Devices and methods for adjusting the fit of footwear

• US 10,327,513 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2016
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BOA Technology Incorporated (The Kattegat Trust Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: BOA Technology Incorporated (The Kattegat Trust Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Soderberg, Mark, Vladika, Brett, Burns, Robert, Nickel, Michael, Venturini, Aaron, Cotterman, Jesse
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder, Jack W
• Application Number:
  US15/288,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20170119104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/003 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 Class Codes: A43C 1/006 Rear lacing, i.e. with a lace placed on the back of the foot in place of, or in addition to the traditional front lace
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/06 tightened by draw-strings
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/165 characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/01 Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3703 Includes separate device for holding drawn portion of lacing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A lacing system for tightening an article includes a first guide that is coupled with the article and positioned within a first zone of the article and a second guide that is coupled with the article and positioned within a second zone of the article with at least a portion of the second zone being different than the first zone. A first tension member is guided by the first guide within the first zone and a second tension member is guided by the second guide within the second zone. Tensioning of the first tension member or second tension member causes tightening of the respective zone of the article. A tensioning mechanism is also coupled with the article and with the first and second tension members. The tensioning mechanism is configured to tension the first and second tension members to tighten the first and second zones of the article.

Claims

1. A lacing system for tightening an article comprising:

a plurality of first guide members coupled with the article and defining a first zone of the article;

a first tension member guided by the plurality of first guide members within the first zone, the first tension member being configured to tighten the first zone upon tensioning of the first tension member;

a plurality of second guide members coupled with the article and defining a second zone of the article, wherein at least a portion of the second zone is different than the first zone;

a second tension member guided by the plurality of second guide members within the second zone, the second tension member being configured to tighten the second zone upon tensioning of the second tension member;

a first tensioning mechanism coupled with the article and with the first tension member and with the second tension member, the first tensioning mechanism being operable to tension the first tension member and thereby tighten the first zone and to tension the second tension member and thereby tighten the second zone; and

a second tensioning mechanism coupled with the article and with the first tension member and the second tension member, the second tensioning mechanism being operable independent of the first tensioning mechanism to differentially tension the first tension member and the second tension member and thereby vary the tightness in the first zone and the second zone.

2. The lacing system of claim 1, wherein the first tensioning mechanism and the second tensioning mechanism are reel based devices.

3. The lacing system of claim 1, wherein the second tensioning mechanism is configured to vary a length of the first and second tension members within the respective zones to vary the tightness applied to the respective zones.

4. The lacing system of claim 3, wherein the second tensioning mechanism is configured to decrease the length of the first tension member within the first zone and to increase the length of the second tension member within the second zone by a corresponding amount.

5. The lacing system of claim 1, wherein the article is a shoe.

6. A lacing system for tightening an article comprising:

a first guide member coupled with the article and positioned within a first zone of the article;

a second guide member coupled with the article and positioned within a second zone of the article;

a first tension member guided by the first guide member within the first zone;

a second tension member guided by the second guide member within the second zone;

a first tensioning mechanism coupled with the article and with the first tension member and the second tension member, the first tensioning mechanism being configured to tension the first tension member to tighten the first zone of the article and being configured to tension the second tension member to tighten the second zone of the article; and

a second tensioning mechanism coupled with the article and with the first tension member and the second tension member, the second tensioning mechanism being configured to adjust a tension of the first tension member and the second tension member independently of the first tensioning mechanism to differentially tension the first tension member and the second tension member and thereby differentially tighten the first zone and the second zone of the article;

wherein the second tensioning mechanism is configured to vary a length of the first tension member within the first zone and to vary a length of the second tension member within the second zone to differentially tighten the first zone and the second zone.

7. The lacing system of claim 6, wherein the second tensioning mechanism includes a spool having a first portion around which the first tension member is wound and a second portion around which the second tension member is wound, wherein a diameter of the first portion is different than a diameter of the second portion such that winding the first and second tension members around the spool differentially tensions the first and second tension members.

8. The lacing system of claim 6, wherein the first tensioning mechanism and the second tensioning mechanism are reel based devices.

9. The lacing system of claim 6, wherein the second tensioning mechanism is configured to decrease the length of the first tension member within the first zone and to increase the length of the second tension member within the second zone by a corresponding amount.

10. The lacing system of claim 6, wherein the second tensioning mechanism includes a spool about which the first tension member and the second tension member is wound, the spool having a through hole through which the first tension member and the second tension member is slidably positioned, the first tension member and the second tension member being slidable through the through hole when the first tension member and the second tension member is unwound from the spool to vary a length of the first tension member and the second tension member as measured between the second tensioning mechanism and the first tensioning mechanism.

11. The lacing system of claim 6, wherein the article is a shoe.

12. A method for coupling a lacing system to an article, the method comprising:

coupling a first guide member with the article, the first guide member being positioned within a first zone of the article;

coupling a second guide member with the article, the second guide member being positioned within a second zone of the article;

coupling a first tensioning mechanism with the article, the first tensioning mechanism being configured to tension a first tension member and a second tension member;

coupling a second tensioning mechanism with the article, the second tensioning mechanism being configured to tension the first tension member and the second tension member independently of the first tensioning mechanism; and

coupling the first tension member with the first tensioning mechanism and the second tensioning mechanism such that the first tension member is guided by the first guide member within the first zone; and

coupling a second tension member with the first tensioning mechanism and the second tensioning mechanism such that the second tension member is guided by the second guide member within a second zone;

wherein the first tensioning mechanism is configured to tension the first tension member to tighten the first zone and is configured to tension the second tension member to tighten the second zone and the second tensioning mechanism is configured to differentially tension the first tension member and the second tension member to differentially tighten the first zone and the second zone.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second tensioning mechanism is configured to vary a length of the first and second tension members within the respective zones to vary the tightness applied to the respective zones.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second tensioning mechanism is configured to decrease the length of the first tension member within the first zone and to increase the length of the second tension member within the second zone by a corresponding amount.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the second tensioning mechanism includes a spool about which the first tension member and the second tension member is wound, the spool having a through hole through which the first tension member and the second tension member is slidably positioned, the first tension member and the second tension member being slidable through the through hole when the first tension member and the second tension member is unwound from the spool to vary a length of the first tension member and the second tension member as measured between the second tensioning mechanism and the first tensioning mechanism.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the first tensioning mechanism and the second tensioning mechanism are reel based devices.