Fastening mechanism for use with a lacing element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10039347-B2
Application number	US-201615001306-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2016
Priority date	Jan 20, 2016
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

A fastening mechanism for use with a lacing element is disclosed. The fastening mechanism is adjustable and includes an elongated member and a rigid element. There are two channels extending through the fastening mechanism that are configured to receive and secure portions of the lacing element. In some embodiments, a plurality of ridges can be formed along a sloped sidewall in each of the channels. The fastening mechanism may be utilized with articles of footwear or apparel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fastening mechanism for an article of footwear, comprising:
a rigid element attached to an elongated member, the elongated member including a central aperture that is sized and dimensioned to receive the rigid element, the elongated member being substantially more flexible than the rigid element;
a first channel formed between the rigid element and the elongated member, and a second channel formed between the rigid element and the elongated member;
the first channel being configured to receive at least a portion of a lacing element;
the first channel including a sloped sidewall comprising an upper sloped sidewall portion and a lower sloped sidewall portion that is continuous with the upper sloped sidewall portion;
the first channel including a proximal channel portion with a proximal opening, the proximal channel portion comprising the lower sloped sidewall portion and an inner wall portion disposed opposite of the lower sloped sidewall portion, wherein the lower sloped sidewall portion is sloped relative to the inner wall portion;
the first channel including a distal channel portion with a distal opening, the distal channel portion comprising the upper sloped sidewall portion and an outer edge portion disposed opposite to the upper sloped sidewall portion, wherein the upper sloped sidewall portion extends between the lower sloped sidewall portion and the distal opening; and
the sloped sidewall including a plurality of ridges, wherein each of the plurality of ridges comprise a first edge joined to a second edge, the first edge being orthogonal to the second edge;
the elongated member including a first state and a second state;
wherein the first edge is substantially parallel with a vertical axis in the first state;
wherein the first edge is oriented diagonally with respect to the vertical axis in the second state.

2. The fastening mechanism of claim 1 , wherein a first cross-sectional area of the proximal opening is larger than a second cross-sectional area of the distal opening.

3. The fastening mechanism of claim 1 , the rigid element further comprising a rigid sidewall, the rigid sidewall being disposed between the inner wall portion and the sloped sidewall, and the rigid sidewall being disposed opposite the proximal opening.

4. The fastening mechanism of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of ridges has a tip portion, and wherein each tip portion includes a substantially right-angled corner.

5. The fastening mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ridges are nearer to the distal opening than they are to the proximal opening.

6. The fastening mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the proximal opening is substantially rectangular.

7. The fastening mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the rigid sidewall is oriented in a direction substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis.

8. The fastening mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first channel extends through the fastening mechanism between a proximal surface of the fastening mechanism and a distal surface of the fastening mechanism.

9. The fastening mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the elongated member is curved such that the proximal surface of the fastening mechanism is substantially concave.

10. The fastening mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the rigid element includes a rigid sidewall disposed opposite the proximal opening and wherein the rigid element includes the outer edge portion.

11. The fastening mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the sloped sidewall comprises a surface of the elongated member.

12. The fastening mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the first channel further comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first sidewall and the second sidewall comprising surfaces of the elongated member.

13. The fastening mechanism of claim 12 , wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall are substantially similar in size and shape.

14. The fastening mechanism of claim 12 , wherein the proximal portion of the first channel has a substantially trapezoidal prism shape.

15. The fastening mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the second channel is substantially symmetric with respect to the first channel.

16. A fastening mechanism for an article of footwear, comprising:
a thickness extending between a distal surface and a proximal surface of the fastening mechanism;
a rigid element and an elongated member, the rigid element being located in a central aperture of the elongated member;
a first channel formed between the rigid element and the elongated member and including a sloped sidewall;
the first channel extending through the thickness of the fastening mechanism between a distal opening formed in the distal surface and a proximal opening formed in the proximal surface, the first channel being configured to receive at least a portion of a lacing element;
the sloped sidewall including a plurality of ridges, wherein each of the plurality of ridges comprise a first edge joined to a second edge, the first edge being orthogonal to the second edge;
the elongated member including a first state and a second state;
wherein the first edge is substantially parallel with a vertical axis in the first state;
wherein the first edge is oriented diagonally with respect to the vertical axis in the second state; and
wherein the fastening mechanism is configured to transition from the first state to the second state when a compressive force is applied to a first member end of the elongated member and a second member end of the elongated member.

17. The fastening mechanism of claim 16 , wherein the geometry of the rigid element in the first state is substantially similar to the geometry of the rigid element in the second state.

18. The fastening mechanism of claim 16 , wherein the outer edge portion is substantially aligned with the vertical axis and wherein the sloped sidewall is nonparallel with the outer edge portion.

19. The fastening mechanism of claim 16 , wherein the first state is configured to secure the lacing element, and wherein the second state is configured to release the lacing element.

20. The fastening mechanism of claim 16 , wherein a first cross-sectional area of the distal opening in the first state is smaller than a second cross-sectional area of the distal opening in the second state.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Spanks Jeffrey C

Classifications

• A43C11/14 Primary

  Clamp fastenings {, e.g. strap fastenings}; Clamp-buckle fastenings; Fastenings with toggle levers · CPC title

• A43C7/00 Primary

  Holding-devices for laces · CPC title