Knitted components having self supportive heel

Abstract

In one aspect of the disclosure, a knitted component may have a medial part, a lateral part, a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a rearfoot region. The rearfoot region may include a first zone having a first level of stretch and extending from a lower region of one of the medial part and the lateral part toward an upper heel region. The first zone may have an elongate portion. The knitted component may include a second zone adjacent the first zone and having a second level of stretch greater than the first level of stretch. The second zone may extend into the medial part and the lateral part and may substantially cover a calcaneus region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a knitted heel region, comprising:   a first zone comprising a thermoplastic polymer material that is fused; and   a second zone that has a higher degree of elasticity than the first zone,   wherein the first zone extends below the second zone between the second zone and a sole structure.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first zone includes a yarn comprising the thermoplastic polymer material. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer material comprises at least one of:
 polyurethane;   polyamide;   polyolefin, and   nylon.   
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first zone and the second zone are integrally knitted with each other. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted heel region comprises a multi-layer knit structure. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein the multi-layer knit structure comprises at least one of a ribbed knit structure, an interlock structure, a single jersey knit structure, and a double jersey knit structure. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the second zone comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first zone includes yarns comprising a first material, and wherein the second zone includes yarns comprising a second material that is different than the first material. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first zone comprises a substantially inelastic material, and wherein the second zone comprises a substantially elastic material. 
     
     
         10 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a knitted heel region, comprising:   a first zone comprising an elongate portion comprising a first extension and a second extension; and   a second zone comprising a greater elasticity than the first zone,   wherein the first extension extends around a first side of the second zone and the second extension extends around a second side of the second zone, and the second zone is separate from a collar portion.   
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the first zone and the second zone are integrally knitted. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the first zone comprises a thermoplastic polymer material that is fused. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the knitted heel region includes a yarn comprising the thermoplastic polymer material. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer material comprises at least one of:
 polyurethane;   polyamide;   polyolefin, and   nylon.   
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the first zone comprises yarns having a first denier, and wherein the second zone comprises yarns having a second denier, such that the yarns having the second denier impart a higher degree of elasticity to the second zone compared to the first zone. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the first zone includes yarns comprising a first material, and wherein the second zone includes yarns comprising a second material that is different than the first material. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the knitted heel region comprises a multi-layer knit structure. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , wherein the multi-layer knit structure comprises at least one of a ribbed knit structure, an interlock structure, a single jersey knit structure, and a double jersey knit structure. 
     
     
         19 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a knitted heel region, comprising:   a first zone comprising a thermoplastic polymer material that is fused and that forms at least part of an outer-facing surface of the knitted heel region; and   a second zone that has a higher degree of elasticity than the first zone,   wherein the first zone extends below the second zone between the second zone and a sole structure of the article of footwear, and wherein the second zone is spaced from a collar portion of the article of footwear.   
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the knitted heel region includes a yarn comprising the thermoplastic polymer material.