Shoe

Abstract

Described are shoes, particularly a sports shoe, having an upper and at least one of an outer sole and a midsole connected to the upper. As examples, the outer sole is knitted in a unitary fashion with the upper. As further examples, an insert is positioned within the one-piece knitwear, wherein the insert comprises a profile that increases traction of the outer sole.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a knitted material that extends below a foot of a wearer when the article of footwear is worn;   an insert;   wherein the knitted material comprises at least one opening;   wherein the insert is formed separately from the knitted material and positioned so that at least a portion of the insert extends through the at least one opening without overlapping an outer surface of the knitted material; and   wherein at least the portion of the insert that extends through the at least one opening forms at least a part of an outer sole of the article of footwear that contacts the ground when the article of footwear is worn.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the insert has a profile with at least one protrusion extending away from a bottom surface of the insert and wherein the at least one protrusion increases traction of the outer sole. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the insert and the at least one protrusion are integrally formed. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted material is reinforced with a polymer material. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer material is fused with a yarn of the knitted material. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer material comprises a polymer layer applied to at least one surface of the knitted material. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein the polymer layer is applied to both sides of the knitted material. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein the polymer material is a polyurethane based material. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the polymer material is thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted material is pressed into a three-dimensional shape in a machine for compression molding. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted material comprises a thermoplastic yarn. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted material further comprises a melt yarn capable of fusing to the insert. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted material comprises a rubberized yarn. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the rubberized yarn is a full-rubber yarn, a rubber-coated yarn, or a non-rubber yarn having qualities similar to rubber. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted material comprises a monofilament configured to reinforce the outer sole and reduce stretchability of the outer sole. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted material is weft-knitted or warp-knitted. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted material is a spacer weft-knitted fabric or a spacer warp-knitted fabric. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , wherein layers of the spacer weft-knitted fabric or the spacer warp-knitted fabric comprise different yarns. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is positioned between layers of the knitted material. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted material comprises a weft-knitted pocket or a warp-knitted pocket into which a midsole is inserted.