ADAPTIVE FOOTWEAR CLOSURE

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY

Laces may be a widely adopted footwear closure for securing articles of footwear. However, laces may demand use of fine motor skills which may prove difficult for some users. Additionally, for users who seek to move a tongue of the footwear out of the shoe opening in order to more easily insert their foot into the shoe, laces may demand to be fully unlaced and then replaced after the foot is inserted. Replacing laces with a hook and loop strap may decrease a demand for fine motor skills, but may still pose challenges. For example, to provide adjustability, a hook and loop strap may start on a lateral side of the article of footwear, go through a ring on the medial side and then back over the foot to close on the lateral side. Such an arrangement may be difficult to move out of the way of a foot entering the footwear. Passing the strap once over the foot, rather than twice, by anchoring on the medial side and closing on the lateral side may be easier to move out of the way of the foot, but may not allow length adjustability to secure the footwear to the user's foot. Elastic cord may be used as another alternative to laces that does not demand fine motor skills, but may also be difficult to move out of the way of the user's foot when entering the footwear.

In one embodiment, an article of footwear is provided to resolve at least a portion of the abovementioned challenges. In such an embodiment, the article of footwear comprises an upper and an adjustable strap assembly circumferentially surrounding the upper, wherein the adjustable strap assembly includes a fixed portion fixedly coupled at first longitudinal end to first loop of an adjustable double ring and variable portion looped through a second ring of the adjustable double ring, wherein a first longitudinal end of the variable portion is reversible coupled to a second longitudinal end of the fixed portion. The article of footwear also optionally includes a zipper positioned on the lateral side and configured to adjust a longitudinal tension of the article of footwear across a top of the foot. By providing an adjustable strap and optionally a zipper, a wide range of foot size and shapes may be secured within the article of footwear. Additionally, by passing the adjustable strap a single time over the opening, the strap may be readily moved out of the footwear opening making foot entry easier. Further, in one example, a tongue of the article of footwear may be split and an adjustable zipper provided to provide ease of entry and adjustability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present disclosure will be better understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below:

FIG. 1 is a lateral side elevation view of an example of an article of footwear according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a medial side elevation view of the article of footwear, depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a close up view of a fixed strap loop of the article of footwear depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lateral side of an example of the article of footwear according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a lateral side elevation view of the article of footwear depicted in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a medial side elevation view of the article of footwear depicted in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the article of footwear depicted in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a top down view of the article of footwear depicted in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the article of footwear depicted in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a lateral side elevation view of an example of the article of footwear according to the present disclosure; and

FIG. 11 is a medial side elevation view of the article of footwear depicted in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of an example of an adjustable strap assembly of the article of footwear depicted in FIGS. 1-9.

FIG. 13 is an illustration of an example of the adjustable strap assembly of the article of footwear depicted in FIGS. 10-11.

FIG. 14 is a lateral side elevation view of an article of footwear including the adjustable strap assembly and a cord closure system.

FIGS. 1-11 are drawn approximately to scale; however other relative dimensions may be used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description relates to various embodiments of an article of footwear including an adaptable closure system. A first example of the article of footwear is shown in a lateral side elevation view in FIG. 1 and a medial side elevation view in FIG. 2. The adaptable closure system includes a plurality of features which may be easily adjusted by a user of the article of footwear to secure the article of footwear without demanding dexterity of the user. The plurality of features may include an adjustable strap assembly and optionally an edge closure, described further below with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. Additional details of the first example of the article of footwear related to the adjustable strap are shown in the close up view in FIG. 3. A second example of the article of footwear is shown in a lateral side perspective view in FIG. 4, and lateral side elevation view in FIG. 5. The example of FIGS. 4 and 5 is also shown in a medial side elevation view in FIG. 6, a rear view in FIG. 7, a top down view in FIG. 8, and a front view in FIG. 9. A third example of the footwear article is shown in a lateral side elevation view in FIG. 10, and a medial side elevation view in FIG. 11. A fourth example of the article of footwear is shown in FIG. 14 in a lateral side elevation view. Illustrations of the adjustable strap assembly of the articles of footwear described herein are shown in FIGS. 12-13.

