Patent Description:
A conventional article of footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper may define a void that securely receives the foot of a wearer and positions it with respect to the sole structure. The sole structure may be secured to a lower surface of the upper. A sole structure may include a fluid-filled chamber. The upper may be formed to include a gap between medial and lateral sides in an instep area of the footwear. The gap may be bridged by a lace, and a tongue may extend under the gap. The lace may be loosened to facilitate the insertion of a wearer's foot into the footwear. Once the wearer's foot is in place within the footwear, the lace may be tightened and tied in order to better secure the upper against the wearer's foot.

Document <CIT> discloses an article of footwear wherein a lacing system cooperates with tensile members to apply tension upon a bladder located in the sole.

The claimed invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description.

An article of footwear may have various parts subject to improvement. As previously described, a conventional article of footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper may be formed from one or more of a variety of material elements (e.g. textiles, leather, synthetic leather, and foam materials), and may define a void that securely receives the foot of a wearer and positions it with respect to the sole structure. The sole structure may be secured to a lower surface of the upper, and may have a layered configuration that includes a comfort-enhancing insole, a resilient midsole formed from a polymer foam, and a ground-contacting outsole.

A polymer foam material within a sole structure may include a plurality of open or closed cells that deteriorate following repeated compressions. The effects of this deterioration may be decreased by incorporating a fluid-filled chamber into the sole structure. The chamber may be formed from a polymer material that is sealed to enclose a fluid, and may be encapsulated within the polymer material, or may be located above or below it, or may form any portion of the midsole. Fluid-filled chambers suitable for such footwear applications may be manufactured by thermoforming techniques.

The sole structure may serve to attenuate ground reaction forces, to provide traction, and to control various foot motions such as pronation. The upper and the sole structure may cooperatively provide a comfortable structure to benefit a wearer engaged in any of a variety of activities.

The upper may be formed to include a gap between medial and lateral sides in an instep area of the footwear. The gap may be bridged by a lace, and a tongue may extend under the gap. The lace may be loosened to facilitate the insertion of a wearer's foot into the footwear. Once the wearer's foot is in place within the footwear, the lace may be tightened and tied in order to better secure the upper against the wearer's foot.

In some cases, a conventional lace may be insufficient for addressing a design need, or may be undesirable. For example, for some footwear, it may be desirable to secure an area of the footwear other than the instep area against a wearer's foot. At the same time, it may be desirable to present a simpler means of securing the footwear against the wearer's foot. It may also be desirable to pre-define the shape of the instep area in ways that may be obstructed or hindered by conventional tongues and laces. In addition, it may be desirable to provide cushioning or other protection to an area of the footwear that is secured against the wearer's foot.

Therefore, there exists a need in the footwear art for improvements that permit alternate placement of the means of securing footwear against a foot, that simplify the use of those securing means, that minimize distortion of pre-defined shapes of the upper, and that provide protection against impacts to the area of the footwear being secured against the foot.

Articles of footwear with improved means of securing the footwear against a wearer's foot are described herein. The improvements permit alternate placement of the securing means, such as in an Achilles tendon are of a heel region of the footwear. The improvements also provide simplified securing means, through the use of a dial. The securing means may permit a reduction or elimination of conventional means for securing footwear against feet, such as tongues and laces, and thereby reduce distortion of a predefined shape of the upper. In addition, the improvements provide protection to the area of the footwear being secured against the foot.

According to the claimed invention, an article of footwear is disclosed by independent claim <NUM>; a method for manufacturing an article of footwear is disclosed by independent claim <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the fluid-filled chamber is positioned in a heel region of the article, the adjusting element is positioned in a heel region of the article and to the rear of the fluid-filled chamber, and the anchoring element is positioned on the base element and in front of the adjusting element.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages will be, or will become, apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims.

The following discussion and accompanying figures disclose articles of footwear having fluid-filled chambers, adjusting elements, and anchoring elements. The articles of footwear are disclosed as having a general configuration suitable for walking or running. However, concepts associated with the footwear may be applied to a variety of other footwear types, including footwear for athletic activities such as baseball, basketball, football, soccer, tennis, golf, cycling, cross-training, and hiking, for example. Associated concepts may also be utilized with a variety of footwear styles generally considered to be casual or non-athletic, such as work boots, dress shoes, loafers, and sandals. Accordingly, the concepts disclosed herein apply to a wide variety of footwear types.

