Patent ID: 9339082
Filing Date: 2016-05-17
CPC Classification: A43B,A43C,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A footwear lacing system, comprising: a footwear member including first and second opposing sides separated by a tongue portion of the footwear member; a lace guided along a path of the footwear member and having opposing ends coupled with a spool; a tightening mechanism attached to the footwear member and operationally coupled to the spool, wherein operation of the tightening mechanism effects winding of the lace about the spool to tension the lace and tighten the footwear member, the tightening mechanism being positionable in an engaged position and a disengaged position, the tightening mechanism including a housing having a pair of lace ports, wherein: first, second, and third guide members attached to the footwear member, each guide member having a channel formed therein with an opening that enables a closed loop of the lace to be positioned within the channel without requiring the lace to be threaded through the channel, each guide member being coupled with the footwear member so that the opening of the channel faces away from a midline of the footwear member so that, under tension, the lace is retained within the channel of the respective guide member, each guide member including one or more retention members that partially close the opening of the channel to prevent the lace from escaping when tension on the lace is released; wherein the channel of each guide member comprises an elongated longitudinal lace pathway extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the footwear member and first and second lace entrance points positioned on opposing ends of the lace pathway where the lace enters or exits the lace pathway; wherein the lace slidably extends along the first and second lace entrance points and the longitudinal lace pathway of each guide member; and wherein the path of the footwear member along which the lace is guided is defined by and consists of the tightening mechanism, the first guide member, the second guide member, and the third guide member, wherein the tightening mechanism and the first guide member are positioned on the first side of the footwear member, and the second guide member and the third guide member positioned on the second side of the footwear member, and wherein the path is configured such that the lace forms an acute angle from the lace ports of the tightening mechanism across the tongue portion of the footwear member.