Shoe tightening apparatus
First Claim
1. A shoe tightening apparatus for use with a shoe having a casing to accommodate at least a portion of a foot of a wearer and at least one strap, responsive to tensile force applied thereto, for cinching the casing to a foot disposed in the casing, the apparatus comprising:
- a retractor, mounted on said casing and connected to said at least one strap, adapted to apply tensile force to said strap, the retractor comprising;
a) an elastic element connected to the retractor, said elastic element being connected to said strap,b) a charging mechanism operable by the wearer to tension said elastic element,c) a catch for releasably holding said elastic element in a stretched condition, said strap being freed from the tensile force to allow insertion and removal of a foot whenever the elastic element is held in the stretched condition, andd) a release to selectively disengage the catch, a release of the catch allowing the elastic element to discharge and apply the tensile force to said strap.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The shoe incorporates adjustable straps that are positioned to tighten the shoe casing around a wearer'"'"'s instep. A retractor mechanism incorporates elastic members. The elastic members are charged when the wearer loosens shoe by pulling on the straps. The stored energy is released when a catch is released releasing the elastic members to tighten and cinch the shoe on the wearer'"'"'s foot. During charging a first elastic member is extended an intermediate distance and a second elastic member is charged a greater distance. The second elastic member triggers the release of the first elastic member when it reaches the intermediate position, increasing the tension available for cinching the straps.
236 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A shoe tightening apparatus for use with a shoe having a casing to accommodate at least a portion of a foot of a wearer and at least one strap, responsive to tensile force applied thereto, for cinching the casing to a foot disposed in the casing, the apparatus comprising:
a retractor, mounted on said casing and connected to said at least one strap, adapted to apply tensile force to said strap, the retractor comprising; a) an elastic element connected to the retractor, said elastic element being connected to said strap, b) a charging mechanism operable by the wearer to tension said elastic element, c) a catch for releasably holding said elastic element in a stretched condition, said strap being freed from the tensile force to allow insertion and removal of a foot whenever the elastic element is held in the stretched condition, and d) a release to selectively disengage the catch, a release of the catch allowing the elastic element to discharge and apply the tensile force to said strap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A shoe tightening apparatus for use with a shoe having a casing for at least partially enclosing a foot and a strap for cinching the casing onto a foot of a wearer disposed therein, the apparatus comprising;
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an elastic mechanism comprising at least two elastic elements each having a free end and an anchored end; a charging mechanism connected to said strap for transferring some of the energy expended by the wearer in loosening said strap to store energy in said elastic elements by movement of a free end of said elastic element relative to said anchored end; at least a first said elastic element being limited to movement only through an intermediate distance and being releasably captured at said intermediate distance; at least a second of said elastic elements moving past said intermediate distance to be held at a limit distance by a releasable catch and upon release of said catch and return movement to said intermediate distance causing said first element to be released from said capture mechanism and to add additional stored energy to the final cinching of said casing by said strap.
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Specification