Footwear lacing system

A shoe includes a shoe upper, a first lace and a second lace. The shoe upper includes a heel end, a toe end, and a mid-foot portion between the heel end and the toe end. The first lace is connected to the shoe upper and includes a wide portion and a narrow portion with a tapered portion in-between. The wide portion of the first lace is fastened to the mid-foot portion of the shoe upper at a first position that is nearer to the toe end than the heel end. The second lace is also connected to the shoe upper and also includes a wide portion and a narrow portion with a tapered portion in-between. The wide portion of the second lace is fastened to the mid-foot portion of the shoe upper at a second position that is nearer to the heel end than the first position.

FIELD

This application relates to the field of footwear, and particularly to footwear lacing systems.

BACKGROUND

Various tightening systems for footwear are known in the art, including shoe lace arrangements and strap arrangements. These traditional tightening systems are used to tighten the upper portion of a shoe against the foot of the wearer. It is desirable for the tightening system to provide support for severe lateral movements made by the wearer, such as movements made during cross-training exercises. It is also desirable for the tightening system to be relatively lightweight with a low profile.

In traditional strap arrangements, relatively wide straps provide the advantage of support to the foot of the wearer, but tend to be bulky and somewhat heavy. These strap arrangements may rely on hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®) for closure, thus adding even more bulk to the strap arrangement. On the other hand, traditional shoe lace arrangements are lightweight and small, but do not provide the support offered by straps. Additionally, traditional shoe lace arrangements are easily loosened, and often need to be re-tightened during athletic activity. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a tightening arrangement for footwear that is lightweight and low-profile while also offering substantial support to the foot of the wearer.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided a shoe comprising a shoe upper, a first lace and a second lace. The shoe upper includes a heel end, a toe end, and a mid-foot portion between the heel end and the toe end. The first lace is connected to the shoe upper and includes a wide portion and a narrow portion. The wide portion of the first lace is fastened to the mid-foot portion of the shoe upper at a first position that is nearer to the toe end than the heel end. The second lace is also connected to the shoe upper and includes a wide portion and a narrow portion. The wide portion of the second lace is fastened to the mid-foot portion of the shoe upper at a second position that is nearer to the heel end than the first position.

In at least one embodiment, the first lace extends through a plurality of lacing eyelets positioned in or on the mid-foot portion of the shoe upper. The mid-foot portion of the shoe upper includes an instep portion comprising a central recess with a tongue positioned in the central recess. The plurality of lacing eyelets are positioned on opposite sides of the central recess. The second lace also extends through at least one of the plurality of lacing eyelets such that the first lace and the second lace cross on the instep portion of the shoe upper.

In at least one embodiment, both the first lace and the second lace include a tapered portion that connects the wide portion of the lace to the narrow portion. The first lace extends through the plurality of lacing eyelets such that the tapered portion of the first lace extends through a final first side eyelet of the plurality of eyelets. Likewise the second lace extends through the at least one of the plurality of lacing eyelets such that the tapered portion of the second lace extends through a final second side eyelet of the plurality of eyelets.

In at least one embodiment, the shoe further comprises a first side support member that extends from an outsole of the shoe to the mid-foot portion of the shoe. At least one of the plurality of lacing eyelets is coupled to the first side support member at the mid-foot portion of the shoe. A second side support member extends from the outsole to the mid-foot portion of the shoe. The second lace is fastened to the second side support member on the mid-foot portion of the shoe.

The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. While it would be desirable to provide a shoe that provides one or more of these or other advantageous features, the teachings disclosed herein extend to those embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the above-mentioned advantages.

DESCRIPTION

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, an article of footwear in the form of a shoe10includes a sole12with a shoe upper14connected to the sole12. The shoe upper14includes a toe end16, a heel end18, and a mid-foot portion20provided between the toe end16and the heel end18. A shoe closure in the form of a lacing system30is positioned on the mid-foot portion of the shoe upper14.

The sole12and the shoe upper14(which may also be referred to herein as simply an “upper”) may be comprised of any of various materials known in the art, including, for example, textiles and polymeric materials, such as synthetic rubber. In the embodiment ofFIG. 1, the shoe upper14includes textile portions22along with several different polymer portions24. The textile portions22are generally lightweight and provide the shoe with flexibility and breathability. Exemplary textile materials include textiles comprised of polyester, nylon, or various other materials as will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art.

