Patent Description:
This disclosure relates generally to articles of footwear and more particularly to lace-receiving structures for articles of footwear.

An article of footwear (also referred to herein as "the article" or "the footwear") typically includes two main components: a sole structure and an upper. The sole structure is configured for supporting the wearer's foot and providing cushioning between the wearer's foot and the ground. The upper is coupled to the sole structure and is configured for securing the wearer's foot to the sole structure.

The article of footwear can also include a closure system that includes one or more lace members (e.g., cords, strips, or other elongate members) that can be released and/or loosened to allow the wearer to insert their foot into or remove their foot from the article of footwear, and tightened and/or fastened to secure the wearer's foot within the article of footwear. Improvements in the manufacturing and/or functioning of closure systems are always desirable.

<CIT> relates to a shoe that simulates barefoot running having an outer sole having a forefoot portion, a heel portion, and a flexible bridge portion, wherein the flexible bridge portion is curved inwards to be narrower than a foot on both the lateral and medial sides, wherein the flexible bridge conforms to the foot's arch and is lifted off the ground when the shoe is tied onto the foot; a wrap overlay associated with the flexible bridge and having at least a first strap and at least a second strap, which are tied atop a metatarsal area of the foot, such that to suspend the flexible bridge therefrom and provide a <NUM> degrees wrap of the foot in the arch section of the foot, resulting in both, arch support and the shoe's anchoring to the foot; and, a roomy toe box providing toe splay and facilitating forefoot-striking.

<CIT> describes an article of footwear with an integrated arch strap and eyestays. The integrated arch strap provides arch support adjustable by a wearer through the tightening of a lace. Furthermore, the adjustment of the integrated arch strap allows some customization of the width of the footwear.

<CIT> relates to an article of footwear including a <NUM>° lacing system configured to secure the footwear to a wearer's foot. The lacing system includes an elongated lace that extends rearward adjacent an ankle collar, around a heel of the footwear, and forward again. The lacing system includes one or more fairleads that project outwardly from the ankle collar. The fairleads define fairlead holes through which the lace is extends. The lace is slidable relative to the holes, and thus the fairleads, and can be removed from and replaced relative to the fairleads with minimal effort. A related method of utilizing the article of footwear is also provided.

Aspects and advantages of the disclosed technology will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the technology disclosed in the description. The claimed invention is defined by the independent claims. Particular embodiments are defined by the dependent claims.

The apparatuses and devices described herein, and individual components thereof, should not be construed as being limited to the particular uses or systems described herein in any way.

As used in this application, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include the plural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Additionally, the term "includes" means "comprises. " Further, the terms "coupled" or "secured" encompass mechanical and chemical couplings, as well as other practical ways of coupling or linking items together, and do not exclude the presence of intermediate elements between the coupled items unless otherwise indicated, such as by referring to elements, or surfaces thereof, being "directly" coupled or secured. Furthermore, as used herein, the term "and/or" means any one item or combination of items in the phrase.

As used herein, the term "exemplary" means serving as a non-limiting example, instance, or illustration. As used herein, the terms "e.g.," and "for example," introduce a list of one or more non-limiting embodiments, examples, instances, and/or illustrations.

As used herein, the directional terms (e.g., "upper" and "lower") generally correspond to the orientation of an article of footwear or sole assembly as it is configured to be worn by a wearer. For example, an "upwardly-facing surface" and/or an "upper surface" of a sole assembly refers to the surface oriented in the "superior" anatomical direction (i.e., toward the head of a wearer) when the article of footwear is being worn by the wearer. Similarly, the directional terms "downwardly" and/or "lower" refer to the anatomical direction "inferior" (i.e., toward the ground and away from the head of the wearer). "Front" means "anterior" (e.g., towards the toes), and "rear" means "posterior" (e.g., towards the heel). "Medial" means "toward the midline of the body," and "lateral" means "away from the midline of the body. " "Longitudinal axis" refers to a centerline of the article from the heel to toe. Similarly, a "longitudinal length" refers to a length of the article along the longitudinal axis and a "longitudinal direction" refers to a direction along the longitudinal axis.

