Knitted components and articles that improve ball control and durability

A knitted component with alternating friction regions and a thermoplastic elastomer coating enhances ball control and durability in sports footwear by maintaining grip and conformability, addressing the limitations of additional non-textile layers.

JP7869284B2Active Publication Date: 2026-06-02NIKE INNOVATE CV
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
NIKE INNOVATE CV
Filing Date
2024-10-16
Publication Date
2026-06-02

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing footwear materials, particularly in sports footwear, compromise proprioceptive feedback and ball control due to the addition of non-textile components like cross-linked polyurethane or laminate films, which reduce conformability and grip, affecting quick ball handling and maneuverability.

Method used

Incorporating a knitted component with an alternating pattern of first and second regions having different coefficients of friction, formed by a first core yarn surrounded by a thermoplastic elastomer coating and a second yarn, which can be thermoformed to create a single functional layer enhancing grip and ball control.

Benefits of technology

The solution provides improved ball control and durability by maintaining proprioceptive feedback while ensuring appropriate grip levels, allowing for quick touches and maneuvers, and reducing manufacturing complexity and waste.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

To provide knitted components and articles, which allow a wearer of, for example, football shoes to feel a ball through a textile and enable the textile of the shoes to have certain levels of traction or grip for ball control and handling.SOLUTION: A knitted component includes: a first surface; and a second surface on an opposite side to the first surface. The first surface of the knit component comprises: first areas each having a first friction coefficient and including a first yarn having a core and coating so that the coating at least partially surrounds the core; and second areas each having a second friction coefficient different from the first friction coefficient and including a second yarn. The first areas and the second areas form an alternating pattern. The alternating pattern is formed so that the first areas account for 40% to 80% of a total surface area of the first surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1B
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