Upper for Article of Footwear Incorporating a Knitted Butterfly Workpiece

Abstract

An article of footwear incorporating an upper formed by a forefoot component, a knitted workpiece, and a heel component is described. Each of the forefoot component, the knitted workpiece, and the heel component are separate from each other and joined along connection areas. Reinforcement elements cover the connection areas. In one embodiment, the knitted workpiece includes a collar portion and a throat portion extending from a forward end of the collar portion. The knitted workpiece also includes a medial lobe extending from one side of the throat portion and a lateral lobe extending from an opposite side of the throat portion from the medial lobe. The collar portion, the throat portion, the medial lobe, and the lateral lobe form a single unified knitted workpiece.

1 . An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a single unified knitted workpiece including a throat portion, a collar portion, a medial lobe, and a lateral lobe; and   one or more additional components attached to the single unified knitted workpiece;   wherein the throat portion of the single unified knitted workpiece is disposed in at least a portion of a midfoot region of the upper and extends continuously in a longitudinal direction from a throat front end defining a front end of the single unified knitted workpiece to a throat rear end opposite the throat front end;   the upper comprises an opening configured to provide entry for a foot of a wearer to an interior of the upper, the collar portion extends from the throat rear end, and the collar portion at least partially encircles or surrounds the opening;   the medial lobe extends from a medial side of the throat portion, is disposed in a medial side of the midfoot region of the upper, and includes a medial lobe front edge, a medial lobe rear edge opposite the medial lobe front edge, and a medial lobe bottom edge between the medial lobe front edge and the medial lobe rear edge;   the lateral lobe extends from a lateral side of the throat portion, is disposed in a lateral side of the midfoot region of the upper, and includes a lateral lobe front edge, a lateral lobe rear edge opposite the lateral lobe front edge, and a lateral lobe bottom edge between the lateral lobe front edge and the lateral lobe rear edge;   the medial lobe front edge and the medial lobe rear edge are between the throat front end and the throat rear end on the medial side of the throat portion, and the lateral lobe front edge and the lateral lobe rear edge are between the throat front end and the throat rear end on the lateral side of the throat portion; and   the one or more additional components comprises one or more forefoot components disposed in a forefoot region of the upper, or comprises one or more heel components disposed in a heel region of the upper, or comprises both the one or more forefoot components and the one or more heel components.   
     
     
         2 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the single unified knitted workpiece extends through a majority of the midfoot region of the upper, or extends through at least a portion of a forefoot region of the upper, or extends through at least a portion of a heel region of the upper, or extends through the majority of the midfoot region and at least a portion of the forefoot region of the upper, or extends through the majority of the midfoot region and at least a portion of the heel region of the upper, or extends through the majority of the midfoot region of the upper, at least a portion of the forefoot region of the upper, and at least a portion of the heel region of the upper. 
     
     
         3 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the upper further comprises one or more reinforcement elements connecting the one or more additional components to the single unified knitted workpiece in one or more connection areas of the upper. 
     
     
         4 . The upper of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more connection areas are located within the midfoot region of the upper, within a forefoot region of the upper, within a heel region of the upper, between the forefoot region and the midfoot region of the upper, between the midfoot region and the heel region of the upper, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The upper of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more reinforcement elements comprises one or more lace apertures configured to receive a lace for an article of footwear, or wherein a throat central portion between the throat front end and the throat rear end is free of lace apertures, or wherein the one or more reinforcement elements comprises the one or more lace aperture and the throat central portion is free of the lace apertures. 
     
     
         6 . An upper for an article of footwear comprising:
 a single unified knitted workpiece including a throat portion and at least one lobe; and   one or more additional components attached to the single unified knitted workpiece;   wherein the throat portion of the single unified knitted workpiece is disposed in at least a portion of a midfoot region of the upper and extends continuously in a longitudinal direction from a throat front end defining a front end of the single unified knitted workpiece to a throat rear end opposite the throat front end;   the at least one lobe extends from a medial or lateral side of the throat portion, is disposed in a medial or lateral side of the midfoot region of the upper, includes a lobe front edge and a lobe rear edge opposite the lobe front edge, and the lobe front edge and the lobe rear edge are between the throat front end and the throat rear end; and   the one or more additional components comprises one or more forefoot components disposed in a forefoot region of the upper, or comprises one or more heel components disposed in a heel region of the upper, or comprises both the one or more forefoot components and the one or more heel components.   
     
     
         7 . The upper of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one lobe comprises a medial lobe, the medial lobe extends from a medial side of the throat portion, and is disposed in a medial side of the midfoot region of the upper; or comprises a lateral lobe, the lateral lobe extends from a lateral side of the throat portion, and is disposed in a lateral side of the midfoot region of the upper; or comprises both the medial lobe and the lateral lobe. 
     
