Article With Tensioning System Including Tension Balancing Member

• US 20150047230A1
• Filed: 08/26/2014
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Beers, Tiffany A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,867,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/102
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0018 made at least partially of flexible, bellow-like shaped material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 11/00 Footwear with arrangements to facilitate putting-on or removing, e.g. with straps
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/027 with a part of the upper particularly flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/047 the gusset being elastic
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/165 characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an intermediate covering portion with an adjustable volume. The intermediate covering portion is closed around the instep of the foot. The article also includes a tensioning system that can be used to change the volume of the intermediate covering portion. The tensioning system includes a tension balancing member to balance loads across different portions of the intermediate covering portion.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper having a toe covering portion and an entry hole for receiving a foot;

an intermediate covering portion disposed between the toe covering portion and the entry hole, wherein the intermediate covering portion is closed around the instep of the foot and wherein the volume of the intermediate covering portion is variable;

a first tensioning member having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, wherein;

the first portion extends through the intermediate covering portion;

the third portion extends through the intermediate covering portion;

the second portion is disposed between the first portion and the second portion;

a second tensioning member having a first end portion associated with a tension balancing member and the second tensioning member having a second end portion;

wherein the second portion of the first tensioning member is engaged with the tension balancing member such that the second portion can move with respect to the tension balancing member; and

wherein increasing the tension of the second tensioning member results in increased tension in the first tensioning member, which substantially decreases the volume of the intermediate covering portion.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the tension balancing member comprises a looped end of the second tensioning member.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the first tensioning member is disposed through the looped end of the second tensioning member.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the second end portion of the second tensioning member is attached to a tensioning device.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the article of footwear includes a third tensioning member, and wherein the third tensioning member is also engaged with the tension balancing member.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the first tensioning member has two ends fixed to the intermediate covering portion and wherein the second tensioning member has two ends fixed to the intermediate covering portion.

7. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper having a toe covering portion and an entry hole for receiving a foot;

an intermediate covering portion disposed between the toe covering portion and the entry hole, wherein the intermediate covering portion is closed around the instep of the foot and wherein the volume of the intermediate covering portion is variable;

a reel based tensioning device;

a first tensioning member extending through the intermediate covering portion;

a second tensioning member having a first end portion configured as a loop portion and a second end portion associated with the reel based tensioning device;

wherein the first tensioning member is disposed through the loop portion such that the first tensioning member can translate through the loop portion;

wherein the loop portion transfers tension between the first tensioning member and the second tensioning member; and

wherein the volume of the intermediate covering portion is decreased when the reel based tensioning device is actuated to increase tension in the second tensioning member.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the reel based tensioning device is mounted to the upper.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the reel based tensioning device is mounted at a heel portion of the upper.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the second tensioning member extends from the intermediate covering portion to a guide member attached to a sole structure of the article of footwear.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein the second tensioning member extends from the guide member to an aperture associated with the upper.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the second tensioning member extends from the aperture to the reel based tensioning device.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein at least two tensioning members are disposed through the loop portion.

14. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper including a closed instep portion;

a tensioning system, further comprising;

a first driven tensioning member associated with a first side of the upper and a first driving tensioning member associated with the first side, the first driving tensioning member being attached to the instep portion;

a second driven tensioning member associated with a second side of the upper and a second driving tensioning member associated with the second side, the second driving tensioning member being attached to the instep portion;

wherein a first end portion of the first driving tensioning member is associated with a first tension balancing member, and wherein the first driven tensioning member is engaged with the first tension balancing member, wherein the first tension balancing member can transfer tension between the first driving tensioning member and the first driven tensioning member and wherein the first driven tensioning member can move with respect to the first tension balancing member;

wherein a first end portion of the second driving tensioning member is associated with a second tension balancing member, and wherein the second driven tensioning member is engaged with the second tension balancing member, wherein the second tension balancing member can transfer tension between the second driving tensioning member and the second driven tensioning member, and wherein the second driven tensioning member can move with respect to the second tension balancing member;

wherein a second end portion of the first driving tensioning member is attached to a tensioning device and wherein a second end portion of the second driving tensioning member is attached to the tensioning device; and

wherein increasing the tension in the first driving tensioning member and the second driving tensioning member using the tensioning device pulls the first driven tensioning member and the second driven tensioning member and wherein pulling the first driven tensioning member and the second driven tensioning member fastens the instep portion of the upper.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein a first portion of the first driven tensioning member is attached to an instep portion of the upper and wherein a second portion of the first driven tensioning member is attached to an instep portion of the upper.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the first driven tensioning member includes a third portion that is disposed between the first portion and the second portion and wherein the third portion is in contact with the first tension balancing member.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 16, wherein the first tension balancing member is comprised of a loop portion of the first driving tensioning member.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein the loop portion can slide along the second portion of the first driven tensioning portion.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the first portion of the first driven tensioning member is attached to a top edge of the instep portion and wherein the second portion of the first driven tensioning member is attached to the top edge.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein at least two driven tensioning members are engaged with the first tension balancing member on the first side and wherein at least two driven tensioning members are engaged with the second tension balancing member on the second side.