Patent Description:
An upper of an article of footwear is generally secured around a foot using laces, straps, or other fastening mechanisms. The construction of the upper, the complexity of the fastening mechanism, and the level of tightness may be dependent upon the activity to be undertaken.

Document <CIT> describes a locking assembly for an attachment system of an electronic device. The locking assembly comprises an attachment unit that is configured to be inserted and removed from a housing of a consumer product. The attachment unit and/or the housing includes a catch member.

The claimed invention is defined by the features set forth in the appended independent claims. Particular embodiments of the claimed invention are defined by the dependent claims.

In accordance with the claimed invention, a magnetic fastener is configured with interfitting male and female fastener portions that enable quick, one-handed fastening and unfastening. The male fastener portion is configured to fit in an asymmetric recess of the female fastener portion which largely confines the male fastener portion to a first orientation, preventing it from twisting relative to the female fastener portion. Strategically positioned walls of the female fastener provide a physical barrier that supplements the magnetic force in maintaining the secured position of the fastener. When used to secure an upper of an article of footwear around a foot, the upper may include a strap contiguous with the sides of the upper, and the fastener may secure a distal end of the strap to one of the sides to tighten the upper around the foot, with one-handed securement and release.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components throughout the views, <FIG> shows a lateral side view of an article of footwear <NUM>. As further described herein, the article of footwear <NUM> includes a magnetic fastener <NUM> that is shown unfastened in <FIG> and fastened in <FIG>. More specifically, the magnetic fastener <NUM> includes a male fastener portion 12A and a female fastener portion 12B each of which are secured to different portions of an upper <NUM> of the article of footwear. As shown in <FIG>, the magnetic fastener <NUM> is configured for easy and quick magnetic fastening and unfastening of the male fastener portion 12A to the female fastener portion 12B to respectively tighten and loosen the upper <NUM> around a foot <NUM> disposed in a foot-receiving cavity <NUM> (foot <NUM> shown in phantom in <FIG>).

Referring to <FIG>, the article of footwear <NUM> includes a sole structure <NUM> that underlies the upper <NUM>. The sole structure <NUM> is shown as a single, one-piece, unitary midsole and outsole, but the sole structure <NUM> of the article of footwear <NUM> may have any configuration within the scope of the present teachings. For example, the sole structure <NUM> may include one or more sole components that may be separate sole layers, such as an outsole and one or more midsole layers. In further configurations, the sole structure <NUM> may incorporate fluid-filled chambers, plates, moderators, or other elements that further attenuate forces, enhance stability, or influence the motions of the foot. In one non-limiting example, the sole structure <NUM> as shown as a unitary midsole and outsole 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. Discrete outsole elements such as of a wear-resistant rubber material that may be textured to impart traction, and/or traction elements such as tread elements or cleats may be secured to a bottom surface of the sole structure <NUM>.

The upper <NUM> is secured to the sole structure <NUM>. For example, a lower extremity of the upper <NUM> may be bonded or otherwise secured to the sole structure <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. In other embodiments, a strobel (not shown) may be secured to the lower extremity of the upper <NUM> and to the sole structure <NUM>, or the upper <NUM> may continue under the foot <NUM> in a sock configuration. An insole (not shown) may overlie the sole structure <NUM> within the foot-receiving cavity <NUM>. The upper <NUM> is configured to receive and retain the foot <NUM> in the foot-receiving cavity <NUM> so that the foot <NUM> is supported on the sole structure <NUM> with the sole structure <NUM> positioned below the foot <NUM>, and between the foot <NUM> and the ground.

