Patent ID: 8713820

Claim:
A lacing system comprising: an article having a tightening edge; a lace; a reel based tightening mechanism coupled to the article, wherein the reel based tightening mechanism is configured to draw the lace into a spool to tighten the lacing system; a first lace guide comprising: a first lace guide element coupled to the tightening edge of the article, the first lace guide element configured to receive the lace at a first lace engagement location and to permit the lace to exit at a second lace engagement location; and a second lace guide element coupled to the tightening edge of the article, the second lace guide element configured to receive the lace at a third lace engagement location and to permit the lace to exit at a fourth lace engagement location; wherein the lace is threaded through the first and second lace guide elements such that a portion of the lace extends generally directly between the first and second lace guide elements; wherein a first linear axis passes through the first and second lace engagement locations, wherein a second linear axis passes through the third and fourth lace engagement locations, and wherein, when the first and second lace guide elements are in a substantially relaxed position, an angle formed between the first and second linear axes is between about 95° and about 175°; and a second lace guide comprising: a third lace guide element coupled to the tightening edge of the article, the third lace guide element configured to receive the lace at a fifth lace engagement location and to permit the lace to exit at a sixth lace engagement location; and a fourth lace guide element coupled to the tightening edge of the article, the fourth lace guide element configured to receive the lace at a seventh lace engagement location and to permit the lace to exit at an eighth lace engagement location; wherein a third linear axis passes through the fifth and sixth lace engagement locations, wherein a fourth linear axis passes through the seventh and eighth lace engagement locations and wherein when the third and fourth lace guide elements are in a substantially relaxed position, an angle formed between the third and fourth linear axes is between about 95° and about 175°; wherein the lace enters the third lace guide element through the fifth lace engagement location, extends through the third lace guide element, exits the third lace guide element through the sixth lace engagement location, passes between the third and fourth lace guide elements, enters the fourth lace guide element through the seventh lace engagement location, extends through the fourth lace guide element, exits the fourth lace guide element through the eighth lace engagement location, and extends from the eighth lace engagement location away from the tightening edge of the article.