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EP-4271868-B1 - KNIT ARTICLE WITH VARIABLE FEATURES

EP4271868B1EP 4271868 B1EP4271868 B1EP 4271868B1EP-4271868-B1

Inventors

  • MORGAN, AMIR H.
  • MURRIETTA, Trina Z.
  • SHIRLEY, DANIEL
  • BILSKY, LIRON
  • MALUL, DAVID
  • NAFTALY, ROTEM WILK
  • OMAR, MOHAMED
  • YEHUDA, RONEN

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20211118

Claims (15)

  1. A knit article (300) comprising: a first location (310) having a first knit structure (100) including a repeating pattern of a first number of knit courses (110) having a first yarn (112) knit with a first basic knit stitch that includes a terry loop (210) and a second number of knit courses (118) having the first yarn (112), wherein within each knit course of the second number of knit courses (118), the first yarn (112) is knit in a repeating pattern including a first number of knit stitches (120) knit with a second basic knit stitch that does not include a terry loop (210) and a second number of float stitches (124), characterized in that the first knit structure (100) further includes a second yarn (114) that is in a plated relationship with the first yarn (112) in both the first number of knit courses (110) and in the second number of knit courses (118) except in the second number of float stitches (124), and the second yarn (114) is an elastic yarn.
  2. The knit article according to claim 1, wherein the first number of knit stitches (120) is the same as the second number of float stitches (124); or wherein the first number of knit stitches (120) is different from the second number of float stitches (124).
  3. The knit article according to any of claims 1 through 2, wherein the first number of knit courses (110) is the same as the second number of knit courses (118); or wherein the first number of knit courses (110) is different from the second number of knit courses (118).
  4. The knit article according to any of claims 1 through 3, wherein the second yarn (114) is continuously knit with the second basic knit stitch in the second number of knit courses (118).
  5. The knit article according to claim 4, wherein the first yarn (112) is an elastic yarn.
  6. The knit article according to any of claims 1 through 5, further comprising a second location having a second knit structure, the second knit structure including a repeating pattern of a third number of knit courses having the first yarn (112) knit with the first basic knit stitch that includes a terry loop (210) and a fourth number of knit courses having the first yarn (112), wherein within each knit course of the fourth number of knit courses, the first yarn (112) is knit in a repeating pattern including a third number of knit stitches knit with the second basic knit stitch that does not include a terry loop (210) and a fourth number of float stitches, wherein one or more of the third number of knit courses is different from the first number of knit courses (110) and the fourth number of float stitches is different from the second number of float stitches (124).
  7. The knit article according to claim 6, wherein the first knit structure (100) is integrally knit with the second knit structure.
  8. The knit article according to claim 6, wherein one or more of the fourth number of knit courses is different from the second number of knit courses (118), and the third number of knit stitches is different from the first number of knit stitches (120).
  9. The knit article according to any of claims 6 through 8, wherein the second knit structure further includes the second yarn (114) that is in a plated relationship with the first yarn (112).
  10. The knit article according to claim 9, wherein the second yarn (114) is continuously knit in the second basic knit stitch in each of the second number of knit courses (118) and the fourth number of knit courses.
  11. The knit article according to any of claims 9 through 10, wherein the first yarn (112) includes an elastic yarn.
  12. A method of knitting a knit article (300) comprising: during a single knitting event: knitting a first knit structure (100) at a first location (310) of the knit article (300), the first knit structure (100) including a repeating pattern of a first number of knit courses (110) having a first yarn (112) knit with a first basic knit stitch that includes a terry loop (210) and a second number of knit courses (118) having the first yarn (112), wherein within each knit course of the second number of knit courses (118), the first yarn (112) is knit in a repeating pattern including a first number of knit stitches (120) knit with a second basic knit stitch that does not include a terry loop (210) and a second number of float stitches (124), characterized in that the first knit structure (100) further includes a second yarn (114) that is in a plated relationship with the first yarn (112) in both the first number of knit courses (110) and in the second number of knit courses (118) except in the second number of float stitches (124), and the second yarn (114) is an elastic yarn; and knitting a second knit structure at a second location of the knit article (300), the second knit structure including a repeating pattern of a third number of knit courses having the first yarn (112) knit with the first basic knit stitch that includes a terry loop (210) and a fourth number of knit courses having the first yarn (112), wherein within each knit course of the fourth number of knit courses, the first yarn (112) is knit in a repeating pattern including a third number of knit stitches knit with the second basic knit stitch that does not include a terry loop (210) and a fourth number of float stitches, wherein one or more of the third number of knit courses is different from the first number of knit courses (110) and the fourth number of float stitches is different from the second number of float stitches (124).
