Devices and methods for adjusting the fit of footwear

• US 9,737,115 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2013
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BOA Technology Incorporated (The Kattegat Trust Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: BOA Technology Incorporated (The Kattegat Trust Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Soderberg, Mark, Vladika, Brett, Burns, Robert, Nickel, Michael, Venturini, Aaron, Cotterman, Jesse
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder, Jack W
• Application Number:
  US14/073,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20140123449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 1/006 Rear lacing, i.e. with a lace placed on the back of the foot in place of, or in addition to the traditional front lace
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/06 tightened by draw-strings
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/165 characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/01 Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3703 Includes separate device for holding drawn portion of lacing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A lacing system for tightening an article includes a first guide that is coupled with the article and positioned within a first zone of the article and a second guide that is coupled with the article and positioned within a second zone of the article with at least a portion of the second zone being different than the first zone. A first tension member is guided by the first guide within the first zone and a second tension member is guided by the second guide within the second zone. Tensioning of the first tension member or second tension member causes tightening of the respective zone of the article. A tensioning mechanism is also coupled with the article and with the first and second tension members. The tensioning mechanism is configured to tension the first and second tension members to tighten the first and second zones of the article.

Claims

1. A lacing system for tightening a shoe comprising:

a plurality of first guide members coupled with the shoe and defining a first zone of the shoe;

a plurality of second guide members coupled with the shoe and defining a second zone of the shoe, wherein at least a portion of the second zone is different than the first zone;

a first tension member guided by the plurality of first guide members within the first zone, the first tension member being configured to tighten the first zone of the shoe upon tensioning of the first tension member;

a second tension member guided by the plurality of second guide members within the second zone, the second tension member being configured to tighten the second zone of the shoe upon tensioning of the second tension member;

a tensioning mechanism coupled with the shoe and with the first tension member and the second tension member, the tensioning mechanism being operable to tension the first and second tension members so as to tighten the first and second zones; and

an adjustment mechanism that is coupled with the first and second tension members and that is operable independent of the tensioning mechanism, the adjustment mechanism being configured to vary a length of the first and second tension members within the respective zones by decreasing the length of one of the tension members within the respective zone and increasing the length of the other tension member within the respective zone by a corresponding amount;

wherein varying the length of the first and second tension members within the respective zones varies the tension applied to the first tension member and the second tension member upon operation of the tensioning mechanism.

2. The lacing system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a rotatable knob.

3. The lacing system of claim 2, wherein the knob is rotatable to decrease the length of the first tension member within the first zone and to increase the length of the second tension member within the second zone by a corresponding amount.

4. The lacing system of claim 1, wherein the tensioning mechanism is coupled with a side of the shoe.

5. The lacing system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to allow the first and second tension members to be moved relative to the adjustment mechanism in order to vary the length of the first and second tension members within the respective zones and wherein the adjustment mechanism is further configured to secure the first and second members in position relative to one another.

6. A lacing system for tightening a shoe comprising:

a plurality of first guide members coupled with the shoe and positioned within a first zone of the shoe, the plurality of first guide members including at least two open back guides that are positioned and aligned on a side of the shoe so that a first open back guide is positioned closer to a tongue portion of the shoe than a second open back guide, wherein each open back guide includes an open channel or back that enables a tension member to be removably positioned within a respective open back guide of the at least two open back guides;

a second guide member coupled with the shoe and positioned within a second zone of the shoe, wherein at least a portion of the second zone is different than the first zone;

a first tension member guided by the plurality of first guide members within the first zone, wherein tensioning of the first tension member causes tightening of the first zone of the shoe;

a second tension member guided by the second guide member within the second zone, wherein tensioning of the second tension member causes tightening of the second zone of the shoe; and

a tensioning mechanism coupled with the shoe and with the first tension member and the second tension member, the tensioning mechanism being operable to tension the first and second tension members to tighten the first and second zones;

wherein the first tension member is adjustable within the first zone independent of operation of the tensioning mechanism such that upon operation of the tensioning mechanism, a tension applied to the first tension member is different than a tension applied to the second tension member.

7. The lacing system of claim 6, wherein the tensioning mechanism causes a differential tension to be applied to the first tension member and the second tension member to differentially tighten the first and second zones.

