Strap securing system, E.G., for articles of footwear and other foot-receiving devices
First Claim
1. An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
- a plurality of upper component parts engaged together to define at least a portion of a foot-receiving chamber, wherein the plurality of upper component parts includes at least;
(a) a first upper component part extending at least along a medial midfoot area of the upper, and(b) a strap support engaged at least with the first upper component part, wherein the strap support includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, the second end being secured at a bottom edge of the first upper component part, a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a slot extending from the first surface to the second surface, wherein the slot is defined in the strap support at a location between the first end and the second end, wherein the slot has a first edge and an opposite second edge, and wherein the first edge is located closer to the first end than is the second edge;
a slot reinforcement engaged with the strap support and provided at least adjacent at least a portion of the first edge of the slot; and
a strap having a fixed end and a free end opposite the fixed end, wherein the fixed end of the strap is fixed proximate to the first end of the strap support, wherein the strap includes;
(a) a first portion that extends along the first surface of the strap support,(b) a second portion that extends through the slot and around the slot reinforcement, and(c) a third portion that extends beyond the slot reinforcement and toward the free end of the strap,and wherein the slot and the strap are structured and oriented such that when the third strap portion is in an unfolded or untwisted condition, it can lie adjacent the second surface of the strap support such that a portion of the strap support is located between at least some of the first and third portions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Strap type securing systems, e.g., for footwear or other foot-receiving devices, include a strap support with a slot located between its opposite ends. A slot reinforcement may be provided, e.g., adjacent at least some portions of the slot edge, corners, and/or ends, to prevent the strap support from tearing and/or to provide a stable base for receiving strap tensioning force. A strap includes a first portion that extends along an interior surface of the strap support, a second portion that extends through the slot and around the slot reinforcement, and a third portion that extends beyond the slot reinforcement and toward a free end of the strap. The slot and the strap may be structured and oriented such that when the third strap portion is in an unfolded or untwisted condition, a portion of the strap support is sandwiched between the first and third strap portions.
34 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
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a plurality of upper component parts engaged together to define at least a portion of a foot-receiving chamber, wherein the plurality of upper component parts includes at least; (a) a first upper component part extending at least along a medial midfoot area of the upper, and (b) a strap support engaged at least with the first upper component part, wherein the strap support includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, the second end being secured at a bottom edge of the first upper component part, a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a slot extending from the first surface to the second surface, wherein the slot is defined in the strap support at a location between the first end and the second end, wherein the slot has a first edge and an opposite second edge, and wherein the first edge is located closer to the first end than is the second edge; a slot reinforcement engaged with the strap support and provided at least adjacent at least a portion of the first edge of the slot; and a strap having a fixed end and a free end opposite the fixed end, wherein the fixed end of the strap is fixed proximate to the first end of the strap support, wherein the strap includes; (a) a first portion that extends along the first surface of the strap support, (b) a second portion that extends through the slot and around the slot reinforcement, and (c) a third portion that extends beyond the slot reinforcement and toward the free end of the strap, and wherein the slot and the strap are structured and oriented such that when the third strap portion is in an unfolded or untwisted condition, it can lie adjacent the second surface of the strap support such that a portion of the strap support is located between at least some of the first and third portions. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
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a first upper component part that includes; (a) a first end located adjacent a medial side of a foot-receiving opening or a front instep area defined by the upper, and a second end opposite the first end and secured at a bottom edge of the upper, (b) a first major surface, (c) a second major surface opposite the first major surface, and (d) a slot defined in the first upper component part and extending from the first major surface to the second major surface, wherein a majority of the slot is defined at least 0.75 inches away from the first end of the first upper component part, wherein the slot has a first edge and an opposite second edge, and wherein the first edge is located closer to the first end than is the second edge; and a strap having a fixed end and a free end opposite the fixed end, wherein the fixed end of the strap is fixed proximate to the first end of the first component part, and wherein the strap includes; (a) a first portion that extends along the first major surface of the first upper component, (b) a second portion that extends through the slot and around the first edge of the slot, and (c) a third portion that extends beyond the slot and toward the free end of the strap. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
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a plurality of upper component parts engaged together to define at least a portion of a foot-receiving chamber, wherein the plurality of upper component parts includes at least; (a) a first upper component part extending at least along a medial midfoot area of the upper, (b) a strap support engaged with the first upper component part and including; (i) a first end located adjacent a medial side of a foot-receiving opening or a front instep area defined by the upper, (ii) a second end secured along a bottom, medial heel area of the upper, (iii) a first edge extending between the first end and the second end and located along a medial heel area of the upper, (iv) a second edge extending between the first end and the second end and located along the medial heel area of the upper, wherein the first edge is located closer to a rear heel area of the upper than is the second edge and the second edge is located closer to a toe area of the upper than is the first edge, (v) a first major surface, (vi) a second major surface opposite the first major surface, and (vii) a slot defined in the strap support and extending from the first major surface to the second major surface, wherein the slot is defined in the strap support at a location between the first end and the second end, wherein the slot has a first edge and an opposite second edge, and wherein the first edge of the slot is located closer to the first end than is the second edge of the slot, and (c) a slot reinforcement engaged with the strap support and provided at least adjacent the first edge of the slot; and a strap having a fixed end and a free end opposite the fixed end, wherein the fixed end of the strap is fixed proximate to the first end of the strap support, wherein the strap includes; (a) a first portion that extends along the first major surface of the strap support, (b) a second portion that extends through the slot and around the slot reinforcement, and (c) a third portion located outside of the slot that extends beyond the slot reinforcement and toward the free end of the strap. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
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a plurality of upper component parts engaged together to define at least a portion of a foot-receiving chamber, wherein the plurality of upper component parts includes at least; (a) a first upper component part extending at least along a medial midfoot area of the upper, (b) a strap support engaged with the first upper component part and including; (i) a first end located adjacent a medial side of a foot-receiving opening or a front instep area defined by the upper, (ii) a second end secured along a bottom, medial heel area of the upper, (iii) a first edge extending between the first end and the second end and located along a medial heel area of the upper, and (iv) a second edge extending between the first end and the second end and located along the medial heel area of the upper, wherein the second edge is located closer to a toe area of the upper than is the first edge; a strap tensioning element engaged with the strap support between the first end and the second end; and a strap having a fixed end and a free end opposite the fixed end, wherein the fixed end of the strap is fixed proximate to the first end of the strap support, wherein the strap includes a first portion that extends from the fixed end to the strap tensioning element, a second portion that extends around the strap tensioning element, and a third portion located beyond the strap tensioning element that extends toward the free end of the strap, and wherein the strap wraps around the strap tensioning element such that when the third portion of the strap is in an unfolded or untwisted condition, at least some of the third portion of the strap can overlap the first portion of the strap. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification