Woven shoe with integral lace loops

• US 7,293,371 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2004
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Aveni, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patterson; Marie D
• Application Number:
  US10/945,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20060059715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 36/45, 36/501, 36/88, 36/91
• US Class Current: 36/45
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/05 woven
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/024 Different layers of the same material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/08 with air-holes, with or without closures
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/00 Shoe lacing fastenings garment fastening devices A41F
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 9/00 Laces; Laces in general for garments made of textiles, leather, or plastics

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a woven region. A fit adjustment system includes a lace strap superimposed with strands of material forming the woven region. The lace strap is routed around the shoe and forms opposing pairs of lace holding elements such as lace loops. More specifically, the lace strap extends downwardly from a lace holding element on a first side of the upper, across and underneath the footbed, around the heel region, back across and underneath the footbed, and upwardly to form a lace holding element on the second side. By the routing of the lace strap, the lace strap is integrated with the heel and arch portions of the shoe. A shoe lace is routed through the lace holding elements and may be adjusted to affect the fit of the upper to a foot of a user.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper including a woven area having a weave; and

a strap incorporated into the weave of the woven area configured to permit the adjustment of the fit of the upper to a foot of a user, wherein the strap forms a plurality of opposed lace holding elements.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the upper is at least 50% formed by the woven area.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the upper substantially consists of the woven area.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising a shoe lace functionally coupled to the lace holding elements.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the strap forms at least four lace holding elements.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the lace holding elements are lace loops.

7. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein the shoe lace is directly routed through the lace loops.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the strap is incorporated into and is adjustably movable relative to the woven region.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the woven area is formed from multiple webbing elements including at least one partially elastic member.

10. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the weave includes at least one elongated strand and the strap is superimposed on at least a portion of the strand.

11. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the article of footwear includes a lower portion configured to extend beneath the foot of the user, wherein the strap includes first and second opposing ends that are each attached to the lower portion.

12. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper including a woven area having a weave; and

a strap incorporated into the weave of the woven area configured permit the adjustment of the fit of the upper to a foot of a user;

wherein the article of footwear includes a heel region and wherein the strap encircles the heel region at least two times.

13. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper having medial and lateral sides;

a footbed;

a fit adjusting system configured provide an adjustable fit to the upper, the fit adjusting system including a lateral side lace holding element and a medial side lace holding element, the lateral side lace holding element and the medial side lace holding element being formed from a common elongated strand member;

wherein the elongated strand member extends below the footbed;

wherein the fit adjusting system further includes a plurality of lace holding elements disposed on the medial side of the upper and a plurality of lace holding elements disposed on the lateral side of the upper; and

wherein the shoe upper includes a woven portion and the elongated strand member is coupled to the woven portion.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein the shoe upper further includes a heel region and an arch region, and the elongated strand member is coupled to the woven portion of the upper at least four times in each of the arch and heel regions.

15. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper having medial and lateral sides;

a footbed;

a fit adjusting system configured provide an adjustable fit to the upper, the fit adjusting system including a lateral side lace holding element and a medial side lace holding element, the lateral side lace holding element and the medial side lace holding element being formed from a common elongated strand member;

wherein the elongated strand member extends below the footbed;

wherein the elongated strand member extends, in the region between the lateral side lace holding element and said medial side lace holding element, (a) downwardly and rearwardly from the medial lace holding element, (b) across a bottom portion of the article of footwear underneath a footbed from the medial side to the lateral side, (c) around the rear of the heel region from the lateral side to the medial side, (d) across the bottom portion of the article of footwear underneath the footbed from the lateral side to the medial side, and (e) upwardly and forwardly to the lateral lace holding element.

16. The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein the upper is tongueless.

17. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper having medial and lateral sides;

a footbed;

a fit adjusting system configured provide an adjustable fit to the upper, the fit adjusting system including a lateral side lace holding element and a medial side lace holding element, the lateral side lace holding element and the medial side lace holding element being formed from a common elongated strand member;

wherein the elongated strand member extends below the footbed; and

wherein the upper includes a heel region and a footbed, said elongated strand member encircles the heel region at least two times, extends below the footbed at least two times, and crosses itself below the footbed.