Abstract: An automated unspooling mechanism capable of dispensing of knitting material strands in a dynamically-controlled tension on a knitting machine. An unspooling device is configured to sense the tension of a strand fed to the knitting machine, and responsively adjust the strand deployment speed to avoid too little or too much strand dispensing without interrupting the knitting process. The unspooling device includes a variable motor drive that can rotate the strand package in various speeds, and a spring arm trigger that can sense the current tension of the dispensed material. The spring arm trigger can vary its arm position based on the sensed tension. The arm position is then processed and converted to a signal to vary the motor speed. Therefore, the deployment speed of the strands can be dynamically controlled based on a sensed tension of feeding the strand.

Abstract: A flat-knitted three-dimensional fabric with an internal support structure, and the fabric is consisted of an upper surface layer, a lower surface layer, and a support structure yarn in a middle, wherein the upper surface layer and the lower surface layer comprise alternate-knitted single-sided stitches and fully-knitted single-sided stitches; the upper surface layer and the lower surface layer are connected by means of tuck knitting of the support structure yarn in the middle to form the integrally formed three-dimensional fabric with an internal support structure; and the alternate-knitted single-sided stitches are correspond to tuck loops formed by the support structure yarn and are used to lock the tuck loops formed by the support structure yarn in the middle, such that the support structure yarn will not puncture the surfaces of the fabric when the fabric is pressed.

Abstract: A customized, flat-knit multi-zonal element for a shoe upper and a method of producing such an element that allows for continuous knitting while controlling positioning of individual threads. One or more carriages may move continuously along the needle bed while threads are provided to the needles for a complete stroke. Knit elements may include multiple zones with differing properties. Threads may alter positions within knit structures from zone to zone. A knit element may include a first zone in a first plane that includes at least two merged threads to form a merged knit structure and a second zone in a second plane connected to the first zone seamlessly. Some knit structures may be positioned throughout the knit element such that they control a position of zones relative to each other.

Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear may include a knitted component that includes a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone. Each of the first zone, the second zone, and the third zone may extend toward a collar area of the upper at least partially in a heel area of the upper. The second zone is located between the first zone and the third zone such that the second zone is located in a substantially central portion of the heel area. The second zone may include an elasticity that is greater than an elasticity of the first zone and also greater than an elasticity of the third zone.

Abstract: A data storage unit configured to store a sewing order and a coordinate data of a needle location in association with each other; a coordinate data adding unit configured to create the coordinate data of a new needle location on a line connecting three or more continuous needle locations in a sewing order stored in the data storage unit in accordance with a distance from the needle locations located at both ends of the line to the needle location located at an inside of the both ends when the three or more continuous needle locations are on the line; and an added coordinate data creating unit configured to create a new coordinate data by adding independent original values to the X-coordinate value or the Y-coordinate value in each of the coordinate data are provided.

Abstract: An upper for a shoe and a shoe including an upper and a sole that is connected to the upper may be provided. In one implementation, an upper for a shoe may be provided, the shoe including the upper and a sole connected to a lower edge of the upper via injection molding. The upper may include a first knitted area having a first stitch density, wherein a portion of the first knitted area may be located at the lower edge of the upper and may include a first meltable material having a first melting temperature. The first meltable material may be melted prior to or during the connection of the sole to the upper and may limit the flow of molding material through a melted area of the upper.

Abstract: An upper may include a knitted component having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The knitted component may include at least one integrally knitted cushion region located on the interior surface in the rearfoot region. The cushion region may include a plurality of tubular rib structures that project away from the second surface of the knitted component, and within the rearfoot region, the plurality of tubular rib structures may extend vertically and parallel to a heel centerline of the upper.

Abstract: In one aspect, an upper for an article of footwear may include a knit element, a collar area configured to form an ankle opening, and a cuff in the collar area. The cuff may be at least partially formed by the knit element and may include a ribbed knit structure of the knit element. In another aspect, an upper for an article of footwear may include a knit element with a first area, the first area including a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side may be formed of at least 30% more material than the second side such that the first area is configured to curve convexly away from the first side.

Abstract: An upper-torso garment includes a chest-covering portion having a knit textile region, which includes a plurality of courses fully spanning a dome-shaped portion. In addition, the knit textile region includes a plurality of partial-length courses partially spanning the dome-shaped portion.

Abstract: A knitted textile having a first layer including a first yarn with a thermoplastic composition integrally formed with a second layer including a second yarn, the first yarn forming an array of knitted patterns defining voids through the first layer to the second layer. The first layer may be heat treated to form a film. Treatment of the first layer may change zonal and directional tensile properties of the knitted textile. The Poisson's ratio of the knitted textile may be greater than or equal to zero in a first axis and/or a second axis, before and/or after treatment. Articles of apparel, including articles of footwear and garments incorporating the knitted textile, and methods of forming the knitted textiles and articles are disclosed.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine structure comprises knitting needles and sinkers. Each knitting needle is controlled to move on a first half knitting track or a second half knitting track. A retracting time point of the first half knitting track is later than that of the second half knitting track. One side of the sinker facing the knitting needle is formed with an inclined plane. When the knitting needle is used for knitting, a surface yarn and a bottom yarn are fed therein. When the knitting needle moves on the first half knitting track, a standard plating is knitted without changing the position of the surface yarn. When the knitting needle moves on the second half knitting track, the surface yarn leans against the inclined plane of the sinker transitorily, the position of the surface yarn is changed relatively to the bottom yarn, and an interchanged plating is knitted.

