Footwear lacing system

• US 8,474,157 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pierre-Andre Senizergues
• Original Assignee: Pierre-Andre Senizergues
• Inventors: Motawi, Wade, Kim, James, Fellmer, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Mohandesi, Jila M
• Application Number:
  US12/537,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20110030244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 361/14, 361/15, 361/171, 361/172, 361/177, 36/505, 36/51
• US Class Current: 36/117.1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/003 Zone lacing, i.e. whereby different zones of the footwear have different lacing tightening degrees, using one or a plurality of laces laces combined with another system A43C11/008; zone tightening using straps A43C11/14
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 7/00 Holding-devices for laces
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 7/02 Flaps; Pockets

Abstract

A snowboard boot having two handles which each handle controlling pressure within two tightening zones is disclosed. One handle may be pitched to adjust pressure within upper and lower shin portion tightening zones. A second handle may be pitched to adjust pressure within upper and lower foot portion tightening zones. Once the appropriate amount of pressure is applied to the various tightening zones, locks may be engaged to set the pressures. The pressures are isolated from each other such that the various different pressures within the various different tightening zones do not equalize but remain constant during the snowboarding session. Additionally, the handles may be stored on a tongue of the snowboard boot or a back portion of the snowboard boot.

Claims

1. A footwear for protecting a foot portion of a person, the footwear comprising:

left and right cuffs defining first, second, third and fourth lacing regions, each of the first, second, third and fourth lacing regions being separate and independently tightenable from each other, the first and second lacing regions being independently tightened by a first elongate rigid handle, the third and fourth lacing regions being independently tightened by a second elongate rigid handle;

first and second return elements attached to one of the left cuff or the right cuff at the first and second lacing regions;

the tint elongate rigid handle defining opposed first and second distal end portions wherein fingers of the person grabs the first elongate rigid handle between the opposed first and second distal end portions;

a lace defining first and second portions, the first portion of the lace being attached to the first distal end portion of the first elongate rigid handle laud to the left and right cuffs with the first return element at the first lacing region and fixedly attached to one of the left and right cuffs wherein the first elongate rigid handle independently tightens the first lacing region, and the second portion of the first lace being attached to the second distal end portion of the first elongate rigid handle laced to the left and right cuffs with the second return element at the second lacing region and fixedly attached to one of the left and right cuffs wherein the first elongate rigid handle independently tightens the second lacing region by pitching the first elongate rigid handle;

third and fourth return elements attached to the other one of the left cuff or right cuff at the third and fourth lacing regions;

the second elongate rigid handle defining opposed first and second distal end portions wherein fingers of the person grabs the second elongate rigid handle between the opposed first and second distal end portions of the second elongate rigid handle;

the lace defining third and fourth portions, the third portion of the lace being attached to the first distal end portion of the second elongate rigid handle laced to the left and right cuffs with the third return element at the third lacing region and fixedly attached to one of the left and right cuffs wherein the second elongate rigid handle independently tightens the third lacing region, and the fourth portion of the lace being fixedly attached to the second distal end portion of the second elongate rigid handle laced to the left and right cuffs with the fourth return element at the fourth lacing region and fixedly attached to one of the left and right cuffs wherein the second elongate rigid handle independently tightens the fourth lacing region by pitching the second elongate rigid handles;

wherein the person pulls on the first handle to tighten the first and second portions of the lace at the first and second lacing regions, and pitching the first elongate rigid handle regulates tightness of the first and second portions of the face in the first and second lacing regions;

wherein the person pulls on the second handle to tighten the third and fourth portions of the lace at the third and fourth lacing regions, and pitching the second elongate rigid handle regulates tightness of the third and fourth portions of the lace in the first and second lacing regions.

2. The footwear of claim 1 wherein the first, second, third and fourth portions of the lace are unitary.

3. The footwear of claim 1 wherein the return elements are curved hollow tubes.

4. The footwear of claim 1 wherein the return elements are embedded within the left and right cuffs.

5. A footwear for protecting a foot portion of a person, the footwear comprising:

left and right cuffs defining first, second, third and fourth tightening zones being separate and independent from each other, the first and second tightening zones being independently tightened by a first elongate rigid handle, the third and fourth tightening zones being independently tightened by a second elongate rigid handle;

first and second return element attached to the left cuff;

third and fourth return elements attached to the right cuff;

an elongate rigid right handle defining opposed first and second distal end portions wherein fingers of the person'"'"'s right hand grabs the right handle between the opposed first and second distal end portions of the right handle;

an elongate rigid left handle defining opposed first and second distal end portions wherein fingers of the person'"'"'s left hand grabs the left handle between the opposed first and second distal end portions of the right handle;

a lace with the elongate rigid right handle attached to the lace, the lace laced through the first and second return elements for tightening the left and right cuffs about a foot portion of the person, the lace defines first and second portions, the first portion of the lace being fixedly attached to the first distal end portion of the handle, extended across the left and right cuffs, slideably disposed through the first return element, extended across the left and right cuffs and anchored to the left or right cuff thereby defining the first tightening zone, and the second portion of the lace being fixedly attached to the second distal end portion of the handle, extended across the left and right cuffs, slideably disposed through the second return element, extended across the left and right cuffs and anchored to the left or right cuff thereby defining the second tightening zone independently tightened from the first tightening zone;

the elongate rigid left handle attached to the lace, the lace laced through the third and fourth return elements for tightening the left and right cuffs about a shin portion of the person, the lace defines third and fourth portions, the third portion of the lace being fixedly attached to the first distal end portion of the handle, extended across the left and right cuffs, slideably disposed through the third element, extended across the left and right cuffs and anchored to the left or right cuff defining the third tightening zone, and the fourth portion of the lace being fixedly attached to the second distal end portion of the left handle, extended across the left and right cuffs, slideably disposed through the fourth return element, extended across the left and right cuffs and anchored to the left or right cuff thereby defining the fourth tightening zone independently tightened from the third tightening zone;

wherein the person pulls on the right handle to tighten the lace and the left and right cuffs about the foot portion of the person, and pitching the elongate rigid right handle produces uneven tightness in the first and second tightening zones such that the one elongate rigid right handle controls tightness in two zones;

wherein the person pulls on the left handle to tighten the lace and the left and right cuffs about the shin portion of the person, and pitching the elongate rigid left handle produces uneven tightness in the third and fourth tightening zones such that the one elongate rigid left handle controls tightness in two zones.