Articles of footwear with an alternate fastening system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9750309-B2
Application number	US-201615049708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2016
Priority date	Jan 8, 2016
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

An article of footwear has an upper with tensioning components. The upper includes a fastening system with a tensioning device. The tensioning device may be utilized with a plurality of cables. The tensioning device is removably attached to the upper by a clasp element to facilitate entry of a foot into the article of footwear, or exit of a foot from the article of footwear. The tensioning device can allow the lengths of the cables to readily change in order to accommodate different foot shapes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of footwear, the article of footwear comprising:
an upper including a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a medial side, and a lateral side;
the upper including a closed configuration and an open configuration;
the upper comprising a fastening system;
the fastening system comprising a tensioning device and a plurality of cables;
the tensioning device being releasably secured to a lateral side of the upper by a clasp element;
the plurality of cables including a first cable, the first cable including a first end, a second end, a forward portion, a rearward portion, and an intermediate portion;
the first end of the first cable being attached to a medial side of the upper in the forefoot region, the second end of the first cable being attached to the medial side of the upper in the midfoot region, the intermediate portion extending through an interior of the tensioning device; and
wherein the forward portion of the first cable extends between the first end of the first cable to the tensioning device, wherein the rearward portion of the first cable extends between the second end of the first cable to the tensioning device.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the clasp element includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the clasp element is disposed along a bottom portion of the tensioning device, wherein the second portion of the clasp element is disposed along the upper, and wherein the fastening system is in the closed configuration when the first portion is engaged with the second portion.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the forward portion has a first length in a first state, wherein the forward portion has a second length in a second state, and wherein the first length differs from the second length.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 3 , wherein the rearward portion has a third length in a first state, wherein the rearward portion has a fourth length in a second state, and wherein the third length differs from the fourth length.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cables exert a compressive force along at least a part of an instep region of the upper when the upper is in the closed configuration.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein each of the ends of the plurality of cables are attached to the medial side by anchor portions.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the forward portion extends across the forefoot region of the upper in the closed configuration and the rearward portion extends across the midfoot region of the upper in the closed configuration.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 5 , wherein the upper further includes an opening providing access to an interior cavity of the upper, and wherein a first size of the opening in the closed configuration is different from a second size of the opening in the open configuration.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 2 , wherein the fastening system is in the open configuration when the first portion is disengaged from the second portion.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 8 , wherein the opening is configured to extend between the heel region and a vamp region of the upper in the open configuration.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 2 , wherein the clasp element includes a magnetic material.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 2 , wherein the clasp element is attached to a pull tab.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cables comprises the first cable, a second cable, and a third cable, and wherein a first length of the first cable is greater than a second length of the second cable, and wherein the second length of the second cable is greater than a third length of the third cable.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the tensioning device includes a plurality of channels configured to receive and route the plurality of cables.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 13 , wherein the tensioning device includes a first channel portion, a second channel portion, and a third channel portion, and wherein a portion of the first cable is routed through the first channel portion, a portion of the second cable is routed through the second channel portion, and a portion of the third cable is routed through the third channel portion.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 15 , wherein the plurality of cables are configured to slide freely through the plurality of channels.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the forward portion increases when the length of the rearward portion decreases.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the rearward portion increases when the length of the forward portion decreases.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Xanthos George A

Classifications

• A43C5/00

  Eyelets (machines for setting eyelets A43D100/00) · CPC title

• A43C1/00

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

• A43B23/028

  Resilient uppers, e.g. shock absorbing · CPC title

• A43C11/165

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

• A43B13/22

  Soles made slip-preventing or wear-resisting, e.g. by impregnation or spreading a wear-resisting layer · CPC title