Patent ID: 9578919
Date: 2017-02-28
CPC Classifications: A43B,D04B,D10B

Claim:
1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper defining an interior void for receiving a foot of a wearer, and the upper having an ankle opening that provides access to the void, the upper having a collar element formed of unitary knit construction and comprising (a) an exterior surface of the upper adjacent to the ankle opening of the upper and (b) an interior surface of the upper adjacent to the ankle opening, and wherein the exterior surface is seamlessly joined to the interior surface in at least a lower portion of the collar element; wherein the exterior surface and interior surface together define an interior cavity; a plurality of floating yarns located within the cavity, wherein the collar element is formed as a separate component from other portions of the upper and is secured to the other portions of the upper; wherein at least a portion of the upper adjacent the ankle opening comprises at least a first layer and a second layer, the first layer forming a portion of the interior surface of the upper and the second layer forming at least a portion of the exterior surface of the upper; and wherein the collar element includes a flange formed of unitary knit construction with the collar element such that the flange extends seamlessly outward from the location in which the interior surface and exterior surface of the collar element are seamlessly joined, the flange extending between the first and second layers of the upper, the flange being secured to at least one of the first and second layers of the upper.