Lacing system with loops for tightening and loosening

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11185129-B2
Application number	US-201916555704-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2019
Priority date	Oct 26, 2016
Publication date	Nov 30, 2021
Grant date	Nov 30, 2021

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper and a tensioning mechanism operable to move the upper between a tightened state and a loosened state and including a tensioning cable having a first end disposed on one of a lateral side and a medial side of the upper. The tensioning cable is movable in a tightening direction to move the tightening mechanism into a tightened state and movable in a loosening direction to move the tightening mechanism into a loosened state. The article of footwear also includes a locking device disposed on the one of the lateral side and the medial side of the upper. The locking device is operable between a locked state restricting movement of the tensioning cable in the loosening direction and an unlocked state permitting movement of the tensioning cable in both the loosening direction and the tightening direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of footwear comprising:
a sole structure;
an upper attached to the sole structure;
a tensioning cable operable to move the upper between a tightened state and a loosened state, the tensioning cable movable in a tightening direction to move the upper into the tightened state and movable in a loosening direction to move the upper into the loosened state; and
a locking device including a first portion fixed relative to the upper, a second portion movable relative to the first portion, and a braided conduit extending between the first portion and the second portion and receiving a portion of the tensioning cable therein, the braided conduit operable between an elongated position restricting movement of the tensioning cable in both the loosening direction and the tightening direction to maintain the upper in the tightened state and a compressed position permitting movement of the tensioning cable in both the loosening direction and the tightening direction to permit movement of the upper into the loosened state.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising a sheath extending from a first end disposed on one of a lateral side of the upper and a medial side of the upper, around a tongue portion of the upper, and to a second end disposed on the other of the lateral side of the upper and the medial side of the upper, the sheath including an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the tensioning cable and receiving a portion of the tensioning cable therein.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein the inner diameter is operable to accommodate bunching by the tensioning cable when the tensioning cable is moved in the tightening direction.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the tensioning cable extends from a first end disposed on one of a lateral side of the upper and a medial side of the upper, the tensioning cable extending from the first end, around a tongue portion of the upper, and to a first anchor disposed on the other of the lateral side and the medial side.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4 , wherein the tensioning cable extends from the first anchor around a heel portion of the upper to a second anchor disposed on the one of the lateral side and the medial side.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein a location of the second anchor is disposed further from an ankle opening of the upper than the first end of the tensioning cable.

7. The article of footwear of claim 5 , further comprising at least one routing conduit including an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the tensioning cable and receiving a portion of the tensioning cable that extends around the heel portion of the upper between the first anchor and the second anchor.

8. The article of footwear of claim 4 , wherein the tensioning cable extends around a heel portion of the upper from the first anchor and through the locking device.

9. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the braided conduit is biased in the elongated position by at least one elastic band.

10. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the tensioning cable is moved in the tightening direction through the braided conduit when the tensioning cable is pulled away from the upper.

11. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the braided conduit is biased in the elongated position and transitions to an intermediate compressed position when the tensioning cable is pulled away from the upper, wherein the intermediate compressed position permits movement of the tensioning cable in the tightening direction and restricts movement of the tensioning cable in the loosening direction.

12. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the first portion is attached to an outer surface of the upper.

13. The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising a release operatively connected to the second portion, the release operable move the second portion toward the first portion to move the braided conduit into the compressed position when a force of a predetermined magnitude is applied to the release.

14. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the tensioning cable extends from the second portion and routes through a series of lateral engagement features extending along a lateral edge of a throat opening of the upper, and a series of medial engagement features extending along a medial edge of the throat opening of the upper.

15. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the locking device includes a release lever operable to transition the locking device from the elongated position to the compressed position.

16. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear including an upper and a sole structure, the method comprising:
providing a tensioning 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; and
extending the tensioning cable through a locking device including a first portion fixed relative to the upper, a second portion movable relative to the first portion, and a braided conduit extending between the first portion and the second portion, the braided conduit operable between an elongated position restricting movement of the tensioning cable in both the loosening direction and the tightening direction to maintain the upper in the tightened state and a compressed position permitting movement of the tensioning cable in both the loosening direction and the tightening direction to permit movement of the upper into the loosened state.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising extending the tensioning cable through a sheath extending from a first end disposed on the one of a lateral side of the upper and a medial side of the upper, around a tongue portion of the upper, and to a second end disposed on the other of the lateral side and the medial side of the upper.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising providing the sheath with an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the tensioning cable to allow the sheath to accommodate bunching by the tensioning cable when the tensioning cable is moved in the tightening direction.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising attaching the first portion to an outer surface of the upper.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising providing a release mechanism operable to move the second portion toward the first portion to move the braided conduit from the elongated position toward the compressed position.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Dyer Caleb W
• Orand Austin
• Vinet Andrea M
• Young Samantha

Classifications

• A43C7/06 Primary

  Elastic bands · CPC title

• A43C1/06

  tightened by draw-strings · CPC title

• A43C11/16

  Fastenings secured by wire, bolts, or the like · CPC title

• A43C11/008

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

• A43B23/0245

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title