A set of reference axes 101 are provided for comparison between views shown, indicating a y-axis, a z-axis, and an x-axis. In some examples, the z-axis may be a vertical direction parallel with a direction of gravity, with the x-axis and y-axis defining a horizontal plane. A direction extending from a lateral side to a medial side in the x-y plane may be referred to as a longitudinal direction. A direction extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction from a forefoot region to a heel region may be referred to as a latitudinal direction. A direction extending perpendicular to the longitudinal and latitudinal directions from an upper to a sole may be referred to as a vertical direction.

Turning now to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 that depict an article of footwear 100 in lateral and medial side views, opposite one another, according to an embodiment. The article of footwear 100 may generally be comprised of: a forefoot region 102, which generally includes portions of the article of footwear 100 that correspond with the toes and the joints connecting the metatarsals with the phalanges; a midfoot region 104, which generally includes portions of the article of footwear that correspond with the arch area of the foot; and a heel region 106 that corresponds with rear portions of the foot. Regions 102, 104, and 106 are not intended to demarcate precise areas of the article of footwear 100, rather regions 102, 104, and 106 are intended to represent general areas of the article of footwear 100 to aid in the following discussion. The article of footwear 100 further includes an upper 108 and a sole 110 that includes a midsole 112 and an outsole 114. The outsole 114 may include a pattern material designed to encounter underfoot terrain. The upper may include a lateral side 107 viewed in FIG. 1 and a medial side 105 viewed in FIG. 2.

The upper 108 may further include a vamp 116 and a quarter 118. The vamp 116 may generally cover the forefoot region 102 and the midfoot region 104 and the quarter 118 may generally cover midfoot region 104 and the heel region 106. The quarter 118 and a tongue 120 of the article of footwear 100 may together define an opening 122 for receiving a foot. An adjustable strap assembly 124 may circumferentially surround the upper 108 and extend longitudinally across the quarter 118 and the tongue 120. The adjustable strap assembly 124 may cross from the medial side to the lateral side once. In some examples, the adjustable strap does not cross from the medial side to the lateral side more than once. In this way, the adjustable strap assembly 124 may be easily moved out of the way of a foot entering the article of footwear 100.

The adjustable strap assembly 124 may include fixed portion 125, variable portion 126 and adjustable double ring 128. Adjustable strap assembly 124 is also illustrated in a top down view in FIG. 12, and described further below in addition to FIGS. 1 and 2. Fixed portion 125 may be fixedly coupled at a first longitudinal end 123 to a first ring 133 of the adjustable double ring 128, the adjustable double ring 128 positioned on the medial side 105 of the quarter 118. Fixed portion 125 may have a fixed length. In an alternate example, discussed further below with respect to FIGS. 10 and 11, adjustable double ring 128 may be positioned on the lateral side 107 of quarter 118. In one example, fixed portion 125 may be formed of a non-stretchable material such as leather or a synthetic leather. The synthetic leather may be formed of a fabric with a polymer coating. As a further example, variable portion 126 may be formed at least partially of a woven fabric having some stretch in the longitudinal direction (e.g., in the direction of the x-axis).

Fixed portion 125 may extend longitudinally from the first ring 133 and across the tongue 120 to be secured at the lateral side 107 as described further below. The variable portion 126 may be fixedly coupled at a first longitudinal end 129 to the lateral side 107 of the quarter 118. The variable portion 126 may extend from the first longitudinal end 129 longitudinally across the heel region 106, to the medial side 105 of the quarter 118, where the variable portion 126 loops through a second ring 135 of the adjustable double ring 128, and extends longitudinally back across the heel region 106. A second longitudinal end 131 of the variable portion 126 may rest in a free floating loop 138 at lateral side 107. As shown in FIG. 12, variable portion 126 may be doubled and adjacent to itself in some sections. The free floating loop 138 may surround a doubled portion of the variable portion 126. Free floating loop may be prevented from sliding off of adjustable strap assembly by the first longitudinal end 129 fixedly coupled to the upper and by the adjustable double ring 128. The second longitudinal end 131 may be grasped by a user and moved towards and away from first longitudinal end 129 (e.g., towards the lateral side or towards the medial side) in a direction shown by arrow 1204 in FIG. 12. In this way a position of adjustable double ring 128 on variable portion 126 may be adjusted. By adjusting a position of the adjustable double ring 128 on the variable portion 126, a circumference of adjustable strap assembly 124 may be increased or decreased. Moving second longitudinal end 131 towards the medial side may increase the circumference of adjustable strap assembly 124 and moving second longitudinal end 131 towards the lateral side may decrease the circumference adjustable strap assembly 124. Further, a circumferential distance from the first longitudinal end 123 of the fixed portion 125 to the lateral side 107 may be increased or decreased as indicated by arrow 1206 in FIG. 12. In this way, the article of footwear 100 may be secured to a wide range of foot sizes and shapes. Further, the article of footwear may be secured to the foot for use by decreasing the circumferential distance and loosened to remove of put on the article of footwear. In some examples, adjustable strap assembly 124 may be fixedly coupled to the upper 108 at a single point. For example, adjustable strap assembly 124 may be only fixedly coupled to upper 108 at first longitudinal end 129 of variable portion 126.

