Knitted loft zones

Abstract

A knitted component may include a loft zone having at least one first loft portion that is integrally knit. The loft portion may include a first knitted layer having an elasticated first material, a second knitted layer, a void between the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer, and at least one course of a second material that is knitted within the void and causes the second knitted layer to extend away from the first knitted layer by a first distance. The at least one course of the second material may include at least one float and may project into the void. The second material may have a greater resistance to bending than the elasticated first material.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper comprising a knitted component comprising a first loft zone and a second loft zone, each of the first loft zone and the second loft zone having a plurality of loft portions, each loft portion comprising:   a first knitted layer,   a second knitted layer, and   a void between the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer;   wherein loft portions within the first loft zone each have a first amount of loft between the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer; and   loft portions within the second loft zone located each have a second amount of loft between the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer, wherein the second amount of loft is different from the first amount of loft.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the second loft zone is positioned closer to a sole structure compared to the first loft zone. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the first loft zone has a higher degree of loft compared to the second loft zone. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first loft zone comprises one or more apertures sized to receive one or more of a lace, a tensile strand, a buckle, and a strap. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more apertures in the first loft zone each extend through both the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more apertures in the first loft zone extend through at least one of the first knitted layer or the second knitted layer. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a third loft zone with loft portions each having a third amount of loft that is different from both the first amount of loft and the second amount of loft. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the second loft zone has an intermediate degree of loft between the first loft zone and the third loft zone. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the first loft zone is located on a vamp portion of the knitted component, the second loft zone is located on a medial side of the knitted component, and the third loft zone is located on a lateral side of the knitted component. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein there are one or more recesses of loft zones depressed relative to an exterior surface of the first knitted layer. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted component is shaped in a configuration comprising one or more of U-shaped, horseshoe shaped, C-shaped, and multiple-piece configurations. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the loft portions in the first loft zone extend in a different direction than the loft portions in the second loft zone. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the knitted component includes one or more knitted wedges comprising shortened courses between the first loft zone and the second loft zone. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted component further comprises additional loft zones located in areas comprising one or more of a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a rearfoot region. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first loft zone further comprises an opening in a throat area to accommodate a tongue of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         16 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper comprising a knitted component comprising a first loft zone having a plurality of first loft portions, and a second loft zone having a plurality of second loft portions, each first loft portion and second loft portion comprising:   a first knitted layer,   a second knitted layer, and   a void between the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer;   wherein the first loft portions have a different shape than the second loft portions.   
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , further comprising a third loft zone with third loft portions, wherein the third loft portions have a different shape from both the first loft portions and the second loft portions. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , wherein the first loft zone is located on a vamp portion of the knitted component, the second loft zone is located on a medial side of the knitted component, and the third loft zone is located on a lateral side of the knitted component. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the first knitted layer comprises a first material of the first knitted layer having a lower elasticity than a second material of the second knitted layer. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the first material is substantially non-elastic and the second material comprises an elastomeric component.