Abstract: A wearable band formed from two or more pieces of material is disclosed. The wearable band may include a first material having a thinned portion formed on an inner surface and adjacent an end of the first material, and a second material positioned adjacent to the first material. The second material may include a thinned portion formed on an inner surface and adjacent an end of the second material. The wearable band may also include a coupling component configured to couple the first material to the second material. The thinned portion of the first material may be folded onto itself, and the thinned portion of the second material may be folded onto itself.

Abstract: An electronic device such as a cover for a portable device or other electronic equipment may have circuitry mounted in a housing. The housing may be formed from layers of material such as fabric and polymer layers. The fabric may be formed from woven polymer yarn. The fabric may be treated with chemicals to improve stain resistance and wear resistance, may be provided with a polymer backing layer, and may receive molded plastic structures. Patterned areas may be woven into the fabric, may be formed by placing coatings on selected portions of the fabric, or may be formed by embroidering or otherwise locally processing the fabric. The patterned areas may form labels for keyboard keys, logos, key trim patterns, and other features for an electronic device. Patterned areas may have locally enhanced light transmission characteristics and may be backlit.

Abstract: An electronic device such as a cover for a portable device or other electronic equipment may have circuitry mounted in a housing. The housing may be formed from layers of material such as fabric and polymer layers. The fabric may be formed from woven polymer yarn. The fabric may be treated with chemicals to improve stain resistance and wear resistance, may be provided with a polymer backing layer, and may receive molded plastic structures. Patterned areas may be woven into the fabric, may be formed by placing coatings on selected portions of the fabric, or may be formed by embroidering or otherwise locally processing the fabric. The patterned areas may form labels for keyboard keys, logos, key trim patterns, and other features for an electronic device. Patterned areas may have locally enhanced light transmission characteristics and may be backlit.

Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The upper includes a knitted component and, in some configurations, a skin layer secured to the knitted component. The knitted component may have a plurality of protruding areas that extend outward and away from a void within the upper for receiving a foot of a wearer. The protruding areas may include one or both of (a) a first tubular structure and an inlaid strand extending through the first tubular structure and (b) a second tubular structure and yarn sections extending across the second tubular structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include 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 may define a void. A tongue and the knit element may have a common yarn, and the tongue may extend through a throat area of the upper. The tongue may comprise a lateral edge, a medial edge, and a forward portion. At least one of the lateral edge, the medial edge, and the forward portion may be unsecured to the knit element. The tongue may be secured to the knit element at least at one of the lateral edge, the medial edge, and the forward portion of the throat area.

Abstract: Articles of footwear are described that incorporate a knitted component that has an upper and an integral knit tongue. The integral knit tongue is formed of unitary knit construction with the upper and extends through a throat area of the knitted component. The integral knit tongue includes raised elements formed of unitary knit construction with the tongue. Methods of manufacturing a knitted component for an article of footwear may include knitting the upper and the integral knit tongue during a knitting process on a knitting machine.

Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper that includes a knitted component and a sole structure secured to the upper. The knitted component may define a tube formed of unitary knit construction, and a strand may extend through a length of the tube. As another example, the knitted component may have a pair of at least partially coextensive knitted layers formed of unitary knit construction, and a plurality of floating yarns may extend between the knitted layers. In some configurations, the knit type or yarn type may vary in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. Additionally, the knitted component may incorporate a thermoplastic yarn that is fused in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. A flat knitting process or a variety of other knitting processes may be utilized to form the knitted component.

Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper that includes a knitted component and a sole structure secured to the upper. The knitted component may define a tube formed of unitary knit construction, and a strand may extend through a length of the tube. As another example, the knitted component may have a pair of at least partially coextensive knitted layers formed of unitary knit construction, and a plurality of floating yarns may extend between the knitted layers. In some configurations, the knit type or yarn type may vary in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. Additionally, the knitted component may incorporate a thermoplastic yarn that is fused in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. A flat knitting process or a variety of other knitting processes may be utilized to form the knitted component.

Abstract: Articles of footwear may have an upper that includes a knit element and a tongue. The knit element defines a portion of an exterior surface and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot. The tongue is formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element and extends through a throat area of the upper.