A second longitudinal end 130 of the fixed portion 125 may include a first part of a complementary closure system 1202. A complementary closure system may be a two-part closure system including the first part 1202a and a second part 1202b, where the first and second parts are configured to be reversibly coupled to each other. The first part 1202a may be the part that is moveable by the user and the second part 1202b may be the part that is fixedly coupled to the upper 108. Herein reversibly coupled refers to components configured to couple and de-couple without degrading the components. As non-limiting examples, the complementary closure system may be a hook and loop, snap, or magnet closure system. The first longitudinal end 129 of variable portion 126 may include the second part 1202b of the complementary closure system, where the first longitudinal end 129 is fixedly secured to the lateral side 107 of the upper 108 of the article of footwear 100 as noted above. In this way, the first longitudinal end 129 of the variable portion 126 may be reversibly coupled to the second longitudinal end 130 of the fixed portion 125.

The fixed portion 125 and the variable portion 126 of the adjustable strap assembly 124 may be a width 132 in the vertical direction. In one example, width 132 may be sufficiently wide for securing the user's foot within the article of footwear, but not wide enough that adjustment using the adjustable double ring 128 is hindered. For example, width 132 may be sufficiently wide for the first part and the second part of the complementary closure system to securely couple.

The article of footwear 100 may further include a fixed strap loop 134 positioned on the medial side 105 of the upper 108. An area indicated by box 136 in FIG. 2 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. Turning now to FIG. 3, it shows the fixed strap loop 134 and adjustable strap assembly 124 is omitted for clarity. A first vertical end 302 of the fixed strap loop 134 may be a vertical end closest to the opening 122. A first face of fixed strap loop 134 may be in face sharing contact with and fixedly coupled to the upper 108. The fixed strap loop 134 may extend vertically downwards (e.g., towards the sole 110). A second vertical end 304 of fixed strap loop 134 may be opposite the first vertical end 302 across the y-axis. The second vertical end 304 may be folded upwards towards the opening 122, placing a second face 306 of the fixed strap loop 134 in face sharing contact with the upper 108. The second vertical end 304 may be fixedly coupled to the upper 108. In one example, the first vertical end 302 and the second vertical end 304 may each be fixedly coupled to the upper 108 by stitching. In this way a crease 308 is formed at a bottom (e.g., vertical end closest to the sole 110 such as the second vertical end 304) of fixed strap loop 134. In this way, the adjustable strap assembly 124 may be fed through fixed strap loop 134 and rested on crease 308. In this way, fixed strap loop 134 may support the fixed portion 125 of the adjustable strap assembly 124, and the fixed portion 125 may be kept roughly parallel with the sole 110, thereby securing the foot within the article of footwear 100.

Returning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, free floating loop 138 may circumferentially surround the variable portion 126 of the adjustable strap assembly 124. The free floating loop 138 may not be secured to the upper 108. In this way, the free floating loop 138 may move across the variable portion 126. In this way, the free floating loop 138 may support the second longitudinal end 131 of the variable portion 126 when the length of the variable portion 126 is adjusted.

