Footwear with exchangeable fastening system
First Claim
1. A footwear member comprising:
- a foot-receiving portion configured to be worn on a human foot;
a set of fastening members formed of a material selected to enable said fastening members to stretch in order to secure said foot-receiving portion to said human foot, said fastening members of said set having at least two different lengths when in a relaxed condition, each said fastening member having a first end and a second end; and
a plurality of paired connection structures, each paired connection structure being first and second connection structures configured for attachment of one of said fastening members for securing said foot-receiving portion to said human foot, said fastening members in said set being greater in number than said paired connection structures;
wherein attachment of a selected said fastening member to a particular said paired connection structure includes structurally different couplings to said first and second connection structures, respectively, said first end being coupled to said first connection structure in a releasable but more secure manner as compared to coupling of said second end to said second connection structure, wherein said couplings to said first and second connection structures are limited to a single seating position of said first end to first connection structure and a single seating position of said second end to said second connection structure, such that adjustment of said selected fastening member with respect to said human foot is based only on said material selected to enable stretch, said material enabling bungee cord stretching.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A footwear member includes a set of stretchable fastening members that allow a user to select and attach those fastening members that provide the best fit. Each selected fastening member is attached at its opposite ends to connection structures that are paired. For example, the paired connection structures may be two posts that have grooves in order to properly seat and retain the ends of the fastening members. Two acceptable materials for forming the fastening members are rubber and urethane. The fastening members may be referred to as “bungee cords.” There are at least two different lengths of fastening members in order to provide selection on the basis of the shape or size of a user'"'"'s foot. Selection of the proper “bungee cord” also applies to an attachment at the Achilles area of the wearer'"'"'s foot.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A footwear member comprising:
-
a foot-receiving portion configured to be worn on a human foot; a set of fastening members formed of a material selected to enable said fastening members to stretch in order to secure said foot-receiving portion to said human foot, said fastening members of said set having at least two different lengths when in a relaxed condition, each said fastening member having a first end and a second end; and a plurality of paired connection structures, each paired connection structure being first and second connection structures configured for attachment of one of said fastening members for securing said foot-receiving portion to said human foot, said fastening members in said set being greater in number than said paired connection structures; wherein attachment of a selected said fastening member to a particular said paired connection structure includes structurally different couplings to said first and second connection structures, respectively, said first end being coupled to said first connection structure in a releasable but more secure manner as compared to coupling of said second end to said second connection structure, wherein said couplings to said first and second connection structures are limited to a single seating position of said first end to first connection structure and a single seating position of said second end to said second connection structure, such that adjustment of said selected fastening member with respect to said human foot is based only on said material selected to enable stretch, said material enabling bungee cord stretching. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A fastening system for securing a footwear member to a human foot comprising:
-
a plurality of pairs of operationally associated connection structures, said connection structures being fixed to a foot-receiving portion of said footwear and being positioned such that force which is applied to pressure said operatively associated connection structures of any one of said pairs operates to secure said footwear; and a set of fastening members formed of a material that enables bungee cord stretching, said fastening members having relaxed conditions and stretched conditions, said fastening members having a plurality of different lengths when in said relaxed conditions, each said fastening member having first and second ends configured to attach to said connection structures of one of said pairs in a releasable manner, said first ends having a shape different than a shape of said second ends, said shape of said first ends being such that said first ends require a press fit to said connection structures, while said second ends have a U-shape that enables said second ends to slide onto said connection structures after said fastening members are stretched past said connection structures and then allowed to retract so as to slide onto said connection structures. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A fastening system for securing a footwear member to a human foot comprising:
-
a plurality of pairs of operationally associated connection structures, said connection structures being fixed to a foot-receiving portion of said footwear and being positioned such that force which is applied to pressure said operatively associated connection structures of any one of said pairs operates to secure said footwear; and a set of fastening members having relaxed conditions and stretched conditions, said fastening members having a plurality of different lengths when in said relaxed conditions, each said fastening member having first and second ends configured to attach to said connection structures of one of said pairs in a releasable manner, said first ends having a shape different than a shape of said second ends, said shape of said first ends being such that said first ends require a press fit to said connection structures, while said second ends have a shape that enables said second ends to slide onto said connection structures; wherein each said connection structure is a post. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
Specification