Patent Publication Number: US-8991074-B2

Title: Footwear lacing system

Description:
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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a side perspective view of one embodiment of a shoe with tapered lacing system; 
         FIG. 2  shows a front perspective view of the shoe with tapered lacing system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a side perspective view of the shoe with tapered lacing system of  FIG. 1  with laces removed from eyelets on the shoe; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a tapered configuration for the laces of the shoe of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows a bottom medial perspective view of the shoe of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 6  shows a bottom lateral perspective view of the shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an article of footwear in the form of a shoe  10  includes a sole  12  with a shoe upper  14  connected to the sole  12 . The shoe upper  14  includes a toe end  16 , a heel end  18 , and a mid-foot portion  20  provided between the toe end  16  and the heel end  18 . A shoe closure in the form of a lacing system  30  is positioned on the mid-foot portion of the shoe upper  14 . 
     The sole  12  and the shoe upper  14  (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 of  FIG. 1 , the shoe upper  14  includes textile portions  22  along with several different polymer portions  24 . The textile portions  22  are 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 portions  24  are also relatively lightweight and provide the shoe with stability and durability. The polymer portions  24  may be formed in different ways, such as by molding or by cutting the polymer portions  24  from a sheet of polymeric material. In various embodiments, at least some section of the polymer portions  24  may extend completely to the sole and be directly connected to the sole  12 . In other embodiments, different sections of the polymer portions  24  may be separated from the sole by the textile portions  22 . Additionally, in alternative embodiments, the polymer portions  24  may be substituted for a different material, such as a leather material or a different textile than the textile portions  22 . 
     The mid-foot portion  20  of the upper  14  includes an instep portion  25 . A central recess  26  is formed in the instep portion  25 , and a tongue  28  is positioned in the central recess  26 . One end of the tongue  28  is fastened to the upper  14  closer to the toe end  16 . The opposite end of the tongue  28  is moveable within the central recess  26 . 
     With reference again to  FIGS. 1-3 , the lacing system  30  is provided on the mid-foot portion  20  of the upper  14 , and particularly on the instep portion  25 . The lacing system  30  includes a first lace  40  and a second lace  50  that extend through a plurality of lacing eyelets  32  fastened to the mid-foot portion  20  of the shoe  10 . The plurality of lacing eyelets  32  are generally positioned on opposite sides of the recess  26  on the instep  25 . The lacing eyelets  32  may be provided in various forms, such as the rectangular shaped eyelets  33  pivotably fastened on the mid-foot portion  20 , or eyelets  34  positioned in openings in the mid-foot portion  20 . It will be recognized that these are only a few exemplary embodiments of numerous differently eyelets that may be utilized with the lacing system  30 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the first lace  40  includes a wide portion  42 , a narrow portion  44 , and a tapered portion  46  between the wide portion  42  and the narrow portion  44  of the first lace  40 . An aglet  48  is positioned at the end of the narrow portion  44  of the first lace  40 . The width of the first lace  40  is gradually reduced over the length of the tapered portion  46  from a first width provided at the wide portion  42  to a second width provided at the narrow portion  44 . In some embodiments, the first width at the wide portion  42  of the first lace  40  is 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 of  FIGS. 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 lace  40 , including numerous different widths for both the wide portion  42  and the narrow portion  24 . Additionally, the length of the first lace  40  is significantly greater than either the first width or the second width of the first lace  40 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 4 , the second lace  50  is significantly shorter in length than the first lace  40 . For example, in at least one embodiment, the second lace  50  is about 20 mm to 40 mm in length and the first lace  40  is 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 laces  40  and  50 , and numerous other lengths are possible. 
     Similar to the first lace  40 , the second lace  50  also includes a wide portion  52 , a narrow portion  54 , and a tapered portion  56  between the wide portion  52  and the narrow portion  54  of the second lace  50 . An aglet  58  is positioned at the end of the narrow portion  54  of the second lace  50 . The width of the second lace  50  is gradually reduced over the length of the tapered portion  56  from a first width provided at the wide portion  52  to a second width provided at the narrow portion  54 . Again, in some embodiments, the first width at the wide portion  52  of the second lace  50  is between 12 mm and 24 mm, and the second width at the narrow portion  54  of the second lace is between 5 mm and 10 mm. In the particular embodiment of  FIGS. 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 lace  50 . Additionally, the length of the second lace  50  is significantly greater than either the first width or the second width. 
