Eyelet for article of footwear

An eyelet for an article of footwear includes an eyelet body configured to slidably couple a first string to a second string. The eyelet body defines a first arc-shaped aperture and an opposing, second arc-shaped aperture. The first arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the first string, and the second arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the second string. The eyelet may be disposed over (but not necessarily attached to) an upper of an article of footwear.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an eyelet for an article of footwear.

BACKGROUND

Footwear typically includes an upper and a sole coupled to the upper. In addition, the footwear may include laces for adjusting the upper to the wearer's foot. The laces may be connected to the upper in order to allow the wearer to tighten the laces.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to an eyelet for an article of footwear. In an embodiment, the eyelet includes an eyelet body configured to slidably couple a first string to a second string. The eyelet body defines a first arc-shaped aperture and an opposing, second arc-shaped aperture. The first arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the first string, and the second arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the second string. The eyelet may be disposed over (but not necessarily attached to) an upper of an article of footwear. The article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure coupled to the upper. During operation, the slidable motion of the second string relative to the eyelet is operative to adjust the position of the upper relative to the sole structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as “above,” “below,” “upward,” “downward,” “top,” “bottom,” etc., are used descriptively for the figures, and do not represent limitations on the scope of the present teachings, as defined by the claims.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components throughout the views,FIG. 1schematically illustrates an article of footwear10including a sole structure20and an upper30coupled to the sole structure20. For reference purposes, article of footwear10may be a golf shoe and may be divided into three general regions: a forefoot region11, a midfoot region12, and a heel region13. The footwear10also includes a lateral side14and a medial side opposite to the lateral side14. The forefoot region11generally includes portions of the article of footwear10corresponding with the toes and the joints connecting the metatarsals with the phalanges. The midfoot region12generally includes portions of the article of footwear10corresponding with the arc area of the foot, and the heel region13corresponds with rear portions of the foot, including the calcaneus bone. The lateral side14and medial side (not shown) extend through each of forefoot region11, the midfoot region12, and the heel region13and correspond with opposite sides of the article of footwear10. The forefoot region11, the midfoot region12, the heel region13, the lateral side14and the medial side are not intended to demarcate precise areas of footwear10. Rather, the forefoot region11, the midfoot region12, the heel region13, the lateral side14and the medial side are intended to represent general areas of footwear10to aid in the following discussion. In addition to the article of footwear10, forefoot region11, the midfoot region12, the heel region13, the lateral side14and the medial side may also be applied to sole structure20, upper30, and individual elements thereof.

The sole structure20is secured to the upper30and extends between the foot and the ground when the article of footwear10is worn. The primary elements of sole structure20are a midsole21, an outsole22, and a sockliner (not shown). The midsole21is secured to a lower surface of upper30and may be formed from a compressible polymer foam element (e.g., a polyurethane or ethylvinylacetate foam) that attenuates ground reaction forces (i.e., provides cushioning) when compressed between the foot and the ground during walking, running, or other ambulatory activities. In further configurations, the midsole21may incorporate fluid-filled chambers, plates, moderators, or other elements that further attenuate forces, enhance stability, or influence the motions of the foot, or the midsole21may be primarily formed from a fluid-filled chamber. The outsole22is secured to a lower surface of the midsole21and may be formed from a wear-resistant rubber material that is textured to impart traction. The sockliner is located within the upper30and is positioned to extend under a lower surface of the foot. Although this configuration for sole structure20provides an example of a sole structure that may be used in connection with the upper30, a variety of other conventional or nonconventional configurations for the sole structure20may also be utilized. Accordingly, the structure and features of the sole structure20or any sole structure utilized with the upper30may vary considerably.

The sole structure20further includes traction elements23disposed along the outsole22. Although the drawings show a specific number of traction elements23at specific locations in the outsole22, it is contemplated that the sole structure20may include more or fewer traction elements23at different locations relative to the outsole22. In the depicted embodiment, the traction elements23can be removably mounted to the outsole22. At least a portion of each traction element23extends beyond the outer outsole surface25.

The various portions of the upper30may be formed from one or more of a plurality of material elements (e.g., textiles, polymer sheets, foam layers, leather, synthetic leather) that are stitched or bonded together to form a void within the article of footwear10for receiving and securing a foot relative to the sole structure20. The void is shaped to accommodate the foot and extends along the lateral side of the foot, along the medial side of the foot, over the foot, around the heel, and under the foot. Access to the void is provided by an ankle opening31at least partly located in the heel region13. The upper30further includes a cover layer17and a tongue34movably coupled to the cover layer17. The tongue34extends over the interior void of the upper30in order to enhance the comfort of the article of footwear10.

