Article of footwear with adjustable fitting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11633017-B2
Application number	US-202016864664-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2020
Priority date	Sep 27, 2013
Publication date	Apr 25, 2023
Grant date	Apr 25, 2023

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a fitting system with an upper member that is supported by the upper and a strand guide that is supported by the sole structure. The strand guide is flexible and flexes in concert with the sole structure. The strand guide has a guide surface. The fitting system further includes a tensioning system with a flexible strand that is configured to bias the upper member toward the strand guide. The flexible strand has a first section coupled to the upper member and a second section extending through the sole structure. The second section abuts the guide surface. The second section is configured to slide across the guide surface as a result of flexure of the strand guide. The first section and the upper member are configured to move relative to the sole structure as a result of sliding of the second section across the guide surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper defining a void operable to receive a foot, the upper movable between a constricted state and a released state;
a sole structure coupled to the upper and including a ground-engaging surface, the sole structure including a plurality of grooves formed through the ground-engaging surface; and
a tensioning system including a flexible strand operable to selectively move the upper into the constricted state when moved from a relaxed state to a tensioned state, the flexible strand including (i) a first portion disposed within a first groove of the plurality of grooves, (ii) a second portion extending from the first groove in a direction away from the ground-engaging surface at a medial side of article of footwear, and (iii) a third portion extending from the first groove at a lateral side of the article of footwear in a direction away from the ground-engaging surface.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion are all part of the same, unitary strand.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising a retainer operable to fix a position of the flexible strand relative to the upper.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein the retainer is disposed at a heel region of the upper.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4 , wherein the flexible strand includes a fourth portion extending along the heel region.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein the fourth portion extends from the sole structure in a direction away from the ground-engaging surface.

7. The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion extends along an outer surface of the upper.

8. The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein the fourth portion is attached to a fastener operable to be selectively attached to the retainer.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the flexible strand includes a fourth portion attached to the second portion and a fifth portion attached to the third portion, the fourth portion extending from the second portion in a direction toward the ground-engaging surface and the fifth portion extending from the third portion in a direction toward the ground-engaging surface.

10. The article of footwear of claim 9 , further comprising a first projection extending from a surface of the upper at the medial side of the article of footwear and defining a first arcuate engagement surface and a second projection extending from a surface of the upper at the lateral side of the article of footwear and defining a second arcuate engagement surface, the flexible strand extending along the first arcuate engagement surface at a junction of the second portion and the fourth portion and extending along the second arcuate engagement surface at a junction of the third portion and the fifth portion.

11. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper defining a void operable to receive a foot, the upper movable between a constricted state and a released state;
a sole structure coupled to the upper and including a ground-engaging surface, the sole structure including a plurality of grooves formed through the ground-engaging surface; and
a tensioning system including a flexible strand operable to selectively move the upper into the constricted state when moved from a relaxed state to a tensioned state, the flexible strand including (i) a first portion disposed within a first groove of the plurality of grooves, (ii) a second portion disposed within a second groove of the plurality of grooves different than the first groove, and (iii) a third portion extending from one of the first portion and the second portion in a direction away from the ground-engaging surface at one of a medial side of article of footwear and a lateral side of the article of footwear.

12. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion are all part of the same, unitary strand.

13. The article of footwear of claim 11 , further comprising a retainer operable to fix a position of the flexible strand relative to the upper.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the retainer is disposed at a heel region of the upper.

15. The article of footwear of claim 14 , wherein the flexible strand includes a fourth portion extending along the heel region.

16. The article of footwear of claim 15 , wherein the fourth portion extends from the second portion in a direction away from the ground-engaging surface.

17. The article of footwear of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the third portion and the fourth portion extends along an outer surface of the upper.

18. The article of footwear of claim 15 , wherein the fourth portion is attached to a fastener operable to be selectively attached to the retainer.

19. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the first groove extends in a direction between the medial side of the article of footwear and the lateral side of the article of footwear and the second groove extends in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the sole structure.

20. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the first groove and the second groove are spaced apart from one another in a direction extending along a longitudinal axis of the sole structure and each extends between the medial side of the article of footwear and the lateral side of the article of footwear.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Elder Zachary M
• James Dervin A
• Kilgore Elizabeth A

Classifications

• A43C11/008

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

• A43C11/165

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

• A43B13/18

  Resilient soles {(skating boots provided with resilient means A43B5/1658)} · CPC title

• A43B11/00 Primary

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

• A43C11/002

  Fastenings using stretchable material attached to cuts in the uppers · CPC title