Article of footwear with zonal properties

Abstract

Aspects herein are directed to, among other things, an article of footwear comprising an upper. The upper includes a knit textile having at least a first area and a second area that extends adjacent the first area through at least the midfoot region. In some aspects, a coefficient of friction of an outer surface of the knit textile and/or a thickness of the knit textile is optimized between the first area and the second area in order to enhance athletic performance. The utilization of materials and knit structures between the first area and the second area helps to enhance performance features of the article of footwear (e.g., touch, feel, ability to grip, lightweight, etc.) while still remaining durable and weather-resistant.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper, comprising:   a knit textile forming at least part of a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a heel region, a lateral side, and a medial side of the upper, the knit textile comprising an outer-facing surface and an inner-facing surface;   a first area of the knit textile comprising a first thickness measured between the outer-facing surface and the inner-facing surface, the first area extending through at least part of the forefoot region, through at least part of a throat area located in the midfoot region, and through at least part of the medial side and at least part of the lateral side; and   a second area of the knit textile having a second thickness measured between the outer-facing surface and the inner-facing surface, wherein the second thickness is less than the first thickness, the second area extending through at least part of the midfoot region and through at least part of the heel region on the lateral side of the upper, and the second area extending adjacent to the first area in at least the midfoot region.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first area has a double knit construction that comprises a high-tenacity yarn and a yarn comprising a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second area has a single knit construction comprising a high-tenacity yarn. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the knit textile further comprises a third area extending through at least part of the midfoot region and through at least part of the heel region on the medial side of the upper, the third area extending adjacent to the first area in at least the midfoot region, wherein the knit textile has a third thickness in the third area measured between the outer-facing surface and the inner-facing surface, wherein the third thickness is less than the first thickness. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the knit textile further comprises a fourth area extending at least partially around an ankle opening, wherein the fourth area comprises a fourth thickness that is greater than the second thickness. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the second area extends from the first area to a biteline where the upper is secured to a sole structure. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the outer-facing surface of the knit textile has a first coefficient of friction in at least the first area and a second coefficient of friction in at least the second area, the first coefficient of friction being greater than the second coefficient of friction. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the second thickness is about one-third of the first thickness. 
     
     
         9 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper, comprising:   a knit textile forming at least part of a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a heel region, a lateral side, and a medial side of the upper, the knit textile comprising an outer-facing surface and an inner-facing surface;   a first area of the knit textile extending through at least part of the forefoot region and through at least part of a throat area in the midfoot region, and extending at least partially through the medial side and the lateral side; and   a second area of the knit textile having a different knit construction than the first area and extending through at least part of the midfoot region and through at least part of the heel region on the lateral side of the upper, and extending adjacent to the first area through at least the midfoot region,   wherein the outer-facing surface of the knit textile has a first coefficient of friction in at least the first area and has a second coefficient of friction in at least the second area, the first coefficient of friction being greater than the second coefficient of friction.   
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the first area has a double knit construction, and the second area has a single knit construction. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the first area comprises a high-tenacity yarn and a yarn comprising a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the outer-facing surface comprises a skin that comprises the thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is absent from the second area. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the first area has a greater knit density than the second area. 
     
     
         15 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper, comprising:   a knit textile extending at least partially through a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a heel region, a lateral side, and a medial side of the upper, the knit textile comprising an outer-facing surface and an inner-facing surface;   a first area of the knit textile comprising a first thickness measured between the outer-facing surface and the inner-facing surface; and   a second area of the knit textile comprising a second thickness measured between the outer-facing surface and the inner-facing surface, wherein the second thickness is less than the first thickness,   wherein the first area has a first stiffness and the second area has a second stiffness, the second stiffness being greater than the first stiffness.   
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the second area is contiguous with the first area. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein a translucency of the second area is greater than a translucency of the first area. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the first area comprises a thermoformed network of yarns comprising a thermoplastic elastomer that is softened and solidified. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer forms a film at least partially covering the outer-facing surface of the knit textile in the first area. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the outer-facing surface of the knit textile has a first coefficient of friction in at least the first area and has a second coefficient of friction in at least the second area, the first coefficient of friction being greater than the second coefficient of friction.