As used herein, the term "sole structure" refers to any combination of materials that provides support for a wearer's foot and bears the surface that is in direct contact with the ground or playing surface, such as, for example, a single sole; a combination of an outsole and an inner sole; a combination of an outsole, a midsole, and an inner sole; and a combination of an outer covering, an outsole, a midsole and an inner sole.

As used herein, the term "upper" refers to any combination of materials that is coupled to the sole structure and is configured to restrict relative movement between a wearer's foot and the sole structure (i.e., to secure the wearer's foot to the sole structure). For example, the upper may be configured to extend over and/or above at least a portion of a wearer's foot (e.g., toes, forefoot, midfoot, etc.) and may form a foot-receiving cavity. The upper may additionally or alternatively be configured to protect the wearer's foot.

As used herein, the terms "throat" and "throat area" generally refer to an opening, gap, or other spaced-apart area between the medial and lateral sides of an upper that can be spanned by one or more lace members.

As used herein, the terms "attached" and "coupled" generally mean physically connected or linked, which includes items that are directly attached/coupled and items that are attached/coupled with intermediate elements between the attached/coupled items, unless specifically stated to the contrary.

As used herein, the terms "fixedly attached" and "fixedly coupled" refer to two components joined in a manner such that the components may not be readily separated from one another without destroying and/or damaging one or both of the components. Exemplary modalities of fixed attachment may include joining with permanent adhesive, stitches, welding or other thermal bonding, and/or other joining techniques. In addition, two components may be "fixedly attached" or "fixedly coupled" by virtue of being integrally formed, for example, in a molding process.

As used herein, the terms "lace-receiving structure" or "lace guide" means any type of structure that is configured to receive and retain one or more lace members, either alone or in combination with the upper when constructed. As used herein, the term "lace member(s)" means any elongate members that can adjust and/or secure the article of footwear relative to a wearer's foot, such as a shoelace, string, cable, cord, wire, band, strap, or other elongate tensioning structure. As an example, the lace-receiving structure may define one or more apertures (such as a channel) through which the lace member(s) can extend. When included in an article of footwear, the lace-receiving structure is configured to adjustably couple the lace member(s) to the article of footwear.

As used herein, the term "strip" or "strip of material" generally refers to an elongate continuous material capable of extending along both sides of the throat area to provide the apertures as described herein.

As used herein, the terms "articles of footwear," "articles," and/or "footwear" mean any type of footwear, including, for example, casual shoes, walking shoes, sneakers, tennis shoes, running shoes, soccer shoes, football shoes, rugby shoes, basketball shoes, baseball shoes, boots, etc..

Although the figures may illustrate an article of footwear intended for use on only one foot (e.g., a right foot) of a wearer, one skilled in the art and having the benefit of this disclosure will recognize that a corresponding article of footwear for the other foot (e.g., a left foot) would be a mirror image of the right article of footwear.

<FIG> illustrates a portion of an article of footwear <NUM> that has a lace-receiving structure or lace guide <NUM> attached to an upper <NUM>. The lace guide <NUM> is a continuous elongate length of material that is secured to the upper <NUM> at a plurality of attachment regions <NUM> along its length. The lace guide <NUM> defines a plurality of apertures <NUM> between at least some adjacent attachment regions <NUM> through which one or more lace members <NUM> can be received.

As shown in <FIG>, the lace guide <NUM> comprises a single, continuous length of material that extends along a first side <NUM> (e.g., a medial side) and a second side <NUM> (e.g., a lateral side) to define a lace-receiving area <NUM> across a throat area <NUM> of the upper <NUM>, which is located forward of a collar <NUM>. The throat area <NUM> generally corresponds to a portion of the article of footwear that can be expanded to receive a foot of the wearer and contracted to secure the article of footwear to the foot when the lace member(s) are tightened.

As shown in <FIG>, the article of footwear can comprise a heel region <NUM>, a midfoot region <NUM>, and a toe region <NUM>. Although the extent of the throat area <NUM> can vary, in some embodiments the throat area <NUM> is primarily located in the midfoot region. As shown in <FIG> and other figures herein, the lace member <NUM> can pass through the apertures <NUM> and follow a zigzagging path across throat area <NUM> and between apertures <NUM> on opposite sides of throat area <NUM>. It should be understood that any lacing pattern can be used, and the location of apertures and the manner in which the lace member passes through the apertures can vary. For example, although the lateral and medial side apertures are generally aligned relative to each other in the figures, it should be understood that a different lacing pattern could accommodate positioning the apertures in different locations.