Abstract: An ergonomic seam ripper includes: (a) an elongated haft with a bulged profile having a larger cross-section about its medial portion than cross-section at a palm end of the haft, the cross-section about the medial portion of the haft also being larger than a cross-section at a thumb grip end of the haft, wherein the palm end of the haft has an outer surface of generally planar structure and the haft is further characterized by a mounting portion at the thumb grip end of the haft; (b) a gripping member secured to the mounting portion of the haft made of a resilient rubbery material with a plurality of gripping ribs extending thereabout, wherein the gripping ribs are spread relatively close together at an upper portion thereof and relatively further apart at a lower portion thereof; and (c) a U-shaped cutting blade with a tapered projection and balled projection, as well as a shaft, wherein the shaft of the blade is secured to the haft such that the tapered projection is aligned with the upper portion of the g

Abstract: In one aspect of the disclosure, a knitted component for use in an article of footwear may include a first layer with a multi-bed first area having a first surface and an opposite facing second surface. The knitted component may include a second layer with a second area overlapping the first area. The second area may have a first surface and an opposite facing second surface. The knitted component may include a plurality of interlayer knit stitches interlooping at least one yarn of the first layer with at least one yarn of the second layer at an interface between the second surfaces of the first and second areas. The interior surfaces of the first area and the second area may define at least part of a freely separable area between the first and second areas.

Abstract: The subject matter of this disclosure includes knit textiles, such as knitted components, that have one or more amounts of thermal resistance. In addition, this disclosure describes a knit textile panel having varied amounts of thermal properties among different zones or regions of the knit textile panel.

Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear, the upper including a base layer defining a least a portion of the upper and polymer threads stitched to the base layer. The polymer threads may include a core composed of a first material and a coating composed of a second material, where the melting point of the first material is higher than the melting point of the second material. The polymer threads may be bonded to the base layer by the coating of the polymer threads. The polymer threads may include one or more polymer thread sets stitched in pattern(s) on area(s) of an outer surface of the base layer to provide targeted characteristics to area(s) on the upper. In some embodiments, the polymer threads may be bonded to the base layer with heat and/or pressure.

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 stitch forming element for a stitch-forming textile machine, wherein the textile machine includes a stitch-forming element carrier with at least one guide channel for guiding at least one stitch-forming element. The stitch-forming element includes a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis and a first recess with a lower edge, an upper edge, an open first end and a closed second end for stitch formation. The stitch-forming element further includes a second recess with a lower edge, an upper edge, an open first end and a closed second end for cleaning the at least one guide channel. The stitch-forming textile machine includes a stitch-forming element carrier with at least one guide channel, and at least one such stitching element. The least one stitch-forming element with its second recess is guided in the at least one guide channel.

Abstract: Novel and innovative fabrics in which at least two types of yarn are knit together in an interlock jersey knit, as well as methods of manufacturing these interlock jersey knit fabrics and garments (such as dresses and T-shirts) made from such interlock jersey knit fabrics.

Abstract: A method may include one or more of the following steps: knitting a first knit layer and a second knit layer on a knitting machine, where the first knit layer and the second knit layer each include a plurality of intermeshed loops, and where at least one loop of the first knit layer is intermeshed with at least one loop of the second knit layer; inlaying an inlaid strand between the first knit layer and the second knit layer during the knitting of the first knit layer and the second knit layer, where the inlaid strand includes a thermoplastic material having a melting point; and applying heat to at least a portion of the thermoplastic material of the inlaid strand such that the portion of the thermoplastic material rises to a temperature at or above the melting point.

Abstract: Provided is a three-dimensional elastic circular knitted fabric combining light weight, heat retention, stretchability, and press shrinkage resistance. This three-dimensional elastic circular knitted fabric is obtained by connecting two front/back ground structures with a connecting yarn of only a tuck structure, wherein the three-dimensional elastic circular knitted fabric is characterized in that: the two front/back ground structures is solely constituted by non-elastic fiber; the connecting yarn is solely constituted by elastic fiber; the elastic fiber is interwoven at 2-15 courses/1 repeat; the loop density of the knitted fabric is 40-130 courses/inch, and 35-80 wells/inch; the filling rate is 5.0-25.0%; the thermal retention rate is 20.0% or higher; and the rate of elongation at a constant 22.1-N load is 50-200% in the warp direction and 150-300% in the weft direction.