembly is attached to the upper.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein: Each of the first, second, and third reinforcing elements includes a plurality of apertures configured to receive a lace.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein: The knitting workpiece comprises: a collar portion located in a heel region of the upper, the collar portion defining an opening of the upper; and A throat portion extends from a forward end of the collar portion to a forward end in a direction toward a forefoot region of the upper.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 19, wherein: The knitted workpiece also includes: an inward lobe extending from one side of the throat portion; and an outward lobe extending from a side of the throat portion opposite the inward lobe; Wherein, the collar portion, the throat portion, the inward lobe and the outward lobe form a single, one-piece knitted workpiece.

21. The article of footwear according to claim 20, wherein: The edges of the medial and lateral lobe are attached at an upper edge of the sole assembly such that the medial and lateral lobe do not extend under a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear.

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