Upper for an article of footwear with first and second knitted portions

Abstract

An upper may include a first knitted portion configured to form an outer surface of the upper, a second knitted portion configured to form an inner surface of the upper, where the second knitted portion is at least partially coextensive with the first knitted portion, an interstitial space between the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion, and a knitted connection structure connecting the first knitted portion to the second knitted portion. The knitted connection structure may extend at least partially along at least one of a tongue and a collar of the upper, and the second knitted portion may include at least one double jersey knit structure that is coextensive with the first knitted portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:
 a knitted component, comprising:   a first knitted portion;   a second knitted portion;   a knitted connection structure that integrally connects the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion, wherein the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion are folded about the knitted connection structure, such that the first knitted portion forms an inner layer of the upper and the second knitted portion forms an outer layer of the upper, wherein the knitted connection structure is located at least along a tongue portion of the upper; and   a fused area.   
     
     
         2 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted component comprises a single-layer knit structure. 
     
     
         3 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted component comprises a multi-layer knit structure. 
     
     
         4 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the first knitted portion includes a first plurality of courses, wherein the second knitted portion includes a second plurality of courses, and wherein the knitted connection structure is located between the first plurality of courses and the second plurality of courses. 
     
     
         5 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted component comprises a bulking yarn that is inlaid and/or floated. 
     
     
         6 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion are inverted about the knitted connection structure to form a dual-layer configuration of the upper. 
     
     
         7 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the fused area comprises a thermoplastic polymer material. 
     
     
         8 . A knitted component forming at least part of an upper of an article of footwear, the knitted component comprising:
 a first knitted portion;   a second knitted portion;   a knitted connection structure integrally connecting the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion, wherein the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion are folded about the knitted connection structure, such that the first knitted portion forms an inner layer of the upper and the second knitted portion forms an outer layer of the upper, wherein the knitted connection structure is located at least along a tongue portion of the upper; and   a thermoplastic polymer material.   
     
     
         9 . The knitted component of  claim 8 , wherein the knitted component comprises a single-layer knit structure. 
     
     
         10 . The knitted component of  claim 8 , wherein the knitted component comprises a multi-layer knit structure. 
     
     
         11 . The knitted component of  claim 8 , wherein the first knitted portion includes a first plurality of courses, wherein the second knitted portion includes a second plurality of courses, and wherein the knitted connection structure is located between the first plurality of courses and the second plurality of courses and is narrower in width than the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion. 
     
     
         12 . The knitted component of  claim 8 , wherein the knitted component comprises a bulking yarn that is inlaid and/or floated. 
     
     
         13 . The knitted component of  claim 8 , wherein the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion are inverted about the knitted connection structure. 
     
     
         14 . The knitted component of  claim 8 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer material is fused and comprises polyurethane, polyamide, polyolefin, nylon, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper, comprising:   a knitted component, comprising:   a first knitted portion;   a second knitted portion;   a knitted connection structure integrally connecting the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion, wherein the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion are folded about the knitted connection structure, such that the first knitted portion forms an inner layer of the upper and the second knitted portion forms an outer layer of the upper, wherein the knitted connection structure is located at least along a tongue portion of the upper; and   a fused material; and   a sole structure secured to the upper.   
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the knitted component comprises a single-layer knit structure. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the knitted component comprises a multi-layer knit structure. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the fused material comprises a thermoplastic polymer material that is part of a yarn of the knitted component that is fused. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the knitted connection structure extends along an ankle collar of the upper. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first knitted portion and the second knitted portion includes an inlaid tensile strand.