Dynamic lacing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11490675-B2
Application number	US-201916524881-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2019
Priority date	Jul 22, 2016
Publication date	Nov 8, 2022
Grant date	Nov 8, 2022

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; a tensioning grip extending along an outer surface of the upper from a first end disposed on a medial side of the upper to a second end disposed on a lateral side of the upper; a release grip extending along the outer surface of the upper from a third end disposed on one of the medial side or the lateral side of the upper to a fourth end disposed on the one of the medial side or the lateral side of the upper and aligned with one of the first end or the second end of the tensioning grip to give the perception that the tensioning grip and the release grip are separate portions of a single grip and a tensioning cable operably connected to the tensioning grip and movable in a tightening direction when the tensioning grip is pulled away from the upper to move the upper into a tightened state and movable in a loosening direction when the release grip is pulled away from the upper to move the upper into a loosened state.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising a cable lock 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.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein the cable lock permits movement of the tensioning cable in the tightening direction when the cable lock is the locked state.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein the cable lock engages the tensioning cable in the locked state to restrict movement of the tensioning cable in the tightening direction when the cable lock is in the locked state.

5. The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein the cable lock is disposed within a cavity provided in a sole structure of the article of footwear.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein the cable lock is disposed at one of a heel portion, an instep portion, or on a tongue of the upper.

7. The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein the tensioning cable includes a first length between the cable lock and the tensioning grip and a second length extending from the cable lock and along an instep portion of the upper, wherein movement of the tensioning cable in the tightening direction causes the first length to increase and the second length to decrease, and movement of the tensioning cable in the loosening direction causes the first length to decrease and the second length to increase.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising a first conduit configured to surround a portion of the tensioning cable along a first length, the first conduit defining an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the tensioning cable to accommodate bunching by the tensioning cable when the first length increases following movement of the tensioning cable in the tightening direction.

9. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the first conduit forms a portion of the tensioning grip.

10. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the tensioning grip defines the first conduit and is formed from an elastic material.

11. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the tensioning grip includes a first width and a first thickness and the release grip includes a second width and a second thickness, the first width being substantially equal to the second width and the first thickness being substantially equal to the second thickness.

12. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the tensioning grip extends along an instep region of the upper.

13. An article of footwear comprising: an upper; a tensioning grip including a first sheath having a first width and a first thickness less than the first width, the first width of the first sheath extending along and lying substantially flat against an outer surface of the upper; a release grip including a second sheath having a second width and a second thickness less than the second width, the second width of the second sheath extending along and lying substantially flat against the outer surface of the upper on one of a medial side or a lateral side of the upper; and a tensioning cable operably connected to the tensioning grip and movable in a tightening direction when the tensioning grip is pulled away from the upper to move the upper into a tightened state and movable in a loosening direction when the release grip is pulled away from the upper to move the upper into a loosened state.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13 , further comprising a cable lock 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.

15. The article of footwear of claim 14 , wherein the cable lock permits movement of the tensioning cable in the tightening direction when the cable lock is the locked state.

16. The article of footwear of claim 15 , wherein the cable lock engages the tensioning cable in the locked state to restrict movement of the tensioning cable in the tightening direction when the cable lock is in the locked state.

17. The article of footwear of claim 14 , wherein the cable lock is disposed within a cavity provided in a sole structure of the article of footwear.

18. The article of footwear of claim 14 , wherein the cable lock is disposed at one of a heel portion, an instep portion, or on a tongue of the upper.

19. The article of footwear of claim 14 , wherein the tensioning cable includes a first length between the cable lock and the tensioning grip and a second length extending from the cable lock and along an instep portion of the upper, wherein movement of the tensioning cable in the tightening direction causes the first length to increase and the second length to decrease, and movement of the tensioning cable in the loosening direction causes the first length to decrease and the second length to increase.

20. The article of footwear of claim 13 , further comprising a first conduit configured to surround a portion of the tensioning cable along a first length, the first conduit defining an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the tensioning cable to accommodate bunching by the tensioning cable when the first length increases following movement of the tensioning cable in the tightening direction.

21. The article of footwear of claim 20 , wherein the first conduit forms a portion of the tensioning grip.

22. The article of footwear of claim 20 , wherein the first sheath defines the first conduit and is formed from an elastic material.

23. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the tensioning grip is spaced apart from the release grip by a portion of the upper.

24. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein (i) the tensioning grip extends from a medial side of the upper to a lateral side of the upper.

25. The article of footwear of claim 24 , wherein the tensioning grip extends along an instep region of the upper.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• Y10T24/3969

  Sliding part or wedge · CPC title

• A43C11/00

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

• A43C11/165 Primary

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

• A43B11/00 Primary

  Footwear with arrangements to facilitate putting-on or removing, e.g. with straps · CPC title

• Y10T24/3713

  having relatively movable holding components or surfaces · CPC title