Article of footwear incorporating a knitted component having floated portions

Abstract

An article of footwear includes 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper incorporating a knitted component, the knitted component comprising:
 a first course extending from a first area of the knitted component to a second area of the knitted component along a first knitting direction, the first course including a first loop and a second loop, the first loop and the second loop being separated by a plurality of loops, and   a second course extending from the first area to the second area, the second course including a first tuck stitch and a second tuck stitch, the first tuck stitch interacting with the first loop, the second tuck stitch interacting with the second loop, the second course including a floated portion extending from the first tuck stitch to the second tuck stitch, the floated portion extending over the plurality of loops of the first course;   wherein the second course is configured to resist stretch in at least a first portion of the upper.   
     
     
         2 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the first course is formed of a first material and the second course is formed of a second material, the second material having a higher tensile strength than the first material. 
     
     
         3 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the floated portion extends over at least ten loops of the first course. 
     
     
         4 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the first area is located on a lateral side of the knitted component and the second area is located on a medial side of the knitted component. 
     
     
         5 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the second course further includes a third tuck stitch, the third tuck stitch being located between the second tuck stitch and the sole structure, the third stitch interacting with one of the plurality of loops. 
     
     
         6 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the third tuck stitch is located in a central region of the knitted component. 
     
     
         7 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the second course further includes a fourth tuck stitch, the fourth tuck stitch being located between the third tuck stitch and the sole structure, the fourth tuck stitch interacting with one of the plurality of loops. 
     
     
         8 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the fourth stitch is located adjacent the sole structure. 
     
     
         9 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the second course includes a plurality of loops between the second tuck stitch and the third tuck stitch, the plurality of loops of the second course interacting with the plurality of loops of the first course. 
     
     
         10 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the first tuck stitch is located adjacent to the sole structure. 
     
     
         11 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the second tuck stitch is located adjacent to the sole structure. 
     
     
         12 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the knitted component includes a first layer and a second layer. 
     
     
         13 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the second course incorporates a cross tuck that extends between the first layer and the second layer. 
     
     
         14 . An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper incorporating a knitted component, the knitted component comprising:
 a stretch resistant area formed of a plurality of courses, at least a first course incorporating a floated portion;   a first loop being located at a first end of the floated portion, a second loop being located at a second end of the floated portion.   
     
     
         15 . The article according to  claim 14 , wherein the first loop of the first course interacts with a third loop of a second course and the second loop interacts with a fourth loop of the second course. 
     
     
         16 . The article according to  claim 14 , wherein the first loop is a tuck loop. 
     
     
         17 . The article according to  claim 14 , wherein the stretch resistant area extends from a sole structure to an instep area. 
     
     
         18 . The article according to  claim 14 , wherein a second area is located adjacent to the stretch resistant area, the second area stretching a greater distance that the stretch resistant area when subjected to the same magnitude of force. 
     
     
         19 . The article according to  claim 14 , wherein a third course is located in the stretch resistant area, the third course including a fifth loop, the first loop being located at a first wale position and the fifth loop being located at a second wale position, the first wale position being different than the second wale position. 
     
     
         20 . A method of making an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper incorporating a knitted component, the knitted component formed by:
 knitting a first course from a first area of the knitted component to a second area of the knitted component along a first knitting direction, the first course including a first loop located in the first area and a second loop located in the second area, the first loop and the second loop being separated by a plurality of loops, and   knitting a second course from the first area to the second area, the second course including a first tuck stitch and a second tuck stitch, the first tuck stitch interacting with the first loop, the second tuck stitch interacting with the second loop, the second course including a floated portion extending from the first tuck stitch to the second tuck stitch, the floated portion extending over the plurality of loops of the first course;   wherein the second course is configured to resist stretch in at least a first area of the upper.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising positioning the first tuck stitch adjacent to the sole structure and positioning the second tuck stitch adjacent to the sole structure.