A rear loop 127 may extend vertically from a heel cap 115 to a top edge of quarter 118 along a lateral center axis of the article of footwear 100 dividing the medial side from the lateral side. The rear loop 127 may pass over the variable portion 126 of the adjustable strap assembly 124 and be secured to the upper 108 above and below the variable portion 126. In this way, in the heel region 106, the variable portion 126 may be positioned laterally between the upper 108 and rear loop 127. The rear loop 127 may help support adjustable strap assembly 124. Additionally, the rear loop 127 may be integral with a loop 148 extending above an edge of the upper 108 defining the opening 122. The loop 148 may provide a portion for a user to grasp the article of footwear 100 and aid in providing leverage when donning or removing the article of footwear 100.

The article of footwear 100 may, in some examples, also include gore bands 140. Gore bands 140 may each include a first longitudinal end 142 and second longitudinal end 144. The first longitudinal end 142 may be fixedly coupled to the quarter 118 on the medial side 105 at the midfoot region 104 and the second longitudinal end 144 may be fixedly coupled to the quarter 118 on the lateral side 107 at the midfoot region 104. Vamp 116 may be positioned at least partially under gore bands 140 (e.g., between the foot of the user and the gore bands). The gore bands 140 may each be spaced apart by a distance 146 shown in FIG. 2. In some examples, gore bands 140 may include four gore bands, although other numbers of gore bands have been considered. The gore bands 140 may be formed of an elastic material (e.g., stretchable material with elastic properties). In this way, the gore bands 140 may replace laces of an article of footwear. Due to being both fixedly coupled and elastic, the gore bands 140 may help secure the article of footwear 100 to a user's foot without demanding dexterity from the user.

In some examples the tongue 120 of the article of footwear 100 may be a split tongue. A split tongue may include a lateral section and a medial section. Bottom lateral ends of the lateral and medial sections may each be coupled to the vamp 116, but the lateral and medial sections of tongue 120 may not be coupled to each other. In such examples, a portion of the vamp 116 underneath the gore bands 140 may be split laterally into a lateral portion and a medial portion. The split of the vamp 116 may follow the split of the tongue 120. In such an example, the lateral portion of vamp 116 may be coupled to the lateral portion of the tongue 120 and medial portion of the vamp 116 may be coupled to the medial portion of the tongue 120.

In some examples, the lateral side 107 of the quarter 118 of the article of footwear 100 may optionally include an edge closure 150 extending away from the heel region 106 laterally along the quarter 118 in the midfoot region 104 towards the forefoot region 102 and parallel to the second longitudinal end 144 of gore bands 140. In this way, the edge closure 150 follows a side profile of the article of footwear 100. In some examples, edge closure 150 may be positioned on the medial side quarter of the article of footwear 100. In one example, a lateral length of the edge closure 150 may be longer than a lateral distance covered by the gore bands 140. The edge closure 150 may not extend past lateral side 107 to medial side 105 of the article of footwear 100. Further, the edge closure 150 may not extend to the heel region 106 or the forefoot region 102. Additionally, the lateral length of the edge closure 150 may be approximately equal to a lateral length of a lateral gore support 158 positioned at midfoot region 104. The lateral gore support 158 may be an attachment point for gore bands 140 on lateral side 107 of quarter 118. The edge closure 150 may be independent of (e.g., not coupled to) the adjustable strap assembly 124. The edge closure 150 may include a first member 152 and a second member 154 configured to reversibly couple with the first member 152. As described above, reversibly coupled may refer to components configured to couple and de-couple without causing degradation of the components. The first member 152 may be coupled to the lateral gore support 158 and the second member 154 may be coupled to the lateral side 107 of the quarter 118.

In some examples, the edge closure 150 may be a zipper. Other reversible closure systems have been considered for edge closure 150. For example, edge closure 150 may be an overlapping closure system such as hook and loop or paired magnets.