An article of footwear <NUM> designed for a wearer's right foot is depicted in <FIG>. Article of footwear <NUM> includes an upper <NUM> for receiving the foot and a sole structure <NUM>.

For reference purposes, footwear <NUM> may be divided into three general regions: a forefoot region <NUM><NUM>, a midfoot region <NUM>, and a heel region <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Forefoot region <NUM><NUM> generally includes portions of footwear <NUM> corresponding with the toes and the joints connecting the metatarsals with the phalanges. Midfoot region <NUM> generally includes portions of footwear <NUM> corresponding with the arch area of the foot, and heel region <NUM> corresponds with rear portions of the foot, including the calcaneus bone.

Footwear <NUM> also includes a medial side <NUM> and a lateral side <NUM>, as shown in FSG. Medial side <NUM> and lateral side <NUM> extend through each of regions <NUM><NUM>-<NUM> and correspond with opposite sides of footwear <NUM>.

Regions <NUM><NUM> -<NUM> and sides <NUM>-<NUM> are not intended to demarcate precise areas of footwear <NUM>. Rather, regions <NUM><NUM>-<NUM> and sides <NUM>-<NUM> are intended to represent general areas of footwear <NUM> to aid in the following discussion. In addition to footwear <NUM>, regions <NUM><NUM>-<NUM> and sides <NUM>-<NUM> may also be applied to upper <NUM>, sole structure <NUM>, and individual elements thereof.

Upper <NUM> includes a base element <NUM> extending from forefoot region <NUM><NUM> to heel region <NUM>, and extending from medial side <NUM> to lateral side <NUM>. Base element <NUM> may have a substantially conventional configuration incorporating a plurality of material elements (e.g., textile, polymer, foam, leather, and synthetic leather) that are stitched, adhered, bonded, or otherwise joined together to form an interior void for securely and comfortably receiving the wearer's foot. The material elements may be selected and arranged in order to selectively impart properties of durability, air-permeability, wear-resistance, flexibility, and comfort, for example. Upper <NUM> may additionally incorporate a sockliner beneath the interior void to enhance the comfort of footwear <NUM>. 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. An ankle opening in heel region <NUM> provides access to the interior void.

Upper <NUM> also includes a lace <NUM> that extends through various lace apertures <NUM> formed in a lace area <NUM> of base element <NUM>. However, in some configurations, upper <NUM> may incorporate other structures that are functionally similar to lace <NUM>, such as a hook-and-loop fastening system. Furthermore, as an alternative to lace apertures <NUM>, upper <NUM> may include other lace-receiving elements, such as loops, eyelets, and D-rings. Base element <NUM> also includes a tongue <NUM> extending between the interior void and lace <NUM>.

Lace <NUM> may be utilized in a conventional manner to modify the dimensions of base element <NUM> and the interior void. More particularly, lace <NUM> permits the wearer to tighten upper <NUM> around the foot and to loosen upper <NUM>, in order to facilitate entry and removal of the foot from the interior void. Lace <NUM> and tongue <NUM> may accordingly be adjusted to secure the foot within footwear <NUM>.

Sole structure <NUM> is secured to upper <NUM> and has a configuration that extends between upper <NUM> and the ground, and thus effectively extends between the foot and the ground. Sole structure <NUM> may include a midsole <NUM> formed from a polymer foam material, such as polyurethane or ethylvinylacetate. Sole structure <NUM> may also include an outsole <NUM> secured to a lower surface of midsole <NUM>. Outsole <NUM> may be formed from a material that provides a durable and wear-resistant surface for engaging the ground, and may be textured to enhance the traction (i.e., friction) properties between footwear <NUM> and the ground, such as rubber materials. Outsole <NUM> may accordingly form a ground-contacting surface of footwear <NUM>. Sn addition, sole structure <NUM> may incorporate one or more footwear elements that enhance the comfort, performance, or ground reaction force attenuation properties of footwear <NUM>, including fluid-filled chambers, plates, moderators, lasting elements, or motion control members. Sole structure <NUM> may accordingly attenuate ground reaction forces, provide cushioning for the foot, provide traction, impart stability, and limit various foot motions, such as pronation.

