Nike patents shoe tongue knit directly into the upper
Nike describes a method for making a shoe where the tongue is knitted directly into the main body of the upper rather than being a separate piece. The design uses specific rows of stitches to join the tongue to the shoe's opening, creating a seamless connection between the two parts.
In the filing’s own words
A knitted component for an article of footwear comprises a knit element and a tongue integrally knitted with the knit element. The knit element includes a lateral throat portion overlapping a lateral edge of the tongue and a medial throat portion overlapping a medial edge of the tongue. The lateral throat portion and the tongue are joined by a first knit structure, and the medial throat portion and the tongue are joined by a second knit structure. The first and second knit structures each include one or more courses having a plurality of knit stitches. Each knit structure may also span multiple adjacent courses. A method of manufacturing the knitted component is also described herein.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An article of footwear, comprising: an upper, comprising: a throat region; and a tongue, wherein a portion of the tongue overlaps a portion of the throat region, thereby forming an overlapping region comprising a knit structure, wherein the knit structure secures the portion of the tongue to the portion of the throat region in the overlapping region, wherein the knit structure comprises multiple courses, and wherein each one of the multiple courses comprises a plurality of knit stitches, each knit stitch connecting the portion of the tongue to the portion of the throat region; and a sole structure secured to the upper.
Facts
- Company
- Nike (NIKE, Inc.)
- Official title
- ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH INTEGRALLY KNIT TONGUE
- Publication number
- US20260294044A1
- Application number
- 19699786
- Filed
- Jun 5, 2026
- Published
- Oct 1, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
A43B 23/26 Human necessitiesA43B 23/025 Human necessitiesA43B 1/04 Human necessitiesMore from Nike in Clothing & sport
- Nike patents clothing that stiffens instantly to protect against impacts Sep 15, 2026
- Nike patents underwear with electric straps that adjust tightness Sep 17, 2026
- Nike patents fabric that tightens when it gets wet Oct 15, 2026
- Nike patents shoe that pumps fluid to heel for cushioning Sep 8, 2026
- Nike patents top with built-in pocket for breast pumps Oct 1, 2026
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.