Flat Weft-Knitted Upper for Sports Shoes

Abstract

Described are uppers for a sports shoe with flat weft-knitted knitwear. The flat weft-knitted knitwear forms a top portion and a bottom portion of the upper. The top portion is formed as tube weft-knitted knitwear such that it is configured to surround a part of a shank of a wearer of the sports shoe when worn. The bottom portion is configured to cover at least a part of a foot of the wearer of the sports shoe when worn.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An upper for a sports shoe comprising:
 a knitted element comprising:
 a top portion comprising multi-ply knitwear; 
 a bottom portion comprising multi-ply knitwear, wherein at least two plies are consistently connected to one another and cover at least a portion of at least one of a top, sides, or a heel of a foot of the wearer of the sports shoe when the sports shoe is worn; and 
   wherein the knitted element comprises at least one of a weft or a filler yarn in the multi-ply knitwear of at least one of the top or bottom portion.   
     
     
         22 . The upper for a sports shoe of  claim 21 , wherein the top portion comprises at least two plies are separated from each other and joined at edges to form a tube that surrounds at least part of an ankle of a wearer of the sports shoe when the sport shoe is worn. 
     
     
         23 . The upper for a sports shoe of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one of a weft or a filler yarn in the multi-ply knitwear of at least one of the top or bottom portion reduces stretchability of at least one of the top or bottom portion. 
     
     
         24 . The upper of  claim 22 , wherein the bottom portion substantially covers a top and sides of a foot of the wearer of the sport shoe when the sports shoe is worn. 
     
     
         25 . The upper of  claim 22 , wherein the top portion and the bottom portion are adjacent to one another below the ankle of the wearer of the sports shoe when worn. 
     
     
         26 . The upper of  claim 22  wherein the bottom portion and the top portion are unitarily knitted together in a single knitting process. 
     
     
         27 . The upper of  claim 22  wherein the knitted element comprises a single layer. 
     
     
         28 . The upper of  claim 27  wherein the knitted element is single layer weft-knitted. 
     
     
         29 . The upper of  claim 27 or 28  wherein the knitted element is flat knitted. 
     
     
         30 . The upper of  claim 22 , wherein the knitted element is formed as a single-surface knitwear. 
     
     
         31 . The upper of  claim 22 , wherein the knitted element comprises a monofilament yarn. 
     
     
         32 . The upper of  claim 22 , further comprising a front portion, wherein the knitted element excludes the front portion, and wherein the front portion comprises leather or artificial leather. 
     
     
         33 . The upper of  claim 22 , wherein the top portion, at its upper edge, comprises an elastic cuff formed integrally with the knitted element. 
     
     
         34 . The upper of  claim 22 , wherein the top portion is adjusted to anatomical conditions of the at least part of the ankle of the wearer of the sports shoe. 
     
     
         35 . The upper of  claim 22 , wherein the top portion is elastic, and wherein the elastic is configured to exert pressure on the at least part of the ankle. 
     
     
         36 . The upper of  claim 35 , wherein a configuration of the elastic results in the pressure being specific to a sport for which the sports shoe is used or being respective to the wearer. 
     
     
         37 . A method of manufacturing a shoe upper for a sports shoe, comprising:
 flat knitting a knitted element, wherein knitting the knitted element comprises:
 forming a top portion comprising multi-ply knitwear; and 
 performing at least one of placing a length of a thread between two wales in longitudinal direction to define a filler yarn or introducing a weft into the knitwear. 
   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein forming the top portion comprises forming a top portion in which at least two plies are separated from each other and joined at edges to form a tube that surrounds at least part of an ankle of a wearer of the sports shoe when the sport shoe is worn. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the method comprises placing the length of the thread between two wales in the longitudinal direction and holding the thread by transverse threads or other weave elements of the knitted element. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein only one bed of needles is used when flat knitting a knitted element, creating a one layered weft-knitted fabric. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein a monofilament yarn is used when flat knitting the knitted element.