Nike patents knit shoe uppers with a floating net layer for stretch
Nike describes a footwear upper made of two knit layers: a solid base and a net-like layer on top. The net layer is attached to the base at specific points, allowing parts of it to float slightly above the surface while stretching to provide support.
In the filing’s own words
An article of footwear may include an upper having a knit component comprising a base knit layer and a net layer disposed over at least a portion of the base knit layer. The net layer may comprise a plurality of tensile segments that define a plurality of openings and that are secured to the base knit layer at a plurality of knit connection regions. Portions of the net layer may extend between adjacent knit connection regions while being spaced from the base knit layer. In some configurations, the knit component may include a first knit layer and a second knit layer interconnected at discrete connection regions such that portions of the second knit layer define a mesh structure overlying the first knit layer. Tensile segments of the mesh structure may extend between anchor regions and define openings between adjacent tensile segments.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An article of footwear, comprising: an upper, comprising: a knit component, comprising: a base knit layer; a net layer disposed over at least a portion of the base knit layer, the net layer comprising a plurality of tensile segments that intersect to define a plurality of openings; and a plurality of knit connection regions each securing part of the net layer to the base knit layer, wherein one or more tensile segments of the plurality of tensile segments extend between adjacent knit connection regions while spanning over the base knit layer, and wherein each knit connection region comprises one or more knit stitches that integrally connect the plurality of tensile segments with the base knit layer.
Facts
- Company
- Nike (NIKE, Inc.)
- Official title
- KNITTED TENSILE STRUCTURES
- Publication number
- US20260308820A1
- Application number
- 19711653
- Filed
- Jun 17, 2026
- Published
- Oct 8, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
D04B 1/104 Textiles & paperA43B 1/04 Human necessitiesD04B 1/123 Textiles & paperD04B 21/10 Textiles & paperD04B 21/207 Textiles & paperD10B 2501/043 Textiles & paperMore from Nike in Clothing & sport
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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.