Lace routing pattern of a lacing system for an article of footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12213562-B2
Application number	US-202017083475-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2020
Priority date	Mar 15, 2016
Publication date	Feb 4, 2025
Grant date	Feb 4, 2025

Abstract

A lace routing pattern for a lacing system for an article of footwear is described. The lacing system is moved between opened and closed positions by applying tension to segments of a lace connected to a tensioning assembly of a tensioning system. Each of the lace segments are arranged to extend between opposite sides of a lacing area according to a different lace routing pattern. The lace routing patterns have equal total closure distances for each of the lace segments so that tension applied by the tensioning system will be uniformly distributed through the lacing system and the article of footwear.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of footwear, comprising:
a sole structure;
an upper, secured to the sole structure, the upper forming a throat opening and a lacing area bounded by a medial edge of the upper, a lateral edge of the upper, the throat opening, and a forefoot region of the upper;
a tensioning assembly;
a lace, comprising a first lace segment and a second lace segment, the lace operatively coupled to the tensioning system, the lace extending across the lacing area in a plurality of lace positions, the plurality of lace positions including a first lace position that is most proximate to the throat opening relative to all other lace positions of the plurality of lace positions;
wherein the first lace segment enters the lacing area from the tensioning assembly at the first lace position proximate the throat opening and then crosses over a first portion of the lacing area between the throat opening and a midsection of the lacing area at least twice, wherein the first lace segment has an end secured to the upper; and
wherein the second lace segment enters the lacing area, from the tensioning assembly, directly proximate the midsection of the lacing area and crosses over a second portion of the lacing area between the midsection and the forefoot region at least twice, wherein the second lace segment has an end, separate from the end of the first lace segment, secured to the upper separate from the end of the first lace segment, and wherein the first lace segment overlaps the second lace segment on one of a medial side and a lateral side of the lacing area;
wherein the first and second lace segments are secured to one of a medial side and a lateral side of the forefoot region of the upper.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first lace segment enters the lacing area proximate the medial edge.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the second lace segment enters the lacing area proximate the medial edge.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first lace segment crosses over the lacing area three times.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 4 , wherein the second lace segment crosses over the lacing area three times.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of lacing guides positioned proximate the lacing area, each of the plurality of lacing guides receiving one of the first lace segment and the second lace segment.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of lacing guides extends across the lacing area.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 6 , wherein at least one of the plurality of lacing guides further partially extends between the throat opening and the forefoot region.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the lace extends along a full length of the lacing area from the throat opening to the forefoot region.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Beers Tiffany A
• Owings Andrew A

Classifications

• A43C1/003

  Zone lacing, i.e. whereby different zones of the footwear have different lacing tightening degrees, using one or a plurality of laces (laces combined with another system A43C11/008; zone tightening using straps A43C11/14) · CPC title

• A43C1/00

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

• A43C11/008

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

• A43B3/34

  with electrical or electronic arrangements · CPC title

• A43C3/00

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