The article of footwear <NUM> has a forefoot portion <NUM>, a midfoot portion <NUM> and a heel portion <NUM>. Both the upper <NUM> and the sole structure <NUM> extend in and partially define the forefoot portion <NUM>, the midfoot portion <NUM> and the heel portion <NUM> indicated in <FIG>. The article of footwear <NUM> has a lateral side <NUM> (<FIG>) and a medial side <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) opposite from the lateral side <NUM>. The lateral side <NUM> and the medial side <NUM> extend through each of forefoot region <NUM>, the midfoot region <NUM>, and the heel region <NUM> and correspond with opposite sides of the article of footwear <NUM>. The forefoot region <NUM>, the midfoot region <NUM>, the heel region <NUM>, the lateral side <NUM> and the medial side <NUM> are not intended to demarcate precise areas of footwear <NUM>, but are instead intended to represent general areas of the article footwear <NUM> to aid in the discussion. The article of footwear <NUM> shown in configured for a left foot. An article of footwear for a right foot has a mirror image of that shown, and is within the scope of the present teachings.

The upper <NUM> may be a variety of materials, such as leather, textiles, polymers, cotton, foam, composites, etc. In non-limiting examples, the upper <NUM> may be a polymeric material capable of providing elasticity to the upper <NUM> and may be of braided construction, a knitted (e.g., warp-knitted) construction or a woven construction. As shown, the upper <NUM> is a soft, flexible material and may include multiple layers.

Referring to <FIG>, a first portion <NUM> of the upper <NUM> includes a strap <NUM>. A second portion <NUM> of the upper <NUM> includes the lateral side <NUM> of the upper. The female fastener portion 12B is secured to the lateral side <NUM> of the upper <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. An inner side <NUM> of the strap <NUM> is contiguous with the lateral side <NUM> of the upper in a unitary construction. Stated differently, the material of the upper <NUM> that forms the lateral side <NUM> also forms the inner side of the strap <NUM>, and extends without interruption from the lateral side <NUM> to the strap <NUM>. The male fastener portion 12A is disposed on and secured to the inner side <NUM> of the strap <NUM>.

Similarly, an outer side <NUM> of the strap <NUM> is contiguous with the medial side <NUM> of the upper <NUM> in a unitary construction in that the material of the upper <NUM> that forms the medial side <NUM> also forms the outer side <NUM> of the strap <NUM>, and extends without interruption from the medial side <NUM> to the strap <NUM>. The inner side <NUM> of the strap <NUM> may be sewn or otherwise secured to the outer side <NUM> of the strap <NUM> at a seam <NUM> where the sides <NUM>, <NUM> meet, as shown in <FIG>, so that an inner surface <NUM> of the inner side <NUM> of the strap <NUM> confronts an inner surface <NUM> of the outer side <NUM> of the strap <NUM>. Alternatively, the entire upper <NUM> including the lateral and medial sides <NUM>, <NUM> and the strap <NUM> can be an integral one-piece unit, such as by knitting or otherwise.

As best shown in <FIG>, the strap <NUM> tapers in width (i.e., the width of the strap <NUM> is in a fore-aft direction of the article of footwear <NUM>) from a proximal portion <NUM> of the strap <NUM> proximate the foot-receiving cavity <NUM> a distal portion <NUM> of the strap <NUM>. The fore-aft direction of the article of footwear <NUM> is the longitudinal direction that extends from the heel portion <NUM> toward the forefoot portion <NUM> along a longitudinal midline L (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) of the article of footwear <NUM>. The male fastener portion 12A is secured adjacent to the distal portion <NUM>.