     The laces  40 ,  50  may 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 laces  40 ,  50  where 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 laces  40 ,  50 , it will be recognized that any number of different materials may be used to create the laces  40 ,  50 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the wide portion  42  of the first lace  40  is non-removably fastened to the mid-foot portion  20  at a first fastening location provided at the lateral side  36  of the instep  25 . This first fastening location  41  is closer to the toe end  16  of the shoe  10  than it is to the heel end  18  of the shoe  10 . The second lace  50  is non-removably fastened to the mid-foot portion  20  at a second fastening location  51  provided at the medial side  38  of the instep  25 . This second fastening location  51  is closer to the heel end  18  of the shoe than the first fastening location  41 . In other words, the first fastening location  41  is substantially more forward on the shoe  10  toward the toe end  16  than the second fastening location  51 , and the second fastening location  51  is more rearward on the shoe toward heel end  18  than the first fastening location  41 . Accordingly, the first fastening location  41  for the first lace  40  and the second fastening location  51  for the second lace  50  are staggered from one another on the instep  25 , and are not positioned directly across from one another. Although the laces  40 ,  50  are directly fastened to the shoe upper  14  in the embodiment disclosed herein, it will be recognized that in other embodiments, the laces  40 ,  50 , need not be anchored directly to the shoe, or may be anchored to other locations on the shoe upper  14 . 
     With reference again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the wide portion  42  of the first lace  40  extends through a plurality of lacing eyelets  32  positioned in or on the mid-foot portion  20  of the shoe upper  14 . Accordingly, the wide portion  42  of the first lace  40  criss-crosses the central recess  26  as it moves from one lacing eyelet  32  to the next. The first lace  40  is designed and dimensioned such that the tapered portion  46  of the first lace  40  extends through the final lacing eyelet  32 . Because the wide portion  42  of the first lace  40  weaves through the plurality of lacing eyelets  32 , the lace offers substantial support to the instep of the wearer of the shoe. At the same time, the narrow portion  44  of the first lace  40  allows the wearer to easily grasp, manipulate, and tie the lace  40  in a manner that is customary with other lacing systems. 
     In contrast to the first lace  40  which weaves through most of the plurality of lacing eyelets  32 , the second lace  50  only extends through one of the plurality of lacing eyelets  32  in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 . In particular, the second lace  50  crosses the first lace  40  near the mouth of the recess  26 , and extends through the final eyelet  34  on the medial side of the shoe upper  14 . Similar to the first lace  40 , the tapered portion  56  of the second lace is positioned on the shoe upper  14  such that it extends through the final eyelet  34 . Accordingly, the wide portion  52  of the first lace offers substantial support to the instep of the wearer, while the narrow portion  54  allows the wearer to easily grasp, manipulate, and tie the lace  50 . 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in at least one embodiment, the plurality of lacing eyelets  32  include rectangular eyelets  33  that are pivotably coupled to the polymer portions  24  in the form of a medial side support member  24   a  and a lateral side support member  24   b . The side support members  24   a  and  24   b  extend from the shoe upper  14  to the sole  12  such that the side support members  24   a  and  24   b  are directly connected to the sole  12 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the side support members  24   a  and  24   b  are integrally formed with the outsole of the shoe  10 , with the medial side support member  24   a  connecting to the lateral side support member  24   b  on the bottom of the outsole. Medial side support member  24   a  includes a lower portion  64   a  with a plurality of fingers  74   a  extending upward from the lower portion  64   a . The lower portion  64   a  is directly connected to the sole  12  along the substantial length of the midfoot portion  20 . The plurality of fingers  74   a  extend upward from the lower portion  64   a  and an end of each finger is coupled to one of the lacing eyelets  32 . Similarly, lateral side support member  24   b  includes a lower portion  64   b  with a fingers  74   b  extending upward from the lower portion  64   ba . The lower portion  64   b  is directly connected to the sole  12  along the substantial length of the midfoot portion  20 . The finger  74   b  extends upward from the lower portion  64   b  and the end of the finger is coupled to one of the lacing eyelets  32 . Accordingly, when the first and second laces  40  and  50  are pulled tight and tied on the shoe  10 , the lacing eyelets  32  tend to pull on the fingers  74   a  and  74   b  and associated lower portions  64   a  and  64   b  of the side support members  24   a  and  24   b  which extend all the way to the bottom of the shoe. This provides the wearer with increased compression and a snug fit in the midfoot portion  20  of the shoe  10 . Moreover, because a relatively wide portion of the lace  50  engages each lacing eyelet  33 , an increased pulling force may be provided over a wider area of the lacing eyelet  33  and 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 eyelets  33 . 
     In operation, a wearer closes the shoe  10  on his or her foot by simply pulling the laces  40 ,  50  tight in the eyelets  32 , and tying the narrow portions  42 ,  52  of the laces together. The wide portions  42 ,  52  of the laces  40 ,  50 , allow the wearer to pull the laces  40 ,  50  very tight for a more secure fit than is offered by conventional lacing systems. Because the wide portions  42 ,  52  cover an increased area of the wearer&#39;s instep, they provide the wearer with strap-like support without the weight or bulk traditionally associated with shoe straps. Accordingly, the lacing system  30  provides 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.