Three-dimensional shoe

Abstract

A knitted upper for an article of footwear. The knitted upper is formed essentially as a single piece in a three-dimensional knitting process. The knitted upper includes at least one activated shrink yarn.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A three-dimensionally knitted upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a first region comprising a first knitted layer, wherein the first knitted layer has a first property and is configured to attach to a sole of the article of footwear; and   a second region comprising a second knitted layer, the second knitted layer comprising inlaid yarns and having a second property that is different from the first property;   wherein the first region is a bottom portion of the knitted upper, the second region is a top portion of the knitted upper, and the knitted upper is a single piece.   
     
     
         2 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein the second region covers a metatarsal area of a foot of a wearer. 
     
     
         3 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein the inlaid yarns comprise elastic yarns. 
     
     
         4 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein the second knitted layer comprises a plurality of layers. 
     
     
         5 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein the second knitted layer comprises a first portion comprising the inlaid yarns and a second portion that is free from the inlaid yarns. 
     
     
         6 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein the inlaid yarns extend in a medial to lateral direction to limit stretching of the second knitted layer. 
     
     
         7 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 6 , wherein the inlaid yarns cover a metatarsal area of a foot of a wearer. 
     
     
         8 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third knitted region comprising fuse yarns; and   a fourth knitted region comprising fuse yarns;   wherein the third knitted region is a toe region and the fourth knitted region is a heel region.   
     
     
         9 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 8 , wherein the fuse yarns in the toe region are configured to permanently fix a shape of the toe region, and wherein the fuse yarns in the heel region are configured to permanently fix a shape of the heel region. 
     
     
         10 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein the second region is a forefoot region of the knitted upper. 
     
     
         11 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 1 , wherein the first property is a first stiffness and the second property is a second stiffness. 
     
     
         12 . A three-dimensionally knitted upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a first region comprising a first knitted layer, wherein the first knitted layer has a first property and is configured to attach to a sole of the article of footwear; and   a second region comprising a second knitted layer, the second knitted layer comprising floating yarns and having a second property that is different from the first property;   wherein the first region is a bottom portion of the knitted upper, the second region is a top portion of the knitted upper, and the knitted upper is a single piece.   
     
     
         13 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 12 , wherein the second region covers a metatarsal area of a foot of a wearer. 
     
     
         14 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 12 , wherein the second knitted layer comprises a plurality of layers. 
     
     
         15 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 12 , wherein the second knitted layer comprises a first portion comprising the floating yarns and a second portion that is free from the floating yarns. 
     
     
         16 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 12 , wherein the floating yarns comprise free portions of yarn that connect to the second knitted layer via loops or tuck stitches. 
     
     
         17 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a third knitted region comprising fuse yarns; and   a fourth knitted region comprising fuse yarns;   wherein the third knitted region is a toe region and the fourth knitted region is a heel region.   
     
     
         18 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 17 , wherein the floating yarns in the toe region are configured to permanently fix a shape of the toe region, and wherein the floating yarns in the heel region are configured to permanently fix a shape of the heel region. 
     
     
         19 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 12 , wherein the second region is a forefoot region of the knitted upper. 
     
     
         20 . The three-dimensionally knitted upper of  claim 12 , wherein the first property is a first stiffness and the second property is a second stiffness.