Strap systems for articles of footwear and other foot-receiving devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9596904-B2
Application number	US-201213431115-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2012
Priority date	Mar 27, 2012
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

Strap systems for securing feet into articles of footwear or other foot-receiving devices include one or more strap members formed or engaged together in a continuous path along an upper for an article of footwear or other foot-receiving device. One or more structures for applying a force to the strap member(s) is provided so as to shorten a length of the continuous path and thereby apply tension to the strap member(s). Such strap systems can be arranged so that the strap tightens during plantar flexion or dorsiflexion. Additional aspects of this invention relate to bootie members for supporting such strap systems, upper members or bootie members including such strap systems, and articles of footwear and other foot-receiving devices including such strap systems.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A strap system engaged with and in combination with an upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
one or more strap members formed or engaged together in a continuous path along the upper, wherein the one or more strap members include:
(a) a first strap portion extending along a lateral ankle opening area of the upper,
(b) a second strap portion extending from the first strap portion and across a front ankle opening area of the upper,
(c) a third strap portion extending from the second strap portion and around a medial midfoot area of the upper,
(d) a fourth strap portion extending from the third strap portion and beneath a plantar support surface area of the upper,
(e) a fifth strap portion extending from the fourth strap portion and around a lateral side area of the upper at or near a fifth metatarsal head covering area of the upper,
(f) a sixth strap portion extending from the fifth strap portion and across a top forefoot area of the upper,
(g) a seventh strap portion extending from the sixth strap portion and around a medial side area of the upper at or near a first metatarsal head covering area of the upper,
(h) an eighth strap portion extending from the seventh strap portion and beneath the plantar support surface area of the upper to a lateral midfoot area of the upper,
(i) a ninth strap portion extending from the eighth strap portion, around the lateral midfoot area of the upper, and across the front ankle opening area of the upper, and
(j) a tenth strap portion extending from the ninth strap portion and along a medial ankle opening area of the upper, and

means for applying a force to the one or more strap members so as to shorten a length of the continuous path of the one or more strap members along the upper and thereby apply tension to the one or more strap members.

2. The strap system engaged with and in combination with the upper according to claim 1 , wherein the second strap portion is part of a different strap member than a strap member containing the third strap portion, and wherein the second strap portion and the third strap portion are joined to one another via a connecting element.

3. The strap system engaged with and in combination with the upper according to claim 1 , wherein the sixth strap portion is part of a different strap member than a strap member containing the seventh strap portion, and wherein the sixth strap portion and the seventh strap portion are joined to one another via a connecting element.

4. The strap system engaged with and in combination with the upper according to claim 1 , wherein the second strap portion and the seventh strap portion are provided on a first strap member, and wherein the third strap portion and the sixth strap portion are provided on a second strap member that is separate from the first strap member.

5. The strap system engaged with and in combination with the upper according to claim 4 , wherein the second strap portion and the third strap portion are joined to one another via a first tensioning element that constitutes a portion of the means for applying a force, and wherein the sixth strap portion and the seventh strap portion are joined to one another via a second tensioning element that constitutes another portion of the means for applying a force.

6. The strap system engaged with and in combination with the upper according to claim 1 , wherein the ninth strap portion crosses the second strap portion.

7. The strap system engaged with and in combination with the upper according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more strap members are engaged with the upper in a free floating manner.

8. The strap system engaged with and in combination with the upper according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an eleventh strap portion extending from the first strap portion in a direction toward a footbed member of the upper; and
a twelfth strap portion extending from the tenth strap portion in a direction toward the footbed member of the upper.

9. The strap system engaged with and in combination with the upper according to claim 8 , wherein each of the eleventh strap portion and the twelfth strap portion extends beneath the footbed member of the upper.

10. The strap system engaged with and in combination with the upper according to claim 1 , wherein the tenth strap portion is connected with the first strap portion such that the continuous path constitutes a continuous loop around the upper.

11. The strap system engaged with and in combination with the upper according to claim 1 , wherein the upper includes a bootie member that at least partially defines a foot-receiving chamber.

12. The strap system engaged with and in combination with the upper according to claim 1 , wherein the upper includes an upper bootie portion and a footbed member engaged with the upper bootie portion.

13. An article of footwear, comprising:
a strap system engaged with and in combination with an upper according to claim 1 ; and
a sole member engaged with the upper.

14. The strap system engaged with and in combination with the upper according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more strap members forming the continuous path consist of the first strap portion through the tenth strap portion.

15. The strap system engaged with and in combination with the upper according to claim 1 , wherein at the top forefoot area of the upper, the sixth strap portion is a forward-most strap portion of the first strap portion through the tenth strap portion that form the continuous path.

16. The strap system engaged with and in combination with the upper according to claim 1 , wherein the first strap portion through the tenth strap portion that form the continuous path cross one another a single time beneath the plantar support surface area of the upper.

17. The strap system engaged with and in combination with the upper according to claim 1 , wherein the strap portions located beneath the plantar support surface area of the upper extend beneath the plantar support surface area of the upper in a free floating manner.

18. The strap system engaged with and in combination with the upper according to claim 1 , wherein the first strap portion through the tenth strap portion that form the continuous path cross one another a single time beneath the plantar support surface area of the upper and a single time above a top surface of the upper.

19. A strap system engaged with and in combination with a foot-covering component for a foot-receiving device, comprising:
a first strap member having a first end and a second end, the first strap member extending continuously from:
a first metatarsal head covering area of the foot-covering component,
around a medial side of the foot-covering component and beneath a plantar support surface area of the foot-covering component at the first metatarsal head covering area of the foot-covering component,
to a lateral midfoot area of the foot-covering component,
around a lateral side of the foot-covering component at the lateral midfoot area of the foot-covering component,
across a front instep covering area of the foot-covering component,
around a medial ankle opening area of the foot-covering component,
around a rear ankle opening area of the foot-covering component,
along a lateral ankle opening area of the foot-covering component, and
across the front instep covering area of the foot-covering component; and

a second strap member having a first end and a second end, the second strap member extending continuously from:
a medial midfoot area of the foot-co

Assignees

• Bishop Jennifer
• Hurd John
• Nurse Matthew A
• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Bishop Jennifer
• Hurd John
• Nurse Matthew A

Classifications

• A43C1/00

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

• A43B7/28

  Adapting the inner sole {or the side of the upper} of the shoe to the sole of the foot · CPC title

• A43C11/008

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

• A43B3/126 Primary

  characterised by the shape or layout of the straps · CPC title

• A43C11/00

  Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes (dress fastenings in general A44B) · CPC title