Article of footwear with weight-activated cinching apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10537154-B2
Application number	US-201715816299-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2017
Priority date	Apr 14, 2015
Publication date	Jan 21, 2020
Grant date	Jan 21, 2020

Abstract

An article of footwear is disclosed that includes a cinching apparatus that is configured to move the upper between an open position and a closed position. The cinching apparatus includes a spring pad with a first, second, and third portion. The third portion is elastic and configured to deform elastically from a first position toward a second position. The third portion is configured to move the first portion relative to the second portion generally in the longitudinal direction as the third portion deforms between the first position and the second position. Also, the cinching apparatus is configured to move the upper from the open position toward the closed position as the third portion of the spring pad moves from the first position toward the second position.

First claim

We claim:

1. An article of footwear having a forefoot region and a heel region and defining a longitudinal direction that extends generally between the forefoot region and the heel region, the article of footwear comprising:
an upper having an open position and a closed position; and
a cinching apparatus configured to move the upper between the open and closed positions, the cinching apparatus including:
a base having a base forefoot portion and a base heel portion; and
a spring pad having a pad forefoot portion that is fixed in position relative to an upper surface of the base forefoot portion, a pad heel portion positioned adjacent an upper surface of the base heel portion and movable relative to the base heel portion generally in the longitudinal direction, and a pad midfoot portion between the pad forefoot portion and the pad heel portion, the pad midfoot portion being movable between a first position where the pad midfoot portion is at least partially curved in a direction away from the upper surface of the base midfoot portion and a second position where the pad midfoot portion is substantially flat relative to the upper surface of the base midfoot portion;

wherein when a load is applied to the pad midfoot portion the pad midfoot portion moves from the first position to the second position and when the load is removed from the pad midfoot portion the pad midfoot portion automatically returns to the first position;
wherein when the pad midfoot portion moves from the first position to the second position, the pad heel portion is configured to move generally in the longitudinal direction away from the pad forefoot portion and when the pad midfoot portion automatically moves from the second position to the first position, the pad heel portion is configured to move generally in the longitudinal direction toward the pad forefoot portion;
wherein when the pad midfoot portion moves from the first position to the second position, the cinching apparatus moves the upper from the open position to the closed position, and when the pad midfoot portion automatically moves from the second position to the first position, the cinching apparatus permits movement of the upper from the closed position to the open position.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising a sole structure attached to upper, wherein the spring pad and base are included in the sole structure and configured to be disposed under the foot of a wearer, such that a weight load applied by a wearer moves the pad midfoot portion from the first position to the second position.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the cinching apparatus further comprises:
an engagement member associated with the base heel portion and operatively coupled to the pad heel portion, the engagement member being configured to move generally in the longitudinal direction toward and away from the base forefoot portion; and
a securement device engaging the engagement member and the upper, such that when the pad midfoot portion moves from the first position to the second position a tension on the securement device increases causing the upper to move from the open position to the closed position, and when the pad midfoot portion automatically moves from the second position to the first position the tension on the securement device decreases permitting movement of the upper from the closed position to the open position.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein the engagement member comprises a shuttle.

5. The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein the engagement member has a released position where the engagement member is freely movable and a locked position, and wherein the cinching apparatus further comprises a locking mechanism configured to lock the engagement member in the locked position such that the upper is substantially maintained in one of the open position and the closed position.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein the cinching apparatus further comprises an abutment member having a first end attached to the pad heel portion and operatively coupled to the engagement member, wherein the abutment member is configured to move substantially in tandem with the pad heel portion, and to release the locking mechanism as the pad midfoot portion moves from the first position toward the second position such that the engagement member is in the released position.

7. The article of footwear of claim 6 , wherein the cinching apparatus further comprises a biasing member that engages the first end of the abutment member and the engagement member such that the biasing member biases the engagement member toward the first end of the abutment member.

8. The article of footwear of claim 6 , wherein the base includes a groove extending in the longitudinal direction from the base heel portion toward the base midfoot portion, and configured to receive the abutment member such that the abutment member is capable of sliding within the groove.

9. The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein the securement device is at least one of a lace, a cable, a wire, and a strap.

10. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the spring pad is a one-piece unitary body, and wherein the pad midfoot portion extends continuously from the pad forefoot portion to the pad heel portion.

11. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the spring pad is made of a material that resists movement of the pad midfoot portion from the first position to the second position unless the load applied to the pad midfoot portion exceeds about 10 pounds.

12. An article of footwear including a forefoot region and a heel region, and defining a longitudinal direction that extends generally between the forefoot region and the heel region, the article of footwear comprising:
an upper having a closed position and an open position; and
a cinching apparatus operatively coupled to the upper, the cinching apparatus including:
a base having a base forefoot portion and a base heel portion; and
a spring pad having a pad forefoot portion, a pad heel portion, and an intermediate portion that is disposed between the pad forefoot portion and the pad heel portion, the pad forefoot portion being fixed in position relative to the base forefoot portion, the intermediate portion having a first position where the intermediate portion is curved in a direction of the upper and a second position where the spring pad is substantially flat, and the intermediate portion being configured to:
move from the first position toward the second position when a load is applied to the intermediate portion; and
automatically return to the first position when the load is removed;

wherein the heel portion is configured to slide along the base in the longitudinal direction as the intermediate portion moves between the first position and the second position;
wherein as the intermediate portion moves from the first position to the second position, the cinching apparatus moves the upper from the open position and the closed position, and as the intermediate portion moves from the second position to the first position, the cinching apparatus permits the upper to move from the closed position to the open position.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12 , further comprising a sole structure attached to upper, wherein the spring pad and base are included in the sole structure and configured to be disposed under the foot of a wearer, such that a weight load applied by a wearer moves the pad midfoot portion from the first position to the second position.

14. The article of footwear of claim 12 , further comprising a securement device coupled to the upper a

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Smith Casey L
• Friton Michael R

Classifications

• A43C11/00

  Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes (dress fastenings in general A44B) · CPC title

• A43B17/02

  wedge-like or resilient · CPC title

• A43C11/004 Primary

  Fastenings fixed along the upper edges of the uppers · CPC title

• A43C11/165

  characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation · CPC title

• A43B13/183

  Leaf springs · CPC title