Self adjusting frame for footwear

• US 6,128,835 A
• Filed: 01/28/1999
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deckers Outdoor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mark Thatcher
• Inventors: Butler, Damon R., Ritter, Brett D., McGeough, Barry Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Patterson, M. D.
• Application Number:
  US09/239,473
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 36/50.1, 36/89, 36/114, 36/45
• US Class Current: 36/45
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/00 Shoe lacing fastenings garment fastening devices A41F
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/04 with rings or loops
• 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

Abstract

A self adjusting frame for footwear comprises a strap slideably passing through a plurality of connectors spaced apart and adjacent to the sole, the strap passing around the heel of the footwear and having its two ends connected to the footwear. Lacing crosses over the footwear upper, with the lacing slideably engaging the strap so that when the lacing is tightened the strap is likewise drawn tight. The lacing and strap combination thereby secures footwear to a foot about substantially the periphery of the foot, and further self adjusts to develop differently oriented foot securing force vectors for differently shaped feet. Footwear comprises lacing and a strap passing through a plurality of connectors spaced apart around a shoe, with the lacing slideably engaging the strap. As the lacing is tightened the strap is thereby drawn tight. The footwear is thus secured to a foot about substantially the periphery of the foot.

Claims

1. A footwear product comprising:

a footwear producing having a sole, lateral and medial sides, and forefoot and heel regions; and

a self-adjusting frame comprising;

a) a plurality of spaced apart connectors connected to said lateral side of said footwear;

b) a plurality of spaced apart connectors connected to said medial side of said footwear;

c) a medial strap portion extending along said medial side of said footwear, a lateral strap portion extending along said lateral side of said footwear, said strap portions on each side slideably engaging said connectors on each respective side, wherein said medial and lateral strap portions comprise a single continuous strap extending around said medial side, heel, and said lateral side of said footwear; and

d) closure means between said lateral and medial portions of said strap, said closure means engaging said medial and lateral strap portions at a plurality of strap engagement points, whereby tightening of said closure means draws said medial and lateral strap portions tight, causing said medial and lateral strap portions to close around substantially the periphery of a wearer'"'"'s foot.

2. A self adjusting frame for footwear as in claim 1, wherein said closure means comprises lacing crossing over the instep and engaging said medial and lateral strap portions.

3. A self adjusting frame for footwear as in claim 2, further comprising a heel portion attached said footwear, said heel portion having at least one guide thereon, said strap slideably received by said at least one guide, whereby said heel portion if urged forward upon said strap tightening.

4. A self adjusting frame for footwear as in claim 2, further comprising an anchor sleeve connected to the forefoot of said footwear, said lacing slideably passing through said sleeve.

5. A self adjusting frame for footwear as in claim 1, wherein

a) each of said plurality of strap engagement points are located between adjacent ones of said connectors so that respective said lateral and medial strap portions each have an up and down ricochet pattern between said connectors and said engagement points;

and

b) said plurality of engagement points self adjust upon tightening of said closure means and during use of the footwear.

6. A self adjusting frame for footwear as in claim 1, wherein said footwear further comprises an upper having at least one stay on each of the lateral and medial sides of said upper for guiding said lateral and medial strap portions, respectively, between said connectors, said medial and lateral strap portions slideably passing through said stays.

7. A self adjusting frame for footwear as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of connectors comprises a plurality of return loops;

and wherein said medial and lateral strap portions are comprised of substantially flat webbing.

8. A self adjusting frame for footwear as in claim 1, further comprising a heel portion, said medial and lateral strap portions attached to said heel portion, whereby said heel portion is drawn forward upon said medial and lateral portions tightening.

9. A self adjusting frame for footwear as in claim 1, wherein said lateral and medial strap portions are affixed to said footwear adjacent said forefoot region of said footwear.

10. An article of footwear as in claim 6, further comprising a plurality of porous panels in the lateral and medial sides of said upper.

11. An article of footwear as in claim 10, wherein said porous panels comprise mesh material.