Nike, Inc.

William C McFarland, Ii

John S MacGilbert

Leah M Resneck

Darryl Matthews

Jessica Green

Jaroslav J Lupinek

Chun-Ying Hsu

Chun-Yao Tu

Yi-Ning Yang

Cheng-Ying Han

Todd Anthony Waatti

Stefan E Guest

Aaron William Bartel

Yoav Sterman

Christian Alexander Steinbeck

Adam Thuss

Sam Lacey

Sam Amis

Vianney De Montgolfier

Nikita A Troufanov

Timothy K Liles

Jacqueline Lefferts

Bryant Russell Klug

Carrie Lynn Davis

Stephen J Hipp

Travis J Berrian

Yang Zhao

Peter R Savage

Colin M Runkle

Dallas Lund

Joshua Patrick Williams

Mark Bruce

Kristen Orme

Megan Foley

Hirotaka Usui

Yang-Hua Ou

Ajay Chadha

A knitted component comprising two yarns, forming at least a heel region of an upper for an article of footwear, where one of the yarns comprises a thermoplastic material. The outer surface may include a fused area comprising a first thermoplastic yarn. The inner surface may be at least partially formed with a second yarn and may substantially exclude the thermoplastic material. There may be a transitional area including a reduced amount of thermoplastic material relative to a fused area. The knitted component may include a cushioning material between layers of the knit element.

Knitted component with a fused area

Aspects herein are directed to a recyclable, asymmetrical-faced composite nonwoven textile suitable for use in apparel and other articles and methods of making the same. In example aspects, the asymmetrical-faced composite nonwoven textile includes a first face formed, at least in part from a first entangled web of fibers and an opposite second face formed, at least in part from a second entangled web of fibers. When incorporated into an article of apparel, the first face forms an outer-facing surface of the article of apparel, and the second face forms an inner-facing surface of the article of apparel. The first face includes features making it suitable to form the outer-facing surface such as resistance to abrasion, and the second face includes features making it suitable to form an inner-facing surface such as a soft hand.

Recyclable, asymmetrical-faced composite nonwoven textile

An upper may include a plurality of knit elements linked together by a molded thermoplastic polymer element comprising a thermoplastic polymer, each of the knit elements being discrete, where each of the knit elements comprises a border that is at least partially surrounded by the molded thermoplastic polymer element. Further, an article of footwear may include a plurality of knit elements linked together by a molded thermoplastic polymer element comprising a thermoplastic polymer, each of the knit elements being discrete, where each of the knit elements comprises a border that is at least partially surrounded by the molded thermoplastic polymer element.

Knitted component having at least one thermoplastic polymer element

A method for forming a plate includes attaching a first strand portion to a flexible substrate to form a first layer on the substrate and positioning a second strand portion on the first layer to form a second layer on the first layer in a plurality of discrete regions on the substrate. The method also includes positioning a plurality of traction elements into corresponding cavities formed into a first mold surface and positioning the substrate on the first mold surface to change a shape of the substrate. At least one of heat and pressure is applied to the first strand portion, the second strand portion, the substrate, and the traction elements to conform the substrate to the shape of the first mold surface and form the traction elements into the substrate at each of the discrete regions. The method also includes incorporating the substrate into an article of footwear.

Composite plate for an article of footwear or equipment

A knitted component may include a first side and an opposite second side and a first tubular knit structure having a first portion on the first side and a second portion on the second side, where the first portion is at least partially formed with a first yarn and where the second portion is at least partially formed with a different second yarn, and where the first yarn includes a thermoplastic polymer material with a melting point of about 200° C. or less. The knitted component may further include a fused surface region on the first side of the knitted component formed with the thermoplastic polymer material of the first yarn. The knitted component may further include an inlaid strand extending through a passage formed by the first tubular knit structure between the first portion and the second portion.

Knitted component with a fused surface region located on a tubular knit structure

A knitted component having a first region located adjacent to a perimeter edge of the article, where the first region of the knitted component includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer surface may include a fused area formed with a thermoformed thermoplastic material included with a first yarn. The inner surface may be at least partially formed with the second yarn and may substantially exclude the thermoplastic material.

A knitted textile having a first layer including a first yarn with a thermoplastic composition integrally formed with a second layer including a second yarn, the first yarn forming an array of knitted patterns defining voids through the first layer to the second layer. The first layer may be heat treated to form a film. Treatment of the first layer may change zonal and directional tensile properties of the knitted textile. The Poisson's ratio of the knitted textile may be greater than or equal to zero in a first axis and/or a second axis, before and/or after treatment. Articles of apparel, including articles of footwear and garments incorporating the knitted textile, and methods of forming the knitted textiles and articles are disclosed.

Knitted textile and method of forming

Shoe

A lightweight, breathable, translucent and high-strength upper formed from a half-gauge knit, at least in part from a high tenacity yarn and a fusible yarn, is described. The upper may include a knit heel structure. Methods of manufacture, including exposing the upper to steam while in a tensioned state to at least partially melt the fusible yarn to adjacent yarns is also described. Subsequent cooling of the fusible yarn retains the upper in a stretched condition.

Lightweight knitted upper and methods of manufacture

A knitted component may include a molded thermoplastic polymer element surrounded by a knit element, where the knit element includes a first layer forming a first side and a second layer forming a second side facing opposite the first side, the first layer and the second layer being coextensive and secured via interlooped knit loops that form at least a portion of the molded thermoplastic polymer element. The first side may include the molded thermoplastic polymer element, where the second layer is coextensive with the thermoplastic polymer element, and where the second side faces opposite the first side.

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

William C McFarland, Ii