Nike, Inc.

Nike International Ltd.

Nike Innovate C.v.

Bhupesh Dua

Benjamin Andrew Shaffer

Edward Nathaniel Thomas

Bruce Huffa

Karen A Hawkinson

Carrie Lynn Davis

Pamela Susan Greene

Bruce J Kilgore

Thomas J Rushbrook

Daniel A Podhajny

Tory Michael Cross

Daren P Tatler

Adrian Meir

Thomas G Bell

Susan L Sokolowski

Amy Lyttle

Erin E Toraya

Julie A Huffman

Sabrina P Mallen

James A Niegowski

Vincent F White

Zvi Rapaport

James C Meschter

Jeremy D Walker

Zachary C Wright

Devon Frazier

Michael Robert Baron

Carrie L Davis

Isaac Farr

Lashurya M Wise

Karin Elizabeth Carter

Michael R Baron

Tory M Cross

Benjamin A Shaffer

Chun-Wei Kuo

Carey Lyn Portzline

A yarn or thread may include a plurality of substantially aligned filaments, with at least ninety-five percent of a material of the filaments being a thermoplastic polymer material. Various woven textiles and knitted textiles may be formed from the yarn or thread. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be thermal bonded to other elements to form seams. A strand that is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material may extend through the seam, and the strand may be thermal bonded at the seam. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be shaped or molded, incorporated into products, and recycled to form other products.

Apparel and other products incorporating a thermoplastic polymer material

A knitted or woven component including an upper of an article of footwear, the upper including a knitted textile that is knitted together via a plurality of yarn such that the plurality of knitted yarn at least partially forms the knitted component. The article of footwear includes a midsole coupled to the knitted textile of the upper such that the midsole is positioned adjacent to the plurality of knitted yarn that at least partially forms the knitted component of the article of footwear, and an outsole coupled to the midsole on an opposite side of the knitted textile of the upper such that the outsole is separated from the plurality of knitted yarn that at least partially forms the knitted component of the article of footwear by the midsole disposed therebetween.

Knitted and woven components and articles of footwear containing the same

A fiber bound engineered material is provided that imparts an intended characteristic at an intended relative location. A fiber layer is entangled with additional fibers in a manner to create a non-uniform engineered material. The lack of uniformity of a fiber bound engineered material may be accomplished through manipulation of the fibers and/or through fiber binding a scrim. The fiber layer binds with additional fibers through entanglement such that a mechanical connection between the entangled fibers is provided. This entanglement allows the fibers to bind without supplemental adhesives, interlacing, or connections. Variations in the fibers and/or inclusion of scrim materials prior to entanglement allows for an intended characteristic (e.g., a functional characteristic) at an intended relative location (e.g., a position determined by an article to be formed therefrom).

Fiber-bound engineered materials formed using zonal scrims

The present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper. An inlaid strand may extend through the knit element, and a tongue and the knit element may have a common yarn at least at a forward portion of the tongue, and the tongue may extend through a throat area of the upper.

Article of footwear incorporating a knitted component with a tongue

A non-woven textile may be formed from a plurality of thermoplastic polymer filaments. The non-woven textile may have a first region and a second region, with the filaments of the first region being fused to a greater degree than the filaments of the second region. A variety of products, including apparel (e.g., shirts, pants, footwear), may incorporate the non-woven textile. In some of these products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another textile element to form a seam. More particularly, an edge area of the non-woven textile may be heatbonded with an edge area of the other textile element at the seam. In other products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another component, whether a textile or a non-textile.

Thermoplastic non-woven textile elements

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a knitted component comprising a course with a plurality of loops. An inlaid strand formed of a second yarn may be included in the knitted component. A first portion of the course may be formed with a first yarn and a second portion of the course may be formed with the second yarn. The inlaid strand may be inlaid within the first portion of the course.

Knitted component and method of manufacturing the same

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knitted component with a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, the interior surface defining a void. The knitted component may further include a tongue, where the tongue extends through a throat area of the upper, and where the tongue comprises a lateral edge and a medial edge. The knitted component may further include at least one raised element extending a height above the exterior surface of the knit element and extending a length along at least one of the lateral edge and the medial edge of the tongue, where the tongue and the at least one raised element have a common yarn.

Article of footwear incorporating a knitted component with an integral knit tongue

Fiber-bound engineered materials formed using foundation scrims

An article and method includes a nonwoven textile forming at least part of an upper of an article of footwear and binding fibers entangled with fibers of the folded portion and the major portion, the edge being secured, at least in part, to the major surface. The nonwoven textile is comprised of fibers and has a major portion and a folded portion, the folded portion including an edge of the nonwoven textile folded over to bring the edge in contact, at least in part, with a major surface of the major portion to form a folded edge.

Nonwoven textile for footwear with entangled folded edge

An upper for an article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the upper for an article of footwear are disclosed. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The joined edges form a plurality of seams within the textile element, including a longitudinal seam extending on the lower region of the upper from a heel region to a forefoot region. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes, including circular knitting, may be utilized to form the textile element.

Article of footwear having a textile upper

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Bhupesh Dua