Patent Application
20100313445
Aspects of the invention relate to securing mechanisms for articles, such as articles of wear and articles of manufacture. In some examples, the invention relates to securing mechanisms for articles of footwear.
Articles of wear, such as apparel, often have openings for inserting objects, such as portions of a wearer's body. Similarly, articles of manufacture, such as a handbag or backpack, usually have openings for inserting objects that a user wants to transport, such as a wallet, food, clothing, equipment, and the like. Most of these articles of wear and articles of manufacture have an opening through which the objects may be inserted so that the object can be inserted into and withdrawn from the interior of the article for storage, transport, wear, and/or use. Oftentimes, the opening is adjustable in size. For example, the opening may be adjusted to a relatively large size so that objects easily pass therethrough. Once the objects are securely positioned within or through the opening of the article, then the opening is adjusted to a relatively smaller size or otherwise closed. This adjustment may securely fit the article of apparel to a person's body or may secure a bag in a “closed” position. Many of these articles have securing mechanisms for selectively securing the opening in the smaller or “closed” position after the object has been inserted within the article.
For example, securing mechanisms are often incorporated into articles of footwear. An article of footwear usually includes an upper and a sole structure attached to the upper that together define a void for receiving a wearer's foot. Oftentimes, the upper defines an ankle and/or an instep opening through which the wearer's foot is inserted for placement within the interior of the article of footwear. In some examples, the ankle and/or the instep opening is adjustable to different sizes. When the ankle and/or the instep opening is adjusted to a relatively large size, a wearer can easily insert and remove his or her foot from the interior of the article of footwear. Once the wearer's foot is securely within the interior of the footwear, the ankle and/or the instep opening is most often secured to a relatively smaller size so that it fits snugly and securely against the wearer's ankle and/or foot.
Most articles of footwear incorporate securing mechanisms for selectively securing the opening in the relatively “small” or “closed” position described above. The securing mechanisms are usually manually adjusted by the wearer. Such securing mechanisms typically include shoelaces, hook and loop fasteners, straps, buckles, snaps, buttons, hook and eyelet combinations, and the like. These securing mechanisms are usually a single color, material, shape, size, and style. Wearers often want to have the option to change the appearance of their footwear and may wish to vary the color, shape, size, and style of their securing mechanisms. However, most securing mechanisms are permanently attached to the article of footwear, which makes them very difficult to replace. Other securing mechanisms may be manually interchanged. For example, shoelaces of a particular color may be completely removed and replaced with shoelaces of another color to suit the fashion sense of the wearer. With this configuration, wearers must spend time changing the laces and money purchasing the additional laces. Changing the appearance of traditional securing mechanisms is difficult and arduous.
The art would benefit from articles of footwear having securing mechanisms with physical and aesthetic characteristics that can easily be changed. Further, the art would benefit from having securing mechanisms that may be engaged in a variety of manners to provide different aesthetic characteristics and configurations.
The following presents a general summary of aspects of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of at least some of its aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention and/or to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a general form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below.
Aspects of this invention relate to securing mechanisms for articles. The securing mechanisms may comprise: (1) a first end; (2) a second end opposite the first end; (3) a center portion interconnecting the first end and the second end; and (4) at least one twistable portion that is configured to cause at least a portion of the securing mechanism to rotate around at least one axis from a first position to a second position, wherein the at least one twistable portion is positioned in at least one of the first end and the center portion. These securing mechanisms may be incorporated into any article, such as articles of manufacture or articles of wear. For example, the securing mechanisms may be incorporated into articles of footwear and articles of apparel.
In another aspect, an upper for an article of footwear may comprise: (1) one or more textile elements defining a foot-receiving opening; and (2) a securing mechanism for selectively securing the foot-receiving opening. The securing mechanism may be attached to at least one of the textile elements at or near the foot-receiving opening. The securing mechanism may comprise: a first end; a second end opposite the first end; a center portion interconnecting the first end and the second end; and at least one twistable portion. The twistable portion may be configured to cause at least a portion of the securing mechanism to rotate around at least one axis from a first position to a second position, wherein the at least one twistable portion is positioned in at least one of the first end and the center portion.