When wearing the article of footwear <NUM>, lace member <NUM> permits the wearer to modify the various dimensions of the upper <NUM>, including the width of the throat area <NUM>, to accommodate the proportions of the foot. More particularly, lace member <NUM> may be manipulated in a conventional manner to permit the wearer to (a) tighten upper <NUM> around the foot and (b) loosen upper <NUM> to facilitate insertion and withdrawal of the foot from the void in upper <NUM> (i.e., through the opening formed by collar <NUM>).

Referring again to <FIG>, it will be understood that the apertures <NUM> define passageways or channels that extend from a first side of a respective aperture <NUM> to a second side of that aperture <NUM>. As described below, a width of the passageways or channels defined by the apertures can vary. The passageways or channels of the apertures <NUM> are collectively defined by unattached regions <NUM> of the lace guide <NUM> that partially surround the passageways, and the portion of the upper <NUM> that extends below the unattached regions <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, adjacent unattached regions <NUM> are spaced-apart from one another along each side of the throat area <NUM> by attached regions <NUM>.

Referring again to <FIG>, the lace guide <NUM> comprises a first side <NUM> and a second, opposite side <NUM>. The lace guide <NUM> is folded to form a first folded portion <NUM> and a second folded portion <NUM> towards the forward end of the throat area <NUM>. Thus, the first side <NUM> forms a top surface of the lace guide <NUM> along both the medial and lateral sides of the throat area <NUM>, while the second side <NUM> forms a top surface of the lace guide <NUM> adjacent the forward end of the throat area <NUM>. The folding of the lace guide <NUM> in this manner allows for the formation of two opposing lace-receiving areas (e.g., one on the medial side and one on the lateral side) from a single continuous strip of material. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments, the lace guide <NUM> can be secured to the upper at various locations, including at the folded portions <NUM>, <NUM>.

It should be appreciated that the lace-receiving structures illustrated and described herein may comprise different geometries (sizes, shapes, thickness, widths, lengths, relative sizing and/or positioning of components, etc.). For example, the lace guide <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be wider or thinner along its length, defining different width passageways of the apertures. In addition, a thickness of the material of the lace guide can vary.

The attached regions <NUM> and folded portions <NUM>, <NUM> can secured to the upper <NUM> by stitching, such as by a plurality of box stitches for the attached regions and a triangular stitch for the folded regions as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. However, it should be understood that the attachment of the lace guide <NUM> to the upper can be achieved by any suitable means for securing the lace guide to the upper so that the resulting structure can function as a lace guide as described herein, including any suitable type of stitching, adhesives, ultrasonic welding, rivets or other mechanical fasteners, or any combination of these or other suitable fastening technology.

The lace guide can be formed of any suitable material that is a continuous structure capable of extending along both sides of the throat area to provide apertures as described herein, as well as being capable of being folded to facilitate the transition between the two sides. For example, the lace-receiving structure can be constructed from, formed of, and/or comprise one or more of textiles, leather, synthetic leather, foam, and/or polymers (e.g., rubber and/or plastic).

In the figures shown herein, the lace guides <NUM> are depicted as generally solid strips of material so that when viewed from above, the lace members <NUM> are not visible through the unattached regions <NUM>. However, it should be understood that the lace guides can be constructed so that a least a portion of the lace members <NUM> would be visible through the unattached regions <NUM>. For example, the lace guides <NUM> can comprise mesh or other materials that have one or more openings, windows, and/or transparent/partially-transparent areas that provide visibility through at least a portion of the lace guides <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate additional details of an exemplary lace guide <NUM> attached to an upper <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the attached regions <NUM>, which includes the folded portions and adjacent unattached regions <NUM> define, in combination with the underlying surface of the upper <NUM>, a plurality of apertures through which one or more lace members can be received.