As depicted in <FIG>, upper <NUM> also includes an adjustment system having various elements: a fluid-filled chamber <NUM>, an adjusting element <NUM>, an anchoring element <NUM>, and a tensile strand <NUM>. Fluid-filled chamber <NUM> is positioned along an exterior surface of base element <NUM>, adjusting element <NUM> is positioned outward from chamber <NUM>, and anchoring element <NUM> is secured to base element <NUM> at a position spaced from adjusting element <NUM>. More particularly, as depicted in <FIG>: (a) chamber <NUM> is positioned in heel region <NUM> of footwear <NUM>, in an Achilles tendon area of base element <NUM>; (b) adjusting element <NUM> is positioned in heel region <NUM> of footwear <NUM> and to the rear of chamber <NUM>; and (c) anchoring element <NUM> is positioned on base element <NUM> and in front of adjusting element <NUM>. Tensile strand <NUM> extends between adjusting element <NUM> and anchoring element <NUM>.

Fluid-filled chamber <NUM> is depicted as being secured against an exterior surface of base element <NUM>. Fluid-filled chamber <NUM> has a first, outward-facing portion <NUM> oriented to face toward an exterior of footwear <NUM> and a second, inward-facing portion <NUM> oriented to face toward an interior of footwear <NUM>.

In some configurations, chamber <NUM> may be secured to base element <NUM> by an adhesive. In other configurations, chamber <NUM> may be otherwise secured to base element <NUM>, For example, chamber <NUM> may be secured to base element <NUM> by a polymer bond, in which a polymer material of chamber <NUM> may physically intermingle with a material of base element <NUM> (such as by being partially softened or melted when pressed against base element <NUM>). In other configurations, chamber <NUM> may be secured to base element <NUM> by a hook-and-loop fastening system.

Outward-facing portion <NUM> and inward-facing portion <NUM> of fluid-filled chamber <NUM> may be formed from two layers of a polymer material that are sealed to enclose a pressurized fluid <NUM>, and may accordingly form an outer barrier <NUM> of chamber <NUM>. More specifically, in manufacturing fluid-filled chamber <NUM>, a pair of polymer sheets may be molded during a thermoforming process to define outward-facing portion <NUM> and inward-facing portion <NUM>. The thermoforming process may (a) impart shape to the polymer sheets to form chamber <NUM>, and (b) may form a bonded portion extending around a periphery of chamber <NUM>.

A wide range of polymer materials may be utilized for forming chamber <NUM>. In selecting a material, engineering properties of the material (e.g., tensile strength, stretch properties, fatigue characteristics, dynamic modulus, and loss tangent) as well as the ability of the material to prevent the diffusion of the fluid contained by layers <NUM> and <NUM> may be considered. When formed of thermoplastic urethane, for example, portions <NUM> and <NUM> may have a thickness of approximately <NUM> millimeter, but the thickness may range from <NUM> to <NUM> millimeters or more, for example. In addition to thermoplastic urethane, examples of polymer materials that may be suitable for chamber <NUM> include polyurethane, polyester, polyester polyurethane, and polyether polyurethane. Portions <NUM> and <NUM> may also be formed from a material that includes alternating layers of thermoplastic polyurethane and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, as disclosed in <CIT> and <CIT> A variation upon this material may also be utilized, wherein a center layer is formed of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, layers adjacent to the center layer are formed of thermoplastic polyurethane, and outer layers are formed of a regrind material of thermoplastic polyurethane and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer. Another suitable material for layers <NUM> and <NUM> is a flexible microlayer membrane that includes alternating layers of a gas barrier material and an elastomeric material, as disclosed in <CIT> and <CIT> Further suitable materials include polyurethane including a polyester polyol, as disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

Adjusting element <NUM> is depicted as being secured against fluid-filled chamber element <NUM>. Adjusting element <NUM> has a first, outward-facing portion <NUM> oriented to face an exterior of footwear <NUM> and a second, inward-facing portion <NUM> oriented to face toward an interior of footwear <NUM>. Inward-facing portion <NUM> of adjusting element <NUM> and outward-facing portion <NUM> of chamber <NUM> directly contact each other. Accordingly, adjusting element <NUM> and chamber <NUM> are in direct contact with each other. However, in other configurations, footwear <NUM> may incorporate a material interposed between adjusting element <NUM> and chamber <NUM>, and they may not be in direct contact with each other.

