Knitted upper for a sports shoe

Abstract

The present invention relates to a knitted upper for a shoe that includes a knitted inner collar defining a circumferential first free edge of the upper. The knitted inner collar may be being adapted to completely surround a portion of a leg of a wearer of the shoe. In an embodiment, the shoe may include at least one knitted outer collar at least partially surrounding the inner collar and defining a second free edge of the upper. The inner collar and the outer collar may be a one-piece knitted construction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A knitted upper for a shoe, comprising:
 a knitted inner collar defining a circumferential first free edge of the upper and being adapted to completely surround a portion of a leg of a wearer of the shoe during use;   at least one knitted outer collar at least partially surrounding the inner collar and defining a second free edge of the upper,   wherein the inner collar and the outer collar are a one-piece knitted construction.   
     
     
         2 . The knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein the inner collar and the outer collar have been knitted in a single knitting process. 
     
     
         3 . The knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein the outer collar is formed in the shape of a flap or a lamella. 
     
     
         4 . The knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein the inner collar and the outer collar overlap in a heel region of the upper. 
     
     
         5 . The knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein the inner collar comprises a first yarn and the outer collar comprises a second yarn, wherein the first yarn is different from the second yarn. 
     
     
         6 . The knitted upper of  claim 5 , wherein the first yarn is more moisture wicking than the second yarn. 
     
     
         7 . The knitted upper of  claim 5 , wherein the second yarn is more abrasion resistant than the first yarn. 
     
     
         8 . The knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein the inner collar is arranged proximal to a foot of a wearer wearing a shoe comprising the knitted upper and, wherein the outer collar is arranged distal to the foot during use. 
     
     
         9 . The knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner collar or the outer collar comprises an elastic yarn. 
     
     
         10 . The knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner collar and the outer collar comprises partial knitting. 
     
     
         11 . The knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a yarn tension, a knitting structure, a shape of, or an amount of padding in the inner collar differs from a yarn tension, a knitting structure, a shape of, or an amount of padding in the outer collar. 
     
     
         12 . The knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein the outer collar defines a circumferential second free edge of the upper which is adapted to surround a portion of a leg of a wearer of the shoe during use. 
     
     
         13 . The knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein the inner collar and the outer collar each are formed by a single knitted layer folded onto itself. 
     
     
         14 . The knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the free edge of the inner collar and a location where the inner collar and the outer collar are joined is larger than a distance between the free edge of the outer collar and the location where the inner collar and the outer collar are joined. 
     
     
         15 . The knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein the inner collar is thicker than the outer collar. 
     
     
         16 . The knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein the inner collar and the outer collar have been manufactured on at least one of a circular knitting machine a small circular knitting machine, or an intarsia small circular knitting machine. 
     
     
         17 . The knitted upper of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of outer collars. 
     
     
         18 . The knitted upper of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an inner sock; and 
 an outer sock integrally knitted with the inner sock. 
 
     
     
         19 . The knitted upper of  claim 18  further comprising a knitted tongue integrally knitted with the inner sock and having a double layer construction. 
     
     
         20 . The knitted upper of  claim 19 , wherein the knitted tongue is formed by a single knitted layer folded onto itself to obtain the double layer construction.