Patent ID: 8141273
Filing Date: 2012-03-27
Classification: A43C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A footwear item comprising: an upper portion that reaches up to at least the ankle of a user; a gap opening in a front portion of the upper portion and defining two opposite edges of the gap; at least one string or lace that runs through eyelets arranged along the edges of the gap opening up on the front of the upper portion, and that tightens up, thereby drawing the edges of said gap closer to each other, when it is pulled in a fastening direction extending parallel to the leg of the user; a string locking arrangement, provided in the upper portion, having a main body resting on a base and being provided with one or more passages, each of the one or more passages having a bottom side, a top side and lateral sides, the bottom side of each of the one or more passages being formed by said base; wherein said at least one string is inserted in said one or more passages and is capable of sliding when the wearer pulls it, and is retained there by locking means when it is not pulled in the fastening direction extending parallel to the leg of the user; wherein the locking means are provided in at least one of said passages, said locking means being comprised of an oscillating locking member in contact with said at least one string, which allows said at least one string to slide when the latter is pulled in the fastening direction extending parallel to the leg of the user, and which on the contrary gets attached to said at least one string and locks it in position when the latter undergoes a tension in a direction opposite to said fastening direction; wherein said one or more passages have a geometrical arrangement such that the top side of each of said one or more passages is open, whereby, when the string is inserted therein, the same string has its side opposite to the bottom side of the passage uncovered, so that it is possible for the user to release the fastening of the string by seizing the string and pushing it forward, towards the toe of the foot, causing the string to move out of said one or more passages; wherein the main body is in a heart-like shape with three lobes, comprising two upwards oriented lobes and a downwards oriented lobe, respectively, which are roughly arranged as the angles of an equilateral triangle, the upwards oriented lobes comprising at least one passage each; and wherein the downwards oriented lobe comprises at least two passages, each of the at least two passages having a bottom formed by the base and a sidewall thereof formed by an edgeways placed, knife-like protrusion belonging to the lobe.