<FIG> illustrates an exemplary lace guide <NUM> prior to attachment to an upper. As shown in <FIG>, a first portion <NUM> of the lace guide <NUM> extends to form a lace-receiving structure on a medial/lateral side of a throat area and a second portion <NUM> on the other one of the medial/lateral side of the throat area. An intermediate portion <NUM> extends between the first and second portions <NUM>, <NUM>. The first and second portions <NUM>, <NUM> of lace guide <NUM> have a first side <NUM> of the lace guide <NUM> exposed (i.e., facing up), while the lace guide <NUM> folds over at both ends of the intermediate portion so that the second, opposite side <NUM> of the lace guide <NUM> is exposed.

As shown in <FIG>, the first and second portions <NUM>, <NUM>, are folded to define a first angle <NUM> and a second angle <NUM>. In some embodiments, the first and second angles are the same. In some embodiments, the first and second angles can be greater than <NUM>°, such as between <NUM>° and <NUM>°, between <NUM>° and <NUM>°, or, in other embodiments, between <NUM>° and <NUM>°.

The lace guide <NUM> in <FIG> is illustrated with the intermediate portion <NUM> extending on top (i.e., the intermediate portion has the second side <NUM> exposed); however, it should be understood that the lace guides <NUM> disclosed herein can be reversed (e.g., flipped over). As will be easily understood in view of this disclosure, in a reversed configuration the top exposed area of the first and second portions <NUM>, <NUM> would be the second side <NUM> and the intermediate portion <NUM> would have a central area with the first side <NUM> exposed and the folded regions would have a top surface formed from the second side <NUM>.

The manner in which the lace guide <NUM> can be formed into the first portion <NUM>, intermediate portion <NUM>, and second portion <NUM> can vary. For example, in one embodiment, the lace guide <NUM> can simply be folded over to and secured to the upper without any preforming or additional treatment of the lace guide <NUM>.

In other embodiments, however, the lace guide <NUM> can be additionally treated to maintain a desired shape prior to attachment to the upper. For example, the lace guide <NUM> can be folded as shown in <FIG> and the facing surfaces of the folded portions can be secured to one another such as by stitching, heat treatment, adhesive, mechanical fasteners, or any combination of these or other securing steps.

As shown in <FIG>, one or more forming structures <NUM> can be used to facilitate the additional treatment of the lace guides <NUM> prior to attachment to an upper. For example, <FIG> shows a frame structure that can receive a plurality of lace guides <NUM> in the folded configuration and hold them in that position by a plurality of securing members <NUM>. In this orientation, the lace guides <NUM> can be subjected to a heat treatment, stitching treatment, and/or any other suitable attachment process to secure or maintain (permanently or temporarily) the facing surfaces of the folded portions in the desired configuration.

<FIG> illustrate another embodiment in which at least a portion of the lace guide <NUM> is covered by another structure (e.g., a portion of the upper and/or a material attached to an outer surface of the upper and/or sole structure.

Referring to <FIG>, a pair of covering portions <NUM> are provided on each of the medial side <NUM> and lateral side <NUM>. The covering portions <NUM> extend across at least a portion of the lace guide <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the covering portions <NUM> extend across three attached regions <NUM> on each side and extend over a side of the apertures <NUM> defined by those attached regions <NUM> that is furthest from the throat area <NUM>. However, it should be understood that the extent that the covering portions extend over the lace guide can vary.

The covering portions <NUM> can be secured to the lace guide <NUM> and/or the upper <NUM> by any known attachment means. For example, in <FIG>, the covering portions are stitched to the lace guide <NUM> (and/or the upper <NUM> below the lace guides <NUM>) in the same manner that the lace guide <NUM> is stitched to the upper. In some embodiments, the attachment means can be applied to the lace guide <NUM> through the covering portions <NUM>. That is, the covering portions <NUM> can be stitched to the lace guide <NUM>, thereby securing the lace guide <NUM> to the upper <NUM> in the same step. Alternatively, separate stitching operations (or other fastening steps) can be performed to attach the covering portion <NUM> to the lace guide <NUM> and to attach the lace guide <NUM> to the upper <NUM>.

