Article of footwear upper incorporating a textile component with tensile elements

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a textile component. The textile component of the upper includes a textile element and a tensile element. The tensile element defines a first segment disposed on a first side of the upper. The first segment of the tensile element is configured to attach the securement device to the textile element on the first side of the upper. The tensile element further includes a second segment that is disposed proximate the lower portion of the upper on the second side. The second segment is fixed relative to the lower portion of the upper on the second side. The tensile element further includes an intermediate segment that extends continuously from the first segment, across the heel region, to the second segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper, comprising:   a knit element forming at least part of:   a first side of the upper;   a second side of the upper;   a throat extending between the first side and the second side,   wherein the throat is offset such that it extends in a direction towards the first side or towards the second side; and   a sole structure secured to the upper.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the throat comprises a plurality of lace loops. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein a lace extends through the plurality of lace loops. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of lace loops comprise a first plurality of lace loops located towards the first side of the upper and a second plurality of lace loops located towards the second side of the upper, wherein the first and second plurality of lace loops are offset from each other along a longitudinal axis of the upper. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of lace loops are formed by one or more tensile elements that extend through the knit element and are exposed adjacent to the throat. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein one or more tensile elements form a first row of lace loops exposed on the first side adjacent to the throat and a second row of lace loops exposed on the second side adjacent to the throat, the first row and the second row being offset along a longitudinal axis of the upper. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein each tensile element extends through a corresponding tunnel formed in the knit element. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein a lace extends through the lace loops, and wherein, along the first row and along the second row, the lace extends through pairs of lace loops that at least partially overlap each other. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the knit element forms an ankle collar. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the knit element is constructed such that it forms raised areas on an exterior surface of the upper. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the knit element is constructed such that it forms ribs on an exterior surface of the upper. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a seam connects edges of the knit element together. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the seam extends from an edge of an ankle collar toward the sole structure of the upper. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the seam changes direction between the ankle collar and the sole structure. 
     
     
         15 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a sole structure; and   an upper secured to the sole structure, the upper comprising a knitted component, comprising:
 a knit element forming at least part of a heel region, a first side, a second side, and a throat area disposed between the first side and the second side; and 
 a plurality of tensile segments integrally knitted with the knit element, the plurality of tensile segments defining a plurality of lace loops on opposite sides of the throat for receiving a lace, 
 wherein a first portion of the plurality of lace loops located on the first side are positioned higher on the upper compared to a second portion of the plurality of lace loops located on the second side of the upper. 
   
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the first portion of the plurality of lace loops and the second portion of the plurality of lace loop are offset from each other along a longitudinal axis of the upper. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein a lace extends through the plurality of lace loops, and wherein, on each of the first side and the second side, a pair of lace loops at least partially overlap to form a passage through which the lace extends. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein a lace extends through the plurality of lace loops such that the lace extends across the throat at an angle to lateral axis of the upper. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the knitted component comprises a pair of edges that extends from a collar of the upper to a sole structure of the upper in a heel region of the upper. 
     
     
         20 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a sole structure; and   an upper attached to the sole structure, the upper comprising:   a knit element forming at least part of:
 a first side of the upper; 
 a second side of the upper; 
 a throat extending between the first side and the second side; and 
 a ankle collar of the upper, 
 wherein a pair of edges of the knit element are connected together at a seam that extends from the ankle collar toward the sole structure. 
   
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear of  claim 20 , wherein the seam changes direction between the ankle collar and the sole structure. 
     
     
         22 . The article of footwear of  claim 20 , wherein the seam is located at least partially on the first side or on the second side.