Tethered anchor point for footwear lace element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11596205-B2
Application number	US-202016921658-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 6, 2020
Priority date	Oct 19, 2015
Publication date	Mar 7, 2023
Grant date	Mar 7, 2023

Abstract

A tethered anchor point for a footwear lace element includes various elements. For example, the tethered anchor point includes a tensile strand that attaches to a portion of the footwear article. In addition, the tethered anchor point includes a tensile-strand reinforcement. The tensile-strand reinforcement provides a sliding surface against which the lace element of the footwear article may slide when the lace element is threaded through the tethered anchor point.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism having a first side and a second side, the tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism comprising:
a channel having a radial wall with an internal surface facing toward the channel and an external surface facing away from the channel;
wherein the internal surface of the radial wall at least partially circumscribes a central axis of the channel that extends from a first terminal end of the channel to a second terminal end of the channel, wherein the central axis of the channel bisects the tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism into the first side and the second side;
wherein the channel includes a bend between the first terminal end and the second terminal end, such that the central axis of the channel extends along a path that bends at least about 180 degrees;
wherein the bend of the channel radially extends at least partially around a lace passageway; and
wherein the channel includes two slots extending entirely through the radial wall from the external surface to the internal surface, wherein the two slots are each positioned entirely on the first side of the tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism.

2. The tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the two slots comprise a first slot opening to the first terminal end and a second slot opening to the second terminal end.

3. The tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism of claim 1 , wherein each of the two slots is substantially straight.

4. The tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the two slots extend in a non-straight manner.

5. The tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the bend includes an open-sided portion that fluidly connects with the two slots.

6. The tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the lace passageway extends from the bend entirely to both the first terminal end and the second terminal end.

7. A tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism having a first side and a second side, the tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism comprising:
a first tubular structure having a first radial wall circumscribing a first axis, the first tubular structure comprising a first terminal end of the tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism and comprising a first slot extending entirely through the first radial wall from an external surface of the first radial wall to an internal surface of the first radial wall;
a second tubular structure having a second radial wall circumscribing a second axis, the second tubular structure comprising a second terminal end of the tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism and comprising a second slot extending entirely through the second radial wall from an external surface of the second radial wall to an internal surface of the second radial wall, wherein the first tubular structure and the second tubular structure are substantially parallel, and wherein the first slot and the second slot are each positioned proximate the first side of the tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism;
a bent channel connecting the first tubular structure with the second tubular structure, the bent channel having an open side fluidly connecting to the first slot and the second slot, wherein the first slot extends entirely to the first terminal end and the second slot extends entirely to the second terminal end; and
a lace passageway having a lace-passageway axis circumscribed by the bent channel, wherein the lace-passageway axis of the lace passageway bisects the tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism into the first side and the second side, wherein the lace passageway is open ended directly between the first terminal end and the second terminal end, such that the lace passageway is accessible through an opening between the first terminal end and the second terminal end.

8. The tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism of claim 7 , wherein the lace passageway extends from the bent channel entirely to both the first terminal end and the second terminal end.

9. The tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first slot and the second slot is substantially straight.

10. The tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism of claim 7 , wherein the first slot extends in a non-straight manner.

11. A footwear article comprising:
a tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism comprising:
a first tubular structure having a first radial wall circumscribing a first axis, wherein the first axis of the first tubular structure bisects the tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism into an open side and a closed side, the first tubular structure comprising a first terminal end of the tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism and comprising a first slot extending entirely through the first radial wall from an external surface of the first radial wall to an internal surface of the first radial wall;
a second tubular structure having a second radial wall circumscribing a second axis, wherein the second axis of the second tubular structure bisects the tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism into the open side and the closed side, the second tubular structure comprising a second terminal end of the tensile-strand reinforcement mechanism and comprising a second slot extending entirely through the second radial wall from an external surface of the second radial wall to an internal surface of the second radial wall, wherein the first tubular structure and the second tubular structure are substantially parallel; and
a u-shaped bent channel connecting the first tubular structure with the second tubular structure, the u-shaped bent channel having the open side fluidly connecting to the first slot and the second slot; and
a tensile strand configured to pass through the first slot and the second slot to be positioned in the first tubular structure and the second tubular structure, respectively.

12. The footwear article of claim 11 , wherein the first slot extends entirely to the first terminal end and the second slot extends entirely to the second terminal end.

13. The footwear article of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the first slot and the second slot is substantially straight.

14. The footwear article of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the first slot and the second slot extends in a non-straight manner.

15. The footwear article of claim 11 further comprising, a lace passageway extending from the u-shaped bent channel entirely to both the first terminal end and the second terminal end.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Klein Ross

Classifications

• A43C1/04 Primary

  with rings or loops · CPC title

• A43C1/00

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

• A43B23/0265

  having different properties in different directions · CPC title

• A43C3/00

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

• A43B23/0245

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title