Of course, covering portions <NUM> can be secured to the upper using any other fastening means described herein, including for example, mechanical fasteners (e.g., rivets), stitching, and/or adhesives.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, covering portions <NUM> have a first end <NUM> secured to the lace guide <NUM> and/or upper <NUM> and a second end <NUM> that extends to the lower portion of the upper <NUM>. In some embodiments, the second end can be secured at the bite line (i.e., in the region of the upper where it is secured to the sole structure <NUM>) as shown in <FIG>. The covering portions <NUM> can also be secured to the upper <NUM> at areas of the upper <NUM> away from the sole structure <NUM> and throat area <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, covering portions <NUM> can be secured to the upper at a rearward and forward side, such as by stitching <NUM>.

In addition, in some embodiments, the lace member <NUM> can be secured and/or received at a location forward of the throat area <NUM>. For example, <FIG> illustrates a forward aperture <NUM> that receives a portion of the lace member <NUM>. In some embodiments, the forward aperture can be formed from and/or secured to the intermediate portion <NUM> of the lace guide. In the embodiment shown in <FIG> a second lace guide <NUM> extends longitudinally along the throat area <NUM> and includes one or more apertures that can receive the lace member <NUM>, including the forward aperture <NUM>. Although the forward aperture of <FIG> is part of a structure that extends along the throat area <NUM>, if desired a forward aperture <NUM> can be secured to the upper and/or the lace guide <NUM> (e.g., as shown in <FIG>).

<FIG> illustrate additional details of an exemplary lace guide <NUM> attached to an upper <NUM>, with covering portions <NUM> at least partially covering the lace guide <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the attached regions <NUM>, which can include the folded portions in some embodiments, and adjacent unattached regions <NUM> can define, in combination with the underlying surface of the upper <NUM>, a plurality of apertures through which one or more lace members can be received.

As shown in <FIG>, in some embodiments, upper <NUM> can have one or more discontinuous sections <NUM> that can comprise a gap and/or opening in the upper. In such embodiments, the lace guide <NUM> can bridge the gap and/or opening of the discontinuous section <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

Apertures <NUM>, and the respective passageways of the apertures, can be formed to have any desired entrance/exit angle relative to the lace guide. For example, as shown in <FIG>, apertures <NUM> can define an angle <NUM> of about <NUM>° relative to a lengthwise edge of the lace guide <NUM>. Alternatively, angles greater or less than <NUM>° can be formed. In some embodiments, the apertures define the same angle along one side of the lace guide <NUM>. In other embodiments, the apertures can define two or more different angles along one side of the lace guide <NUM>, or two or more angles along both sides of the lace guide <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An article of footwear (<NUM>) comprising:
an upper (<NUM>) that has a lateral side (<NUM>), a medial side (<NUM>), and a throat area (<NUM>) between the medial (<NUM>) and lateral sides (<NUM>); and
a lace guide (<NUM>) attached to the upper (<NUM>), the lace guide (<NUM>) comprising a first portion (<NUM>) that extends along the medial side (<NUM>) of the upper (<NUM>), a second portion (<NUM>) that extends along a lateral side (<NUM>) of the upper (<NUM>), and an intermediate portion (<NUM>) that extends between the first (<NUM>) and second portions (<NUM>),
wherein the first portion (<NUM>) and second portion (<NUM>) at least partly define a plurality of apertures (<NUM>) that can receive a lace member (<NUM>), and the lace guide (<NUM>) is a continuous piece of material that includes the first portion (<NUM>), the intermediate portion (<NUM>), and the second portion (<NUM>),
wherein the intermediate portion (<NUM>) comprises a first folded region (<NUM>) adjacent the first portion (<NUM>) and a second folded region (<NUM>) adjacent the second portion (<NUM>), and
wherein the lace guide (<NUM>) comprises a first side (<NUM>) and a second, opposite side (<NUM>), the first side (<NUM>) forms a top surface of the lace guide (<NUM>) along both the medial (<NUM>) and lateral sides (<NUM>) of the throat area (<NUM>), while the second side (<NUM>) forms a top surface of the lace guide (<NUM>) adjacent the forward end of the throat area (<NUM>).