Article of Footwear Incorporating a Knitted Component with Monofilament Areas in Body and Heel Portions

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper incorporating a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction. The knitted component includes areas formed using monofilament strands. The monofilament areas may be bounded by multifilament areas. The multifilament areas may be configured to form a welt that includes a tensile element.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprising:
 knitting a knitted component including at least one monofilament area comprised of a monofilament strand, the at least one monofilament area having a shape;   knitting a first multifilament area adjacent to the at least one monofilament area, the first multifilament area comprising at least two overlapping knit layers of multifilament yarn, wherein the at least two overlapping knit layers form a first unsecured area there between;   knitting a second multifilament area adjacent to the at least one monofilament area;   wherein the first multifilament area and the second multifilament area define at least a portion of the shape of the at least one monofilament area.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one monofilament area comprises a width and wherein the width of the at least one monofilament area is at least two courses. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein knitting the first unsecured area comprises knitting an interior layer and an exterior layer, and
 connecting at least a portion of the interior layer with at least a portion of the exterior layer to form a central unsecured area.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein knitting the exterior layer includes knitting a first number of courses and knitting the interior layer includes knitting a second number of courses, the first number of courses being greater than the second number of courses. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising extending at least a portion of a tensile element through at least a portion of the first unsecured area. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein knitting the second multifilament area comprises knitting at least two overlapping layers of multifilament yarn, wherein the at least two overlapping knit layers form a second unsecured area there between. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21  further comprising extending at least a portion of a second tensile element through at least a portion of the second unsecured area. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein the method further comprises knitting the at least one monofilament area in a first plane of the article of footwear and knitting the exterior layer of the first multifilament area in a second plane of the article of footwear, the second plane being located radially outwardly of the first plane. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein at least a portion of the at least one monofilament area underlies at least a portion of the exterior layer of the first multifilament area. 
     
     
         25 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprising:
 knitting a knitted component comprising a plurality of monofilament areas comprising a monofilament strand, the plurality of monofilament areas comprising a shape;   knitting a plurality of multifilament areas comprising at least two overlapping knit layers of multifilament yarn, wherein the at least two overlapping knit layers comprise an interior layer and an exterior layer and wherein the plurality of multifilament areas define at least a portion of the shape of the plurality of monofilament areas;   wherein the plurality of monofilament areas are located in a first plane of the article of footwear and wherein at least the exterior layer of the plurality of multifilament areas is located in a second plane of the article of footwear.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein the second plane is located radially outwardly of the first plane.