Devices and methods for enhancing the fit of boots and other footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11751633-B2
Application number	US-201916655073-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2019
Priority date	Aug 28, 2014
Publication date	Sep 12, 2023
Grant date	Sep 12, 2023

Abstract

A closure system for a boot or other footwear includes a tension member that is disposed within the boot and routed or guided about a path within the boot via one or more guides. The closure system also includes an adjustment member that is disposed within the boot and operably coupled with the tension member. The closure system further includes a reel based closure device having a knob that is operable to tension the tension member and to release tension from the tension member. Tensioning of the tension member adjusts a fit of the adjustment member about a foot within the boot to secure the foot within the boot and loosening of the tension member adjusts the fit of the adjustment member about the foot to allow the foot to be more easily removed from the boot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A boot comprising:
a sole;
an upper that is attached to the sole and configured to fit around a foot and a portion of a leg of a wearer;
a single canopy or panel that is positioned under the upper near an instep of the boot and that is configured to exert pressure on the wearer's foot in response to tensioning of the single canopy or panel, the single canopy or panel having a first end that is coupled with a first side of the boot and a second end that is positioned on an opposite side of the boot, the single canopy or panel also having a body portion that extends between the first end and the second end;
a tension member;
one or more guides that are coupled with the second end of the single canopy or panel and that are configured to guide the tension member about a path within the boot; and
a tightening mechanism that is operably coupled with the tension member and that is configured to effect tensioning of the tension member upon operation of the tightening mechanism;
wherein the single canopy or panel is the only canopy or panel operably coupled with the tension member.

2. The boot of claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the tension member is coupled with the tightening mechanism and a distal end of the tension member is coupled with the boot.

3. The boot of claim 1 , wherein the tightening mechanism is a reel based closure device.

4. The boot of claim 3 , wherein the reel based closure device is positioned on a back shaft of the boot.

5. The boot of claim 4 , wherein the tension member is routed from the reel based closure device to the one or more guides via tubing.

6. The boot of claim 1 , wherein the boot includes one or more guides that are attached to the boot and that are configured to guide the tension member about a path such that the tension member is routed within the boot between the canopy or panel and the sole.

7. The boot of claim 1 , wherein the single canopy or panel is configured to pull an inner shell of the boot into contact with the wearer's foot or leg.

8. A system for footwear about a wearer's foot, the system comprising;
a canopy or panel that is positionable under an upper of the footwear near an instep of the footwear, the canopy or panel having a fixed end that is coupleable with a first side of the footwear and a free end that is positionable on an opposite side of the footwear, the canopy or panel having a body portion that extends between the fixed end and the free end;
a tension member;
one or more guides that are coupled with the free end of the canopy or panel and that are configured to guide the tension member about a path within the footwear; and
a tightening mechanism that is operably coupled with the tension member and that is configured to effect tensioning of the tension member upon operation of the tightening mechanism;
wherein the path of the tension member is routed only on one side of the footwear.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein when coupled with the footwear, a proximal end of the tension member is coupled with the tightening mechanism and a distal end of the tension member is coupled with the footwear.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the tightening mechanism is a reel based closure device.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the reel based closure device is configured for coupling with a rear surface of the footwear.

12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising tubing that is configured to route the tension member from the reel based closure device to the one or more guides.

13. The system of claim 8 , further comprising one or more guides that are attachable to the footwear and that are configured to guide the tension member about the path.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the footwear is a boot or work shoe.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the canopy or panel is configured to pull an inner shell of the boot into contact with the wearer's foot or leg.

16. A method of manufacturing footwear comprising:
providing the footwear;
positioning a canopy or panel under an upper of the footwear near an instep of the footwear and coupling a fixed end of the canopy or panel with a first side of the footwear, the canopy or panel having a free end that is positionable on an opposite side of the footwear and having a body portion that extends between the fixed end and the free end;
coupling one or more guides with the free end of the canopy or panel;
coupling one or more guides with the footwear;
coupling a tension member with the one or more guides of the canopy or panel and the one or more guides of the footwear so that the tension member is routed or guided about a path within the footwear; and
coupling a tightening mechanism with the footwear, the tightening mechanism being operably coupled with the tension member and that being configured to effect tensioning of the tension member upon operation of the tightening mechanism;
wherein the path of the tension member is routed only on one side of the footwear.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising coupling a distal end of the tension member with the footwear.

18. The method of claim 16 , coupling the tightening mechanism with a rear surface of the footwear.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising coupling tubing with the footwear to route the tension member from the tightening mechanism to the one or more guides of the canopy or panel.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the footwear is a boot or work shoe.

Assignees

• Boa Tech Inc

Inventors

• Burns Robert
• Hamilton Charles
• Minkin Ilya
• Peterson Rebecca
• Venturini Aaron
• White Tamara

Classifications

• A43C11/165 Primary

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

• A41F1/00

  Fastening devices specially adapted for garments {(for pairing socks A41B11/002; for fur garments A41D5/006)} · CPC title

• F41C33/0209

  Pouch or pocket like containers for small arms covering all or most of the small arm · CPC title

• A42B3/145

  Size adjustment devices · CPC title

• A45C13/1046

  of strings or cords · CPC title