Footwear having motorized adjustment system and elastic upper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11219276-B2
Application number	US-201916518006-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2019
Priority date	Apr 15, 2014
Publication date	Jan 11, 2022
Grant date	Jan 11, 2022

Abstract

An article of footwear may include an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper including one or more elastic portions and one or more substantially inelastic portions. The footwear may further include a plurality of lace receiving members fixedly attached to an outer surface of the upper on the inelastic portions of the upper. Also, the footwear may include a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper. In addition, the footwear may include a motorized tensioning system including a motorized tightening device and a tensile member extending through the plurality of lace receiving members, the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear by drawing two or more of the plurality of lace receiving members closer to one another.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An article of footwear, comprising:
a motorized tensioning system including a motorized tightening device and a tensile member, the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear;
a sole structure;
an upper including a top portion, a bottom portion, and an elastic portion, the top and bottom portions being substantially inelastic, the elastic portion fixedly attached to the sole structure and forming a void configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the top and bottom portions fixedly attached to the elastic portion, the top portion movably positioned relative to the bottom portion based on stretching or relaxation of the elastic portion, the top portion and the bottom portion substantially laterally offset with respect to the elastic portion wherein the elastic portion has a tensioned state and a relaxed state and is fused to the top and bottom portions; and
a plurality of lace receiving members fixedly attached to an outer surface of the upper on the top and bottom portions of the upper, wherein the tensile member extends through a first lace receiving member of the two or more lace receiving members and extends through a second lace receiving member of the two or more lace receiving members;
wherein, upon increasing tension on the tensile member with the motorized tightening device, the top portion moves with respect to the bottom portion such that the void decreases in volume, wherein closing a gap between the first lace receiving member and the second lace receiving member causes the elastic portion to transition from the tensioned state to the relaxed state.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the top portion is further coupled to the sole structure.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein the top portion is coupled to the sole structure proximate a middle portion of the sole structure.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein the top portion is coupled to the sole structure on a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of lace receiving members are secured to the top portion at a medial location and a lateral location.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein the top portion at least partially covers the bottom portion.

7. The article of footwear of claim 6 , wherein the tensile member extends from the top portion to a heel region of the article of footwear.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7 , wherein the motorized tensioning system further comprises a power source positioned in the sole structure and operatively coupled to the motorized tensioning device to provide power to operate the motorized tensioning device.

9. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the power source is positioned in a recess in the sole structure accessible from the void.

10. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the sole structure comprises a midsole and an outsole and wherein the recess is formed in the midsole.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Rushbrook Thomas J
• Beers Tiffany A

Classifications

• A43B3/34 Primary

  with electrical or electronic arrangements · CPC title

• A43C1/00

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

• A43B23/047

  the gusset being elastic · CPC title

• A43C3/00

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

• A43C11/165 Primary

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