Patent ID: 7841106

Claim:
An article of footwear comprising: an outer sole; an upper including a lateral quarter and a medial quarter; a device for tightening the upper, said device comprising: a lacing system comprising a first lateral lace strand and a first medial lace strand; at least two lateral connecting points connecting the first lateral lace strand to the lateral quarter, the first lateral lace strand being slidably guided by at least one of said at least two lateral connecting points; at least two medial connecting points connecting the first medial lace strand to the medial quarter, the first medial lace strand being slidably guided by at least one of said at least two medial connecting points; said first lateral lace strand including a lateral intermediate portion extending between two of said lateral connecting points without being guided by one of said medial connecting points; said first medial lace strand including a medial intermediate portion extending between two of said medial connecting points without being guided by one of said lateral connecting points; at least one connector connecting the lateral intermediate portion of the first lateral lace strand and the medial intermediate portion of the first medial lace strand; at least one of the first lateral strand and the first medial strand being slidable relative to said at least one connector; at least said one connector not being affixed to said upper other than by said connecting of said intermediate portions of the first lateral and medial lace strands; a tightening zone defined by the following: said at least two lateral connecting points, said at least two medial connecting points and said at least one connector; said lacing system comprising no more than two lace portions having free lace ends extending beyond said tightening zone for applying and maintaining a tightening force to at least one of the first lateral and first medial lace strands; the device for tightening the upper further comprising: a second medial lace strand; at least two connecting points connecting the second medial lace strand to the medial quarter; the second medial lace strand including a medial intermediate portion extending between the two connecting points of the second medial lace strand.