Article of footwear with closure system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11844401-B2
Application number	US-202117517274-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2021
Priority date	Nov 18, 2020
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

An article of footwear has a flexible upper, a sole, a bite line, a heel region, a forefoot region, a medial side, a lateral side, and a flap. The article of footwear is secured using a closure system that may be tightened and loosened. The flap is coupled to the article of footwear proximate the bite line and is configured to interact with the closure system. The closure system secures the flap to the upper when the closure system is tightened.

First claim

It is claimed:

1. An article of footwear comprising:
a flexible upper;
a sole having an outsole and a midsole;
a bite line;
a heel region, a midfoot region, and a forefoot region;
a medial side extending from the forefoot region to the heel region;
a lateral side extending from the forefoot region to the heel region and opposite to and generally parallel the medial side;
a single flap positioned entirely in the midfoot region on the lateral side of the article of footwear, wherein the flap is moveable in an arc between a relaxed position and an engaged position,
wherein the flap has a rigidity gradient and a most rigid point at or near a lower region of the flap and a least rigid point at or near an uppermost region of the flap, wherein a thickness of the flap increases from the uppermost region of the flap to the lower region of the flap to provide the rigidity gradient; and
a closure system that secures the flap to the upper, wherein a tension of the closure system is adjustable,
wherein the closure system is configured to cross over the flap and engage a lace guide and a lace anchor provided on the lower region of the flap,
wherein the closure system (i) secures the flap to the upper to stabilize at least a portion of the upper against a shear force when the tension of the closure system increases and (ii) releases a forefoot end of the flap when the tension of the closure system decreases so that the flap arcs outwards and away from the upper as slack is introduced to the closure system, wherein the closure system comprises a lace with a first end coupled to an adjustable dial positioned in the heel region and a second end that is fixedly coupled to the lace anchor provided on the lower region of the flap.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the flap extends outwardly from the bite line.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein the flap is configured to rotate about the bite line.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein when the lace is taut, the flap is in the engaged position to provide lateral support to the midfoot region of the article of footwear.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the tension of the closure system increases when a downward pressure is applied to the sole, and wherein slack is introduced to the closure system when the downward pressure is lifted and there is flexion in the forefoot region.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the flap has a thickness that varies between an upper portion of the flap and a lower portion of the flap.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the flap has a variable width that tapers towards an upper portion of the flap.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the flap includes one or more grooves to facilitate placement or movement of at least one lace of the closure system.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the flap is configured to rotate outwardly and downwardly about a hinged connection at the bite line.

10. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the flap extends horizontally outwards from the upper when placed in or moved towards the relaxed position.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the closure system remains attached or coupled to the flap when the flap extends horizontally outwards from the upper.

12. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the lace is configured to disengage and separate from the forefoot end of the flap in order to release the flap.

13. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the flap comprises a self-reinforced polymer composite material or a carbon fiber material, and wherein the flap has a semi-circular shape with a rounded edge portion and a sharp edge portion extending along the forefoot end of the flap.

14. An article of footwear comprising:
a flexible upper;
a sole having an outsole and a midsole;
a bite line;
a heel region, a midfoot region, and a forefoot region;
a medial side extending from the forefoot region to the heel region;
a lateral side extending from the forefoot region to the heel region and opposite to and generally parallel the medial side;
a single flap positioned entirely in the midfoot region on the lateral side of the article of footwear, wherein the flap is moveable in an arc between a relaxed position and an engaged position,
wherein the flap has a rigidity gradient and a thickness that increases from an uppermost region of the flap to a lower region of the flap to provide the rigidity gradient,
wherein the flap has a most rigid point at or near the lower region of the flap and a least rigid point at or near the uppermost region of the flap; and
a closure system,
wherein the closure system is configured to cross over the flap and engage at least one lace guide and a lace anchor provided on the lower region of the flap,
wherein the closure system (i) secures the flap to the upper to stabilize at least a portion of the upper against a shear force when a tension of the closure system increases and (ii) releases a forefoot end of the flap when the tension of the closure system decreases so that the flap arcs outwards and away from the upper as slack is introduced to the closure system,
wherein the closure system comprises at least one lace comprising a first end coupled to an adjustable dial positioned in the heel region and a second end that is fixedly coupled to the lace anchor provided on the lower region of the flap.

15. The article of footwear of claim 14 , wherein the at least one lace guide comprises two lace guides at the forefoot region, and wherein the at least one lace crosses over the upper in an X pattern.

16. The article of footwear of claim 15 , wherein the at least one lace is pulled taut when a downward pressure is applied, and wherein slack is introduced to the at least one lace when the downward pressure is lifted and there is flexion in the forefoot region.

17. An article of footwear comprising:
a flexible upper;
a sole having an outsole and a midsole;
a bite line;
a heel region, a midfoot region, and a forefoot region;
a medial side extending from the forefoot region to the heel region;
a lateral side extending from the forefoot region to the heel region and opposite to and generally parallel the medial side;
a single flap positioned entirely in the midfoot region on the lateral side of the article of footwear, the flap having a forefoot end, a heel end, and an uppermost point, the flap coupled to the article of footwear proximate the bite line, wherein the flap is moveable along an arc between an engaged position and a relaxed position, wherein in the engaged position the flap provides lateral support to the midfoot region of the article of footwear, wherein the flap has a rigidity gradient with a most rigid point at or near a lower region of the flap and a least rigid point at or near an uppermost region of the flap, wherein a thickness of the flap increases from the uppermost region of the flap to the lower region of the flap to provide the rigidity gradient; and
an adjustable closure system,
wherein the closure system is configured to cross over the flap and engage a lace guide and a lace anchor provided on the lower region of the flap,
wherein the closure system (i) secures the flap to the upper to stabilize at least a portion of the upper against a shear force when a tension of the closure system increases and (ii) releases the forefoot end of the flap when the tension of the closure system decreases so that the flap arcs outwards and away from the upper as slack is introduced to the closure syst

Assignees

• Acushnet Co

Inventors

• Swigart John F
• Teeter Paul O

Classifications

• A43B3/06

  Shoes with flaps; Footwear with divided uppers · CPC title

• A43B23/227

  fixed on the outside of the shoe · CPC title

• A43B23/0235

  Different layers of different material · CPC title

• A43C11/165 Primary

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

• A43C1/00

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