Inward-facing portion <NUM> of adjusting element <NUM> and outward-facing portion <NUM> of chamber <NUM> are also shaped to conform to each other. In some configurations, inward-facing portion <NUM> and outward-facing portion <NUM> may be include localized features that conform to each other. For example, as shown in <FIG>, outward-facing portion <NUM> of chamber <NUM> is formed to include various protrusions <NUM> and indentations <NUM>. Similarly, inward-facing portion <NUM> of adjusting element <NUM> is formed to include various protrusions <NUM> and indentations <NUM> which respectively complement indentations <NUM> and protrusions <NUM> of outward-facing portion <NUM>. Accordingly, outward-facing portion <NUM> and inward-facing portion <NUM> may be formed to have contours conforming to each other, which may advantageously help to align the position of adjusting element <NUM> with respect to chamber <NUM>. Adjusting element <NUM> includes a dial element <NUM>, which may be coupled to a ratchet structure <NUM> as discussed below.

Anchoring element <NUM> is secured to base element <NUM> in midfoot region <NUM>, on lateral side <NUM> of footwear <NUM>. Anchoring element <NUM> includes a connecting portion <NUM>, a biteline portion <NUM> extending from connecting portion <NUM> to a biteline area <NUM> of base element <NUM>, and a lace area portion <NUM> extending from connecting portion <NUM> to lace area <NUM> of base element <NUM>. A guide channel <NUM> is formed in a part of a periphery of connecting portion <NUM> that is spaced furthest from adjusting element <NUM>. In some embodiments, guide channel <NUM> may not be open or otherwise exposed to an exterior of connecting portion <NUM>, but may be enclosed within connecting portion <NUM>.

In some configurations, anchoring element <NUM> may have an alternate extent. For example, anchoring element <NUM> may extend only to biteline area <NUM>, or may extend only to lace area <NUM>. In other configurations, anchoring element <NUM> may extend to a toe area <NUM> of base element <NUM>. In various configurations, anchoring element <NUM> may have portions extending to any of a variety of areas along base element <NUM> that are spaced from adjusting element <NUM>.

Anchoring element <NUM> may incorporate one or more material elements similar to the material elements that may be incorporated into base element <NUM> (e.g., textile, polymer, foam, leather, and synthetic leather). Anchoring element <NUM> may be stitched, adhered, bonded, or otherwise joined to base element <NUM>. Base element <NUM> may exhibit a first degree of stretch under a tension, and anchoring element <NUM> may exhibit a second, lesser degree of stretch under the same tension.

As depicted in <FIG>, connecting portion <NUM> of anchoring element <NUM> has a substantially circular shape. However, connecting portion <NUM> may have any of a variety of regular or irregular shapes. Similarly, guide channel <NUM> has a substantially semi-circular cross-sectional shape, but guide channel <NUM> could have any of a variety of regular or irregular cross-sectional shapes. For embodiments in which guide channel <NUM> is enclosed within connecting portion <NUM>, guide channel <NUM> may have a substantially circular cross-sectional shape, or any of a variety of regular or irregular cross-sectional shapes.

Connecting portion <NUM> may include any of a variety of materials. In some configurations, connecting portion <NUM> may include a polymer material. In other configurations, connecting portion <NUM> may include a rubber material, a metal material, a wood material, or a composite material, such as a composite-fiber material. Moreover, connecting portion <NUM> may be formed entirely of a polymer material, a rubber material, a metal material, a wood material, or a composite material.