In examples where the edge closure 150 is a zipper or other slidably closed closure, a pull tab 156 may be configured to move along the edge closure 150 and to reversibly couple the first member 152 to the second member 154. In alternate examples, other types of closures may be provided to reversibly couple and decouple the first member 152 from the second member 154. At an end 155 of the edge closure 150 closest to the forefoot region 102, the first member 152 may remain fixedly coupled to second member 154. The pull tab 156 may be in a closed position when positioned closest to the opening 122 (e.g., furthest from the end 155). In the closed position, the first member 152 may be coupled to the second member 154 along the entirety of the length of the edge closure 150, thereby securing the gore bands 140 across a top of the foot inside the article of footwear (e.g., the foot of the user). The pull tab 156 may be in an open position when positioned closest to the forefoot region 102 (e.g., at the end 155). In the open position, first member 152 may be decoupled from second member 154 except for at the end 155 that is closest to the forefoot region 102, thereby loosening a longitudinal (e.g., direction of the x-axis) tension of the gore bands 140 across the top of the foot of the user. In this way, the edge closure 150 may be configured to adjust the longitudinal tensions of the article of footwear 100 (e.g., tensions of gore bands 140) across a top of the foot of the user. As one example, the user may move the zipper pull 156 to the open position when donning or removing the article of footwear 100 and to the closed position when wearing the article of footwear 100.

Turning now to FIGS. 4-9, views of an example 400 of an article of footwear is shown. The alternate example 400 may include some of the same features as article of footwear 100 shown in FIGS. 1-3. Such features will be labeled the same as in FIGS. 1-3 and will not be reintroduced.

The alternate example 400 may include a tongue 420 and a vamp 416. The tongue 420 and the vamp 416 may be positioned similar to the tongue 120 and the vamp 116 to cover a top portion of a user's foot. The tongue 420 and the vamp 416 may span continuously from a lateral side to a medial side. In other words, the tongue 420 and the vamp 416 may not be split into lateral and medial sections (e.g., lateral and medial sections of tongue 120 and vamp 116 of FIGS. 1 and 2).

The alternate example 400 may further include a gore loop 402. Gore loop 402 may be secured at a first lateral end and a second lateral end to the tongue 420 and pass over top of one of the gore bands 140. As one example, gore loop 402 may pass over a gore band of the gore bands 140 which is closest to the heel region 106. The gore loop 402 may be grasped by a user of the alternate example 400 to aide in donning and removing the article of footwear. In other examples, the gore loop 402 may be positioned adjacent to or in between the gore bands 140 rather than over top of one of the gore bands 140. For example, the gore loop 402 may be positioned on the tongue 420, between the gore bands 140 and the adjustable strap assembly 124.

The alternate example 400 may further include a medial free floating loop 602 as shown in at least the rear view of FIG. 7. The medial free floating loop 602 may be similar to the free floating loop 138 and may circumferentially surround the variable portion 126 and may not be coupled to the quarter 118. The medial free floating loop 602 may move longitudinally along the variable portion 126 between the adjustable double ring 128 and the rear loop 127. In this way, the medial free floating loop 602 may help secure the variable portion 126 on the medial side 105 as the free floating loop 138 helps secure the variable portion 126 on the lateral side 107.

Turning now to FIGS. 10-11, views of an alternate example 1000 of an article of footwear is shown. The alternate example 1000 may include some of the same features as article of footwear 100 shown in FIGS. 1-3. Such features will be labeled the same as in FIGS. 1-3 and will not be reintroduced. FIG. 10 shows lateral side 107 of alternate example 1000 and FIG. 11 shows medial side 105 of alternate example 1000. Alternate example 1000 may include an adjustable strap assembly 1024. FIG. 13 shows an illustration of a top down view of the adjustable strap assembly 1024. Adjustable strap assembly 1024 may include adjustable double ring 128, a fixed portion 1025 and a variable portion 1026. Adjustable strap assembly 1024 may include adjustable double ring 128 positioned at lateral side 107. By positioning adjustable double ring 128 at lateral side 107, an adjustable double loop on a left foot article of footwear and an adjustable double loop on a right foot article of footwear may be prevented from entangling each other while the article of footwear is in use.