     
         8 . The upper of  claim 6 , wherein the upper comprises an opening configured to provide entry for a foot of a wearer to an interior of the upper, the single unified knitted workpiece includes a collar portion extending from the throat rear end, and the collar portion at least partially encircles or surrounds the opening. 
     
     
         9 . The upper of  claim 6 , wherein the single unified knitted workpiece extends through a majority of the midfoot region of the upper, or extends through at least a portion of a forefoot region of the upper, or extends through at least a portion of a heel region of the upper, or extends through the majority of the midfoot region and at least a portion of the forefoot region of the upper, or extends through the majority of the midfoot region and at least a portion of the heel region of the upper, or extends through the majority of the midfoot region of the upper, at least a portion of the forefoot region of the upper, and at least a portion of the heel region of the upper. 
     
     
         10 . The upper of  claim 6 , wherein the upper further comprises one or more reinforcement elements connecting the one or more additional components to the single unified knitted workpiece in one or more connection areas of the upper. 
     
     
         11 . The upper of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more connection areas are located within the midfoot region of the upper, within a forefoot region of the upper, within a heel region of the upper, between the forefoot region and the midfoot region of the upper, between the midfoot region and the heel region of the upper, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The upper of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more reinforcement elements comprises one or more lace apertures configured to receive a lace for an article of footwear, or wherein a throat central portion between the throat front end and the throat rear end is free of lace apertures, or wherein the one or more reinforcement elements comprises the one or more lace apertures and the throat central portion is free of the lace apertures. 
     
     
         13 . An upper for an article of footwear comprising:
 a single unified knitted workpiece including a throat portion and at least one lobe; and   one or more additional components attached to the single unified knitted workpiece;   wherein the throat portion is disposed in at least a portion of a midfoot region of the upper and extends continuously in a longitudinal direction from a throat front end defining a front end of the single unified knitted workpiece to a throat rear end opposite the throat front end;   the at least one lobe extends from a medial or lateral side of the throat portion, is disposed on a medial or lateral side of the midfoot region of the upper, includes a bottom lobe edge forming a portion of a medial or lateral edge of the upper, and the bottom lobe edge is configured to terminate past or adjacent to a biteline of an article of footwear; and   the one or more additional components comprises one or more forefoot components disposed in a forefoot region of the upper, or comprises one or more heel components disposed in a heel region of the upper, or comprises both the one or more forefoot components and the one or more heel components.   
     
     
         14 . The upper of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one lobe includes a lobe front edge and a lobe rear edge opposite the lobe front edge, the lobe bottom edge is between the lobe front edge and the lobe rear edge, and the lobe front edge and the lobe rear edge are between the throat front end and the throat rear end. 
     
     
         15 . The upper of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one lobe comprises a medial lobe, the medial lobe extends from a medial side of the throat portion, and is disposed in a medial side of the midfoot region of the upper; or comprises a lateral lobe, the lateral lobe extends from a lateral side of the throat portion, and is disposed in a medial side of the midfoot region of the upper; or comprises both the medial lobe and the lateral lobe. 
     
     
         16 . The upper of  claim 13 , wherein the upper comprises an opening configured to provide entry for a foot of a wearer to an interior of the upper, the single unified knitted workpiece includes a collar portion extending from the throat rear end, and the collar portion at least partially encircles or surrounds the opening. 
     
     
         17 . The upper of  claim 13 , wherein the single unified knitted workpiece extends through a majority of the midfoot region of the upper, or extends through at least a portion of a forefoot region of the upper, or extends through at least a portion of a heel region of the upper, or extends through the majority of the midfoot region and at least a portion of the forefoot region of the upper, or extends through the majority of the midfoot region and at least a portion of the heel region of the upper, or extends through the majority of the midfoot region of the upper, at least a portion of the forefoot region of the upper, and at least a portion of the heel region of the upper. 
     
     
         18 . The upper of  claim 13 , wherein the upper further comprises one or more reinforcement elements connecting the one or more additional components to the single unified knitted workpiece in one or more connection areas of the upper. 
     
     
         19 . The upper of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more connection areas are located within the midfoot region of the upper, within a forefoot region of the upper, within a heel region of the upper, between the forefoot region and the midfoot region of the upper, between the midfoot region and the heel region of the upper, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The upper of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more reinforcement elements comprises one or more lace apertures configured to receive a lace for an article of footwear, or wherein a throat central portion between the throat front end and the throat rear end is free of lace apertures, or wherein the one or more reinforcement elements comprises the one or more lace apertures and the throat central portion is free of the lace apertures.