Methods and devices for retrofitting footwear to include a reel based closure system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A lacing system comprising:
- a first guide member positionable on a first side of a footwear;
a second guide member positionable on a second side of the footwear opposite the first side;
a tension member guided by the first guide member and the second guide member along a path about the footwear, the tension member being tensionable so as to tighten the footwear about a foot; and
a tensioning mechanism coupleable with the footwear and removable therefrom, the tensioning mechanism being operable with the tension member to maintain a tension of the tension member and thereby maintain a tightness of the footwear about the foot;
wherein the tensioning mechanism is coupled with a first end of an elongate panel member that is positionable along a tongue of the footwear between opposing sides of the footwear; and
wherein a second end of the elongate panel member includes a support member that extends roughly orthogonally therefrom, the support member being coupleable with the opposing sides of the footwear to stabilize the elongate panel member about the tongue.
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Abstract
According to one embodiment, a removable tightening device is described. The tensioning mechanism is removably coupleable with an article without damaging the article so that upon removal, the coupling of the tensioning mechanism with the article is unrecognizable or not readily detectable. The tensioning mechanism is operable with a tension member to maintain a tension of the tension member and thereby maintain a tightness of the article. The tension member is guided along a path about the article, via one or more guide members, and is tensionable, via the tensioning mechanism, to tighten the article.
446 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A lacing system comprising:
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a first guide member positionable on a first side of a footwear; a second guide member positionable on a second side of the footwear opposite the first side; a tension member guided by the first guide member and the second guide member along a path about the footwear, the tension member being tensionable so as to tighten the footwear about a foot; and a tensioning mechanism coupleable with the footwear and removable therefrom, the tensioning mechanism being operable with the tension member to maintain a tension of the tension member and thereby maintain a tightness of the footwear about the foot; wherein the tensioning mechanism is coupled with a first end of an elongate panel member that is positionable along a tongue of the footwear between opposing sides of the footwear; and wherein a second end of the elongate panel member includes a support member that extends roughly orthogonally therefrom, the support member being coupleable with the opposing sides of the footwear to stabilize the elongate panel member about the tongue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A removable tightening device comprising:
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a tensioning mechanism that is removably coupleable with an article, the tensioning mechanism being operable with a tension member to maintain a tension of the tension member, the tension member being guided along a path about the article via one or more guide members and being tensionable to tighten the article; wherein the tensioning mechanism is coupled with an elongate panel member that is positionable about the article between opposing sides of the article; and wherein a support member is coupled toward an end of the elongate panel member opposite the tensioning mechanism, the support member being coupleable with the opposing sides of the article to stabilize the elongate panel member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A removable device for tightening an article comprising:
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a tensioning mechanism coupleable with the article and removable therefrom, the tensioning mechanism being operable to tension a tension member to tighten the article and to maintain the tension of the tension member so as to maintain a tightness of the article, the tension member extending along a lace path about the article and being guided along the lace path by one or more guide members of the article; wherein the tensioning mechanism is coupled with an elongate panel member that is positionable about the article between opposing sides of the article; and wherein a support member is coupled toward an end of the elongate panel member opposite the tensioning mechanism, the support member being coupleable with the opposing sides of the article to stabilize the elongate panel member.
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20. A method of configuring footwear to include a removable tensioning mechanism, the method comprising:
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providing footwear having; a first guide member positioned on a first side of the footwear; and a second guide member positioned on a second side of the footwear opposite the first side; positioning a tension member about the footwear and along a path so that the tension member is guided by the first guide member and the second guide member along the path, the tension member being tensionable to tighten the footwear; coupling a tensioning mechanism with the footwear, the tensioning mechanism being operable with the tension member to maintain a tension of the tension member and thereby maintain a tightness of the footwear, the tensioning mechanism being coupled with an elongate panel member; positioning the elongate panel member along a tongue portion of the footwear between opposing sides of the footwear; and coupling a support member of the elongate panel member with the opposing sides of the footwear to stabilize the elongate panel member, the support member being coupled toward an end of the elongate panel member opposite the tensioning member. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of removably coupling a tensioning mechanism with an article comprising:
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coupling a tensioning mechanism with an article such that the tensioning mechanism is removable from the article; coupling the tensioning mechanism with a tension member, the tension member being guided along a path about the article via one or more guide members and being tensionable to tighten the article and the tensioning mechanism being operable to maintain a tension of the tension member and thereby maintain a tightness of the article, the tensioning mechanism being coupled with an elongate panel member; positioning the elongate panel member along the footwear; and coupling a support member of the elongate panel member with opposing sides of the article to stabilize the elongate panel member about the article, the support member being coupled toward an end of the elongate panel member opposite the tensioning member. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification