Patent Application
20240298752
The present invention relates generally to footwear, and in particular the present invention relates to articles of footwear that include a lacing system and straps for tightening the upper to a wearer's foot.
Multiple systems for improved closure of an article of footwear to a wearer's foot have been proposed. Rasmussen [U.S. Pat. No. 2008/0250667] discloses a strap system that crosses the throat opening of the upper, entering and exiting the upper to fold back on itself and secure with a hook and loop closure. Petrie [U.S. Pat. No. 2007/0261269]discloses a multi-strap system that contains a component that also crosses the throat opening of the upper exiting the upper and secured with a hook and loop closure. Both closure systems disclosed by Rasmussen and Petrie propose a strap that crosses the throat opening of the footwear upper, exits the upper on the opposite side of the throat opening, folds over itself and is secured by a hook and loop closure. The drawback of these proposed straps is that they're only secured to the upper on one side and require reopening and closing to be adjusted.
In multiple disclosures, Avar [U.S. Pat. No. D904,000] and Page [U.S. Pat. No. D961,238] propose designs of single straps that are further encapsulated by separate elements and do not connect to the outside of the footwear upper. Avar also discloses a design [U.S. Pat. No. Des. 347,317] using multiple straps, each consisting of multiple elements. One of which crosses the throat opening. In this design, the drawback is that there is no adjustability in the straps.
Klein [U.S. Pat. No. D838,968] discloses an ornamental design of a single strap over an entire upper, where the strap is found exclusively in the forefoot of the shoe and consists of multiple elements and a unique ornamental design. The drawback of this design is that it can only be placed in the forefoot and therefore restricts movement of a dynamic area of the wearer's foot.
Taylor [U.S. Pat. No. D790,208] discloses and ornamental design of 3 straps that appear to cross the throat opening, exiting the upper at their end point. These straps do not continue on the exterior of the upper and interface with separate elements where the laces pass through the closed loop at their end point. The drawback of this design is that straps are limited to the tongue area and require separate elements to encapsulate the foot.
Multiple disclosures, Okajima [U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,370] and Gibb et al. [U.S. Pat. No. 2015/0313318] claim straps with multiple components securing a boot to a wearer's foot. The straps they propose slide through a metal ring secured by separate straps that are angled towards the heel of the boot and not the mid-foot. Further differentiating Okajima's proposal is that the strap portion that crosses the throat opening is removable. The drawback of these proposals is that they require multiple elements to work in unison instead of a single strap securing the wearer's foot.
Ganci [U.S. Pat. No. 2017/0172256] discloses a single strap wrapped around the entire shoe to secure the wearer's foot to the shoe. In Ganci's disclosure the garter strap is both flexible and removable and therefore can shift during use in multiple directions.
In 1981, Antonious [U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,558] disclosed multiple designs for single straps on a footwear upper, all of which fold over themselves and are secured by a hook and loop closure.
In 1999, Bourdeau [U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,542] disclosed a design for multiple straps that wrap around a sport boot liner to secure the wearer's foot to the boot. In no instance do the straps cross over an opening in the lining, nor are the straps themselves adjustable.
In multiple disclosures, Sakamoto et al. [U.S. Pat. No. 2016/0242498] and Faucher et al. [2018/0014601] propose designs for straps that cross the throat opening of a footwear upper with an element exiting the upper to be laced through. In both disclosures the straps are secured to the upper internally in the forefoot area, cross over the throat opening in the mid-foot area and continue towards the heel area of the footwear upper in a diagonal. Both proposals are also asymmetrical in orientation and therefore don't allow for the strap to be adjusted in two directions. Faucher discloses a second asymmetrical strap crisscrossing diagonally over the first strap in the throat opening, however those straps do not connect to each other and work independently.