A first longitudinal end 1023 of fixed portion 1025 may be looped through the first ring 133 of adjustable double ring 128 and a second longitudinal end 1030 of the fixed portion 1025 may be fixedly coupled to lateral side 107 of quarter 118. The second longitudinal end 1030 of the fixed portion 1025 may include the second part 1202b of the complementary closure system. Fixed portion 1025 may be shorter than variable portion 1026. A first longitudinal end 1029 of variable portion 1026 may include the first part 1202a of complementary closure system 1202. Variable portion 1026 may extend longitudinally across tongue 120, through rear loop 127 and loop through the second ring 135 of adjustable double ring 128. From the adjustable double ring 128, the variable portion may extend back through rear loop 127 towards medial side 105. In this way, the variable portion 1026 may cross twice through the rear loop 127, twice around heel region 106. A second longitudinal end 1031 may extend through free floating loop 138 and rest at medial side 105. Travel of free floating loop 138 may be stopped at one end by adjustable double ring 128 and at a second end by fixed strap loop 134. In some examples, adjustable strap assembly 1024 may be fixedly coupled to the upper 108 at a single point. For example, adjustable strap assembly 1024 may be only fixedly coupled to upper 108 at second longitudinal end 1030 of variable portion 1026. Further, the adjustable strap assembly may be only fixedly coupled to the upper at the portion of the adjustable strap assembly including the second part 1202b of complementary closure system 1202.

In this way variable portion 1026 may cross once over tongue 120 and may not be in the way of a user's foot entering alternate example 1000 when the first part of the complementary closure system is decoupled from the second part of the complementary closure system. A user may adjust (e.g., increase or decrease) a circumference of adjustable strap assembly 1024 by moving second longitudinal end 1031 towards or away from first longitudinal end 1029 as indicated by arrow 1302. Moving second longitudinal end 1031 towards the medial side may decrease the circumference of adjustable strap assembly 1024 and moving second longitudinal end 1031 towards the lateral side may increase the circumference of adjustable strap assembly 1024. Adjusting the circumference may help to secure the foot in alternate example 1000.

Turning now to FIG. 14, a lateral view of an alternate example of an article of footwear 1400 is shown. The alternate example 1400 may include some of the same features as article of footwear 100 shown in FIGS. 1-3 and article of footwear 1000 shown in FIG. 10. Such features will be labeled the same as in FIGS. 1-3 and 10, and will not be reintroduced.

Article of footwear 1400 may include an cord closure system 1402. Cord closure system 1402 may be used in place of gore bands. In some examples, the cord closure system 1402 may not include an edge closure system, such as edge closure system 150. Cord closure system 1402 may be included in an article of footwear including adjustable strap assembly 1024. In alternate examples, cord closure system 1402 may be included in an article of footwear including adjustable strap assembly 124.

Cord closure system 1402 may include a plurality of eyelets 1404 positioned in the upper 108 on either side of the vamp. In one example, the plurality of eyelets 1404 may include 3 eyelets although other numbers of eyelets may also be used. A medial side of upper 108 may also include the plurality of eyelets 1404 mirroring the plurality of eyelets on the lateral side. Cord closure system 1402 may further include a ring 1406. Ring 1406 may be fixedly coupled to upper 108. In some examples ring 1406 may be formed of metal. Ring 1406 may be positioned on the upper 108 to the side of the tongue 120 and between opening 122 and the plurality of eyelets 1404. Ring 1406 may also be positioned in a mirrored, corresponding position on the medial side. In some examples ring 1406 may be replaced by an eyelet. In further examples, the plurality of eyelets 1404 may be replaced with a plurality of rings similar to ring 1406.

Cord closure system 1402 may further include a cord 1408. Cord 1408 may be an elastic cord. Cord 1408 may be threaded through plurality of eyelets 1404 and ring 1406. Cord 1408 may be a length of cord having a first end and a second end. Ends of cord 1408 may be threaded through a lateral side eyelet of the plurality of eyelets 1404 alternately with a medial side eyelet of the plurality of eyelets 1404 and similarly alternate between ring 1406 positioned on the lateral side and ring 1406 positioned on the medial side. In this way, cord 1408 may criss cross multiple times across the vamp and tongue 120.

Ends 1410 of cord 1408 may be passed through a closure 1412. Closure 1412 may be configured to circumferentially surround both the medial portion and lateral portion of cord 1408. Closure 1412 may be configured to be reversibly secured to cord 1408. Closure 1412 may be secured to cord 1408 close to tongue 120 to shorten the length of cord 1408 threaded through the plurality of eyelets 1404 and ring 1406. Closure 1412 may be secured to cord 1408 further away from tongue 120 to increase the length of the cord 1408 threaded through the plurality of eyelets 1404 and ring 1406. In this way, moving closure 1412 may adjust a longitudinal tension of the article of footwear. Ends 1410 of cord 1408 may be configured to prevent closure 1412 from moving past ends 1410. For example, ends 1410 may be made larger or include a covering larger than an opening of closure 1412 which receives cord 1408.

