Abstract: The present disclosure, in one aspect, provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knitted component. The knitted component may include a knit element, a first tensile strand with an exposed first end, and a second tensile strand with an exposed second end. The first tensile strand may be at least partially inlaid within the knit element, the second tensile strand may be at least partially inlaid within the knit element, and the exposed first end of the first tensile element may be secured to the exposed second end of the second tensile element.

Abstract: An upper-torso garment includes a tubular-jacquard knit structure within a chest-covering portion. The tubular-jacquard knit structure includes interlocked courses formed by each front-stitch course intermittently interlocking with a back-stitch course. The tubular-jacquard knit structure is divided into a plurality of zones across the chest-covering portion, and the zones may include different versions of the tubular-jacquard knit structure based on how front-stitch courses interlock with back-stitch courses.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine includes a needle-holding cylinder having plurality of longitudinal grooves arranged around central axis, and plurality of needles, each being housed in longitudinal groove. Drive chain for each needle is inserted into each groove and operatively placed between needle and actuating cams. Drive chain includes sub-needle slidingly arranged in groove and having a butt. Butt is radially movable between operating position, extracted to engage with respective first paths and cause activation of needle and stitch formation, and non-operating position, retracted so as not to engage with first paths. A selector is arranged under sub-needle, and punch is arranged between sub-needle and selector. An activating element is slidingly arranged in groove between sub-needle and selector, can be longitudinally moved with respect to punch and sub-needle, and can be operatively engaged with sub-needle to switch butt of sub-needle into and retain it in operating position.

Abstract: A knitted article having a first layer and a second layer is described. The first layer is formed from a first yarn having a first shrinkage rate and the second layer is formed by a second yarn having a second shrinkage rate. The shrinkage rate of the first yarn is greater than the shrinkage rate of the second yarn when subjected to heat. Upon heat exposure, the second layer forms a raised structure. The raised structures have a length that is generally perpendicular to the lateral-to-medial course-wise direction of the knitted article. Methods of forming raised structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine includes a needle-holding cylinder having plurality of longitudinal grooves housing plurality of needles, at least one yarn feed operatively associated to needles, actuating cams arranged around and movable relative to cylinder, drive chain for each needle operatively placed between needle and actuating cams. Drive chain includes: sub-needle, selector having butt which can be engaged with selector paths, selecting device acting, punch equipped with butt which can be engaged with punch paths. Punch paths include a tuck stitch ascent and drop stitch ascent for each yarn feed. Inlet of drop stitch ascent circumferentially precedes inlet of tuck stitch ascent. Selector paths include a single track defining first and second ascents placed in succession for each yarn feed. First ascent circumferentially precedes second and is operatively associated to drop stitch ascent and second ascent is operatively associated to tuck stitch ascent.

Abstract: An upper may include a knitted component having a first surface and a second surface. The knitted component may include at least one integrally knitted cushion region located on the second surface. The cushion region may include a plurality of non-planar structures that project away from the second surface of the knitted component by at least 1 mm, and the cushion region may be located in a rearfoot region of the upper.

Abstract: A knitting yarn used for forming a knitted product without using any knitting tools, such as crochet hooks or knitting needles. The knitting yarn includes a core thread having a length dimension and a plurality of loops affixed to the core thread, at least a first thread and at least a second thread having different structural and/or physical properties than each other; and the loops of the knitting yarn are made of the first thread, and the core thread is made of the second thread.

Abstract: A three-dimensional, 3D, knitted fabric is knitted by a double-bed weft-knitting machine. The knitted fabric comprises a top layer, a bottom layer, and an intermediate layer, wherein the top layer and the bottom layer are joined together by cross-yarns constituting the intermediate layer, and wherein at least the top layer comprises two-folded cut-resistant yarns.

Abstract: A method of making an article of footwear with an upper including a ribbon structure is disclosed. The method includes laying down ribbon elements in straight and winding sections. The method includes stitching or otherwise attaching the ribbon elements to a backing layer. The method also includes embroidering a periphery of the ribbon structure to tack down any raised portions of the ribbon at the periphery. The method also includes inserting a lace through loops in the ribbon structure.

