Patent ID: 9681704
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: A43B,A43C,D04B,D10B

Claim:
1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper including a knitted component that is formed of unitary knit construction, the knitted component comprising: a first region forming a collar of the upper, the collar having a first stretch-resistance, the collar defining a tubular structure with an opening to a void within the upper for receiving a foot, the tubular structure configured to continuously encircle a wearer; a second region extending outward from the first region and located at least partially in a throat area of the upper, the second region having a second stretch-resistance; and a third region at least partially defining a medial side and a lateral side of the upper, the third region extending at least partially around the second region including extending at least partially around the throat area and having a third stretch-resistance, the second region formed of unitary knit construction with third region such that the upper extends continuously from the medial side, across the second region, to the lateral side; the first stretch-resistance being less than the second stretch-resistance, and the second stretch-resistance being less than the third stretch-resistance; wherein the knitted component further includes a tunnel having a length, and a strand having a first section disposed within and extending the length of the tunnel, a second section, and a third section disposed within and extending the length of the tunnel, where the second section extends continuously between the first and third sections, is located outside the tunnel and exterior of the knitted component, and forms a lace loop that is configured to receive a lace, wherein the strand extends through the third region, and wherein the strand forms a plurality of lace loops, and a pair of the lace loops positioned immediately adjacent to each other overlap each other so as to form a common aperture that is configured to receive a single pass of a lace, and wherein the pair of the lace loops overlap each other in a direction substantially normal to an outer surface portion of the knitted component that is immediately adjacent to the common aperture.