Guides and components for closure systems and methods therefor

• US 10,477,922 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2017
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BOA Technology Incorporated (The Kattegat Trust Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: BOA Technology Incorporated (The Kattegat Trust Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lovett, Kristopher, Cavanagh, Andrea, Burns, Robert, Soderberg, Mark, Kerns, Mark, Nickel, Michael, Capra, James, Minkin, Ilya, Vladika, Brett, Cavanagh, Sean, Dickensheets, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder, Jack W
• Application Number:
  US15/645,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20180064212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 24437-441, 24712, 36 501
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/06 tightened by draw-strings
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/004 Fastenings fixed along the upper edges of the uppers
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/008 Combined fastenings, e.g. to accelerate undoing or fastening
• 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: A43C 3/00 Hooks for laces making from sheet metal B21D53/46; Guards for hooks
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 3/02 Lacing-hooks with guide rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 5/00 Eyelets machines for setting eyelets A43D100/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/02 with parts deformable to grip the cable or cables; Fastening means which engage a sleeve or the like fixed on the cable
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/12 Connections or attachments, e.g. turnbuckles, adapted for straining of cables, ropes, or wire straining wire in general B21F9/00

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a component for attachment to an article includes an upper component that is made of a thermoplastic material having a first melting temperature and a flange member that is molded onto the upper component and made of a thermoplastic elastomer material having a second melting temperature that is lower than the first melting temperature of the upper component. The flange member extends laterally from a bottom end of the upper component so that a bottom surface of the flange member is flush with or positioned axially below a bottom surface of the upper component. The melting temperature of the thermoplastic elastomer material enables the flange member to be directly coupled to the article via heat welding and the like without substantially affecting the upper component.

Claims

1. An elongate tension member guide that is coupleable with footwear and that is configured to direct or route a tension member about a path of the footwear, the tension member guide comprising:

a main body having a longitudinal length and a lateral width, the main body being folded along the longitudinal length, the main body including;

a first edge that is coupleable with the footwear under an upper of the footwear so that the main body is positioned along an eyestay of the footwear;

a second edge that is positioned on an opposite side of the main body from the first edge; and

a plurality of slits or incisions in the main body through the second edge, the plurality of slits or incisions defining a plurality of loops or channels within which the tension member is insertable;

wherein each loop or channel is defined between a pair of slits or incisions;

wherein each loop or channel has a base portion that connects the loop or channel with the main body and a middle portion that is aligned with the second edge; and

wherein the middle portion of each loop or channel is wider than the base portion such that the middle portion protrudes or extends longitudinally outward from the base portion.

2. The elongate tension member guide of claim 1, wherein the elongate tension member guide is coupled with a first eyestay of the footwear and wherein an additional elongate tension member guide is coupled with a second eyestay of the footwear, the additional elongate tension member guide having an identical configuration to the elongate tension member guide.

3. The elongate tension member guide of claim 1, wherein the elongate tension member guide is positioned between the upper and an inner liner of the footwear.

4. The elongate tension member guide of claim 1, wherein the elongate tension member guide is coupled under the upper via stitching or adhesive bonding.

5. The elongate tension member guide of claim 1, wherein each slit or incision of the plurality of slits or incisions has an arcuate configuration.

6. The elongate tension member guide of claim 1, wherein each slit or incision of the plurality of slits or incisions is uniformly spaced and oriented about the main body.

7. An elongate tension member guide that is configured to direct or route a tension member about a path of an article comprising:

a main body that is coupleable with the article, the main body including;

a longitudinal length;

a lateral width, wherein the main body is folded along the longitudinal length; and

a plurality of slits or incisions in the main body, the plurality of slits or incisions defining a plurality of loops or channels within which the tension member is insertable;

wherein;

the main body is coupleable with the article so that the main body is positioned along an opening of the article;

each loop or channel is defined between a pair of slits or incisions;

each loop or channel has a base that connects the loop or channel with the main body and a loop end that is opposite the base; and

the loop end of each loop or channel is wider than the base so that the loop end protrudes or extends longitudinally outward from the base.

8. The elongate tension member guide of claim 7, wherein the elongate tension member guide is coupled with a first side of the article and wherein an additional elongate tension member guide is coupled with a second side of the article, the additional elongate tension member guide having an identical configuration to the elongate tension member guide.

9. The elongate tension member guide of claim 7, wherein the elongate tension member guide is positioned between an outer layer and an inner liner of the article.

10. The elongate tension member guide of claim 7, wherein the elongate tension member guide is coupled with the article via stitching or adhesive bonding.

11. The elongate tension member guide of claim 7, wherein each slit or incision of the plurality of slits or incisions has an arcuate configuration.

12. The elongate tension member guide of claim 7, wherein each slit or incision of the plurality of slits or incisions is uniformly spaced and oriented about the main body.

13. A footwear comprising:

a tongue member;

a first eyestay positioned on a first side of the tongue member;

a second eyestay positioned on a second side of the tongue member;

a tension member that is routed about a path along the tongue member between the first eyestay and the second eyestay; and

an elongate tension member guide comprising;

a main body that is coupled with the footwear along the first eyestay, the main body including a longitudinal length and a lateral width with the main body being folded along the longitudinal length; and

a plurality of slits or incisions in the main body, the plurality of slits or incisions defining a plurality of loops or channels through which the tension member is inserted to guide or route the tension member about the path;

wherein each loop or channel is defined between a pair of slits or incisions;

wherein each loop or channel has a base that connects the loop or channel with the main body and a loop end that is opposite the base; and

wherein the loop end of each loop or channel is wider than the base so that the loop end protrudes or extends longitudinally outward from the base.

14. The footwear of claim 13, further comprising an additional elongate tension member guide that is coupled with the second eyestay of the footwear, the additional elongate tension member guide having an identical configuration to the elongate tension member guide.

15. The footwear of claim 13, wherein the elongate tension member guide is positioned between an upper and an inner liner of the footwear.

16. The footwear of claim 13, wherein the elongate tension member guide is coupled under an upper of the footwear via stitching or adhesive bonding.

17. The footwear of claim 13, wherein each slit or incision of the plurality of slits or incisions has an arcuate configuration.

18. The footwear of claim 13, wherein each slit or incision of the plurality of slits or incisions is uniformly spaced and oriented about the main body.