US 11,849,804 B2
Knit athletic shoes with continuous upper portion
Lisa Halbower-Fenton, Scituate, MA (US); Jamie Sinclair McLellan, Sausalito, CA (US); Thomas Jad Finck, San Francisco, CA (US); Olivier Henrichot, Moraga, CA (US); James Romero, San Francisco, CA (US); and Romesh Patel, Lafayette, CA (US)
Assigned to ALLBIRDS, INC., San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed by Allbirds, Inc., San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 27, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/859,807.
Prior Publication US 2021/0330032 A1, Oct. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. A43B 23/02 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 23/0205 (2013.01) 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A shoe, comprising:
a sole defining a tread surface and a top surface opposite the tread surface; and
an upper portion attached to the top surface of the sole and cooperating with one or more additional components of the shoe to define a cavity, the upper portion including a continuous knit textile comprising:
a cuff region at least partially surrounding an opening into the cavity and defining at least a portion of a first perimeter at the opening, the cuff region having a first elasticity defined at least in part by a first knit pattern comprising a first thickness of a first yarn blend;
a flex region having a second elasticity defined at least in part by a second knit pattern comprising a second thickness of a second yarn blend, the flex region and the cuff region configured to stretch to increase a size of the opening;
a toe region having a third elasticity defined at least in part by a third knit pattern comprising a third thickness of a third yarn blend, the third elasticity less than the first elasticity and the second elasticity; and
a peripheral region defining at least a portion of a second perimeter at a junction between the upper and the sole and at least partially surrounding the cuff region, the flex region, and the toe region, the peripheral region having a fourth elasticity derived at least in part by a fourth knit pattern comprising a fourth thickness of a fourth yarn blend, the fourth elasticity that is less than the first elasticity and the second elasticity;
wherein:
the flex region is configured to pull the peripheral region against a wearer's foot to provide enhanced structural stability;
the fourth thickness is greater than the first, second, and third thickness;
an exterior surface of the upper portion defined by the second knit pattern, third knit pattern, and fourth knit pattern forms the continuous knit textile which defines a seamless transition between the toe region and surrounding portions of the flex region and the peripheral region;
the continuous knit textile comprises eucalyptus fiber;
each the second yarn blend, the third yarn blend, and the fourth yarn blend including a yarn comprising from 60% to 80% of the eucalyptus fiber; and
the flex region, a shoelace, a first set of eyelets, and a second set of eyelets are configured to cooperate to tighten the shoe around a wearer's foot.