In some configurations, anchoring element <NUM> may not have biteline portion <NUM>, lace area portion <NUM>, or any other portions extending from connecting portion <NUM> to various areas of base element <NUM>, In such configurations, anchoring element <NUM> may only consist of connecting portion <NUM>, which may be secured to base element <NUM>. In still further configurations, anchoring element <NUM> may be a single, continuous element unitarily formed as a single piece. That is, connecting portion <NUM> and other portions of anchoring element <NUM>, such as biteline portion <NUM> and lace area portion <NUM>, may be a continuous, unitarily-formed, single-piece element.

Tensile strand <NUM> extends between adjusting element <NUM> and anchoring element <NUM> on lateral side <NUM> of footwear <NUM>. More specifically, tensile strand <NUM> extends between adjusting element <NUM> and connecting portion <NUM> of anchoring element <NUM>. A first portion <NUM> of tensile strand <NUM> extends through channels <NUM> formed in outward-facing portion <NUM> of adjusting element <NUM> and into adjusting element <NUM>, while a second portion <NUM> of tensile strand <NUM> is positioned within guide channel <NUM> of anchoring element <NUM>, and extends around a part of the periphery of connecting portion <NUM> that is spaced furthest from adjusting element <NUM>.

Tensile strand <NUM> may be formed from any generally one-dimensional material. As utilized with respect to the present invention, the term "one-dimensional material" or variants thereof is intended to encompass generally elongate materials exhibiting a length that is substantially greater than a width and a thickness. Accordingly, suitable configurations for tensile strand <NUM> include various filaments, fibers, yarns, threads, and cables that are formed from one or more of rayon, nylon, polyester, polyacrylic, silk, cotton, carbon, glass, aramids (e.g., para-aramid fibers and meta-aramid fibers), ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, liquid crystal polymer, and various metals. Although one-dimensional materials will often have a cross-section where width and thickness are substantially equal (e.g., a round or square cross-section), some one-dimensional materials may have a width that is greater than a thickness (e.g., a rectangular, oval, or otherwise elongate cross-section). Despite the greater width, a material may be considered one-dimensional if a length of the material is substantially greater than a width and a thickness of the material.

<FIG> depicts additional elements of the adjustment system: (a) an additional anchoring element <NUM> secured to base element <NUM> in midfoot region <NUM>, on medial side <NUM> of footwear <NUM>; and (b) an additional tensile strand <NUM> extending between adjusting element <NUM> and additional anchoring element <NUM> on medial side <NUM> of footwear <NUM>. Additional anchoring element <NUM> is positioned on medial side <NUM>, opposite anchoring element <NUM> on lateral side <NUM>, and includes a connecting portion <NUM> with a guide channel <NUM>, a biteline portion <NUM>, and a lace area portion <NUM>. Similarly, additional tensile strand <NUM> is positioned on medial side <NUM>, opposite tensile strand <NUM> on lateral side <NUM>, and includes a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM>.

As mentioned above, and with reference to <FIG>, dial element <NUM> of adjusting element <NUM> may be coupled to ratchet structure <NUM>. More particularly, outward-facing portion <NUM> and an inward-facing portion <NUM> of adjusting element <NUM> may define an internal cavity <NUM> containing various portions of ratchet structure <NUM>. Ratchet structure <NUM> may be positioned partially within cavity <NUM> of adjusting element <NUM>, and dial element <NUM> may be positioned on an outward-facing surface of adjusting element <NUM> and may be externally-accessible to a wearer.

In one embodiment, ratchet structure <NUM> may include a spool portion <NUM>, a gear portion <NUM>, a pawl portion <NUM>, and a release portion <NUM>. At least spool portion <NUM> and gear portion <NUM> may be connected to a peripheral portion of dial element <NUM>, so that an adjustment of dial element <NUM> away from an initial position will rotate spool portion <NUM> and gear portion <NUM>. In contrast, pawl portion <NUM> may be separate from the peripheral portion of dial element <NUM>. Accordingly, an adjustment of dial element <NUM> will not rotate pawl portion <NUM>.

Pawl portion <NUM> may have one or more pawls configured to interlock with the teeth of gear portion <NUM>. Pawl portion <NUM> may accordingly permit an adjustment of gear portion <NUM> (and spool portion <NUM>) in one direction, but not another.