The article of footwear10further includes one or more first strings41disposed on one or both of lateral side14and medial side. In the present disclosure, the term “string” means a flexible, elongated structure capable of withstanding a tensile load. As non-limiting examples, the term “string” includes, but is not limited to, a cable, a lace, a strand, a wire, a cord, among others. The first strings41extend downward from the various string openings33. The string openings33may be configured as slots or slits and are located closer to the tongue34than to the sole structure20. In the depicted embodiment, the first strings41extend from a lace region of the upper30(i.e., the region where string openings33or other lace-receiving elements are located) to a lower region of the upper30(i.e., the region where sole structure20joins with the upper30). The first strings41may be coupled (e.g., directly attached) to the sole structure20, the heel cup19, or both. Specifically, each of the first strings41includes a first string end41aand a second string end41b, and the first and second string ends41a,41bare coupled to the sole structure20, the heel cup19, or both. For instance, the first and second string ends41a,41bmay be directly bonded to the sockliner of the sole structure20. The number of first strings41may vary and, in the depicted embodiment, the first strings41are oriented in a rearwardly-angled direction in the area between the string openings33and the sole structure20. However, it is contemplated that the first strings41may be oriented vertically relative to the sole structure20. Regardless of its orientation, the first strings41may be partially embedded inside the upper30. For instance, the first strings41may be disposed between an inner layer (not shown) and the cover layer17of the upper. Each of the first strings41includes an intermediate string portion41cdisposed between the first string end41aand the second string end41b. The intermediate string portion41cextends through the string opening33and is therefore disposed outside the upper30. Each intermediate string portion41cis slidably coupled to an eyelet100.

During activities that involve walking, running, or other ambulatory movements (e.g., cutting, braking), a foot within the void in the article of footwear10may tend to stretch the upper30. That is, many of the material elements forming the upper30may stretch when placed in tension by movements of the foot. Although the first strings41may also stretch, the first strings41generally stretch to a lesser degree than the other material elements forming the upper30. Each of the first strings41and the second strings42may be located, therefore, to form structural components in the upper30that (a) resist stretching in specific directions or locations, (b) limit excess movement of the foot relative to the sole structure20and the upper30, (c) ensure that the foot remains properly positioned relative to the sole structure20and the upper30, and (d) reinforce locations where forces are concentrated. As non-limiting examples, suitable materials for the first strings41include various filaments, fibers, yarns, threads, cables, or ropes that are formed from rayon, polyamide, polyester, polyacrylic, silk, cotton, carbon, glass, aramids (e.g., para-aramid fibers and meta-aramid fibers), ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, liquid crystal polymer, copper, aluminum, or steel.

The article of footwear10further includes one or more second strings42(.e.g., laces) extending through various eyelets100and along part of the lateral side14and the medial side of the upper30. For example, the second strings42may extend over the tongue34of the upper30and part of the cover layer17. As such, the second string42can be cinched to permit the wearer to modify dimensions of the upper30to accommodate the proportions of the foot. More particularly, the second string42permits the wearer to tighten the upper30around the foot and to loosen the upper30to facilitate entry and removal of the foot from the void (i.e., through ankle opening31). As non-limiting examples, the second strings42may be a cable, a lace, a strand, a wire, cord, among others. In the depicted embodiment, the second string42is a cable, and the first string41is a wire. The second string42may be operatively coupled to a reel based closure system44configured to tighten or loosen the first string41and the second string42. As non-limiting examples, the article of footwear10may include a reel based closure system as described in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2015/0033519 and 2014/0290016, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The reel based closure system44includes a rotatable knob45. During operation, a user can turn the rotatable knob45in order to reel the second string42, thereby tightening or loosening the first string41and the second string42. Because the first strings41are attached to the bottom of the article of footwear10(e.g., the sole structure20), the first strings41and the second strings42provide the user with more freedom to tighten or loosen the article of footwear10in comparison to conventional articles of footwear. To this end, the article of footwear10includes at least one eyelet100slidably coupling at least one of the first strings41to at least one of the second strings42. The eyelets100therefore allow the user to adjust (e.g., tightening or loosening) the first strings41and/or the second strings42while minimizing friction between the first strings41and the second strings42. Although the depicted embodiment shows the reel based closure system44operatively coupled to the second strings42, it is envisioned that the reel based closure system44may be operatively coupled to the first strings41, the second strings42, or both. Alternatively, the article of footwear10may include one reel based closure system44operatively coupled to the first strings41, and another reel based closure system operatively coupled to the second strings42. The reel based closure systems44may be coupled to any suitable part of the upper30, such as the tongue34or the cover layer17along the lateral side14or the medial side. In an alternate embodiment, neither the first strings41nor the second strings42are operatively coupled to the reel based closure system44. In such case, the article of footwear10may not include the reel based closure system44.

The eyelets100are freely disposed over (but not attached to) the upper30in order to allow dynamic adjustment of the first string41and the second string42. In other words, the eyelets100are free-floating relative to the upper30and are only directly coupled to the first string41and the second string42. Therefore, the eyelets100are not necessarily directly attached to the cover layer17(or any other of the upper30). Moreover, the eyelets100are closer to the tongue34than to the sole structure20. Furthermore, each eyelet100slidably couples the second string42to at least one of the first string41. As such, the first string41and the second string42can both slide through one eyelet100, thereby facilitating tightening or loosening the second string42. Although the drawings show one eyelet100slidably coupling the first string41to the second string42, it is contemplated that the eyelet100may slidably couple two portions of the same string.