The polymer portions24are also relatively lightweight and provide the shoe with stability and durability. The polymer portions24may be formed in different ways, such as by molding or by cutting the polymer portions24from a sheet of polymeric material. In various embodiments, at least some section of the polymer portions24may extend completely to the sole and be directly connected to the sole12. In other embodiments, different sections of the polymer portions24may be separated from the sole by the textile portions22. Additionally, in alternative embodiments, the polymer portions24may be substituted for a different material, such as a leather material or a different textile than the textile portions22.

The mid-foot portion20of the upper14includes an instep portion25. A central recess26is formed in the instep portion25, and a tongue28is positioned in the central recess26. One end of the tongue28is fastened to the upper14closer to the toe end16. The opposite end of the tongue28is moveable within the central recess26.

With reference again toFIGS. 1-3, the lacing system30is provided on the mid-foot portion20of the upper14, and particularly on the instep portion25. The lacing system30includes a first lace40and a second lace50that extend through a plurality of lacing eyelets32fastened to the mid-foot portion20of the shoe10. The plurality of lacing eyelets32are generally positioned on opposite sides of the recess26on the instep25. The lacing eyelets32may be provided in various forms, such as the rectangular shaped eyelets33pivotably fastened on the mid-foot portion20, or eyelets34positioned in openings in the mid-foot portion20. It will be recognized that these are only a few exemplary embodiments of numerous differently eyelets that may be utilized with the lacing system30.

As best shown inFIG. 4, the first lace40includes a wide portion42, a narrow portion44, and a tapered portion46between the wide portion42and the narrow portion44of the first lace40. An aglet48is positioned at the end of the narrow portion44of the first lace40. The width of the first lace40is gradually reduced over the length of the tapered portion46from a first width provided at the wide portion42to a second width provided at the narrow portion44. In some embodiments, the first width at the wide portion42of the first lace40is between 12 mm and 24 mm, and the second width at the narrow portion is between 5 mm and 10 mm. In the particular embodiment ofFIGS. 1-4, the first width is about 18 mm and the second width is about 8 mm. While this is but one possible embodiment, it will be recognized that any number of different widths are possible for the first lace40, including numerous different widths for both the wide portion42and the narrow portion24. Additionally, the length of the first lace40is significantly greater than either the first width or the second width of the first lace40.

With continued reference toFIG. 4, the second lace50is significantly shorter in length than the first lace40. For example, in at least one embodiment, the second lace50is about 20 mm to 40 mm in length and the first lace40is about 50 mm to 70 mm in length. However, it will be recognized that the lengths disclosed herein are merely exemplary of the different lengths of the laces40and50, and numerous other lengths are possible.

Similar to the first lace40, the second lace50also includes a wide portion52, a narrow portion54, and a tapered portion56between the wide portion52and the narrow portion54of the second lace50. An aglet58is positioned at the end of the narrow portion54of the second lace50. The width of the second lace50is gradually reduced over the length of the tapered portion56from a first width provided at the wide portion52to a second width provided at the narrow portion54. Again, in some embodiments, the first width at the wide portion52of the second lace50is between 12 mm and 24 mm, and the second width at the narrow portion54of the second lace is between 5 mm and 10 mm. In the particular embodiment ofFIGS. 1-4, the first width is about 18 mm, and the second width is about 8 mm. While this is but one possible embodiment, it will be recognized that any number of different widths are possible for the second lace50. Additionally, the length of the second lace50is significantly greater than either the first width or the second width.

The laces40,50may be comprised of any of various materials known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the laces may be comprised of a cotton material or a more durable polyester material. In at least one embodiment, the laces are comprised of a nanofiber material that is generally lightweight and provides the lace with durability along with high surface area and shear gripping properties. Such a nanofiber lace is not tacky yet provides superior gripping qualities when wet. An “islands in the sea” technique may be used to create such a nanofiber material for the laces40,50where fibers split and create over 250 filaments each. While standard microfiber yarn is 30 denier/36 filaments, nanofiber yarn may be provided that is 30 denier/8000 filaments. Accordingly, such nanofiber lace provides increased surface area that creates a high coefficient of friction when the laces are tied together. While nanofiber, polyester and cotton materials have been disclosed herein as exemplary materials for manufacturing the laces40,50, it will be recognized that any number of different materials may be used to create the laces40,50.

