Article of footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear having an upper constructed at least in part from a sock-like structure having at least two or more layers in a portion of, or in all of, its regions. The sock-like structure may be knitted and may be a unitary construction such that one portion folds over another portion. Separately formed attachments may include parts of the sole, liners, decorative elements, cording, and structural supports which may be located between the layers of the sock-like structure. The attachments may be molded and conformed into shape directly on to the sock-like structure.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An upper of a shoe comprising:
 a unitary knitted tubular textile having a first portion, a second portion, and a junction portion,   the first portion having a first exterior surface, and a first interior surface;   the second portion having a second exterior surface and a second interior surface:   the first portion being connected to the second portion at the junction portion;   the second portion being folded over the first portion such that the first portion is within the second portion and the junction portion forming part of the periphery of the upper, the first exterior surface forming a surface being the closest portion to a void capable of receiving a foot, the first interior surface being the closest portion to the second interior surface;   the second exterior surface arming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper; and   at least one molded attachment formed by molding the attachment directly on to an area of the unitary knitted tubular textile.   
     
     
         2 . The at least one molded attachment of  claim 1  being a portion of the sole of the shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The at least one molded attachment of  claim 2  being molded on to a part of the first interior surface. 
     
     
         4 . The molded attachment of  claim 1  being molded on to the second portion. 
     
     
         5 . The at least one molded attachment of  claim 1  comprising a cushion. 
     
     
         6 . The at least one molded attachment of  claim 1  comprising a rigid support. 
     
     
         7 . The upper of  claim 1  having at least one elastic region in the knit textile. 
     
     
         8 . The upper of  claim 1  further at least one aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The upper of  claim 9  wherein a part of the molded attachment extends through the at least one aperture. 
     
     
         10 . The part of the molded attachment of  claim 9  comprising at least a part of a sole. 
     
     
         11 . The upper of  claim 1  further comprising of a component fixed to an area of the upper between the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         12 . The upper of  claim 1  further comprising of a component fixed to the area of the upper on the exterior surface. 
     
     
         13 . The component of  claim 12  being a separately formed textile that forms at least a portion of a collar of the upper. 
     
     
         14 . The unitary knitted textile of  claim 1  further comprising of thermoplastic fusible fibers. 
     
     
         15 . The unitary knitted textile of  claim 1  further comprising one or more extensions that form flaps, pockets, slits or eyelets. 
     
     
         16 . The unitary knitted textile of  claim 1  further comprising a channel in the toe box of the upper wherein the channel is formed by the second portion and secured by stitching two regions of the second portion. 
     
     
         17 . An upper of a shoe comprising:
 a unitary knitted tubular textile having a first portion, a second portion, and a junction portion,   the first portion having a first exterior surface, and a first interior surface;   the second portion having a second exterior surface and a second interior surface;   the first portion being connected, to the second portion at the junction portion;   the second portion being folded over the first portion such that the first portion is within the second portion and the function portion forming part of the periphery of the upper, the first exterior surface forming a surface being the closest portion to a void capable of receiving a foot, the first interior surface being the closest portion to the second interior surface;   the second exterior surface forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper; and   a cushion layer formed by molding the cushion layer directly on to an area of the unitary knitted tubular textile, the cushion layer being located in an area that is underneath the void capable of receiving a foot.   
     
     
         18 . A method of forming an upper of a shoe comprising:
 knitting a tubular textile having a first portion, and a second portion, the first portion having a first exterior surface, and a first interior surface, the second portion having a second exterior surface and a second interior surface, the first portion connected to the second portion;   molding an attachment directly on to at least an area of the first interior surface,   folding the first portion inwardly into the second portion wherein the first exterior surface forming a surface being the closest portion to a void capable of receiving a foot, and the first interior surface being the closest portion to the second interior surface, and the second exterior surface forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper; and   the area of the attachment being at least located between the first interior surface and the second interior surface.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein at least a part of the attachment is located underneath the void capable of receiving a foot. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the attachment comprises part of the sole.