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

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: The present embodiments provide a knitted component including a knitted base portion located between a first non-planar structure and a second non-planar structure. The knitted base portion may include a first area located adjacent to the first non-planar structure, and the first area may include at least one course of a first base yarn. The knitted base portion may include a second area located adjacent to the second non-planar structure, and the second area may include at least one course of a second base yarn. The first base yarn may have a first visual property and the second base yarn may have a second visual property different from the first visual property.

Abstract: A knitting machine may include a needle bed and a carriage that is movable along the needle bed. The carriage may be configured to engage at least one feeder to move a dispensing area of the feeder along the needle bed while dispensing a yarn, where the carriage includes an interface for providing power to an auxiliary component.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an article, which may be an upper for an article of footwear in some embodiments. The article may include a knitted component with a first zone and a second zone adjacent to the first zone. The knitted component may include a tab element extending from the first zone, where the tab element and the first zone include a common yarn. The first zone may include a first elasticity and the second zone may include a second elasticity, where the first elasticity is less than the second elasticity.

Abstract: A knitted component may include a knit element formed with a plurality of courses and a plurality of wales, where the plurality of courses include a first course and the plurality of wales include a first wale and a second wale. A set of inlaid strands including at least a first inlaid strand and a second inlaid strand may be included. A first area and a second area may be included, where in the first area, each inlaid strand of the set of inlaid strands extends through at least a portion of the first course, and where in the second area, the first inlaid strand extends through the first wale and the second inlaid strand extends through the second wale.

Abstract: A method may include knitting a first portion of a knitted component on a first region of a knitting machine, knitting a second portion of the knitted component on a second region of the knitting machine, moving the first portion of the knitted component towards the second portion of the knitted component by moving a first needle bed of the knitting machine relative to a second needle bed of the knitting machine, and knitting at least one course with the knitting machine that connects the first portion of the knitted component to the second portion of the knitted component.

Abstract: A variable thickness knitted component including a first region having a spacer knit construction, the first region having a first thickness, and a second region having the spacer knit construction, the second region having a second thickness different than the first thickness. The knitted component may be an integral one-piece element.

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.

Abstract: A knitting machine may include a needle bed and a carriage that is movable along the needle bed. The carriage may be configured to engage at least one feeder to move a dispensing area of the feeder along the needle bed while dispensing a yarn, where the carriage includes an interface for providing power to an auxiliary component.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a textile component. The textile component of the upper includes a textile element and a tensile element. The tensile element defines a first segment disposed on a first side of the upper. The first segment of the tensile element is configured to attach the securement device to the textile element on the first side of the upper. The tensile element further includes a second segment that is disposed proximate the lower portion of the upper on the second side. The second segment is fixed relative to the lower portion of the upper on the second side. The tensile element further includes an intermediate segment that extends continuously from the first segment, across the heel region, to the second segment.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a textile component. The textile component of the upper includes a textile element and a tensile element. The tensile element defines a first segment disposed on a first side of the upper. The first segment of the tensile element is configured to attach the securement device to the textile element on the first side of the upper. The tensile element further includes a second segment that is disposed proximate the lower portion of the upper on the second side. The second segment is fixed relative to the lower portion of the upper on the second side. The tensile element further includes an intermediate segment that extends continuously from the first segment, across the heel region, to the second segment.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knitted component with a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, the interior surface defining a void. The knitted component may further include a tongue, where the tongue extends through a throat area of the upper, and where the tongue comprises a lateral edge and a medial edge. The knitted component may further include at least one raised element extending a height above the exterior surface of the knit element and extending a length along at least one of the lateral edge and the medial edge of the tongue, where the tongue and the at least one raised element have a common yarn.

Abstract: A knitted component may include a ridge structure and a channel structure. The ridge structure is biased to curl about a first axis in a first direction toward a compacted position. The channel structure is biased to curl about a second axis in a second direction toward a compacted position. The first direction is opposite the second direction. Courses of the ridge structure extend in the same direction as the first axis. Courses of the channel structure extend in the same direction as the second axis.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knitted component with a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, the interior surface defining a void. The knitted component may further include a tongue, where the tongue extends through a throat area of the upper, and where the tongue comprises a lateral edge and a medial edge. The knitted component may further include at least one raised element extending a height above the exterior surface of the knit element and extending a length along at least one of the lateral edge and the medial edge of the tongue, where the tongue and the at least one raised element have a common yarn.

Abstract: A knitted component formed of unitary knit construction includes a ridge structure and a channel structure. The ridge structure is biased to curl about a first axis in a first direction toward a compacted position. The channel structure is biased to curl about a second axis in a second direction toward a compacted position. The first direction is opposite the second direction. Courses of the ridge structure extend in the same direction as the first axis. Courses of the channel structure extend in the same direction as the second axis.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an article. The article may include a first tubular rib structure and a second tubular rib structure. A webbed area may be located between the first tubular rib structure and the second tubular rib structure. The webbed area may have a first portion with a first width and a second portion with a second width, where the first width may be larger than the second width. The webbed area may be at least partially formed from a first yarn.

Abstract: A knitting machine may include a sinker configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The knitting machine may have a sinker actuator system having a first configuration and a second configuration. The sinker actuator system, in the first configuration, may be configured to actuate the sinker from the open position toward the closed position. The sinker may be configured to change the sinker actuator system from the first configuration to the second configuration when the sinker receives an input force above a predetermined threshold in the movement from the open position toward the closed position. The sinker actuator system, in the second configuration, may allow the sinker to move away from the closed position toward the open position.

Abstract: An article of footwear including an upper incorporating a knitted component having color-shifting properties is provided. Color-shift properties can be generated by one or more lenticular knit structures disposed across the upper of the article of footwear. The lenticular knit structures are formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component. The lenticular knit structures have portions formed with different yarns. The different yarns on the portions of the lenticular knit structures generate a visual effect that changes the color of the article of footwear depending on the viewing angle.

Abstract: An article of footwear including an upper incorporating a knitted component having color-shifting properties is provided. Color-shift properties can be generated by one or more lenticular knit structures disposed across the upper of the article of footwear. The lenticular knit structures are formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component. The lenticular knit structures have portions formed with different yarns. The different yarns on the portions of the lenticular knit structures generate a visual effect that changes the color of the article of footwear depending on the viewing angle.