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 may include an upper with a knitted element formed through a flat knitting process. In one configuration, the knitted element has an area with a first layer and a second layer at least partially coextensive with the first layer. The first layer is formed of unitary construction with the second layer, and the second layer is joined to the first layer at opposite sides of the second layer. In another configuration, a knitted element for footwear includes a foot-receiving portion and one or more straps formed of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion. The foot-receiving portion defines a void for receiving the foot, and the strap(s) extend outward from sides of the foot-receiving portion.

Abstract: An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction. The first area is formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area is formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying textures to a surface of the textile element. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element.

Abstract: Flat knitting allows production of textile structures (e.g., for use in footwear uppers) of a final desired shape such that textile cutting steps can be avoided. Flat knitted elements also can be formed directly in desired three dimensional shapes, which can help avoid the need to use additional support structures (e.g., in footwear construction). By selectively placing multiple different yarns and/or stitch patterns at multiple different locations in the overall structure during the knitting process, flat knitted products may have multiple different physical properties (e.g., different stretchability, different moisture management capabilities, etc.) at multiple different locations or zones within a single, unitary construction (e.g., different properties at different zones or locations within a single footwear structure). Additionally, flat knitting can be used to produce pockets, tunnels, or other layered structures in the final product.

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: Flat knitting allows production of textile structures (e.g., for use in footwear uppers) of a final desired shape such that textile cutting steps can be avoided. Flat knitted elements also can be formed directly in desired three dimensional shapes, which can help avoid the need to use additional support structures (e.g., in footwear construction). By selectively placing multiple different yarns and/or stitch patterns at multiple different locations in the overall structure during the knitting process, flat knitted products may have multiple different physical properties (e.g., different stretchability, different moisture management capabilities, etc.) at multiple different locations or zones within a single, unitary construction (e.g., different properties at different zones or locations within a single footwear structure). Additionally, flat knitting can be used to produce pockets, tunnels, or other layered structures in the final product.

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: 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: A method of manufacturing a textured element may include (a) collecting a plurality of filaments upon a textured surface to form a non-woven textile and (b) separating the non-woven textile from the textured surface. Another method of manufacturing a textured element may include depositing a plurality of thermoplastic polymer filaments upon a first surface of a polymer layer to (a) form a non-woven textile and (b) bond the filaments to the polymer layer. A textured surface may then be separated from a second surface of the polymer layer, the second surface being opposite the first surface, and the second surface having a texture from the textured surface.

Abstract: A sport ball may include a casing and a bladder. The casing may form at least a portion of an exterior surface of the ball. The bladder may be located within the casing and formed from a plurality of polymer bladder elements joined along abutting edges to form a sealed and valveless structure that encloses a pressurized gas. In some configurations, the bladder may be at least partially formed from an ether-based thermoplastic polyurethane material.

Abstract: A yarn or thread may include a plurality of substantially aligned filaments, with at least ninety-five percent of a material of the filaments being a thermoplastic polymer material. Various woven textiles and knitted textiles may be formed from the yarn or thread. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be thermal bonded to other elements to form seams. A strand that is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material may extend through the seam, and the strand may be thermal bonded at the seam. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be shaped or molded, incorporated into products, and recycled to form other products.

Abstract: A yarn or thread may include a plurality of substantially aligned filaments, with at least ninety-five percent of a material of the filaments being a thermoplastic polymer material. Various woven textiles and knitted textiles may be formed from the yarn or thread. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be thermal bonded to other elements to form seams. A strand that is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material may extend through the seam, and the strand may be thermal bonded at the seam. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be shaped or molded, incorporated into products, and recycled to form other products.

Abstract: A yarn or thread may include a plurality of substantially aligned filaments, with at least ninety-five percent of a material of the filaments being a thermoplastic polymer material. Various woven textiles and knitted textiles may be formed from the yarn or thread. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be thermal bonded to other elements to form seams. A strand that is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material may extend through the seam, and the strand may be thermal bonded at the seam. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be shaped or molded, incorporated into products, and recycled to form other products.

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: 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: Woven products using combined materials are provided. An intermittent weaving splicer terminates and combines materials having different functional and/or aesthetic properties to create woven products that reflect the different properties of the combined material. Further, a dynamic tensioner variably adjusts tension on the combined materials based on the different properties of the combined material.

Abstract: Different weaving materials, apparatuses, and methods are provided for producing woven textiles having different functional and aesthetic characteristics as compared to woven textiles produced using conventional methods. The different weaving materials comprise reactive materials or combined materials produced by an intermittent splicer. The different apparatuses include finishing devices for introducing organically-shaped lateral edges and interior apertures, and three-dimensional effectors for introducing three-dimensional aspects into a product as it is being woven. Weaving methods include simultaneously weaving fine denier panels and coarse denier panels.

Abstract: Different weaving materials, apparatuses, and methods are provided for producing woven textiles having different functional and aesthetic characteristics as compared to woven textiles produced using conventional methods. The different weaving materials comprise reactive materials or combined materials produced by an intermittent splicer. The different apparatuses include finishing devices for introducing organically-shaped lateral edges and interior apertures, and three-dimensional effectors for introducing three-dimensional aspects into a product as it is being woven. Weaving methods include simultaneously weaving fine denier panels and coarse denier panels.

Abstract: Different weaving materials, apparatuses, and methods are provided for producing woven textiles having different functional and aesthetic characteristics as compared to woven textiles produced using conventional methods. The different weaving materials comprise reactive materials or combined materials produced by an intermittent splicer. The different apparatuses include finishing devices for introducing organically-shaped lateral edges and interior apertures, and three-dimensional effectors for introducing three-dimensional aspects into a product as it is being woven. Weaving methods include simultaneously weaving fine denier panels and coarse denier panels.

Abstract: A dynamic finishing device that is able to finish one side of a product independently of a second side of the product while the product is being woven is provided. The sides may be finished in a non-linear fashion by the dynamic finishing device. Additionally, one or more finishing devices can be dynamically positioned in an interior portion of the woven product as it is being woven. Once positioned, the finishing devices may create apertures, pockets, and/or tunnels in the woven product and finish the edges of these creations. Finishing in the interior portions of the woven product occurs in the direction of the warp and in the direction of the weft.