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, comprising:
 a knitted component, comprising:
 an inner perimeter edge; 
 an outer perimeter edge; and 
 a plurality of radially-knitted courses extending from the inner perimeter edge to the outer perimeter edge, wherein the plurality of radially-knitted courses extend at an angle to each other, such that a spacing between them increases towards the outer perimeter edge, and wherein the plurality of radially-knitted courses integrally extend around at least a forefoot region of the upper. 
   
     
     
         2 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted component is formed as an integral one-piece knitted element. 
     
     
         3 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted component is a composite knitted component with different knit structures forming different parts of the knitted component. 
     
     
         4 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of radially-knitted courses integrally extend through a lateral side of the upper, through the forefoot region, and through a medial side of the upper, and into opposite heel regions of the upper. 
     
     
         5 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted component comprises a single knit layer. 
     
     
         6 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted component comprises multiple knit layers. 
     
     
         7 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted component comprises at least one inlaid stand defining a plurality of strand segments, each strand segment extending along at least one of the plurality of radially-knitted courses, such that the plurality of strand segments extend non-parallel to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The upper of  claim 7 , wherein each stand segment extends through a corresponding tunnel structure of the knitted component. 
     
     
         9 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of radially-knitted courses extend outward from a central portion of the upper. 
     
     
         10 . The upper of  claim 9 , wherein the central portion comprises at least a forward portion of a throat region of the upper. 
     
     
         11 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted component comprises a fused area. 
     
     
         12 . An article of footwear comprising a sole structure secured to the upper of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A knitted component configured to form part of an upper of an article of footwear, the knitted component comprising:
 a first end;   a second end;   an inner perimeter edge extending between the first end and the second end;   an outer perimeter edge extending between the first end and the second end; and   a plurality of radially-knitted courses extending from the inner perimeter edge to the outer perimeter edge, the plurality of radially-knitted courses integrally extending between the first end and the second end of the knitted component, wherein the first end and the second end are configured to be joined together at a seam to form a dimensional shape of the upper.   
     
     
         14 . The knitted component of  claim 13 , wherein the inner perimeter edge comprises a throat region of the upper. 
     
     
         15 . The knitted component of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of radially-knitted courses are arranged into a plurality of wedges each comprising a combination of longer knitted courses and shorter knitted courses. 
     
     
         16 . The knitted component of  claim 13 , wherein a distance between the inner perimeter edge and the outer perimeter edge is larger adjacent to the first end and adjacent to the second end compared to a middle portion of the knitted component located between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         17 . An article of footwear comprising a sole structure secured to an upper comprising the knitted component of  claim 13 . 
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper, comprising:   a knitted component, comprising:
 an inner perimeter edge; 
 an outer perimeter edge; 
 a plurality of radially-knitted courses extending from the inner perimeter edge to the outer perimeter edge, wherein the plurality of radially-knitted courses extend at an angle to each other, such that a spacing between them increases towards the outer perimeter edge, and wherein the plurality of radially-knitted courses integrally extend around at least a forefoot region of the upper; 
 a first edge extending between the inner perimeter edge and the outer perimeter edge and located at a first end of the knitted component; and 
 a second edge extending between the inner perimeter edge and the outer perimeter edge and located at a second end of the knitted component opposite to the first end, wherein the first edge and the second edge are joined together at a seam. 
   
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the seam is located in a center of a heel region of the upper. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the seam is a side seam located on one side of the upper. 
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the knitted component is formed as an integral one-piece knitted element. 
     
     
         22 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the knitted component is a composite knitted component that has different knit structures forming different parts of the knitted component.