Article of footwear with adjustable fitting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12096824-B2
Application number	US-202318152495-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2023
Priority date	Sep 27, 2013
Publication date	Sep 24, 2024
Grant date	Sep 24, 2024

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;
an upper member extending over a portion of the upper and including a first projection and a second projection;
a sole structure coupled to the upper and including a 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 extending in a direction from the sole structure to the first projection and attached to the first projection by a first fastener and (ii) a second portion extending in a direction from the sole structure to the second projection and attached to the second projection by a second fastener.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the flexible strand includes a third portion extending from one of the first projection and the second projection and in a direction toward the sole structure.

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

4. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the upper member includes a recess disposed between and separating the first projection and the second projection.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the upper member is a panel formed from a flexible material.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion extends along an outer surface of the upper.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the upper member is disposed in a forefoot region of the upper.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the first projection and the second projection are disposed on an opposite side of the upper member than a main body of the upper member, the main body being disposed closer to one of a medial side of the upper and a lateral side of the upper than the first projection and the second projection.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the first projection and the second projection extend in a direction away from one of a medial side of the upper and a lateral side of the upper toward the other of the medial side of the upper and the lateral side of the upper.

10. 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;
an upper member extending over a portion of the upper;
a sole structure coupled to the upper and including a 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 and including (i) a first portion extending in a direction from the sole structure to the upper member and attached to the upper member by a first fastener and (ii) a second portion extending in a direction from the sole structure to the upper member and attached to the upper member by a second fastener, the flexible strand operable to move the upper member in a direction toward one of a medial side of the upper and a lateral side of the upper when moved from the relaxed state to the tensioned state.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the flexible strand includes a third portion extending from the upper member and in a direction toward the sole structure.

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 10 , wherein the upper member includes a recess disposed between and separating a first projection and a second projection.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the first projection and the second projection are disposed on an opposite side of the upper member than a main body of the upper member, the main body being disposed closer to the other of the medial side of the upper and the lateral side of the upper than the first projection and the second projection.

15. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the first projection and the second projection extend in a direction away from the other of the medial side of the upper and the lateral side of the upper toward the one of the medial side of the upper and the lateral side of the upper.

16. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the upper member is a panel formed from a flexible material.

17. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion extends along an outer surface of the upper.

18. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the upper member is disposed in a forefoot region of the upper.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A43B3/26

  adjustable as to length or size · CPC title

• A43C11/165

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

• A43C11/16

  Fastenings secured by wire, bolts, or the like · CPC title

• A43C11/008

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

• A43C11/004

  Fastenings fixed along the upper edges of the uppers · CPC title