8. The lacing system of claim 7, wherein the tensioning mechanism includes a spool having a first portion around which the first tension member is wound and a second portion around which the second tension member is wound, wherein a diameter of the first portion is different than a diameter of the second portion such that winding the first and second tension members around the spool causes the differential tension to be applied to the first and second tension members.

9. The lacing system of claim 7, wherein the tensioning mechanism includes a first spool around which the first tension member is wound and a second spool around which the second tension member is wound, and wherein a gear or clutch mechanism of the tensioning mechanism causes rotation of the first and second spools at different rates to cause the differential tension to be applied to the first and second tension members.

10. The lacing system of claim 7, further comprising an adjustment mechanism that is coupled with the first and second tension members, the adjustment mechanism being configured to vary a length of the first and second tension members within the respective zones so as to vary the differential tightness applied to the respective zones by the first and second tension members.

11. The lacing system of claim 10, wherein the tensioning mechanism includes the adjustment mechanism.

12. The lacing system of claim 10, wherein the adjustment mechanism is coupled with the shoe separate from the tensioning mechanism and adjacent the first or second zones.

13. The lacing system of claim 10, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to decrease the length of one of the tension members within the respective zone and to increase the length of the other tension member within the respective zone by a corresponding amount.

14. The lacing system of claim 6, wherein the tensioning mechanism includes a spool having a first portion around which the first tension member is wound and a second portion around which the second tension member is wound, wherein the first portion of the spool includes a first channel for the first tension member and the second portion of the spool includes a second channel for the second tension member, the first channel being separate from the second channel to prevent tangling of the first and second tension members.

15. The lacing system of claim 7, wherein a proximal end of the first tension member is coupled with the tensioning mechanism and a distal end of the first tension member is coupled with the shoe or with a second guide member positioned within the first zone.

16. The lacing system of claim 15, wherein a proximal end of the second tension member is coupled with the tensioning mechanism and a distal end of the second tension member is coupled with the shoe or with a second guide member positioned within the second zone.

17. The lacing system of claim 6, wherein a distal end of the first tension member includes a tab that is graspable by a user to enable the user to adjust the distal end of the first tension member relative to the shoe.

18. The lacing system of claim 6, wherein the first tension member is adjustable relative to the shoe by positioning the first tension member within the first open back guide or the second open back guide, wherein adjusting the first tension member relative to the shoe varies the tension applied to the first tension member and the second tension member via the tensioning mechanism.

22. The lacing system of claim 17, wherein the distal end of the second tension member is adjustable relative to the shoe to vary a tensionable length of the second tension member within the second zone of the shoe.

23. The lacing system of claim 22, wherein the distal end of the second tension member includes a grippable tab for adjustment of the second tension member relative to the shoe.

19. A lacing system for tightening a shoe comprising:

a first guide member coupled with the shoe and positioned within a first zone of the shoe;

a second guide member coupled with the shoe and positioned within a second zone of the shoe, wherein at least a portion of the second zone is different than the first zone;

a first tension member guided by the first guide member within the first zone, the first tension member being configured to tighten the first zone of the shoe upon tensioning of the first tension member;

a second tension member guided by the second guide member within the second zone, the second tension member being configured to tighten the second zone of the shoe upon tensioning of the second tension member; and

a tensioning mechanism coupled with the shoe and with the first tension member and the second tension member, the tensioning mechanism being operable to tension the first and second tension members so as to tighten the first and second zones;

wherein the first tension member is adjustable relative to the shoe independent of operation of the tensioning mechanism such that upon operation of the tensioning mechanism, a tension applied to the first tension member is different than a tension applied to the second tension member;

wherein a distal end of the first tension member is coupled with the shoe or with a second guide member positioned within the first zone, the distal end of the first tension member being adjustable relative to the shoe to vary a tensionable length of the first tension member within the first zone; and

wherein the distal end of the first tension member includes a grippable tab for adjustment of the first tension member relative to the shoe.

20. The lacing system of claim 19, wherein a proximal end of the first tension member is coupled with a first portion of a spool, and wherein a proximal end of the second tension member is coupled with a second portion of the spool, wherein a diameter of the first portion of the spool is different than a diameter of the second portion of the spool such that winding the first and second tension members around the spool causes a differential tension to be applied to the first and second tension members.

21. The lacing system of claim 19, wherein a distal end of the second tension member is coupled with the shoe or with a second guide member positioned within the second zone.