Articles of footwear having an upper that includes a knitted component with a cushioning region and methods for fabricating the same

Abstract

Articles for footwear, uppers for articles of footwear, and methods for fabricating articles of footwear are provided. In one example, an upper for an article of footwear includes a knitted component. The knitted component includes a plurality of knitted cushioning structures that define a cushioning region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A knit component comprising:
 a first set of knitted cushioning structures having a first number of continuous strands extending continuously from a first side of the knit component to a second side of the knit component; and   a second set of knitted cushioning structures having a second number of continuous strands extending continuously from the first side to the second side, wherein the second number of continuous strands is greater than the first number of continuous strands,   wherein each continuous strand of the first number of continuous strands extends through a channel formed by each knitted cushioning structure within the first set of knitted cushioning structures and each continuous strand of the second number of continuous strands extends through the channel formed by each knitted cushioning structure in the second set of knitted cushioning structures.   
     
     
         2 . The knit component of  claim 1 , wherein knitted cushioning structures in the first set of knitted cushioning structures and the second set of knitted cushioning structures are arranged as juxtaposed knitted cushioning structures. 
     
     
         3 . The knit component of  claim 1 , wherein the knit component forms an upper for an article of footwear, wherein the upper comprises a collar defining an opening to a void within the upper for receiving a foot of a wearer, wherein the first set of knitted cushioning structures and the second set of knitted cushioning structures form a cushioning region extending outward from the collar through a throat area of the upper. 
     
     
         4 . The knit component of  claim 1 , wherein each knitted cushioning structure in the first set of knitted cushioning structures comprises at least two strands extending longitudinally through the channel. 
     
     
         5 . The knit component of  claim 1 , wherein the first number of continuous strands is fourstrands and the second number of continuous strands is six strands. 
     
     
         6 . The knit component of  claim 1  further comprising a third set of knitted cushioning structures having a third number of continuous strands extending continuously from the first side to the second side, wherein the third number of continuous strands is greater than the second number of continuous strands, wherein each continuous strand of the third number of continuous strands extends through the channel formed by each knitted cushioning structure in the third set of knitted cushioning structures, wherein the third set of knitted cushioning structures provides greater cushioning than the second set of knitted cushioning structures. 
     
     
         7 . The knit component of  claim 6 , wherein the third set of knitted cushioning structures is disposed between a first portion and a second portion of the second set of knitted cushioning structures, and wherein a third portion and a fourth portion of the first set of knitted cushioning structures are disposed adjacent to the first portion and the second portion of the second set of knitted cushioning structures, respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The knit component of  claim 1 , wherein each knitted cushioning structure in the first set of knitted cushioning structures and the second set of knitted cushioning structures is comprised of a knitted wall, wherein the knitted wall comprises a first yarn and wherein the first number of continuous strands and the second number of continuous strands each comprise a second yarn. 
     
     
         9 . The knit component of  claim 8 , wherein the second yarn is a monofilament yarn. 
     
     
         10 . The knit component of  claim 9 , wherein the monofilament yarn is a polyester monofilament yarn. 
     
     
         11 . The knit component of  claim 8 , wherein the first yarn comprises two strands of textured polyester wrapped around an elasticated material. 
     
     
         12 . The knit component of  claim 8 , wherein the knitted wall is configured as a circular knitted tube wall. 
     
     
         13 . The knit component of  claim 8 , wherein the knitted wall is an asymmetric knitted tube wall having an exterior-facing wall portion and an interior-facing wall portion opposite the exterior-facing wall portion. 
     
     
         14 . The knit component of  claim 13 , wherein the exterior-facing wall portion is configured to form more cushioning volume than the interior-facing wall portion. 
     
     
         15 . An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:
 a lateral side and a medial side; and   a cushioning region comprising:
 a first set of knitted cushioning structures each having a first number of continuous strands extending continuously from the medial side to the lateral side; and 
 a second set of knitted cushioning structures each having a second number of continuous strands extending continuously from the medial side to the lateral side, wherein the second number of continuous strands is greater than the first number of continuous strands. 
   
     
     
         16 . The upper of  claim 15 , wherein knitted cushioning structures in the first set of knitted cushioning structures and the second set of knitted cushioning structures are arranged as juxtaposed knitted cushioning structures. 
     
     
         17 . The upper of  claim 15 , wherein each knitted cushioning structure in the first set of knitted cushioning structures and the second set of knitted cushioning structures is comprised of a knitted wall defining a channel extending from the medial side to the lateral side. 
     
     
         18 . The upper of  claim 17 , wherein the channel of each knitted cushioning structure in the first set of knitted cushioning structures comprises at least two strands extending longitudinally through the channel. 
     
     
         19 . A method for fabricating an article of footwear, the method comprising: forming an upper comprising a knitted component, wherein the upper comprises a lateral side, a medial side opposite the lateral side, and a cushioning region comprising:
 a first set of knitted cushioning structures each having a first number of continuous strands extending continuously from the medial side to the lateral side; and   a second set of knitted cushioning structures each having a second number of continuous strands extending continuously from the medial side to the lateral side, wherein the second number of continuous strands is greater than the first number of continuous strands.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein each knitted cushioning structure in the first set of knitted cushioning structures and the second set of knitted cushioning structures is formed by knitting a tube using a tubular stitch.