Knitted component and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a knitted component comprising a course with a plurality of loops. An inlaid strand formed of a second yarn may be included in the knitted component. A first portion of the course may be formed with a first yarn and a second portion of the course may be formed with the second yarn. The inlaid strand may be inlaid within the first portion of the course.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper, comprising:   a knit element, comprising:   a plurality of loops, and   an inlaid strand that extends through at least a portion of the plurality of loops, wherein the inlaid strand extends from a perimeter edge of the upper, around a lace aperture, and back to the perimeter edge of the upper; and   a sole structure secured to the upper.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a polymer sheet bonded to the knit element. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the inlaid strand comprises a filament. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of segments of the inlaid strand are arranged substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of segments of the inlaid strand are arranged non-parallel to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the knit element is fused together by a thermoplastic polymer material. 
     
     
         7 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper, comprising:   a knit element comprising a plurality of loops, and   an inlaid strand extending through at least a portion of the plurality of loops in a course-wise direction, wherein the inlaid strand has a greater stretch-resistance than the knit element; and   a sole structure secured to the upper.   
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the inlaid strand extends around at least one lace aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of segments of the inlaid strand extend through the knit element parallel to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of segments of the inlaid strand extend through the knit element non-parallel to each other. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein a thermoplastic polymer material is fused to the knit element. 
     
     
         12 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper, comprising:   a knit element, comprising:   one or more yarns forming a plurality of intermeshed loops, and   a thermoplastic polymer material fused to at least a portion of the knit element; and   a sole structure secured to the upper.   
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more yarns include at least one yarn that comprises the thermoplastic polymer material. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein a polymer sheet is bonded to the knit element. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the polymer sheet comprises the thermoplastic polymer material. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer material limits stretch of the knit element. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer material is stiffer than the knit element. 
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper, comprising:   a knit element, comprising:
 a plurality of loops, and 
 a filament inlaid through at least some of the plurality of loops in a course-wise direction, such that at least a portion of the filament extends linearly in approximately a medial-lateral direction; and 
   a sole structure secured to the upper.   
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the filament is a monofilament. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the filament is a multifilament. 
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the filament comprises:
 glass,   aramid,   ultra-high molecular weight polyethelene, or   liquid crustal polymer.   
     
     
         22 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the filament exhibits greater stretch-resistance than a remainder of the knit element. 
     
     
         23 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the filament changes direction in the knit element. 
     
     
         24 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein part of the filament is exposed on an outer surface of the upper. 
     
     
         25 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper, comprising:   a knitted component, comprising:
 a plurality of loops, 
 a thermoplastic polymer material that is fused, and 
 a pair of flaps that form a portion of the upper that extends under a sockliner; and 
   a sole structure secured to the upper.   
     
     
         26 . The article of footwear of  claim 25 , wherein the pair of flaps are formed of a unitary knit construction with a remainder of the knitted component. 
     
     
         27 . The article of footwear of  claim 25 , wherein the knitted component comprises a yarn comprising the thermoplastic polymer material. 
     
     
         28 . The article of footwear of  claim 25 , wherein a polymer sheet is bonded to the knitted component. 
     
     
         29 . The article of footwear of  claim 28 , wherein the polymer sheet comprises the thermoplastic polymer material. 
     
     
         30 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper, comprising:   a knitted component comprising a plurality of intermeshed loops, and   a thermoplastic polymer material fused to the knitted component, wherein a portion of the knitted component extends underfoot; and   a sole structure secured to the upper.   
     
     
         31 . The article of footwear of  claim 30 , wherein a strobel sock is secured underfoot to the knitted component. 
     
     
         32 . The article of footwear of  claim 30 , wherein the knitted component comprises at least one fusible yarn comprising the thermoplastic polymer material. 
     
     
         33 . The article of footwear of  claim 30 , wherein a polymer sheet is bonded to the knitted component. 
     
     
         34 . The article of footwear of  claim 33 , wherein the polymer sheet comprises the thermoplastic polymer material.