Nike, Inc.

Nike Innovate C.v.

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James C Meschter

Frederick J Dojan

Chin-Chen Huang

Jeffrey L Johnson

Tina M Casillas

James Hwang

A knitted component may include a boundary, a first course extending from the boundary, and a second course extending from the boundary. The first course and the second course may be interlooped at a first location, the first location being adjacent to the boundary. A contour section may be located between the first course and the second course at a second location, and the second location may be spaced from the boundary such that the boundary is curved in a concave manner at the first location.

Article of footwear incorporating a curved knitted lacing element

An article of footwear includes an upper incorporating a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction. The knitted component includes a curved lacing element formed by incorporating shortened knit courses relative to lace apertures along the lacing structure. After knitting, the knitted component may be steamed to create offset lace apertures as well as alternating convex and concave curves along the lacing element. The curved lacing element of the knitted component may be configured to distribute tension applied by a lace on the knitted component when the article of footwear is worn during a sport or athletic activity.

An article of footwear may have a sole structure and an upper that includes a foundation element, a tensile strand, and a securing strand. The tensile strand is located adjacent to an exterior surface of the foundation element and substantially parallel to the exterior surface for a distance of at least five centimeters. The securing strand joins or secures the tensile strand to the foundation element. Although the thicknesses may vary, a thickness of the tensile strand may be at least three times the thickness of the securing strand. In some configurations, a backing strand may also assist with joining the securing strand to the foundation element.

Article of footwear incorporating tensile strands and securing strands

An article of footwear may have a sole structure and an upper that includes a foundation element and a tensile element. The tensile element may include a base layer and a plurality of strands, with the base layer being joined to an exterior surface of the foundation element. In manufacturing the footwear, a thermoplastic polymer material in the base layer may be utilized to bond or otherwise join the tensile element to the foundation element.

Method of manufacturing an article of footwear incorporating a tensile element

A composite element includes a base or textile layer, a thermoplastic polymer material, a thread, and a cover layer. The base layer has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The polymer material is separate from the base layer, extends into the base layer, and is at least partially located at the first surface. The thread has a section lying adjacent to the first surface layer and substantially parallel to the first surface throughout a distance of at least five centimeters, and the thread is bonded to the base layer with the polymer material. The cover layer is located adjacent to the first surface and bonded to the base layer with the polymer material, and the section of the thread is located between the cover layer and the base layer.

Composite element with a polymer connecting layer

Article of footwear incorporating a tensile element

A composite element includes a base layer, a thermoplastic polymer material, a thread, and a cover layer. The base layer has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The polymer material is separate from the base layer, extends into the base layer, and is at least partially located at the first surface. The thread has a section lying adjacent to the first surface layer and substantially parallel to the first surface throughout a distance of at least five centimeters, and the thread is bonded to the base layer with the polymer material. The cover layer is located adjacent to the first surface and bonded to the base layer with the polymer material, and the section of the thread is located between the cover layer and the base layer.

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Beaverton, OR, United States of America

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