Abstract:
The present invention is a lace locking system that eliminates the inconveniences of a conventional lacing system. The design reroutes laces behind the ankle to a “T pull” handle that incorporates a “lace lock” that allows length adjustment to the laces. When the “T-pull” handle is pulled upon, the laces cinch and the handle is then placed into its rest. This provides the user with a “memory lace system” so the laces do not have to be adjusted and tied every time a shoe or skate is placed onto a foot.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to lacing systems and, more particularly, to methods and apparatuses allowing footwear to be laced and unlaced.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Generally speaking, the prior art teaches many different lace systems for footwear. Most conventional lace systems, however, require a tightening of the laces for use and a loosening of the laces for removal of the footwear. Commonly, pulling and tying the laces of the footwear accomplish the tightening and loosening. Some footwear, however, include lace locks that replace the tying part of the system. U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,559, issued on Feb. 27, 2001, incorporated herein by reference, describes some conventional shoelace fastening apparatuses.  
           [0003]    While a variety of devices have been developed for lacing systems, most are overly complex or require adept manual dexterity. Further, most lacing systems eliminate the need to tie the laces, but still require that the laces tightened and loosened manually. Also, removing the footwear requires releasing the laces from the lace locks.  
           [0004]    Thus, it would be desirous to provide an improved lacing system.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    To attain the advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, an article of footwear having a lacing system is provided. The article of footwear includes a foot section having opposing sides and a cuff section. At least one lace is woven between the opposing sides. A pull having at least one lace lock is couple to the cuff section such that when the at least one lace lock can be positioned in a tightened position.  
           [0006]    The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0007]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles thereof. Like items in the drawings are referred to using the same numerical reference.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 shows a rear perspective view of an in-line skate consistent with the present invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of the laces associated with the in-line skate of FIG. 1;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 shows a side view of the cuff section and pull of the in-line skate of FIG. 1  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a lace lock consistent with the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the lace lock of FIG. 4;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method of lacing an article of footwear consistent with the present invention; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternative lace locking system consistent with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]    The present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-7. Referring to FIG. 1, an in-line skate  1  is shown. While the present invention will be described with reference to in-line skates, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize on reading the disclosure that the present invention could be used in a variety of footwear, such as, ice skates, hiking boots, tennis shoes, basketball shoes, sneakers, biking shoes, and the like. Further, while shown with regard to conventional footwear, the present invention could also be used with footwear having adjustable sizes, such as, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,219, titled ADJUSTABLE FIT IN-LINE SKATE, issued on Oct. 29, 2002, U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,163, titled, ADJUSTING THE SIZE OF A LINED SPORT BOOT, issued on Jun. 11, 2002, U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,516, titled BOOT WITH AN ADJUSTABLE LENGTH UPPER ADAPTED FOR SKATING, issued Apr. 23, 2002, and the like, all incorporated by reference.  
         [0016]    In-line skate  1  includes a boot portion  2  and a frame portion  3 . Frame portion  3  conventional includes, not labeled as the parts are conventional, a wheel chassis, which typically includes an inverted “U” shape section to hold a plurality of wheels, a longitudinal surface to attach boot portion  2  to frame portion  3 . While not shown, frame portion  3  may also include a conventional in-line skate brake.  
         [0017]    Boot portion  2  generally includes foot section  4  and a cuff section  5 . A liner  6  may line the inside of boot portion  2 . Foot section  4  has a lace system  7 , which is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. Lace system  7  includes lace guides  8  and lace  9 . Lace guides  8  can be clamp style guides as shown, loops, ringlets, or the like. Lace guides  8  allow lace  9  to be woven between opposing sides  10  of foot section  4  such that tightening lace  9  causes opposing sides  10  of foot section  4  to fit snuggly around a foot of a user.  
         [0018]    Referring back to FIG. 1, unlike conventional in-line skates, lace guides  8  provide a lace path for lace  9  such that the lace wraps around cuff portion  5  and attaches to a pull  11 . A possible pull  11  is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. Attaching lace  9  to pull  11  allows for locking lace  9  so opposing sides  10  can be in a snug position around the foot of a user. While conventionally lace  9  has a first end and a second end (not shown or labeled) to facilitate tying lace  9 , the present invention is such that a continuous loop lace could be used.  
         [0019]    Referring now to FIG. 3, pull  11  can be seen in more detail. Pull  11  includes a lace lock  13  and a rest  12 . Rest  12  is attached to the cuff section  5 . As shown, lace lock  13  is releasably coupled to rest  12 . Lace lock  13  has a release button  14 . Depressing release button  14  will reduce the friction holding lace  9  in the tightened position. Use of the lace lock  13  will be explained with respect to flowchart  600  below. Referring to FIG. 4, a rear view of lace lock  13  is shown. As shown in FIG. 4, lace lock  13  can have one or more horizontal extension  13   h  and one or more vertical extensions  13   v . The configuration or shape of lace lock  13  is largely a matter of design choice, but at least one horizontal extension  13   h  and at least one vertical extension  13   v  makes it easier to pull pull  11  into a tightened position. Once in the tightened position, rest  11  (or cradle lock) can hold lace lock  13  with lace  9  locked in the tightened position. Referring now to FIG. 5, a cross sectional view of lace lock  13  is shown. As shown if FIG. 5, lace lock  13  has a lace through hole (not shown or labeled). Release  14  has a release through hole  15  and a bias  16 , such as a spring. In the lock position, bias  16  exerts a force on release  14  such that hole  15  pinches lace  9  (not shown in FIG. 5) against lace lock  13  sufficiently such that the friction locks lace  9  in place. Pressing release  14  against bias  16  releases the friction such that lace lock  13  can freely slide up and down lace  9 . Of course other releases are possible, with a spring-biased actuator being a cost effective release.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 shows a flowchart  600  representative of a first tightening of in-line skate  1  using the present invention. First, lace  9  is tightened, step  602 . Next lace  9  is attached to lace lock  13  to lock lace  9 , step  604 . Finally, lace lock  13  is releasably connected to rest  12  such that pull  11  is in the tightened position. As can be seen in this example, lace lock  13  is treaded or slid down lace  9  until pull  11  achieves the tightened position using a releasable connection. FIG. 7 shows an alternative pull  17 . Alternative pull  17  has rest  12  and lace lock  13 . Lace lock  13 , however, is pivotally connected to rest  12  by pivot  18  and extension  19 . Alternative pull  17  is shown in the loosened position. To tighten the footwear, pull  17  would pivot extension  19  upwards to a tightened position. If a pivot style pull were used, step  606  would be pivot pull  17  into the tightened position or the like. Notice, one of skill in the art will now recognize alternative embodiments of the pull and the above two examples should be viewed as illustrative and not limiting.  
         [0021]    Once the first tightening is complete, the loosening and re-tightening of in-line skate one is accomplished by releasably detaching lace lock  13  from rest  12  to loosen and releasably attaching lace lock  13  to rest  12 . Because lace lock  13  has previously been positioned on lace  9 , attaching lace lock  13  to rest  12  automatically and properly tightens the footwear providing a memory lace system of sorts. Of course, release  14  could be actuated to re-position lace lock  13  on lace  9  as frequently as the user desires. Similarly, alternative pull  17  would be moved from the tightened position to the loosened position by pivoting pull  17 . Again providing a memory lace system for the footwear.  
         [0022]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to some embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.