BACKGROUND

A variety of articles are formed from textiles. As examples, articles of apparel (e.g., shirts, pants, socks, footwear, jackets and other outerwear, briefs and other undergarments, hats and other headwear), containers (e.g., backpacks, bags), and upholstery for furniture (e.g., chairs, couches, car seats) are often at least partially formed from textiles. These textiles are often formed by weaving or interlooping (e.g., knitting) a yarn or a plurality of yarns, usually through a mechanical process involving looms or knitting machines. One particular object that may be formed from a textile is an upper for an article of footwear.

Conventional articles of footwear generally include two primary elements: an upper and a sole structure. The upper is secured to the sole structure and forms a void within the article of footwear for comfortably and securely receiving a foot. The sole structure is secured to a lower surface of the upper so as to be positioned between the upper and the ground. In some articles of athletic footwear, for example, the sole structure may include a midsole and an outsole. The midsole may be formed from a polymer foam material that attenuates ground reaction forces to lessen stresses upon the foot and leg during walking, running, and other ambulatory activities. The outsole may be secured to a lower surface of the midsole and forms a ground-engaging portion of the sole structure that is formed from a durable and wear-resistant material.

The upper of the article of footwear generally extends over the instep and toe areas of the foot, along the medial and lateral sides of the foot, and around the heel area of the foot. Access to the void on the interior of the upper is generally provided by an ankle opening in a heel area of the footwear. A lacing system is often incorporated into the upper to adjust the fit of the upper, thereby facilitating entry and removal of the foot from the void within the upper. In addition, the upper may include a tongue that extends under the lacing system to enhance adjustability of the footwear, and the upper may incorporate a heel counter to limit movement of the heel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method. The method may include placing an upper on a last, where the upper includes a lower perimeter edge secured to a lasting element, and where the last includes an opening for receiving the lasting element. The method may further include feeding the lasting element at least partially through an opening of the last and tensioning the lasting element to tighten the upper around the last by pulling the tensioning element at least partially through the opening.

The method may further include the step of forming the upper by knitting a knitted component, where the knitted component at least partially defines a surface of the upper. At least a portion of the lasting element may be inlaid in a knit structure of the knitted component. Knitting the knitted component may include knitting a channel adjacent to the lower perimeter edge, and the method may further include feeding the lasting element through the channel.

The method may further comprise joining a sole structure to the lower perimeter edge of the upper. The step of joining the sole structure to the lower perimeter edge of the upper may include applying an adhesive to at least one of the lower perimeter edge of the upper and the sole structure and then contacting the lower perimeter edge of the upper with the sole structure.

The sole structure may define an underfoot surface of a void of the article of footwear when the sole structure is joined to the upper. The upper may include a bottom opening during and after the step of securing the upper to the sole structure. The method may include removing the lasting element from the article of footwear after the step of joining the sole structure to the upper.

The upper may be a non-strobel upper when the upper is incorporated into an article of footwear.

The opening in the last may extend from an underfoot side of the last to a second side of the last, and the step of feeding the lasting element may include feeding an end of the lasting element from the underfoot side of the last, through the opening of the last, and out of the second side of the last.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an article of footwear. The article of footwear may include a sole structure and an upper. An inner and outer surface of the upper may formed by a knitted component, where a lower perimeter edge of the upper is secured to the sole structure, and where the upper includes a bottom opening adjacent to a top surface of the sole structure.

The upper may include the bottom opening during, and after the step of securing the upper to the sole structure.

The sole structure may define an underfoot surface of a void of the article of footwear when the sole structure is joined to the upper.

The lower perimeter edge of the knitted component may be secured via an adhesive.

The upper may be secured to a lasting element, where the lasting element is configured to tighten the upper around a last when the upper is located on the last and when a tension is applied to the lasting element. The upper may include a channel formed by the knitted component in the lower perimeter edge of the upper, where the lasting element is at least partially located within the channel. An end of the lasting element may be configured to be fed through an opening of a last.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an article of footwear with an upper having a knitted component with a lower perimeter edge and a lasting element secured to the lower perimeter edge. The lasting element may be at least partially inlaid within a knit structure of the knitted component, where the lasting element is configured to tighten the upper around a last when the upper is located on the last and when a tension is applied to the lasting element. The lower perimeter edge may be configured to secure to a sole structure of the article of footwear.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a last. The last may include a last body with a first surface and a second surface, where the first surface and the second surface are configured for exposure during a lasting process for lasting an upper for an article of footwear. An opening may extend from the first surface, where the opening is configured to receive a lasting element of an article of footwear.

The opening may extend from the first surface to the second surface such that it defines a channel from the first surface to the second surface.

The last body may include a foot-shaped body, where the first surface is an underfoot surface of the foot-shaped body, and where the second surface is a top surface of the foot-shaped body.

The last may include an anchor located adjacent to, or within, the opening, and the anchor may be configured to couple to a lasting element used while lasting the upper to maintain a tension applied to the lasting element.

