Artile of footwear incorporating a knitted component having floated portions

Abstract

An article of footwear may include 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.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:
 a knitted component having a first portion proximate an ankle collar of the article of footwear, a second portion proximate a sole portion of the article of footwear, and a joining area transitioning between the first portion and the second portion, wherein:
 the first portion comprises a first knit structure having a plurality of knitted loops; 
 the second portion comprises a second knit structure that is different from the first knit structure and that comprises a plurality of floated portions. 
   
     
     
         2 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the first knit structure comprises a series of knitted loops that uninterruptedly extend from the joining area to the ankle collar. 
     
     
         3 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the second knit structure comprises a first tuck stitch and a second tuck stitch. 
     
     
         4 . The upper of  claim 3 , wherein the first tuck stitch is positioned adjacent the joining area and the second tuck stitch is positioned adjacent the sole portion of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         5 . The upper of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of floated portions comprises a floated portion extending between the first tuck stitch and the second tuck stitch. 
     
     
         6 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion further comprises a first plurality of courses, and the second portion further comprises a second plurality of courses. 
     
     
         7 . The upper of  claim 6 , wherein each course of the second plurality of courses comprises a first tuck stitch positioned adjacent to the joining area and a second tuck stitch positioned adjacent to the sole portion of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         8 . The upper of  claim 7 , wherein the first tuck stitches are in a first wale and the second tuck stitches are in a second wale. 
     
     
         9 . The upper of  claim 6 , wherein the first plurality of courses includes a first yarn and the second plurality of courses includes a second yarn. 
     
     
         10 . The upper of  claim 9 , wherein the first yarn has a lower elasticity than the second yarn. 
     
     
         11 . An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a knitted component having a first portion, a second portion, and a joining area transitioning between the first portion and the second portion, wherein:   the first portion comprises a first knit structure having a first plurality of courses; and   the second portion comprises a second knit structure that is different from the first knit structure, the second knit structure having a second plurality of courses.   
     
     
         12 . The upper of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion further comprises a plurality of knitted loops, and the second portion comprises a plurality of floated portions. 
     
     
         13 . The upper of  claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of courses includes a first yarn and the second plurality of courses includes a second yarn. 
     
     
         14 . The upper of  claim 13 , wherein the first yarn has a lower elasticity than the second yarn. 
     
     
         15 . The upper of  claim 13 , wherein the first yarn has a greater elasticity than the second yarn. 
     
     
         16 . The upper of  claim 11 , wherein the first knit structure comprises a series of knitted loops that uninterruptedly extend from the joining area to an ankle collar. 
     
     
         17 . The upper of  claim 11 , wherein the second knit structure comprises a first tuck stitch and a second tuck stitch. 
     
     
         18 . The upper of  claim 17 , wherein the first tuck stitch is positioned adjacent the joining area and the second tuck stitch is positioned adjacent the sole portion of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         19 . The upper of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of floated portions comprises a floated portion extending between the first tuck stitch and the second tuck stitch. 
     
     
         20 . The upper of  claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of courses and the second plurality of courses include separate strands.