In <FIG> and <FIG>, the strap <NUM> is shown in a lifted position such as by a user's hand (not shown) midway through moving the strap <NUM> to fasten the male fastener portion 12A to the female fastener portion 12B. The strap <NUM> is of a sufficient length that it can be pulled over the instep of the foot <NUM> downward and rearward from its position in <FIG> to the secured position in <FIG> in which the male fastener portion 12A is magnetically fastened to the female fastener portion 12B. The inner side <NUM> of the strap <NUM> confronts an exterior surface <NUM> of the lateral side <NUM> of the upper <NUM> when the male fastener portion 12A is magnetically fastened to the female fastener portion 12B, as best shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, features of the fastener <NUM> are shown in further detail. <FIG> shows the male fastener portion 12A, including a first base 60A and a male connector portion 62A that protrudes from the first base 60A. The female fastener portion 12B also has a second base 60B and a female connector portion 62B that at least partially protrudes from and is surrounded laterally and from below by the second base <NUM>. At least one of the connector portions 62A or 62B is magnetic. If either is not magnetic, it is a material that is attracted to a magnet, such as iron or steel, so that in all embodiments the connector portions 62A, 62B are attracted to one another and the fastener portions 12A, 12B fasten to one another via a magnetic force. The bases 60A, 60B may be a flexible rubber or other polymeric material that can be stitched, adhered, or otherwise secured to the upper <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first base 60A is stitched to the upper <NUM> with stitching <NUM> through a thinned groove <NUM> of the first base <NUM>. In <FIG>, the groove <NUM> is shown in cross-sectional view. The groove <NUM> surrounds the male connector portion 62A and generally corresponds to the shape of an outer periphery of the first base 60A. The second base 60B also has a thinned groove <NUM> that surrounds the female connector portion 62B and generally corresponds to the shape of an outer periphery of the second base 60B. The second base 60B is stitched to the lateral side <NUM> of the upper <NUM> with stitching <NUM> through the thinned groove <NUM>.

The connector portion 62A of the male fastener portion 12A includes a straight side <NUM>, a curved side <NUM>, and corners <NUM> at which the straight side and the curved side meet. The straight side <NUM>, the curved side <NUM>, and one or more corners <NUM> at least partially define an outer periphery MP of the male connector portion 62A. The curved side <NUM> of the male connector portion 62A is U-shaped in plan view of <FIG>, and is also sloped. Stated differently, and as best shown in <FIG>, the curved side <NUM> of the male connector portion 62A extends at an obtuse angle A1 from the first base 60A such that the male connector portion 62A tapers in width in a direction away from the first base 60A at the curved side <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, a distal portion of the connector portion 62A (i.e., the portion furthest from the first base 60A) has a first width W <NUM>, while a proximal portion of the connector portion 62A (i.e., the portion closest to the first base 60A) has a second width W2 greater than the first width W1).

With reference to <FIG>, the second base 60B of the female fastener portion 12B has a slight recess <NUM> in which the female connector portion 62B is secured such as with adhesive. Alternatively or additionally, the female connector portion 62B may have a flange that fits within a slot of the second base 60B at a perimeter of the recess <NUM>. The female connector portion 62B of the female fastener portion 12B also defines a recess <NUM> which is a sub-portion of the recess <NUM>. As best shown in <FIG>, the outer periphery FP of the recess <NUM> is asymmetric about a center axis C of the recess <NUM>. The center axis C extends in the direction of the depth of the recess <NUM>, i.e., perpendicular to the second base 60B. The second base 60B defines a straight wall <NUM> bounding the recess <NUM> and also bounds the recess <NUM>. The female connector portion 62B includes a curved wall <NUM> that bounds the recess <NUM>. The curved wall <NUM> is U-shaped. The curved wall <NUM> and the straight wall <NUM> thus substantially define the outer perimeter FP of the recess <NUM> and cause the recess <NUM> to be asymmetrical about the center axis C.

As best shown in <FIG>, the curved wall <NUM> has a first height H1, and the straight wall <NUM> has a second height H2 that is less than the first height. The lower height H2 may ease entry of the male connector portion 62A into the recess <NUM> if the strap <NUM> is pulled sufficiently far so that the curved side <NUM> is to the right of the position shown in <FIG>, and then is moved to approach the curved wall <NUM> in a downward and leftward direction in the view of <FIG>. In other words, entry of the male connector portion 62A into the recess <NUM> can occur from slightly above the straight wall <NUM> and downward back toward the curved wall <NUM> instead of straight downward along the center axis C as would be required if the straight wall <NUM> was of the same height as the curved wall <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the female fastener portion 12B is disposed on and secured to the lateral side <NUM> of the upper <NUM> with the curved wall <NUM> generally above the straight wall <NUM>. This enables the curved wall <NUM> to act as a barrier against movement of the male fastener portion 12A, such as when forces on the strap <NUM> pull the male fastener portion 12A against the curved wall <NUM>. For example, if the strap <NUM> is under tension in the secured position of <FIG> in which the fastener <NUM> is fastened, in addition to the magnetic force holding the fastener <NUM> fastened, the curved wall <NUM> helps retain the fastener <NUM> in the fastened position.

