Article of footwear having a textile upper

Abstract

An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. 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 textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction. The first area is formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area is formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying textures to a surface of the textile element. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element.

1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper incorporating a warp-knitted textile element having edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot, wherein the warp-knitted textile element incorporates a single type of textile having a plurality of knit constructions; and   a sole structure secured to the upper.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 1 , wherein the warp-knitted textile element includes a first area and a second area that have a unitary construction, the first area including a first of the knit constructions and the second area includes a second of the knit constructions, the first of the knit constructions being different than the second of the knit constructions. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first of the knit constructions includes apertures that extend through the warp-knitted textile element. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 1 , wherein the warp-knitted textile element forms at least a portion of a lateral side, a medial side, and an instep region of the upper. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 1 , wherein the edges are joined together form a seam extending longitudinally along a lower region of the upper. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 1 , wherein the edges are joined together to form a seam extending along a heel region of the upper. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 6 , wherein the seam extends vertically in the heel region of the upper. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 1 , wherein the warp-knitted textile element is one of an exterior layer, an intermediate layer, and an interior layer of the upper. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 1 , wherein the warp-knitted textile element forms at least a portion of both an interior surface and an exterior surface of the upper. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 1 , wherein the warp-knitted textile element forms a portion of an exterior surface of the upper. 
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper incorporating a warp-knitted textile element having a first area and a second area with a unitary construction, the first area being formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area being formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying properties to the textile element; and   a sole structure secured to the upper.   
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 11 , wherein the first stitch configuration provides a substantially smooth texture to the first area, and the second stitch configuration provides a texture to the second area that is rougher than the smooth texture. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 12 , wherein the second stitch configuration forms a rib structure in the second area. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first stitch configuration and the second stitch configuration forms an aperture in the warp-knitted textile element. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 11 , wherein the warp-knitted textile element is one of an exterior layer, an intermediate layer, and an interior layer of the upper. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 11 , wherein the warp-knitted textile element forms at least a portion of both an interior surface and an exterior surface of the upper. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 11 , wherein the warp-knitted textile element forms a portion of an exterior surface of the upper. 
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper incorporating a warp-knitted textile element having a first area and a second area formed of unitary construction, the first area having a first stitch type and the second area having a second stitch type, the first stitch type being different than the second stitch type; and a sole structure secured to the upper.   
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 18 , wherein the warp-knitted textile element has edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 19 , wherein the edges are joined together form a seam extending longitudinally along a lower region of the upper. 
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 19 , wherein the edges are joined together to form a seam extending along a heel region of the upper. 
     
     
         22 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 21 , wherein the seam extends vertically in the heel region of the upper. 
     
     
         23 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 18 , wherein the warp-knitted textile element forms at least a portion of a lateral side, a medial side, and an instep region of the upper. 
     
     
         24 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 18 , wherein the warp-knitted textile element is one of an exterior layer, an intermediate layer, and an interior layer of the upper. 
     
     
         25 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 18 , wherein the warp-knitted textile element forms at least a portion of both an interior surface and an exterior surface of the upper. 
     
     
         26 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 18 , wherein the warp-knitted textile element forms a portion of an exterior surface of the upper. 
     
     
         27 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper incorporating a warp-knitted textile element that forms at least a portion of (a) a lateral side, a medial side, and an instep region of the upper and (b) an interior surface and an exterior surface of the upper, the interior surface defining a void within the upper for receiving a foot of a wearer, and the warp-knitted textile element having a first area and a second area formed of unitary construction, the first area having a first stitch type and the second area having a second stitch type, the first stitch type being different than the second stitch type, and the first stitch type forming apertures that extend through the warp-knitted textile element; and   a sole structure secured to the upper.   
     
     
         28 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 27 , wherein the warp-knitted textile element has a pair of edges that are joined together to form a seam extending longitudinally along a lower region of the upper. 
     
     
         29 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 27 , wherein the warp-knitted textile element has a pair of edges that are joined together to form a seam extending along a heel region of the upper. 
     
     
         30 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 29 , wherein the seam extends vertically in the heel region of the upper.