Knit shoes with elastic region

Abstract

A shoe may include an upper portion constructed from a continuous textile (e.g., a knit textile) that includes an elastic region and a structural region. The elastic region may be positioned about a perimeter of an opening into a cavity configured to receive a wearer's foot, and the elastic region may be configured to secure the shoe to a wearer's foot. The elastic region may have a first elasticity that is greater than a second elasticity of the structural region. In an unworn configuration, the elastic region may cause a tread surface of a sole of the shoe to have a continuous curvature. In a worn configuration, substantially all of an intermediate section of the tread surface may contact a surface on which the shoe is placed. The elastic region may improve the performance of the shoe, including the comfort and durability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe, comprising:
 a sole; and   a knit textile upper attached to the sole, wherein the upper defines an opening to a cavity of the shoe, the knit textile upper comprising:
 an elastic region configured to exert a compressive force to assist in maintaining the shoe on a wearer's foot, the elastic region extending at least partially around the opening to the cavity and defining a ribbed knit pattern, 
 a structural region coupled to the elastic region, 
 wherein the ribbed knit pattern comprises:
 a first set of ribs extending a first distance; and 
 a second set of ribs, each rib of the first set of ribs alternating with an adjacent rib of the second set of ribs, the second set of ribs extending a second distance less than the first distance. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the knit textile upper is a continuous knit textile upper. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic region extends completely around the opening to the cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the structural region has an elasticity less than an elasticity of the elastic region. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the structural region exerts a compressive force to assist in maintaining the shoe on the wearer's foot, wherein the compressive force exerted by the structural region is less than the compressive force exerted by the elastic region. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the elastic region is coupled to the structural region at a boundary; and   the first set of ribs extend from the boundary to a perimeter of the opening to the cavity.   
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the second set of ribs extend from the boundary toward a perimeter of the opening to the cavity. 
     
     
         8 . A shoe, comprising:
 a sole; and   a knit textile upper attached to the sole, wherein the upper defines an opening to a cavity of the shoe, the knit textile upper comprising:
 an elastic region configured to exert a compressive force to assist in maintaining the shoe on a wearer's foot, the elastic region extending at least partially around the opening to the cavity and comprising at least a first knit pattern and a second knit pattern, 
 a structural region coupled to the elastic region, 
 wherein the first knit pattern is located in a first portion along the elastic region, and the second knit pattern is located in a second portion along the elastic region, the first portion laterally adjacent to the second portion, wherein the first knit pattern is different than the second knit pattern. 
   
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 8 , wherein the first knit pattern is a first ribbed knit pattern, and the second knit pattern is a second ribbed knit pattern. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 8 , wherein the first knit pattern defines a curved portion of the elastic region, and the second knit pattern defines a substantially straight portion of the elastic region. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 8 , wherein the first knit pattern imparts a first elasticity to the first portion that is greater than a second elasticity imparted to the second portion by the second knit pattern. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 8 . wherein the knit textile upper is a continuous knit textile upper. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 8 . wherein the elastic region extends completely around the opening to the cavity.