Articles of footwear with knitted components and methods of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A knitted component having an outer perimeter and a common portion, which may be a centrally-located region, such as a throat region and/or a collar region. A plurality of courses of the knitted component extend between the between the outer perimeter and the common portion such that the courses may be radially-extending outwards from the common portion. One or more continuous strand may be inlaid within the knit courses to form a plurality of strand segments that extend within respective ones of the plurality of courses of the knitted component between the outer perimeter and the common portion of the knitted component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An upper for footwear, comprising:
 a knitted component, comprising:
 a first portion comprising an inner region of the upper; 
 a second portion comprising an outer region of the upper; and 
 a plurality of strand segments that are inlaid in the knitted component, the plurality of strand segments extending radially-outward from the first portion and into the second portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted component further comprises a plurality of knitted courses extending radially-outward from the first portion and toward the second portion, and arranged continuously between opposite ends of the upper. 
     
     
         3 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of strand segments are at least partially exposed on the upper. 
     
     
         4 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of strand segments extend through non-parallel courses in at least a toe region of the upper. 
     
     
         5 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein a spacing between the plurality of strand segments in the second portion is greater than a spacing between the plurality of strand segments in the first portion. 
     
     
         6 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion each comprises a plurality of wedges, each one of the plurality of wedges comprising a combination of longer courses and shorter courses. 
     
     
         7 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises a throat edge of the upper, and wherein the plurality of strand segments extend radially-outward around the throat edge. 
     
     
         8 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper, comprising:   a knitted component, comprising:   a first portion comprising an inner region of the upper;   a second portion comprising an outer region of the upper; and   a plurality of strand segments that are inlaid in the knitted component, the plurality of strand segments extending radially-outward from the first portion and into the second portion.   
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the knitted component further comprises a plurality of knitted courses extending radially-outward from the first portion and toward the second portion, and arranged continuously between opposite ends of the upper. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of strand segments are at least partially exposed on the upper. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of strand segments extend through non-parallel courses in at least a toe region of the upper. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein a spacing between the plurality of strand segments in the second portion is greater than a spacing between the plurality of strand segments in the first portion. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the first portion and the second portion each comprises a plurality of wedges, each one of the plurality of wedges comprising a combination of longer courses and shorter courses. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the first portion comprises a throat edge of the upper, and wherein the plurality of strand segments extend radially-outward around the throat edge. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the upper comprises at least one fused area. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the knitted component comprises one or more fusible yarns. 
     
     
         17 . An upper for footwear, comprising:
 a knitted component, comprising:
 a plurality of radially-knitted courses forming an inner knit band and an outer knit band; and 
 a plurality of strand segments inlaid in the plurality of radially-knitted courses, and extending between the inner knit band and the outer knit band, wherein the plurality of strand segments extend at a non-parallel angle to each other. 
   
     
     
         18 . The upper of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of radially-knitted courses are arranged to extend continuously between opposite ends of the upper. 
     
     
         19 . The upper of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of strand segments are at least partially exposed on the upper. 
     
     
         20 . The upper of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of strand segments extend through non-parallel courses in at least a toe region of the upper. 
     
     
         21 . The upper of  claim 17 , wherein the upper comprises a throat edge, and wherein the plurality of strand segments extend radially-outward from the throat edge on a medial side, on a lateral side, and in a forefoot region of the upper. 
     
     
         22 . The upper of  claim 17 , wherein the inner knit band and the outer knit band each comprises a plurality of wedges, each one of the plurality of wedges comprising a combination of longer courses and shorter courses. 
     
     
         23 . The upper of  claim 17 , wherein at least some of the plurality of strand segments extend around lace apertures formed in the upper. 
     
     
         24 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper, comprising:   a knitted component, comprising:
 a plurality of radially-knitted courses forming an inner knit band and an outer knit band; and 
 a plurality of strand segments inlaid in the plurality of radially-knitted courses, and extending between the inner knit band and the outer knit band, wherein the plurality of strand segments extend at a non-parallel angle to each other. 
   
     
     
         25 . The article of footwear of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of radially-knitted courses are arranged to extend continuously between opposite ends of the upper. 
     
     
         26 . The article of footwear of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of strand segments are at least partially exposed on the upper. 
     
     
         27 . The article of footwear of  claim 24 , wherein the upper comprises a throat edge, and wherein the plurality of strand segments extend radially-outward from the throat edge on a medial side, on a lateral side, and in a forefoot region of the upper. 
     
     
         28 . The article of footwear of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of strand segments are exposed between the inner knit band and the outer knit band.