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, each eyelet100includes an eyelet body102made of a substantially rigid material, such as a rigid polymeric material (e.g. polyamide) or a rigid metallic material, in order to withstand the tensile loads exerted by moving the first string41and the second string42on the eyelet100. The eyelet body102is configured to slidably couple the first string41to the second string42and serves as a guide in order to direct the movement of the first string41and the second string42when the user tightens or loosens the second string42to the upper30. To this end, the eyelet100defines a first arc-shaped aperture104configured, shaped, and sized to slidably receive the first string41and a second arc-shaped aperture106configured, shaped, and size to slidably receive the second string42. A solid, rigid support108is disposed between the first arc-shaped aperture104and the second arc-shaped aperture106in order to prevent direct contact between the portions of the first string41and the second string42disposed inside the eyelet100. Each of the first arc-shaped aperture104and a second arc-shaped aperture106extends through the eyelet body102and may be mirror images of each other.

The first arc-shaped aperture104has a first vertex V1, and the second arc-shaped aperture106has a second vertex V2. In the present disclosure, the term “vertex” means a point where the first derivative of a curvature is zero. In the depicted embodiment, the first vertex V1is the maximum of the curvature defined by the first arc-shaped aperture104, and the second vertex V2is the minimum of the curvature defined by the second arc-shaped aperture106. The first vertex V1and the second vertex V2may be aligned along a linear axis A in order to balance the tensile loads applied to the eyelet100by the first string41and the second string42. Accordingly, the linear axis A intersects the first vertex V1and the second vertex V2. The first arc-shaped aperture104has a first tangent vector T1and a first normal unit vector N1at the first vertex V1, and the second arc-shaped aperture106has a second tangent vector T2and a second normal unit vector N2at the second vertex V2. In the present disclosure, the term “tangent vector” means a vector that is tangent to a curve at a given point. The first tangent vector T1is tangent to the first-arc shaped aperture104at the first vertex V1, and the second tangent vector T2is tangent to the second arc-shaped aperture106at the second vertex V2. The term “normal unit vector” means a vector that is perpendicular to a tangent vector. The first normal unit vector N1is perpendicular to the first tangent vector T1, and the second normal unit vector N1is perpendicular to the second tangent vector T. The “normal unit vector” and the “tangent vector” are described by the Frenet-Serret formulas. In the present disclosure, the first arc-shaped aperture104and the second arc-shaped aperture106are mirror images of each other and, as such, the first normal unit vector N1is opposite to (or otherwise different from) the second normal unit vector N2in order to allow the first string41and the second string42to be adjustable independently of each other. In other words, the first arc-shaped aperture104and the second arc-shaped aperture106are in an opposed relationship to each other.

The first arc-shaped aperture104has a radius of curvature R1, and the second arc-shaped aperture has a second radius of curvature R2. The second radius of curvature R1may be larger than the second radius of curvature R2, or vice-versa, in order to facilitate adjustment of the second string42by the reel based closure system44. It is nevertheless contemplated that the first radius of curvature R1may be equal to the second radius of curvature R2. Furthermore, the second radius of curvature R2of the eyelet100closest to the reel based closure system44is larger than the second radius of curvature R2of the eyelet100that is farthest from the reel based closure system44. Moreover, the second radius of curvature R2of the eyelets100may incrementally decrease as the eyelets100are positioned farther from the reel based closure system44. Another reel based closure system44can also be operatively coupled to the first strings41. Alternatively, the article of footwear10may not include the reel based closure system44.

Because of the curvature of the first arc-shaped aperture104and the second arc-shaped aperture106, the first strings41and the second strings42define opposing inflection points (i.e., vertices) inside the eyelets100to allow adjustment (e.g., tightening or loosening) of the first string41and/or the second strings42while minimizing friction. During the adjustment of the first strings41and/or the second strings42, the eyelets100are free to move relative to the upper30in order to provide the user with more freedom to tighten or loosen the article of footwear10in comparison with conventional articles of footwear. The slidable motion of the second string42relative to the eyelet100is operative to adjust a position of the upper30relative to the sole structure.

The detailed description and the drawings or figures are supportive and descriptive of the disclosure, but the scope of the disclosure is defined solely by the claims. While some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed disclosure have been described in detail, various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing the disclosure defined in the appended claims. For example, although the disclosed article of footwear is configured as a golf shoe, the described concepts associated with the article of footwear, including the upper, may also be applied to a variety of other athletic footwear types, including baseball shoes, basketball shoes, cross-training shoes, cycling shoes, football shoes, tennis shoes, soccer shoes, and hiking boots, among others. The concepts may also be applied to footwear types that are generally considered to be non-athletic, including dress shoes, loafers, sandals, and work boots. The concepts disclosed herein apply, therefore, to a wide variety of footwear types. Furthermore, the embodiments shown in the drawings or the characteristics of various embodiments mentioned in the present description are not necessarily to be understood as embodiments independent of each other. Rather, it is possible that each of the characteristics described in one of the examples of an embodiment can be combined with one or a plurality of other desired characteristics from other embodiments, resulting in other embodiments not described in words or by reference to the drawings. Accordingly, such other embodiments fall within the framework of the scope of the appended claims.