Article of footwear incorporating a knitted component having floated portions

Abstract

An article of footwear may include an upper incorporating a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction. The knitted component includes portions having extended floated portions to distribute forces acting on the knitted component and resist stretching of the knitted component when the article of footwear is worn during a sport or athletic activity.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper, comprising:   a knitted component, comprising:
 a plurality of courses extending between opposite sides of the upper; and 
 a tensile element extending along at least one course of the plurality of courses, wherein the tensile element comprises a plurality of floated portions, each floated portion extending across multiple wales of the at least one course, and each floated portion incorporated at its opposite ends into the at least one course. 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein each floated portion is incorporated with at least one knit stitch. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein each floated portion is incorporated with at least one tuck stitch. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein each floated portion is incorporated with at least one knit loop. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of floated portions extends past ten wales. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the tensile element extends between the opposite sides of the upper and over a central region of the upper. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of floated portions are exposed on an outer-facing surface of the upper. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the tensile element extends around at least one lace aperture in the upper. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of floated portions each increase stretch resistance in a course-wise direction. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a corresponding length of the plurality of floated portions differs in the knitted component, thereby imparting different stretch-resistance in corresponding portions of the upper. 
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper, comprising:   a knitted component, comprising:   a plurality of courses, comprising:   a first course, and   a second course,   wherein the first course and the second course are integrally knitted and extend at an angle to each other.   
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the first course and the second course increase in spacing from each other along a course-wise direction. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the first course comprises a first tensile course with at least one floated tensile element and the second course comprises a second tensile course with at least one floated tensile element. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein, in the first tensile course, the at least one floated tensile element is incorporated at opposite ends thereof via a knit stitch or a tuck stitch, and wherein, in the second tensile course, the at least one floated tensile element is incorporated at opposite ends thereof via a knit stitch or a tuck stitch. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the first course and the second course comprise part of a plurality of radially-extending courses that extend outward from a common point. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the common point is located outside of one side of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         17 . An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:
 a knitted component comprising a first portion proximate to an ankle collar of the article of footwear, a second portion proximate to a sole portion of the article of footwear, and a joining area transitioning between the first portion and the second portion, the joining area incorporating portions of the first portion and the second portion, and the joining area being a greater distance, relative to the second portion, from the sole portion,   wherein the first portion comprises a first knit structure that comprises a plurality of knitted loops that impart a first degree of stretch; and   wherein the second portion comprises a second knit structure that comprises a plurality of floated portions that extend over an exterior surface of the upper and that impart a second degree of stretch that is less than the first degree of stretch.   
     
     
         18 . The upper of  claim 17 , wherein the first knit structure comprises a series of knitted loops that uninterruptedly extend from the joining area to the ankle collar. 
     
     
         19 . The upper of  claim 17 , wherein the second knit structure comprises a first tuck stitch and a second tuck stitch. 
     
     
         20 . The upper of  claim 19 , wherein the first tuck stitch is positioned adjacent to the joining area and the second tuck stitch is positioned adjacent to the sole portion of the article of footwear.