  13. The method of knitting the knit article according to claim 12, wherein the float stitch in the second number of knit courses (118) and the fourth number of knit courses extends over from two wales to five wales.
  14. The method of knitting the knit article according to any of claims 12 through 13, wherein the second knit structure further includes the second yarn (114) that is in a plated relationship with the first yarn (112).
  15. The method of knitting the knit article according to claim 14, wherein the second yarn (114) is continuously knit in the second basic knit stitch in each of the second number of knit courses (118) and the fourth number of knit courses.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD Aspects herein relate to a knit structure used to form a knit article where the knit structure can be modified to impart variable cushioning, insulation, fit, breathability, and tactile feedback features to the knit article. BACKGROUND Traditional knit structures used to form knit articles may have a uniform construction or knitting pattern. As such, the resulting knit article may lack, for instance, zoned cushioning, zoned insulation, zoned fit, zoned tactile feedback, and/or zoned permeability/breathability features. Moreover, if the knit article includes a zoned feature in a certain location of the knit article, such as, for example, a heel area of a sock, the knit structure is generally uniform in that location such that the feature is generally uniform in that location (e.g., uniform cushioning). WO 2019/028347 A1 describes a knitted component comprising a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing opposite the second surface. A pod may have the first surface and the second surface, and an edge region may have the first surface and the second surface, where the edge region at least partially demarcates the pod. A first yarn may substantially form the first surface of the pod, where the first yarn is a fusible yarn. A second yarn may substantially form the second surface of the pod, and the second yarn may substantially form the first surface of the edge region. US 2 279 919 A describes knitted fabrics having floated and inlaid loops combined with plain stitches so arranged that the fabric is substantially run-resisting. US 2017/000216 A1 describes an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper. The interior surface may define a void. A tongue and the knit element may have a common yarn, and the tongue may extend through a throat area of the upper. The tongue may comprise a lateral edge, a medial edge, and a forward portion. At least one of the lateral edge, the medial edge, and the forward portion may be unsecured to the knit element. The tongue may be secured to the knit element at least at one of the lateral edge, the medial edge, and the forward portion of the throat area. US 4 494 388 A describes a knit construction having a repeating six-course, two wale pattern in which the six courses include four courses comprising alternating knit and tuck stitches and two courses comprising alternating knit and float stitches, and each of the wales includes the knit stitches of two of the courses of alternating knit and tuck stitches and one of the courses of knit and float stitches, the tuck stitches of the other two of the courses of knit and tuck stitches, and the float stitches of the other of the courses of knit and float stitches. EP 3 330 419 A1 describes a brushed circular knitted fabric that has double loops stacked with at least two kinds of synthetic fiber multifilaments, wherein at least one surface of the circular knitted fabric has undergone brush processing. US 2008/041113 A1 describes a sock with a performance that matches its purpose of use and seasonal requirements. To change the thickness and strength of different parts of the sock according to the load distribution on the sole and the impact that the different parts of the sock are subjected to when walking and running. Means Knitting structures of different thicknesses and airspace ratios, e.g., flat stitches P, short-terry stitches SP, long-terry stitches LP, mesh stitches M, short-terry stitches based on mesh stitches M-SP, long-terry stitches based on mesh stitches M-LP, short-terry stitches based on reinforced mesh stitches M-R-SP, long-terry stitches based on reinforced mesh stitches M-R-LP, short-terry stitches with reinforcement yarn R-SP and long-terry stitches with reinforcement yarn R-LP are distributed in different parts of the sock. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Examples of aspects herein are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: FIG. 1 illustrates an example knit structure that may be used to form the knit article according to the independent claim 1 and that has break lines at various locations to illustrate different ways that the knit structure can be modified in accordance with aspects herein;FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of the example knit structure of FIG. 1 with terry loops formed on a technical back of the example knit structure in accordance with aspects herein;FIG. 3 illustrates a view of a first side of a sock having the example knit structure of FIG. 1 in accordance with aspects herein;FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom view of a sock having the example knit structure of FIG. 1 in accordance with aspects herein;FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section taken at cut line 6-6 of FIG. 5 and depicts dimpling of the knit article in accordance with aspects herein;FIGs. 6-7 illustrate front and back views