As best shown inFIG. 3, the wide portion42of the first lace40is non-removably fastened to the mid-foot portion20at a first fastening location provided at the lateral side36of the instep25. This first fastening location41is closer to the toe end16of the shoe10than it is to the heel end18of the shoe10. The second lace50is non-removably fastened to the mid-foot portion20at a second fastening location51provided at the medial side38of the instep25. This second fastening location51is closer to the heel end18of the shoe than the first fastening location41. In other words, the first fastening location41is substantially more forward on the shoe10toward the toe end16than the second fastening location51, and the second fastening location51is more rearward on the shoe toward heel end18than the first fastening location41. Accordingly, the first fastening location41for the first lace40and the second fastening location51for the second lace50are staggered from one another on the instep25, and are not positioned directly across from one another. Although the laces40,50are directly fastened to the shoe upper14in the embodiment disclosed herein, it will be recognized that in other embodiments, the laces40,50, need not be anchored directly to the shoe, or may be anchored to other locations on the shoe upper14.

With reference again toFIGS. 1 and 2, the wide portion42of the first lace40extends through a plurality of lacing eyelets32positioned in or on the mid-foot portion20of the shoe upper14. Accordingly, the wide portion42of the first lace40criss-crosses the central recess26as it moves from one lacing eyelet32to the next. The first lace40is designed and dimensioned such that the tapered portion46of the first lace40extends through the final lacing eyelet32. Because the wide portion42of the first lace40weaves through the plurality of lacing eyelets32, the lace offers substantial support to the instep of the wearer of the shoe. At the same time, the narrow portion44of the first lace40allows the wearer to easily grasp, manipulate, and tie the lace40in a manner that is customary with other lacing systems.

In contrast to the first lace40which weaves through most of the plurality of lacing eyelets32, the second lace50only extends through one of the plurality of lacing eyelets32in the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-4. In particular, the second lace50crosses the first lace40near the mouth of the recess26, and extends through the final eyelet34on the medial side of the shoe upper14. Similar to the first lace40, the tapered portion56of the second lace is positioned on the shoe upper14such that it extends through the final eyelet34. Accordingly, the wide portion52of the first lace offers substantial support to the instep of the wearer, while the narrow portion54allows the wearer to easily grasp, manipulate, and tie the lace50.

With reference now toFIGS. 5 and 6, in at least one embodiment, the plurality of lacing eyelets32include rectangular eyelets33that are pivotably coupled to the polymer portions24in the form of a medial side support member24aand a lateral side support member24b. The side support members24aand24bextend from the shoe upper14to the sole12such that the side support members24aand24bare directly connected to the sole12. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 5 and 6, the side support members24aand24bare integrally formed with the outsole of the shoe10, with the medial side support member24aconnecting to the lateral side support member24bon the bottom of the outsole. Medial side support member24aincludes a lower portion64awith a plurality of fingers74aextending upward from the lower portion64a. The lower portion64ais directly connected to the sole12along the substantial length of the midfoot portion20. The plurality of fingers74aextend upward from the lower portion64aand an end of each finger is coupled to one of the lacing eyelets32. Similarly, lateral side support member24bincludes a lower portion64bwith a fingers74bextending upward from the lower portion64ba. The lower portion64bis directly connected to the sole12along the substantial length of the midfoot portion20. The finger74bextends upward from the lower portion64band the end of the finger is coupled to one of the lacing eyelets32. Accordingly, when the first and second laces40and50are pulled tight and tied on the shoe10, the lacing eyelets32tend to pull on the fingers74aand74band associated lower portions64aand64bof the side support members24aand24bwhich extend all the way to the bottom of the shoe. This provides the wearer with increased compression and a snug fit in the midfoot portion20of the shoe10. Moreover, because a relatively wide portion of the lace50engages each lacing eyelet33, an increased pulling force may be provided over a wider area of the lacing eyelet33and the associated side support member. This not only enhances the compression effect, but also provides for additional durability in the laces, since a wider portion of the lace engages the lacing eyelets33.

In operation, a wearer closes the shoe10on his or her foot by simply pulling the laces40,50tight in the eyelets32, and tying the narrow portions42,52of the laces together. The wide portions42,52of the laces40,50, allow the wearer to pull the laces40,50very tight for a more secure fit than is offered by conventional lacing systems. Because the wide portions42,52cover an increased area of the wearer's instep, they provide the wearer with strap-like support without the weight or bulk traditionally associated with shoe straps. Accordingly, the lacing system30provides the wearer with the convenience of light weight laces without the undue sharp pressure on the foot that is typically associated with laces. Additionally, the traditional tie arrangement is easy for the wearer to understand and implement.

The foregoing detailed description of one or more embodiments of the footwear lacing system has been presented herein by way of example only and not limitation. It will be recognized that there are advantages to certain individual features and functions described herein that may be obtained without incorporating other features and functions described herein. Moreover, it will be recognized that various alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements of the above-disclosed embodiments and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different embodiments, systems or applications. Presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by any appended claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of any appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.