Lace system for footwear
First Claim
1. A boot comprising a boot body;
- a plurality of lace guides coupled to the boot body, at least one of the lace guides comprises a lace hook;
at least one lace guided by the lace guides, the at least one lace adapted to be dislodged from the hook;
at least one lace lock engageable with the at least one lace so that the boot may be tightened to the wearer, and wherein an amount of slack lace created upon removing the at least one lace from the hook is greater than an amount of slack lace that would otherwise be created upon disengaging the at least one lace from the at least one lace lock.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A boot incorporating techniques for making the process of tightening and loosening the laces of a boot more convenient for the wearer is disclosed. The boot may be provided with at least two independent lacing zones, the tensions of which are separately adjustable by the wearer. The zones may be secured by pulling on two laces, each of which tightens one of the two independent lacing zones. This arrangement allows the wearer to simultaneously tighten each zone, providing the wearer with the “feel” as though he or she is tightening a conventional single lacing zone boot. The laces may be simultaneously, yet independently secured by a lace lock at the upper and/or forward region of the boot. Slack may be created to facilitate loosening of the boot and easy removal of a foot from the boot by unhooking the lace from the lace guide without a corresponding distance of lace traveling through the lace lock. A release strap, graspable by the wearer, facilitates unhooking the lace.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A boot comprising
a boot body; -
a plurality of lace guides coupled to the boot body, at least one of the lace guides comprises a lace hook;
at least one lace guided by the lace guides, the at least one lace adapted to be dislodged from the hook;
at least one lace lock engageable with the at least one lace so that the boot may be tightened to the wearer, and wherein an amount of slack lace created upon removing the at least one lace from the hook is greater than an amount of slack lace that would otherwise be created upon disengaging the at least one lace from the at least one lace lock. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A boot comprising
a boot body; -
a plurality of lace guides coupled to the boot body, at least one of the lace guides comprises a lace hook;
at least one lace guided by the lace guides, the at least one lace adapted to be dislodged from the hook; and
at least one lace lock engageable with the at least one lace so that the boot may be tightened to a wearer, the at least one lace adapted to have a free-end portion extending from the at least one lace lock after the at least one lace has been tightened, wherein an amount of slack lace provided by the free-end portion of the at least one lace upon disengaging the at least one lace from the at least one lock is insufficient to permit easy removal of the boot from the wearer and wherein an amount of slack lace created upon removing the at least one lace from the lace hook aids in permitting easy removal of the boot from the wearer. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification