Lace guide for an article of footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10455899-B2
Application number	US-201715798990-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2017
Priority date	Nov 1, 2016
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

A lace guide for an article of footwear comprises a base, a body protruding from the base, and an enlarged head at a distal end of the body. The body, the base, and the enlarged head define an external channel that extends at least partially around the body to receive and retain a lace. The base may be a heel counter, and the lace guide and the heel counter may be an integral, one-piece component. Alternatively, the base of the lace guide may be a wing extending along a side of the upper, or may be secured to a footwear upper.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lace guide for an article of footwear comprising:
a base;
a body protruding from the base; and
an enlarged head at a distal end of the body;
wherein the body, the base, and the enlarged head define an external channel that extends at least partially around the body to receive and retain a lace;
wherein the enlarged head has a lip extending from a periphery of the enlarged head toward the base, narrowing a width of the external channel at the lip;
the lip is asymmetrical;
the lip has a curved edge extending at an acute angle from the periphery of the enlarged head in a direction around the body and along the external channel.

2. The lace guide of claim 1 , wherein the external channel is annular.

3. The lace guide of claim 2 , wherein:
a first portion of an outer surface of the body in the external channel includes a series of protrusions; and
a second portion of the outer surface of the body in the external channel is smoother than the first portion.

4. The lace guide of claim 1 , wherein the lip is biased toward the base to retain the lace in the external channel.

5. The lace guide of claim 1 , wherein:
the lip has a terminal edge extending from the periphery of the enlarged head to the curved edge; and
the lip extends furthest from the periphery of the enlarged head at the terminal edge.

6. The lace guide of claim 1 , wherein:
the base is a heel counter;
the heel counter includes:
a heel cup, and
a side wall extending from the heel cup on a lateral side or a medial side of the heel counter; and

the body extends from the side wall.

7. The lace guide of claim 1 , wherein the base has a recess extending toward the enlarged head, and the lace guide further comprising:
a disc with a stud; wherein the stud fits in the recess to fasten the disc to the body.

8. The lace guide of claim 1 , further comprising prongs extending from the base opposite from the enlarged head.

9. A heel counter for an article of footwear comprising:
a base having a heel cup and a side wall extending forward from the heel cup;
a lace guide integral with the base and including:
a body protruding outward from the side wall, and
an enlarged head at a distal end of the body;

wherein:
the body, the base, and the enlarged head define an external annular channel that extends at least partially around the body between the enlarged head and the base to receive and retain a lace;
the enlarged head has a lip extending from a periphery of the enlarged head toward the base, narrowing a width of the external annular channel at the lip;
the lip is asymmetrical;
the lip has a trailing edge extending at an acute angle from the periphery of the enlarged head;
the lip has a leading edge extending from the periphery of the enlarged head to the trailing edge; and
the lip extends furthest from the periphery of the enlarged head at the leading edge.

10. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper forming a foot-receiving void;
a one-piece heel counter secured to the upper;
wherein the heel counter has a heel cup, and a side wall extending forward from the heel cup
wherein the heel counter has a lace guide disposed at a side of the upper and the lace guide including:
a body protruding outward from the side wall, and
an enlarged head at a distal end of the body;

wherein the body, the side wall, and the enlarged head define an external channel that extends at least partially around the body to receive and retain a lace.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein:
a first portion of an outer surface of the body in the external channel includes a series of protrusions;
a second portion of the outer surface of the body in the external channel is smoother than the first portion; and
the first portion is above the second portion.

12. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the enlarged head has a lip extending from a periphery of the enlarged head toward the side wall, narrowing a width of the external channel at the lip.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Chang Leo S
• Kurcinka Kristina L S
• Peng Jun

Classifications

• A43C3/00

  Hooks for laces (making from sheet metal B21D53/46); Guards for hooks · CPC title

• A43B23/17

  made of plastics · CPC title

• A43C7/00 Primary

  Holding-devices for laces · CPC title

• A43B23/0245 Primary

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• A43C1/06

  tightened by draw-strings · CPC title