Meanwhile, first portion <NUM> of tensile strand <NUM> may be positionally secured to spool portion <NUM> of ratchet structure <NUM>. First portion <NUM> may be adhesively or mechanically secured to spool portion <NUM>, or may extend through part of spool portion <NUM>.

As depicted in <FIG>, dial element <NUM> is set to a first setting, and adjustment <NUM> is applied to dial element <NUM> in a clockwise direction. In response, within ratchet structure <NUM>, pawl portion <NUM> permits the adjustment of gear portion <NUM>, and gear portion <NUM> (and spool portion <NUM>) rotate in a clockwise direction. Since first portion <NUM> of tensile strand <NUM> is secured to spool portion <NUM>, tensile strand <NUM> is partially wound about spool portion <NUM> , and a tension is in turn placed on tensile strand <NUM> between first portion <NUM> and second portion <NUM>.

After adjustment <NUM> has been applied, as depicted in <FIG>, dial element <NUM> is set to a second setting, in which pawl portion <NUM> does not permit the rotation of gear portion <NUM> in a counterclockwise direction. As a result, dial element <NUM> remains set to the second setting. An application of an inwardly-directed release force <NUM> on release portion <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>) may subsequently disengage gear portion <NUM> from pawl portion <NUM>, permitting dial element <NUM> to freely rotate back toward its first setting.

Due to the adjustment of dial element <NUM>, adjusting element <NUM> is accordingly operable to change a tension placed upon tensile strand <NUM>. In turn, the tension placed upon strand <NUM> may urge adjusting element <NUM> toward connecting portion <NUM> of anchoring element <NUM>, which will in turn place a compressive force upon fluid-filled chamber <NUM>. Thus, an adjustment of dial element <NUM> may urge a rear area of heel region <NUM> against a rear portion of a foot of a wearer, which may better secure footwear <NUM> to a wearer's foot by causing fluid-filled chamber <NUM> to conform to the wearer's foot, and by urging the wearer's foot forward within footwear <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, a wearer's foot <NUM> includes a calcaneus <NUM> , a talus bone <NUM>, a navicular bone <NUM>, a cuboid bone <NUM>, cuneiform bones <NUM>, metatarsal bones <NUM>, and phalanges <NUM>. When footwear
<NUM> is positioned on foot <NUM>, connecting portion <NUM> is located in front of adjusting element <NUM> at a position (along an anteroposterior axis) corresponding with an anterior end of talus bone <NUM> and an anterior end of calcaneus <NUM> of the wearers foot <NUM>. Accordingly, an adjustment of adjusting element <NUM> may advantageously urge portions of base element <NUM> in front of connection portion <NUM> against portions of foot <NUM> containing the numerous soft tissues associated with phalanges <NUM>, metatarsal bones <NUM>, cuneiform bones <NUM>, cuboid bone <NUM>, and navicular bone <NUM>. Footwear <NUM> may thus be urged against portions of foot <NUM> that may most flexibly respond to the shape of footwear <NUM>,.

The inclusion of the adjustment system may advantageously permit alternate placement of a means of securing footwear <NUM> against a foot. Sn addition, the inclusion of dial element <NUM> may advantageously simplify a means of securing footwear <NUM> against the foot. Moreover, the inclusion of the adjustment system may accommodate configurations of footwear <NUM> in which (a) base element <NUM> does not have a tongue <NUM>, (b) base element <NUM> does not have a lace area <NUM> with lace apertures <NUM>, and (c) upper <NUM> does not have a lace <NUM>. Portions of footwear <NUM> which may lead to a distortion of a pre-defined shape of upper <NUM> may accordingly be minimized. Adjusting element <NUM> and fluid-filled chamber <NUM> may also advantageously provide cushioning and protection to an area of footwear <NUM> (i.e., heel region <NUM>) that is secured against a wearers foot.