Abstract: A wearable band includes a woven material having two or more stretch regions. The different stretch regions can be formed by varying the tension on subsets of the warp threads, the weft threads, or both the warp and weft threads. A system for producing the woven material can include two or more tension control devices operably connected to a processing device. Each tension control device is configured to adjust the amount of tension in a respective subset of threads (e.g., warp threads) in the woven material during a weaving operation. The processing device is configured to select thread tension patterns for the subsets of threads used during the weaving operation. Each thread tension pattern includes tension settings for the subsets of threads, where at least one tension setting in one thread tension pattern differs from the tension settings in the other tension patterns.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the customized selection and distribution of digital music are described herein. In one embodiment, a method of selecting and delivering music to a user includes creating an annotated record of one or more digital music tracks by performing a waveform analysis to determine characteristics of the one or more digital music tracks, associating a plurality of global music factors with the one or more digital music tracks, and associating a plurality of population music factors with the one or more digital music tracks. The method further includes receiving one or more user characteristics, selecting one or more digital music tracks for delivery by matching the one or more user characteristics against information in the annotated record of the one or more digital music tracks, and delivering the one or more digital music tracks to the user.

Abstract: The system and method for non-contact and/or touch-sensitive human machine interface, for use in numerous capacities wherein a lack of physical contact, with control apparatuses or devices is desirable. Electrical near field three-dimensional tracking and gesture control systems are utilized to interpret the location and movement of an operator, or to provide navigation, mapping, avoidance, localization, and the like for robotics applications.

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: A high strength retention loops for a wearable band of an electronic device and method of forming the retention loop. The retention loop of the wearable band may include a bottom layer, a tensile member encircling the bottom layer, and a top layer positioned adjacent to and substantially encircling the bottom layer and the tensile member. A distinct retention loop may include a single piece of folded leather material having an exterior portion, and two interior portions positioned adjacent the outer portion. The distinct retention loop may also include a tensile member positioned between the exterior portion and the two interior portions.

Abstract: An input device, such as a keyboard, includes one or more keys that each includes a keycap operable to move within an aperture of a frame to activate a switch and fabric disposed over the frame and keycap. A first region of the fabric is bonded to the keycap and a second region of the fabric is bonded to the frame. The first region may be an embossed region and the second region may be an unembossed region. The fabric may dampen sound from within the keyboard, such as noise related to movement of the keycap, activation of the switch, and so on. The fabric may also form a barrier that restricts passage of contaminants into the aperture and/or other portions of the input device.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a wearable device including first and second band straps attached to a device body. A buckle mechanism is configured to attach the first band strap to the second band strap and includes a spring bar attached to an end of the first band strap and a buckle loop engaged to the spring bar. A tang is configured to engage a hole formed in the second band strap to secure the first band strap to the second band strap. The tang defines an aperture that receives the spring bar and is configured to pivot about an offset axis that is offset with respect to an axis of the bar. As the tang is rotated, a restoring force biases the tang toward the buckle loop.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes first and second midsole layers and first and second outsole layers. The second midsole layer defines a plurality of bores. A first outsole layer is translucent. A second outsole layer includes a plurality of non-contiguous abrasion-resistant members that correspond in shape and size to one or more of the bores in the second midsole layer.

Abstract: Material scraps can be collected and resized. The resized scrap can be distributed to create a recovered material layer, which layer (with or without one or more carrier layers and/or additional elements) can then be subjected to heat and/or pressure so as to create a pliable composite panel. That pliable composite panel, or a portion thereof, may then be used to create an upper shell or another article.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper, a sole attached to the upper, and an impact absorber attached to the upper at least along a midfoot region of the upper and capable of absorbing a portion of a lateral impact when the impact absorber is moved into contact with a top surface of the sole. The impact absorber is be integrally formed with the sole and has a width that varies along a length of the impact absorber. The width of the impact absorber decreases in a forefoot region and a heel region. The upper rolls to contact the top surface of the sole upon lateral impact. The sole and the upper may be attached asymmetrically.

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.