Article Of Footwear Incorporating A Knitted Component With Monofilament Areas

Abstract

An article of footwear including an upper incorporating a knitted component having one or more monofilament areas is described. Monofilament areas are formed by knitting with a monofilament strand. The monofilament areas are formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component. An inlaid tensile element can extend through the knitted component, including portions of the monofilament areas.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper including a knitted component comprising:
 a first portion of the knitted component formed by a first yarn, the first yarn being a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn;   at least one monofilament area disposed on the knitted component, the at least one monofilament area being formed by a monofilament strand;   wherein the at least one monofilament area is formed of unitary knit construction with the first portion of the knitted component such that the knitted component is a one-piece element.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one course of the first yarn is substantially continuous with at least one course of the monofilament strand. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the knitted component includes a plurality of monofilament areas, each monofilament area being formed by the monofilament strand. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of monofilament areas comprise a medial monofilament portion disposed on a medial side of the upper and a lateral monofilament portion disposed on a lateral side of the upper. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear according to  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of monofilament areas further comprises a forefoot monofilament portion disposed in a forefoot region of the upper. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the medial monofilament portion and the lateral monofilament portion is substantially continuous with the forefoot monofilament portion. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the medial monofilament portion and the lateral monofilament portion is discontinuous with the forefoot monofilament portion. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the monofilament area is substantially surrounded by the first portion of the knitted component. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the first portion of the knitted component surrounding the monofilament area is configured to place the monofilament area under tension. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising an inlaid tensile element extending through at least one of the first portion and the monofilament area. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the inlaid tensile element extends through both the first portion of the knitted component and the monofilament area. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the monofilament area comprises two knit layers formed of unitary knit construction, the two knit layers being overlapping and at least partially coextensive with each other. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear according to  claim 12 , wherein a first knit layer of the monofilament area is associated with an exterior surface of the upper and a second knit layer of the monofilament area is associated with an interior surface of the upper. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear according to  claim 13 , wherein the first knit layer and the second knit layer are both formed by a monofilament strand. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear according to  claim 13 , wherein the first knit layer is formed by the monofilament strand; and
 wherein the second knit layer is formed by the first yarn.   
     
     
         16 . An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper including a knitted component comprising:
 a knit element including a first yarn, the knit element defining a portion of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot, the first yarn being a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn; and   at least one monofilament area comprised of two knit layers, the two knit layers being overlapping and at least partially coextensive with each other, each knit layer including a monofilament strand;   wherein the at least one monofilament area is formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element such that the knitted component is a one-piece element.   
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear according to  claim 16 , wherein the knitted component includes a plurality of monofilament areas. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear according to  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of monofilament areas includes at least one monofilament area of a first type and at least one monofilament area of a second type. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear according to  claim 18 , wherein the first type of monofilament area includes a first monofilament strand associated with the exterior surface of the upper and a second monofilament strand associated with the interior surface of the upper. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear according to  claim 18 , wherein the second type of monofilament area includes a first monofilament strand associated with the exterior surface of the upper and a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn associated with the interior surface of the upper. 
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear according to  claim 20 , wherein the natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn of the second type of monofilament area is the first yarn. 
     
     
         22 . The article of footwear according to  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of monofilament areas comprise a medial monofilament portion disposed on a medial side of the upper and a lateral monofilament portion disposed on a lateral side of the upper. 
     
     
         23 . The article of footwear according to  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of monofilament areas further includes at least one of a forefoot monofilament portion disposed in a forefoot region of the upper and a heel forefoot monofilament portion disposed in a heel region of the upper. 
     
     
         24 . The article of footwear according to  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of monofilament areas are continuous between two or more of the plurality of monofilament areas. 
     
     
         25 . The article of footwear according to  claim 16 , wherein a first knit layer of the monofilament area is associated with the exterior surface of the upper and a second knit layer of the monofilament area is associated with the interior surface of the upper. 
     
     
         26 . The article of footwear according to  claim 25 , wherein the first knit layer includes the monofilament strand. 
     
     
         27 . The article of footwear according to  claim 25 , wherein the second knit layer includes one of a monofilament strand and a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn. 
     
     
         28 . The article of footwear according to  claim 16 , further comprising an inlaid tensile element extending through at least one of the knit element and the monofilament area. 
     
     
         29 . The article of footwear according to  claim 28 , wherein the inlaid tensile element extends through both the knit element and the monofilament area of the knitted component. 
     
     
         30 . An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper including a knitted component comprising:
 a first portion of the knitted component formed by a first yarn, the first yarn being a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn;   a second portion of the knitted component formed by a monofilament strand, wherein second portion is formed of unitary knit construction with the first portion such that the knitted component is a one-piece element; and   an inlaid tensile element extending through the knitted component, including at least a portion of the first portion and a portion of the second portion.   
     
     
         31 . The article of footwear according to  claim 30 , wherein the first portion comprises at least a portion of an interior surface of the upper and wherein the second portion comprises at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper. 
     
     
         32 . The article of footwear according to  claim 30 , wherein the first portion comprises a majority of the knitted component; and
 wherein the first portion surrounds the second portion.   
     
     
         33 . The article of footwear according to  claim 30 , wherein the knitted component further comprises a knit element and at least one monofilament area; and
 wherein the knit element includes the first portion; and   wherein the at least one monofilament area includes the second portion.   
     
     
         34 . The article of footwear according to  claim 33 , wherein the knitted component comprises a plurality of monofilament areas. 
     
     
         35 . The article of footwear according to  claim 34 , wherein the plurality of monofilament areas are disposed on at least two of a medial side of the upper, a lateral side of the upper, a forefoot portion of the upper, and a heel portion of the upper. 
     
     
         36 . The article of footwear according to  claim 34 , wherein the plurality of monofilament areas are substantially continuous with each other across the upper. 
     
     
         37 . The article of footwear according to  claim 34 , wherein the plurality of monofilament areas comprises different types of monofilament areas, including:
 a first type of monofilament area comprising two knit layers formed by the monofilament strand, the two knit layers being partially co-extensive and overlapping; and   a second type of monofilament area comprising a first knit layer formed by the monofilament strand and a second knit layer formed by the first yarn, the first knit layer and the second knit layer being partially co-extensive and overlapping.   
     
     
         38 . The article of footwear according to  claim 37 , wherein at least one of the knit layers of the first type of monofilament area and the second type of monofilament area include the same monofilament strand.