Strap System with Integrated Eyelet

• US 20080250667A1
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Rasmussen, Jeff, Dirsa, David J., Gregg, Matthew T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,522,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/50.1
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/008 Combined fastenings, e.g. to accelerate undoing or fastening
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/14 Clamp fastenings , e.g. strap fastenings; Clamp-buckle fastenings; Fastenings with toggle levers
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/1493 Strap fastenings having hook and loop-type fastening elements

Abstract

An article of footwear including two fastening systems is disclosed. The article of footwear includes a strap and a lacing system. The strap and the lacing system may all be configured to adjust or tighten the article of footwear to a wearer'"'"'s foot along different regions. The strap and the lacing system are linked to improve the conformability of the article of footwear to a wearer'"'"'s foot. Additionally, the link provides more control on the degree of tightening applied to a wearer'"'"'s foot.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper including a first side and a second side, the upper configured to be adjustably tightened around a wearer'"'"'s foot;

a sole attached to the upper;

the upper including a lacing system and a strap system;

the strap system including a strap having a first portion and a second portion;

wherein the first portion of the strap is fixed to the first side of the upper and wherein the strap extends across the article of footwear to the second side of the upper; and

wherein the second portion of the strap is disposed through at least one slot on the second side of upper; and

wherein the lacing system is associated with the strap system proximate the second portion of the strap.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the strap is disposed in a forefoot region of the upper, along the first side of the upper, and extends circumferentially towards the second side of the upper.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the strap is fixed to the second side of the upper.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the strap applies tension in a forefoot region of the upper when the strap is extended to the second side of the upper.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the strap is fixed to the first side of the upper.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the strap applies tension in a forefoot region of the upper when the strap is extended to the first side of the upper.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the lacing system applies tension to the upper to reduce the size of a throat opening.

8. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper which can be adjustably tightened around a wearer'"'"'s foot;

a sole attached to the upper;

a lacing system;

a strap, including a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion;

the first portion of the strap being fixed to a first side of the upper and extendable across the article of footwear to a second side of the upper;

the second portion of the strap being disposed through an opening in the second side of upper; and

the intermediate portion being disposed between first portion and second portion.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the laces are disposed proximate to a throat region of the upper.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the strap is disposed in a forefoot region of the upper.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the intermediate portion of the strap contains an elongated slot.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the intermediate portion of the strap is disposed through at least one slot in a throat region of the upper.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 12, wherein the strap applies tension in a first region of the upper when the strap is extended to the first side of the upper.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 12, wherein the lacing system applies tension to the upper by reducing the size of a throat opening.

15. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper which can be adjustably tightened around a wearer'"'"'s foot;

a sole attached to the upper;

a lacing system;

a strap, including a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion;

the first portion of the strap being fixed to a first side of the upper and extendable across the article of footwear to a second side of the upper;

the intermediate portion of the strap being disposed through an opening in the second side of upper; and

a link between the lacing system and the strap.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the intermediate portion of the strap contains an elongated slot.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the intermediate portion of strap is disposed through at least one slot in a throat region of the upper.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the strap includes an opening to receive a lace.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 18, wherein the upper includes a lace eyelet for receiving a lace.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 19, wherein the lace eyelet is disposed under at least one opening in the upper.