<FIG> depict various steps in a method of manufacturing footwear <NUM>. In this method, base element <NUM>, fluid-filled chamber <NUM>, adjusting element <NUM>, anchoring elements <NUM>, and tensile strand <NUM> are provided. In <FIG>, fluid-filled chamber <NUM> is positioned against and secured to base element <NUM>. In <FIG>, inward-facing portion <NUM> of adjusting element <NUM> is positioned outward from fluid-filled chamber <NUM> and secured to chamber <NUM>. Protrusions <NUM> and indentations <NUM> on the inward-facing portion <NUM> of adjusting element <NUM> conform, respectively, to indentations <NUM> and protrusions <NUM> on the outward-facing portion <NUM> of chamber <NUM>. In <FIG>, anchoring element <NUM> is secured to base element <NUM> at a position spaced from inward-facing portion <NUM> of adjusting element <NUM>.

In <FIG>, tensile strand <NUM> is positioned to extend between adjusting element <NUM> and anchoring element <NUM>. More particularly, one end of tensile strand <NUM> is extended through channels <NUM> in outward-facing portion <NUM> of adjusting element <NUM> and is secured to spool portion <NUM> within ratchet structure <NUM>, while the other end of tensile strand <NUM> is positioned within guide channel <NUM> in connecting portion <NUM> of anchoring element <NUM>. In <FIG>, outward-facing portion <NUM> of adjusting element <NUM> is secured to inward-facing portion <NUM> of adjusting element <NUM> to complete upper <NUM>. Accordingly, one end of tensile strand <NUM> is positioned within ratchet structure <NUM>, while the other end of tensile strand <NUM> is positioned within anchoring element <NUM>. Finally, in <FIG>, sole structure <NUM> is attached to upper <NUM> to form footwear <NUM>.

In similar fashion, the method depicted in <FIG> may be employed to incorporate additional anchoring element <NUM> and additional tensile strand <NUM> into footwear <NUM>. Specifically, in <FIG>, additional anchoring element <NUM> is secured to base element <NUM> at a position spaced from inward-facing portion <NUM> of adjusting element <NUM>. Sn <FIG>, additional tensile strand <NUM> is positioned to extend between adjusting element <NUM> and additional anchoring element <NUM>. One end of tensile strand <NUM> through channels <NUM> in outward-facing portion <NUM> of adjusting element <NUM>, and is secured to spool portion <NUM> within ratchet structure <NUM>, while the other end of tensile strand <NUM> is positioned within guide channel <NUM> in connecting portion <NUM> of anchoring element <NUM>. Accordingly, in <FIG>, one end of tensile strand <NUM> is positioned within ratchet structure <NUM>, while the other end of tensile strand <NUM> is positioned within anchoring element <NUM>.

In <FIG>, upper <NUM> is depicted as including a tensile strand <NUM> positioned on lateral side <NUM> of footwear <NUM> and an additional tensile strand <NUM> positioned on medial side <NUM> of footwear <NUM>, and strands <NUM> and <NUM> are depicted as loops. Other configurations of tensile footwear <NUM> may incorporate other tensile strands <NUM>, and in other ways. For example, <FIG> depicts a configuration of footwear <NUM> having a single tensile strand <NUM> extending into anchoring element <NUM> and secured to spool portion <NUM> of ratchet structure <NUM>. In further configurations, strands <NUM> and <NUM> may not be loops, but may single, linear strands with first ends secured to adjusting element <NUM> and second ends secured to anchoring elements <NUM> and <NUM>,.

<FIG> depict fluid-filled chamber <NUM> as being secured against an exterior surface of base element <NUM>, and depict adjusting element <NUM> as being secured against chamber <NUM>. <FIG> depicts another configuration of footwear <NUM>, in which fluid-filled chamber <NUM> is formed to include tab portions <NUM>, and adjusting element <NUM> is formed to include tab portions <NUM>. Tab portions <NUM> of chamber <NUM> and tab portions <NUM> of adjusting element <NUM> may extend within or underneath parts of base element <NUM>, in order to better secure chamber <NUM> and adjusting element <NUM> against base element <NUM>.

For example, in the configuration depicted in <FIG>, base element <NUM> has both an outer portion <NUM> and an inner portion <NUM>, and tab portions <NUM> of chamber <NUM> are depicted as being positioned within base element <NUM>, between outer portion <NUM><NUM> and inner portion <NUM>. In such configurations, base element <NUM> may be a unitarily formed, single-piece element (such as a foam element, a polymer element, or a knitted textile element), and inner portion <NUM> of base element <NUM> may directly contact at least one of adjusting element <NUM>, anchoring element <NUM>, or tensile strand <NUM>.

In contrast, <FIG> depicts another exemplary configuration in which base element <NUM> includes an outer layer <NUM> and an inner layer <NUM>, and tab portions <NUM> are positioned between outer layer <NUM> and inner layer <NUM>. In such configurations, base element <NUM> may be a non-unitarily formed element having multiple material layers, and inner layer <NUM> may directly contact at least one of adjusting element <NUM> and anchoring element <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts another configuration in which outer layer <NUM> of base element <NUM> extends entirely between fluid-filled chamber <NUM> and adjusting element <NUM>. In yet another configuration, <FIG> depicts outer layer <NUM> of base element <NUM> as (a) covering portions of anchoring element <NUM> and connecting portion <NUM>, (b) extending entirely over chamber <NUM> and (c) extending almost entirely over adjusting element <NUM>, leaving dial element <NUM> accessible by a wearer. Accordingly, in various configurations, base element <NUM> may partially cover one or more of fluid-filled chamber <NUM>, adjusting element <NUM>, anchoring element <NUM>, and tensile strand <NUM>.

Although <FIG> depict a single fluid-filled chamber <NUM>, other configurations of footwear <NUM> are possible. For example, <FIG> shows a configuration in which an additional fluid-filled chamber <NUM> is positioned in heel region <NUM> and forms part of a ground-contacting surface of sole structure <NUM>. In some configurations, additional fluid-filled chamber <NUM> may be in fluid communication with fluid-filled chamber <NUM>, while in other configurations, additional fluid-filled chamber <NUM> may not be in fluid communication with fluid-filled chamber <NUM>.

In another exemplary embodiment, <FIG> depicts footwear <NUM> as including two fluid-filled chambers <NUM> and two adjusting elements <NUM>. Accordingly, in various configurations, footwear <NUM> may include one or more fluid-filled chambers <NUM>, and footwear <NUM> may include one or more adjusting elements <NUM>.

<FIG> depict a configuration of the adjustment system in which fluid-filled chamber <NUM> and adjusting element <NUM> are positioned in heel region <NUM> of footwear <NUM> and anchoring element <NUM> is positioned in front of adjusting element <NUM>. Other configurations of the adjustment system are possible. For example, <FIG> depicts a first exemplary configuration in which chamber <NUM> and adjusting element <NUM> are positioned on lateral side <NUM> and in midfoot region <NUM> of footwear <NUM>, and anchoring elements <NUM> are spaced from adjusting element <NUM> in lace area <NUM>, forefoot region <NUM><NUM> , and heel region <NUM>. In another example, <FIG> depicts a configuration in which chamber <NUM> and adjusting element <NUM> are positioned in toe area <NUM> of footwear <NUM>, and anchoring elements <NUM> are spaced from adjusting element <NUM> on medial side <NUM> and lateral side <NUM> of forefoot region <NUM><NUM>. The adjustment system and its various elements may accordingly be positioned in various locations along base element <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An article of footwear (<NUM>) comprising:
an upper (<NUM>) including a base element (<NUM>);
a first anchoring element (<NUM>) secured to the upper (<NUM>);
a fluid-filled chamber (<NUM>) including an inward-facing portion (<NUM>) secured against an exterior surface of the base element (<NUM>) of the upper (<NUM>) and an outward-facing portion (<NUM>) disposed on an opposite side of the fluid-filled chamber (<NUM>) than the inward-facing portion (<NUM>);
an adjusting element (<NUM>) secured against the outward-facing portion (<NUM>) of the fluid-filled chamber (<NUM>), the adjusting element (<NUM>) and the fluid-filled chamber (<NUM>) being in direct contact with each other; and
a first tensile strand (<NUM>) extending between the adjusting element (<NUM>) and the first anchoring element (<NUM>), the adjusting element (<NUM>) operable to selectively shorten an effective length of the first tensile strand (<NUM>) to compress the fluid-filled chamber (<NUM>) between the adjusting element (<NUM>) and the upper (<NUM>).