Dynamic lacing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11026472-B2
Application number	US-201715655769-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2017
Priority date	Jul 22, 2016
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper defining an interior void and a first cable movable in a tightening direction to move the upper into a tightened state and movable in a loosening direction to move the upper into a loosened state. The article of footwear also includes a tightening grip operable to be moved away from the upper in a first direction to move the first cable in the tightening direction and a cable lock operable in a locked state to restrict movement of the first cable in the loosening direction and operable in an unlocked state to permit movement of the first cable in the loosening direction. A release grip is operable to be moved away from the upper in a second direction to move the cable lock from the locked state to the unlocked state, whereby the release grip is separate from the tightening grip.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper having a heel portion, an instep portion, and a forefoot portion, the upper including an ankle opening between the heel portion and the instep portion;
a first cable movable in a tightening direction to move the upper into a tightened state and movable in a loosening direction to move the upper into a loosened state;
a tightening grip disposed at an outer surface of the upper adjacent to an anterior end of the ankle opening and operable to be moved away from the upper in a first direction to move the first cable in the tightening direction;
a cable lock operable in a locked state to restrict movement of the first cable in the loosening direction and operable in an unlocked state to permit movement of the first cable in the loosening direction; and
a release grip operable to be moved away from the upper in a second direction to move the cable lock from the locked state to the unlocked state, the release grip being connected to the cable lock by a release cable separate from the tightening grip and the first cable; and
a sole structure attached to the upper, the sole structure including a midsole and an outsole, the midsole including a cavity, the cable lock being disposed within the cavity.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the cable lock is disposed remotely from the tightening grip and from the release grip.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the release grip extends from the upper.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the cavity opposes the outsole.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the cavity opposes the upper.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5 , further comprising a strobel attached to the upper, the cavity opposing the strobel.

7. The article of footwear of claim 6 , wherein the cable lock is attached to the strobel.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the release grip extends from a medial side of the upper.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising a second cable having a first portion forming the tightening grip and a second portion received by the cable lock.

10. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein an effective length of the second cable is increased when the tightening grip is moved away from the upper.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein an effective length of the first cable is reduced when the tightening grip is moved away from the upper.

12. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein a portion of the first cable is retracted within the cable lock when the tightening grip is moved away from the upper.

13. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein an effective length of the first cable is reduced when the tightening grip is moved away from the upper.

14. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first cable is retracted within the cable lock when the tightening grip is moved away from the upper.

15. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is different than the second direction.

16. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper having a heel portion, an instep portion, and a forefoot portion, the upper including an ankle opening between the heel portion and the instep portion;
a first cable portion extending along the instep portion and movable in a first tightening direction to move the upper into a tightened state and movable in a first loosening direction to move the upper into a loosened state;
a second cable portion disposed at an outer surface of the upper adjacent to an anterior end of the ankle opening and movable in a second tightening direction to move first cable portion in the first tightening direction and movable in a second loosening direction when the first cable portion is moved in the first loosening direction;
a cable lock operable in a locked state to restrict movement of the first cable portion in the first loosening direction and the second cable portion in the second loosening direction and operable in an unlocked state to permit movement of the first cable portion in the first loosening direction and the second cable portion in the second loosening direction; and
a release grip connected to the cable lock by a release cable independent of the first cable portion and the second cable portion, the release grip operable to be moved away from the upper in a first direction to move the cable lock from the locked state to the unlocked state; and
a sole structure attached to the upper, the sole structure including a midsole and an outsole, the midsole including a cavity, the cable lock being disposed within the cavity.

17. The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein the second cable portion forms a tightening grip formed as a loop and operable to be moved in a second direction away from the upper to move the second cable portion in the second tightening direction.

18. The article of footwear of claim 17 , wherein the release grip is separate from the tightening grip.

19. The article of footwear of claim 17 , wherein the release grip is separate from the tightening grip.

20. The article of footwear of claim 17 , wherein the first direction is different than the second direction.

21. The article of footwear of claim 17 , wherein the cable lock is disposed remotely from the tightening grip and from the release grip.

22. The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein the cavity opposes the outsole.

23. The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein the cavity opposes the upper.

24. The article of footwear of claim 23 , further comprising a strobel attached to the upper, the cavity opposing the strobel.

25. The article of footwear of claim 24 , wherein the cable lock is attached to the Strobel.

26. The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein an effective length of the second cable portion is increased when the second cable portion is moved in the second tightening direction.

27. The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein an effective length of the first cable portion is reduced when the first cable portion is moved in the first tightening direction.

28. The article of footwear claim 16 , wherein a portion of the first cable portion is retracted within the cable lock when the first cable portion is moved in the first tightening direction.

29. The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein a portion of the second cable portion is retracted within the cable lock when the second cable portion is moved in the second loosening direction.

30. The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein the first cable portion and the second cable portion are part of the same, unitary cable.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Dyer Caleb W
• Lam Peter
• Orand Austin
• Vinet Andrea M
• Williams Peter
• Young Samantha

Classifications

• A43C11/165 Primary

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

• A43C11/008

  Combined fastenings, e.g. to accelerate undoing or fastening · CPC title

• A43C1/00

  Shoe lacing fastenings (garment fastening devices A41F) · CPC title

• A43C11/20

  Fastenings with tightening devices mounted on the tongue · CPC title

• A43C11/00

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