Article of footwear 1400 or other articles of footwear described herein may further include a gator loop 1414 and a tongue loop 1416. Gator loop 1414 may be fixedly coupled to upper 108 and positioned at a toe end before the vamp. Tongue loop 1416 may be a loop of material fixedly coupled to tongue 120 close to opening 122. Tongue loop 1416 may extend vertically (e.g., in the positive z direction) above tongue 120. Tongue loop 1416 may be configured to provide a grasping point for the user when donning or removing the article of footwear.

The combination of the adjustable strap assembly 124 or adjustable strap assembly 1024 and the edge closure 150 may provide an easily adjustable, but not hindering system for securing a user's foot within the article of footwear of the present disclosure (e.g., articles of footwear 100, 400, 1000). By looping the variable portion 126 through the adjustable double ring 128, a longitudinal length of the variable portion 126 may be adjusted to secure a rear portion of the foot to the heel region 106 of the article of footwear. Adjusting the longitudinal length may adjust the circumferential length of the variable portion 126 with respect to a circumference of the opening of the article of footwear. Independently from the adjustable strap assembly 124 or 1024, the optional edge closure 150 may be adjusted between an open to decrease tension of the gore bands 140 across a top portion of the foot in the midfoot region of the shoe to allow easier placement of the foot within the shoe and a closed position to secure the shoe to the foot. In this way, a fit of the article of footwear may be adjusted and secured for wearing the article of footwear while also providing easy access of the foot to the article of footwear while donning the article of footwear.

The disclosure also provides support for an article of footwear, comprising: an upper, and an adjustable strap assembly circumferentially surrounding the upper, wherein the adjustable strap assembly includes a fixed portion fixedly coupled at a first longitudinal end to a first loop of an adjustable double ring, and a variable portion looped through a second ring of the adjustable double ring, wherein a first longitudinal end of the variable portion is reversibly coupled to a second longitudinal end of the fixed portion. In a first example of the system, the variable portion looped through the second ring of the adjustable double ring decreases and increases a circumference of the adjustable strap assembly when a second longitudinal end of the variable portion is moved towards and away from the first longitudinal end of the variable portion. In a second example of the system, optionally including the first example, the system further comprises: a fixed strap loop positioned on a medial side of the upper and including a crease configured to support the fixed portion. In a third example of the system, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, the system further comprises: a free floating loop circumferentially surrounding the variable portion and configured to support a second end of the variable portion. In a fourth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first through third examples, the system further comprises: a rear loop extending from a heel cap to above the upper, and wherein the variable portion is positioned between the rear loop and the upper. In a fifth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first through fourth examples, the system further comprises: a tongue and wherein the tongue is a split tongue and includes a lateral section and a medial section, the lateral section and the medial section not coupled to each other. In a sixth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first through fifth examples, the adjustable strap assembly does not cross from a medial side of the upper to a lateral side of the upper more than once. In a seventh example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first through sixth examples, the system further comprises: an edge closure positioned on the upper and configured to adjust a longitudinal tension of the article of footwear. In an eighth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first through seventh examples, the edge closure is independent of and not coupled to the adjustable strap assembly. In a ninth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first through eighth examples, the edge closure does not extend to a heel region or a forefoot region of the article of footwear.