Abstract: A composite structure may include a knit component and a bonded component. The knit component has a first surface and an opposite second surface, and the knit component includes a fusible yarn and a non-fusible yarn that form a knitted structure. The fusible yarn is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material, and the fusible yarn is located on at least the first surface. The bonded component is positioned adjacent to the first surface, and the bonded component is thermal bonded to the first surface with the thermoplastic polymer material of the fusible yarn.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are composite materials suitable for use in wearable technology and other similar applications. The composite includes a fabric (12, 20, 30, 40) and a wire (11, 22, 32, 41, 1100, 1210) hidden within the fabric (12, 20, 30, 40) in such a way that the fabric (12, 20, 30, 40) protects the wire (11, 22, 32, 41, 1100, 1210) from mechanical stresses. In addition, the wire (11, 22, 32, 41, 1100, 1210) may comprise a yarn material that has a core of an elastic polymeric material surrounded by a wire. Processes to make these materials are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A shoe upper that includes a tubular knitted element. The tubular knitted element of the shoe upper includes an integrally-formed aperture. The aperture is formed by casting-off or binding-off at least one stitch, and the aperture includes at least a first width. The tubular knitted element includes an opening on at least one end of the tubular knitted element.

Abstract: A knit fabric is created using on a flatbed knitting machine to create a whole garment having an inner surface and an outer surface. The knit fabric includes a support matrix comprised of base yarns with reflective yarns supported on the support matrix. The knit fabric comprises a jacquard knit structure formed from the base yarns and the reflective yarns, wherein elongate loops of the reflective yarns are outwardly exposed from the outer surface of the knit fabric. The inner surface of the knit fabric includes outwardly exposed floats of the reflective yarns.

Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing knitted shoe uppers. An article of fully finished three-dimensionally weft knitted footwear is manufactured through a knitting process which can be performed by an automated V-bed flat knitting machine. During the knitting process, a plurality of knitted members are knitted into shape sequentially and connected to one another through knitted live hinges, each member being a ply, a layer, a layer portion or an appendage. The knitting machine manipulates the knitted members into their destined places as in the final product without cutting and sewing, thereby forming a seamless unitary textile construction. The process creates a seamless, full gauge, dimensionally stable footwear upper, as a unitary textile construction with an integrated anatomically appropriate heel. The entire upper, including the closure element of the upper, may be completed exclusively by the knitting machine, ready for the following shoe making process.

Abstract: An article of footwear provides improved stability and support by incorporating a strap to overlay over an instep area of an upper component that is comprised of a knitted material. The strap includes engagement members on an underside of the strap that engage ribbing structures that are part of the knitted material on an outer surface of the instep area. By engaging with the ribbing structures, the strap provides improved stability and support.

Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing knitted shoe uppers. An article of fully finished three-dimensionally weft knitted footwear is manufactured through a knitting process which can be performed by an automated V-bed flat knitting machine. The knitting process includes manipulating one or more double-knit stitch types and joining the stitches exclusively in the knitting process to create a seamless upper to fit a foot. A resulting upper advantageously has no sewn seams and requires no manual post process to cut or sew the upper to create the dimensional shape. The process creates a seamless, full gauge, dimensionally stable footwear upper, as a unitary textile construction with an integrated anatomically appropriate heel. The entire upper, including the closure element of the upper, may be completed exclusively by the knitting machine, ready for the following shoe making process.

Abstract: Articles for footwear, uppers for articles of footwear, and methods for fabricating articles of footwear are provided. In one example, an upper for an article of footwear includes a knitted component. The knitted component includes a plurality of knitted cushioning structures that define a cushioning region.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for knitting three-dimensional shoe blanks, comprising: knitting a heel and lateral portion; continuing knitting a rear sole portion; continuing knitting a front sole portion; continuing knitting a toe cap portion; and continuing knitting a tongue portion. When the knitting comes to the first connecting selvage edges at the two sides of the rear sole portion, the first connecting selvage edges can be knitted together with the lateral live stitches in the heel and lateral portion, so that the heel and lateral portion can be combined with the rear sole portion. Also, when the knitting comes to the second connecting selvage edges at the two sides of the toe cap portion, the second connecting selvage edges can be knitted together with the latitudinal live stitches in the front sole portion, so that the toe cap portion can be combined with the front sole portion.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses a method of whole garment knitting in horizontal direction along the back center, and belongs to the technical field of knitted fabrics. The method can be used for directly knitting an integrally shaped left piece and right piece, wherein a sleeve, a front body, a back body, a front placket, a lapel and a lapel collar of the left piece or the right piece are all integrally shaped, and can be directly sewn at back center lines and collar center lines through a looper to form a fully-shaped upper garment including plackets and a collar portion. According to the solution, the knitting process is simple, manual or single yarn lifting sewing is not needed, and the garment knitting efficiency is improved.

Abstract: A composite structure may include a knit component and a bonded component. The knit component has a first surface and an opposite second surface, and the knit component includes a fusible yarn and a non-fusible yarn that form a knitted structure. The fusible yarn is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material, and the fusible yarn is located on at least the first surface. The bonded component is positioned adjacent to the first surface, and the bonded component is thermal bonded to the first surface with the thermoplastic polymer material of the fusible yarn.