Multiple footwear designs have also disclosed single straps that cross the throat opening of an upper. Brown [U.S. Pat. No. D921,348] discloses an ornamental design that remains on the exterior of an upper with no throat opening. Hatfield [U.S. Pat. No. Des. 371,898] discloses an ornamental design with multiple straps, one of which appears to cross the throat opening, though it is actually comprised of a separate piece of webbing secured to the tongue using stitching and unrelated to the lacing system in any way other than aesthetic. In these instances, both Brown and Hatfield propose designs with no adjustability in straps that are claimed to be ornamental in design.
There is a need in the art for an article of footwear that utilizes a single adjustable strap over the mid-foot of an upper to secure a wearer's foot to a shoe. Particularly a strap uncomplicated by multiple components that secures both the medial and lateral sides of a shoe to the most rigid portion of a foot.
The invention discloses an article of footwear with a single non-stretch adjustable strap that wraps around the mid-foot area of the upper to secure the wearer's foot to the shoe. The strap is secured to the upper below the sole unit top line on the exterior of one side of the shoe, entering the shoe through a small slit-like opening or oblong eyelet, crossing the throat opening on the inside of the upper, exiting the shoe through a second small slit-like opening or oblong eyelet on the exterior of the other side of the upper, where it is secured again below the top line of the sole unit. The strap is situated in the mid-foot area of the upper to secure the most rigid area of the foot to the shoe.
The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. The shaded area designates the invention throughout the different views.
In a preferred embodiment, upper 14 includes an opening 22 and a throat opening 24. Opening 22 is preferably configured to receive a wearer's foot. In a preferred embodiment, throat opening 24 corresponds with the throat region of upper 14 and may allow additional space into which a wearer's foot my be placed in order to fully insert the foot into an article of footwear 10. In a preferred embodiment, upper 14 may also include a tongue 26 and laces 28 [
Typically, an article of footwear includes some mechanism for tightening or securing the upper around a wearer's foot. Often a lacing system is provided to constrict the throat of the upper or pull the medial side and lateral side of the upper together. As the throat of the upper constricts, or the sides come closer together, the upper is tightened around the wearer's foot. Article of footwear 10 preferably includes laces 28 to tighten upper 14 around a wearer's foot. In a preferred embodiment, laces 28 are disposed proximate to the throat opening 24. As laces 28 are tightened, upper 14 is secured around wearer's foot. By tightening the laces 28, the wearer's foot can be prevented from slipping out of opening 22 and throat opening 24.
In addition to a lacing system, an article of footwear may include a second mechanism for adjustably tightening of upper around wearer's foot. In a preferred embodiment, upper 14 includes strap 30 for adjustably tightening upper 14 to wearer's foot. Preferably, strap 30 is disposed in the mid-foot area 18, entering upper 14 through an oblong eyelet 32 [or slit-like opening], freely spanning throat opening 24, exiting through a second oblong eyelet 34 [or slit-like opening] of upper 14.
Generally, strap 30 may be used to selectively tighten a portion of upper 14 around a wearer's foot. Typically, though a lacing system constrict an upper around a wearer's foot, including strap 30 enables the lacing system to increase pressure on the wearer's foot in the mid-foot area 18 of the footwear article 10, particularly in the throat opening 24 region. Allowing the semi-rigid area of the wearer's foot between the ankle joint and the ball of the foot to be secured more tightly in upper 14. This increased pressure provides greater security of upper 14 on wearer's foot than laces alone. Particularly in the mid-foot area 18 where the shape of the wearer's foot remains consistent.
Preferably, provision for securing tension applied by strap 30 is some tightening mechanism. The tightening mechanism may be a ribbon, rope, cord, wire, bungee, chain or some other lacing mechanism. More preferably, tightening mechanism is a shoe lace. In a preferred embodiment, tightening mechanism is a standard 7 mm round shoe lace. By tightening lace 28 tension is applied by strap 30 to wearer's foot, securing the mid-foot area 18 of the upper to the wearer's foot in upper 14.
While various embodiments of the invention have been described, the description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art of shoemaking that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. Also, various modification and changes may be made within the scope of the attached claims.
