Article of Footwear Having A Textile Upper

Abstract

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear is disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with flat-knit 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.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:
 a flat knit textile element comprising (1) flat knit edges free of surrounding textile structure such that the flat knit edges are not surrounded by textile structure from which the textile element must be removed and (2) a first knit strip having a first knit construction and a second knit strip having a second knit construction that is different from the first knit construction;   wherein the first knit strip and the second knit strip are positioned adjacent to each other along one or more of a lateral side and a medial side of the upper.   
     
     
         22 . The upper of  claim 21 , wherein one or both of the first knit strip and the second knit strip comprises a plurality of knit strips. 
     
     
         23 . The upper of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second knit strips alternate with one another along one or more of the lateral side and the medial side of the upper. 
     
     
         24 . The upper of  claim 22 , wherein the flat knit textile element comprises at least two of the first knit strip and at least two of the second knit strip. 
     
     
         25 . The upper of  claim 21 , wherein the first knit strip and the second knit strip extend along the lateral side of the upper from an instep region of the upper to an area proximate to a lower region of the upper. 
     
     
         26 . The upper of  claim 21 , wherein the first knit strip and the second knit strip extend along the medial side of the upper from an instep region of the upper to an area proximate to a lower region of the upper. 
     
     
         27 . The upper of  claim 21 , wherein the first knit construction of the first knit strip comprises a smooth texture, and the second knit construction of the second knit strip comprises a rough texture. 
     
     
         28 . The upper of  claim 21 , wherein the flat knit textile element further comprises a plurality of apertures in an instep region of the upper. 
     
     
         29 . The upper of  claim 21 , wherein the first knit construction of the first knit strip comprises a higher degree of stretch than the second knit construction of the second knit strip. 
     
     
         30 . The upper of  claim 21 , wherein the second knit construction of the second knit strip comprises a higher degree of stretch than the first knit construction of the first knit strip. 
     
     
         31 . An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:
 a flat knit textile element comprising (1) flat knit edges free of surrounding textile structure such that the flat knit edges are not surrounded by textile structure from which the textile element must be removed and (2) a first knit strip formed from yarns of a first yarn type and a second knit strip formed from yarns of a second yarn type that is different from the first yarn type;   wherein the first knit strip and the second knit strip are positioned adjacent to each other along one or more of a lateral side and a medial side of the upper;   wherein one or both of the first knit strip and the second knit strip comprises a plurality of strips; and   wherein the first and second knit strips alternate with one another along one or more of the lateral side and the medial side of the upper.   
     
     
         32 . The upper of  claim 31 , wherein the flat knit textile element comprises at least two of the first knit strip and at least two of the second knit strip. 
     
     
         33 . The upper of  claim 31 , wherein the first knit strip and the second knit strip extend along the lateral side of the upper from an instep region of the upper to an area proximate to a lower region of the upper. 
     
     
         34 . The upper of  claim 31 , wherein the first knit strip and the second knit strip extend along the medial side of the upper from an instep region of the upper to an area proximate to a lower region of the upper. 
     
     
         35 . The upper of  claim 31 , wherein the first yarn type of the first knit strip comprises a smooth texture, and the second yarn type of the second knit strip comprises a rough texture. 
     
     
         36 . The upper of  claim 31 , wherein the flat knit textile element further comprises a plurality of apertures in an instep region of the upper. 
     
     
         37 . The upper of  claim 31 , wherein the first yarn type of the first knit strip comprises a higher degree of stretch than the second yarn type of the second knit strip. 
     
     
         38 . The upper of  claim 31 , wherein the second yarn type of the second knit strip comprises a higher degree of stretch than the first yarn type of the first knit strip. 
     
     
         39 . The upper of  claim 31 , wherein the first yarn type of the first knit strip comprises at least one of a higher biodegradability, moisture absorption, insulation, durability, and/or hydrophobicity than the second yarn type of the second knit strip. 
     
     
         40 . The upper of  claim 31 , wherein the first yarn type of the first knit strip comprises at least one of a higher strength, support, stiffness, recovery, fit and/or form than the second yarn type of the second knit strip.