The disclosure also provides support for an article of footwear, comprising: an upper coupled to a sole, an adjustable strap assembly circumferentially surrounding the upper, the adjustable strap assembly including an adjustable double ring, a fixed portion coupled to a first loop of the adjustable double ring, and a variable portion looped through a second loop of the adjustable double ring, configured to adjust a circumference of the adjustable strap assembly when a second longitudinal end of the variable portion is moved towards a medial side of the upper and towards a lateral side of the upper. In a first example of the system, the article of footwear further comprises gore bands coupled at a first longitudinal end to the medial side of the upper and at a second longitudinal end to the lateral side of the upper, and wherein the gore bands are formed of elastic material. In a second example of the system, optionally including the first example the upper further comprising a vamp extending from a forefoot region to a midfoot region and positioned at least partially under the gore bands, and wherein a portion of the vamp underneath the gore bands is split into a lateral portion and a medial portion. In a third example of the system, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, the system further comprises: a zipper configured to adjust a tension of the gore bands, wherein the zipper includes a first member and a second member, and the tension of the gore bands is greater when the first member is coupled to the second member than when the first member is decoupled from the second member, and wherein the zipper is parallel to the second longitudinal end of the gore bands. In a fourth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first through third examples, the gore bands are coupled to the lateral side of the upper at a lateral gore support and the first member is directly coupled to an edge of the lateral gore support. In a fifth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first through fourth examples, the adjustable double ring is positioned at the lateral side of the upper.

The disclosure also provides support for an article of footwear, comprising: an upper and a tongue together defining an opening of the article of footwear, an adjustable strap assembly circumferentially surrounding the upper, the adjustable strap assembly comprising an adjustable double loop positioned at a lateral side of the upper, a fixed portion coupled at a first longitudinal end to the upper and fixedly coupled at a second longitudinal end to a first loop of the adjustable double loop, and a variable portion looped through a second loop of the adjustable double loop, and wherein the variable portion is configured to cross once over the tongue. In a first example of the system, a first longitudinal end of the variable portion is reversibly coupled to the second longitudinal end of the fixed portion. In a second example of the system, optionally including the first example, an edge closure extends away from a heel region of the article of footwear and laterally along a quarter in a midfoot region of the article of footwear. In a third example of the system, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, the edge closure is positioned on the lateral side of the upper in the midfoot region of the article of footwear, and wherein the edge closure does not extend past the lateral side of the upper.

The non-limiting embodiments of the articles of footwear has been described and illustrated herein. It should be appreciated that one or more components, features, or parts of the articles of footwear 100, 400, 1000, and 1400 may have a different shape, size, orientation, material, or other characteristic than those specifically explained or illustrated in accordance with the present disclosure. For example, the sole 110 may be incorporated as part of a sandal, thong flip-flops, clamp flip-flops, sporting footwear, boots, occupational footwear, e.g. work boots, or any other variation of a footwear article that includes a midsole assembly. Further, different elements of the midsole 112 may be otherwise suitably shaped and/or of different dimensions and/or orientations than described.

It will be appreciated that the configurations and/or approaches described herein are exemplary in nature, and that these specific embodiments or examples are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and nonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the various features, functions, acts, and/or properties disclosed herein, as well as any and all equivalents thereof.

FIGS. 1-14 show example configurations with relative positioning of the various components. If shown directly contacting each other, or directly coupled, then such elements may be referred to as directly contacting or directly coupled, respectively, at least in one example. Similarly, elements shown contiguous or adjacent to one another may be contiguous or adjacent to each other, respectively, at least in one example. As an example, components laying in face-sharing contact with each other may be referred to as in face-sharing contact. As another example, elements positioned apart from each other with only a space there-between and no other components may be referred to as such, in at least one example. As yet another example, elements shown above/below one another, at opposite sides to one another, or to the left/right of one another may be referred to as such, relative to one another. Further, as shown in the figures, a topmost element or point of element may be referred to as a “top” of the component and a bottommost element or point of the element may be referred to as a “bottom” of the component, in at least one example. As used herein, top/bottom, upper/lower, above/below, may be relative to a vertical axis of the figures and used to describe positioning of elements of the figures relative to one another. As such, elements shown above other elements are positioned vertically above the other elements, in one example. As yet another example, shapes of the elements depicted within the figures may be referred to as having those shapes (e.g., such as being circular, straight, planar, curved, rounded, chamfered, angled, or the like). Further, elements shown intersecting one another may be referred to as intersecting elements or intersecting one another, in at least one example. Further still, an element shown within another element or shown outside of another element may be referred as such, in one example. Elements offset from one another may be referred to as such, in some examples.

As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising,” “including,” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property. The terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-language equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements or a particular positional order on their objects.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art to practice the invention, including making and using any articles, devices, or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

ADAPTIVE FOOTWEAR CLOSURE

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