Article of footwear with adjustable fitting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9788609-B2
Application number	US-201514945734-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2015
Priority date	Sep 27, 2013
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

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;
a sole structure coupled to the upper and including a ground-engaging surface and a groove formed in the ground-engaging surface;
an upper member disposed adjacent to the upper and including a first fastener disposed on one of a lateral side of the upper and a medial side of the upper; and
a tensioning system including a flexible strand operable to selectively bias the upper member toward the sole structure, the flexible strand being received within the groove formed in the ground-engaging surface of the sole structure and including a first section that extends from the first fastener to the sole structure in a first direction and a second section that extends from the first fastener to the sole structure in a second direction divergent from the first direction, the first section and the second section being disposed on the same side of the upper as the first fastener.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the groove includes a groove longitudinal portion and at least two groove transverse portions extending from the groove longitudinal portion, the groove longitudinal portion and the at least two groove transverse portions each receiving the flexible strand therein.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2 , further comprising a strand guide disposed within the groove of the sole structure and including a guide longitudinal portion and at least two guide transverse portions, the guide longitudinal portion aligned with the groove longitudinal portion and the at least two guide transverse portions aligned with respective ones of the groove transverse portions.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein the strand guide is flexible and is configured to flex in concert with the sole structure, the strand guide receiving the flexible strand therein.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the flexible strand includes a third section that extends from the sole structure to a second fastener associated with the upper member and returns back to the sole structure and a fourth section that extends from the sole structure to a third fastener associated with the upper member and returns back to the sole structure, the second fastener and the third fastener each being disposed on the other of the lateral side of the upper and the medial side of the upper.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the groove includes multiple grooves formed in the ground engaging surface of the sole structure.

7. The article of footwear of claim 6 , wherein the flexible strand is received within the multiple grooves.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the groove includes a first groove and a second groove, the flexible strand extending across the sole structure between a medial side of the sole structure and a lateral side of the sole structure within one of the first groove and the second groove.

9. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the other of the first groove and the second groove extends from the one of the first groove and the second groove toward a heel portion of the sole structure, the flexible strand extending within the other of the first groove and the second groove toward the heel portion.

10. The article of footwear of claim 9 , further comprising a tensioning device disposed proximate to the heel portion and receiving the flexible strand, the tensioning device operable to selectively draw the upper member toward the sole structure by tensioning the flexible strand at the heel portion.

11. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper;
a sole structure coupled to the upper and including a ground-engaging surface and a groove formed in the ground-engaging surface;
an upper member disposed adjacent to and covering a portion of the upper; and
a tensioning system including a flexible strand operable to selectively bias the upper member toward the sole structure and extending between the upper member and the sole structure, the flexible strand including a first portion that extends from the sole structure to a first fastener associated with the upper member and returns back to the sole structure and a second portion that extends from the sole structure to a second fastener associated with the upper member and returns back to the sole structure, the first portion and the second portion being disposed on the same side of the upper.

12. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the flexible strand is received within the groove formed in the ground-engaging surface of the sole structure.

13. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the groove includes a groove longitudinal portion and at least two groove transverse portions extending from the groove longitudinal portion, the groove longitudinal portion and the at least two groove transverse portions each receiving the flexible strand therein.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13 , further comprising a strand guide disposed within the groove of the sole structure and including a guide longitudinal portion and at least two guide transverse portions, the guide longitudinal portion aligned with the groove longitudinal portion and the at least two guide transverse portions aligned with respective ones of the groove transverse portions.

15. The article of footwear of claim 14 , wherein the strand guide is flexible and is configured to flex in concert with the sole structure, the strand guide receiving the flexible strand therein.

16. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the groove includes multiple grooves formed in the ground engaging surface of the sole structure.

17. The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein the flexible strand is received within the multiple grooves.

18. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the groove includes a first groove and a second groove, the flexible strand extending across the sole structure between a medial side of the sole structure and a lateral side of the sole structure within one of the first groove and the second groove.

19. The article of footwear of claim 18 , wherein the other of the first groove and the second groove extends from the one of the first groove and the second groove toward a heel portion of the sole structure, the flexible strand extending within the other of the first groove and the second groove toward the heel portion.

20. The article of footwear of claim 19 , further comprising a tensioning device disposed proximate to the heel portion and receiving the flexible strand, the tensioning device operable to selectively draw the upper member toward the sole structure by tensioning the flexible strand at the heel portion.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A43C11/16

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

• A43C11/165

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

• A43B13/18

  Resilient soles {(skating boots provided with resilient means A43B5/1658)} · CPC title

• A43B3/26

  adjustable as to length or size · CPC title

• A43C11/008

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