Articles of footwear with knitted components and methods of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A knitted component includes a first side extending along a perimeter of the knitted member to define a lower edge of the knitted member and a pair of heel edges that can be joined together, and a second side that defines a throat region and/or a collar region. A plurality of rows of the knitted component extend between the first side and the second side, and a continuous strand is integrated with the knitted component to form a plurality of strand segments that extend within respective ones of the plurality of rows of the knitted component between the first side and the second side.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper comprising a knitted component having a first side and a second side and a plurality of rows extending between the first side and the second side;   a continuous strand integrated with the knitted component to form a plurality of strand segments that extend within respective ones of the plurality of rows of the knitted component between the first side and the second side; and   a sole structure,   wherein at least a portion of the first side of the knitted component is secured to the sole structure and the second side of the knitted component is at a throat region of the upper.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous strand is integrated with the knitted component so that the plurality of strand segments are spaced apart along a length of the knitted component. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the article of footwear comprises a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, and
 the plurality of strand segments include forefoot strand segments that extend from the sole structure to the throat region.   
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the article of footwear comprises a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, and
 the plurality of strand segments comprise:
 forefoot strand segments that extend from the sole structure to the throat region, 
 midfoot strand segments that extend from the sole structure to the throat region, and 
 heel strand segments that extend from the sole structure to the throat region. 
   
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein adjacent ones of the heel strand segments are spaced further apart than adjacent ones of the forefoot strand segments. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein a ratio of an average spacing between adjacent ones of the heel strand segments and an average spacing between adjacent ones of the forefoot strand segments is greater than 1.5:1. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein a ratio of an average spacing between adjacent ones of the heel strand segments and an average spacing between adjacent ones of the forefoot strand segments is between 2:1 and 5:1. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein a ratio of an average number of rows between adjacent ones of the heel strand segments and adjacent ones of the forefoot strand segments is between greater than 1.5:1. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein a ratio of an average number of rows between adjacent ones of the heel strand segments and adjacent ones of the forefoot strand segments is between 2:1 and 5:1. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the article of footwear comprises a medial side and lateral side, and
 the plurality of strand segments include medial side strand segments and lateral side strand segments.   
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein an amount of medial side strand segments is the same as an amount of lateral side strand segments. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein an amount of medial side strand segments is different than an amount of lateral side strand segments. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the medial side strand segments and the lateral side strand segments are positioned symmetrically relative to a longitudinal axis of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the medial side strand segments and the lateral side strand segments are positioned asymmetrically relative to a longitudinal axis of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of strand segments extend to the second side of the knitted component in a forward half of the throat region. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of strand segments extend to the second side of the knitted component in a rearward half of the throat region. 
     
     
         17 . A knitted component comprising:
 a first side extending along a perimeter of the knitted component to define a lower edge of the knitted component and a pair of heel edges that can be joined together;   a second side that defines a throat region and/or a collar region;   a plurality of rows extending between the first side and the second side; and   a continuous strand integrated with the knitted component to form a plurality of strand segments that extend within respective ones of the plurality of rows of the knitted component between the first side and the second side.   
     
     
         18 . The knitted component of  claim 17 , wherein the continuous strand is integrated with the knitted component so that the plurality of strand segments are spaced apart rows along a length of the knitted component. 
     
     
         19 . The knitted component of  claim 17 , wherein the knitted component comprises a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, and
 the plurality of strand segments comprise forefoot strand segments, midfoot strand segments, and heel strand segments.   
     
     
         20 . The knitted component of  claim 19 , wherein adjacent ones of the heel strand segments are spaced further apart than adjacent ones of the forefoot strand segments,
 wherein a ratio of an average spacing between adjacent ones of the heel strand segments and an average spacing between adjacent ones of the forefoot strand segments is greater than 1.5:1 or between 2:1 and 5:1.