US 12,232,569 B2
Article of footwear with integrally knit tongue
Torrey J. Bell, Portland, OR (US); Zhu Feixiang, Ningbo (CN); and Casey Pierson, Portland, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on May 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/737,397.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/191,025, filed on May 20, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0369768 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. A43B 23/26 (2006.01); A43B 1/04 (2022.01); A43B 23/02 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 23/26 (2013.01) [A43B 23/025 (2013.01); A43B 1/04 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An article of footwear, comprising:
a knit element at least partially forming an upper for the article of footwear, the knit element extending through at least part of a forefoot region of the upper and at least part of a throat region of the upper; and
a tongue integrally knit with the knit element, the tongue extending through the throat region of the upper and having a lateral edge and a medial edge,
wherein the knit element comprises a lateral throat portion that overlaps the lateral edge of the tongue and a medial throat portion that overlaps the medial edge of the tongue,
wherein a first knit structure joins the tongue to the lateral throat portion of the knit element,
wherein a second knit structure joins the tongue to the medial throat portion of the knit element,
wherein the first knit structure and the second knit structure each comprise multiple adjacent courses each having a plurality of knit stitches, and
wherein each knit stitch connects a course of the tongue and a course of the knit element.