The curved wall <NUM> is sloped outward such that it extends at an obtuse angle A2 relative to the second base 60B, causing the recess <NUM> to be wider at a distal portion 80A of the curved wall <NUM> than at a proximal portion 80B of the curved wall <NUM>. Additionally, the angle A1 of the curved side <NUM> matches the angle A2 of the curved wall <NUM> such that the curved side <NUM> is flush with the curved wall <NUM> when the male connector portion 62A is in the recess <NUM>. The sloped configuration of the curved wall <NUM> and the curved side <NUM> help to center the male connector portion 62A within the recess <NUM> of the female fastener portion 12B. The male connector portion 62A is stepped at the straight side <NUM> the such that the male connector portion 62A overlays the base 60B of the female fastener portion 12B with a terminal wall <NUM> outward of the recess <NUM> at the straight wall <NUM>.

The male connector portion 62A fits into the recess <NUM> when the male fastener portion 12A is in a first orientation relative to the female fastener portion 12B. Namely, in the first orientation, the straight side <NUM> is parallel with the straight wall <NUM> and the curved side <NUM> is flush with the curved wall <NUM>. Due to the asymmetric recess <NUM>, the male connector portion 62A is generally confined to this first orientation when in the recess <NUM>. For example, when the male fastener portion 12A is urged to rotate about the center axis C of the recess <NUM> away from the first orientation, one of the corners <NUM> will interfere with the female fastener portion 12B at the straight wall <NUM>. For example, in <FIG>, if the male fastener portion 12A is urged to twist slightly clockwise about the center axis C such as by tensile or other forces on the strap <NUM>, the straight side <NUM> is no longer parallel to the straight wall <NUM>, and the right corner <NUM> interferes with the straight wall <NUM> as represented in phantom by the straight side in position 68A. The female fastener portion 12B thereby limits twisting of the male connector portion 62A within the recess <NUM>. The tapered shape of the strap <NUM> is beneficial as it flares wider proximate the foot-receiving cavity <NUM> so that it provides tension and support over a wide swatch of the instep. However, the wider proximal portion <NUM> causes forces to be applied over a wider range of directions on the male fastener portion 12A when in the fastened position, which could urge the male connector portion 62A to twist about the center axis C. Accordingly, the configuration of the asymmetrical recess <NUM> and the interfering straight wall <NUM> is particularly useful in combination with an upper <NUM> having a strap that is tapered such as tapered strap <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the curved wall <NUM> may have a slot along its lower inner periphery adjacent the recess <NUM>, at the proximal portion 80B. The distal portion of the curved side <NUM> of the male connector portion 62A may have a flange around its perimeter. The flange may be sized to slide into the slot when the male connector portion 62A is fit into the recess <NUM>. The slot may have a height taller than the height H1 of the straight wall <NUM> and the ends of the slot may be open near the straight wall <NUM>, so that the flange can be slid into the slot if the male connector portion 62A enters the recess <NUM> from just above the straight wall <NUM> and in a direction that is downward and toward the curved wall <NUM>.

As is evident in <FIG> and <FIG>, the outer periphery 82A of the base 60A of the male fastener portion 12A and an outer periphery 82B of the base 60B of the female fastener portion 12B are of a substantially identical shape. For example, each may be triangular with rounded corners as shown. However, other substantially identical shapes may be used within the scope of the present disclosure.

