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Nike patents cleated shoe with knitted upper and specific lacing path

Nike has filed a patent for a method of making a cleated shoe that features a knitted section on the top of the foot. The design uses a specific lacing pattern where the lace goes through outer holes, travels inside the shoe, and exits through inner holes to secure the foot.

Why it mattersThis filing details a specific construction technique for athletic footwear, which may improve fit or comfort for players using cleats.

In the filing’s own words

An article of footwear with a knitted component including an upper and an integral knit ankle cuff is provided. The upper and the ankle cuff are formed as a one-piece knit element. The knit element forms a portion of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface forming a void for receiving a foot. The ankle cuff is formed of unitary knit construction with the upper as a one-piece knit element and extends above a throat area of the upper. The ankle cuff includes malleolus zones on medial and lateral sides to correspond with the ankle bones of a wearer. The knit component further incorporates features to assist with providing entry for a foot of a wear, providing comfort to a wearer, and to assist with orientation of the upper of the article of footwear when being worn.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method of manufacturing a cleated shoe, the method comprising: forming an upper, comprising: a first portion comprising a knitted component located in at least an instep area of the upper; a second portion comprising a portion of at least one of: a medial side, a lateral side, and a forefoot region of the upper; a plurality of inner lace apertures on each of a first side and a second side of the instep area; a plurality of outer lace apertures on each of the first side and the second side of the instep area, wherein, on the first side and on the second side, the plurality of inner lace apertures are positioned closer to a longitudinal centerline of the upper than the plurality of outer lace apertures; a lace that enters through an outer lace aperture of the plurality of outer lace apertures on the first side of the instep area, extends along an interior surface of the upper, exits through an inner lace aperture of the plurality of inner lace apertures on the first side of the instep area, extends across the instep area on an exterior surface of the upper in a direction towards the forefoot region of the upper, enters an outer lace aperture of the plurality of outer lace apertures on the second side of the instep area, extends along the interior surface of the upper, and then extends through an inner lace aperture of the plurality of inner lace apertures on the second side of the instep area; and a sole structure comprising a plurality of cleat members.

Facts

Company
Nike (NIKE, Inc.)
Official title
ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR INCORPORATING A KNITTED COMPONENT
Publication number
US20260262782A1
Application number
19658942
Filed
Apr 27, 2026
Published
Sep 10, 2026
Inventors
7
Claims
20

Classified under

A43B 1/04 Human necessitiesA43B 5/02 Human necessitiesA43B 7/20 Human necessitiesA43B 23/02 Human necessitiesA43B 23/0205 Human necessitiesA43B 23/0235 Human necessities
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.