Additionally, the connector portions 62A, 62B are disposed on their respective bases 60A, 60B so that the male connector portion 62A is aligned with the recess <NUM> when the outer periphery 82A of the first base 60A of the male fastener portion 12A is aligned with the outer periphery 82B of the second base 60B of the female fastener portion 12B. For example, when peak 84A of the first base 60A is aligned with peak 84B of the second base 60B (with the male fastener portion 12A inverted from the position of <FIG>), the connector portion 62A is aligned with the recess <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the female fastener portion 12B is secured to the upper <NUM> so that the peak 84A of the second base 60B of the female fastener portion 12B is disposed downward and rearward on the lateral side <NUM> of the upper <NUM>. Aligning the male fastener portion 12A with the female fastener portion 12B to quickly secure the fastener <NUM> may be simplified in such an embodiment, as the corresponding peak 84A of the first base 60A of the male fastener portion 12A generally points in the direction that the strap <NUM> is pulled during fastening. In other words, during the pulling motion used to tighten the strap <NUM>, the peaks 84A, 84B can be aligned and the male fastener portion 12A will be aligned with the female fastener portion 12B with little or no adjustments in the direction of pull. Simply pulling the strap <NUM> rearward and downward will position the male fastener portion 12A above the female fastener portion 12B. Once in the vicinity of the female portion 12B, the magnetic force of the magnetic material of one or both connector portions 62A, 62B will tend to pull the male connector portion 62A into the recess <NUM> in the first orientation.

To assist and clarify the subsequent description of various embodiments, various terms are defined herein.

For consistency and convenience, directional adjectives are employed throughout this detailed description corresponding to the illustrated embodiments.

The term "longitudinal", as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims, refers to a direction extending a length of a component. For example, a longitudinal direction of a shoe extends between a forefoot region and a heel region of the shoe. The term "forward" is used to refer to the general direction from a heel region toward a forefoot region, and the term "rearward" is used to refer to the opposite direction, i.e., the direction from the forefoot region toward the heel region. In some cases, a component may be identified with a longitudinal axis as well as a forward and rearward longitudinal direction along that axis.

The term "vertical", as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims, refers to a direction generally perpendicular to both the lateral and longitudinal directions. For example, in cases where a sole is planted flat on a ground surface, the vertical direction may extend from the ground surface upward. It will be understood that each of these directional adjectives may be applied to individual components of a sole. The term "upward" or "upwards" refers to the vertical direction pointing towards a top of the component, which may include an instep, a fastening region and/or a throat of an upper. The term "downward" or "downwards" refers to the vertical direction pointing opposite the upwards direction, and may generally point towards the sole, or towards the outermost components of the sole.

Claim 1:
A magnetic fastener (<NUM>) comprising:
a male fastener portion (12A) including a first base (60A) and a male connector portion (62A), the male connector portion (62A) protruding from the first base (60A), the male connector portion (62A) includes a straight side (<NUM>), a curved side (<NUM>), and corners (<NUM>) at which the straight side (<NUM>) and the curved side (<NUM>) meet,
and a female fastener portion (12B), the female fastener portion (12B) including a second base (60B) and a female connector portion (62B) that at least partially protrudes from and is surrounded laterally and from below by the second base (60B),
wherein the male fastener portion (12A) is configured to magnetically fasten to the female fastener portion (12B);
wherein the second base (60B) of the female fastener portion (12B) includes a slight recess (<NUM>) in which the female connector portion (62B) is secured, the female connector portion (62B) defining a recess (<NUM>), the recess (<NUM>) being a sub-portion of the slight recess (<NUM>) and including an outer periphery (FP), the outer periphery (FP) being asymmetric about a center axis (C) of the recess (<NUM>), wherein the female connector portion (62B) includes a first wall (<NUM>) and the second base (60B) defines a second wall (<NUM>), wherein the first wall (<NUM>) has a first height (H1) and the second wall (<NUM>) has a second height (H2) that is less than the first height (H1);
wherein the first wall (<NUM>) is a curved wall and the second wall (<NUM>) is a straight wall,
wherein the male connector portion (62A) is aligned with the recess (<NUM>) when an outer periphery (82A) of the male fastener portion (12A) is aligned with an outer periphery (82B) of the second base (60B) of the female fastener portion (12B),
wherein the corners (<NUM>) interfere with the straight wall (<NUM>) when the male fastener portion (12A) is urged to rotate about the center axis of the recess (<NUM>), and wherein the male fastener portion (12A) fits into the recess (<NUM>).