In yet another aspect, an article of footwear may comprise: an upper and a sole structure attached to the upper. The upper may define a foot-receiving opening and a securing mechanism for selectively securing the foot-receiving opening. The securing mechanism may comprise: (1) a first end; (2) a second end having a securing element; (3) a center portion interconnecting the first end and the second end; and (4) at least one twistable portion that is configured to cause at least a portion of the securing mechanism to rotate around at least one axis from a first position to a second position, wherein the at least one twistable portion is positioned in at least one of the first end and the center portion.
A more complete understanding of the present invention and certain advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description along with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:
The reader is advised that the attached drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.
In the following description of various example embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example devices, systems, and environments in which aspects of the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, example devices, systems, and environments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
A. General Examples of Articles with Securing Mechanisms
In general, as described above, aspects of the invention relate to securing mechanisms for articles, such as articles of manufacture and articles of wear. The securing mechanisms may be incorporated into any type of article that may have an opening that may benefit from a securing mechanism. Such articles may include articles of manufacture, such as handbags, and articles of apparel, such as shirts and pants.
In some examples, the securing mechanisms may be incorporated into an article of footwear. An article of footwear may comprise an upper and a sole structure attached to the upper. The upper and the sole structure may define a void in the interior of the footwear for receiving a wearer's foot. The upper may have one or more textile elements and a foot-receiving opening. A wearer's foot may be inserted through the foot-receiving opening and into the void. The article of footwear may be secured to the wearer's foot during use by tightening or making smaller the foot-receiving opening once the wearer's foot is fitted securely within the void. The foot-receiving opening may be secured in a relatively smaller size to fit the upper snugly around the wearer's foot and ankle A securing mechanism may secure the foot-receiving opening in this relatively smaller size. The securing mechanism may be incorporated into the article of footwear to help secure the article of footwear to the wearer's foot during use. The securing mechanism may be attached to any portion of the article of footwear, including, but not limited to the upper and/or the sole structure. For example, the securing mechanism may be attached to the upper of the article of footwear at or near some portion of the foot-receiving opening.
In other examples, an article of footwear is a sandal configuration with at least part of the upper exposing portions of the wearer's foot. Some sandals have an upper that includes a strap that extends over the top of the midfoot and/or forefoot region of the wearer's foot and/or may have a strap that extends around the heel region of the wearer's foot. Such straps and the sole structure define the void or interior of the article of footwear. The straps are designed to secure the upper (i.e., the straps) and the sole structure to the wearer's foot. Any one or more of such straps may include a securing mechanism. Alternatively, the strap itself may function as the securing mechanism. In this configuration, the strap/securing mechanism may be attached to the sole structure of the article of footwear. The securing mechanisms may be selectively securable and/or may permit the foot-receiving opening or other space defined in the upper for inserting the wearer's foot into the interior of the footwear to be adjustable to various sizes.
The securing mechanism may cause the size of the foot-receiving opening to be adjusted to a relatively large size for receiving a wearer's foot into the void defined by the upper and the sole structure. In some examples, a portion of the securing mechanism is selectively releasable from the article of footwear. Once the wearer's foot is securely positioned into the void, the securing mechanism may be adjusted to secure the foot-receiving opening to a relatively small size so that the upper and the sole structure of the article of footwear fittingly engage with the wearer's foot. For example, the securing mechanism may be adjusted to cause the upper to contract around the wearer's foot and provide a snug, secure fit between the upper and the wearer's foot. The article of footwear may be adjusted in any manner to provide a proper fit according to the wearer's needs.
Similar to the footwear examples described above, articles of apparel may have a need for selectively releasable securing mechanisms. For example, a shirt or jacket may have an opening that provides access to the interior of the shirt or jacket. The torso or head of a wearer may be fitted through the opening when the opening is in an “open” or relatively large size. In order to secure the shirt or jacket to the wearer, the opening may be secured in a “closed position.” One or more securing mechanisms of the types described above may be attached to the shirt or jacket at or near the opening to secure the opening in the closed position. The securing mechanisms may permit the opening to be enlarged or completely opened so that the wearer's head or torso may be inserted into the interior of the article of apparel. Once the wearer's head or torso is positioned within the article of apparel, the securing mechanisms may be secured, which may cause the opening to become smaller or close completely.
In other examples, an article of manufacture may have an opening through which items or objects may be inserted for placement within the interior space of the article of manufacture. Such articles of manufacture may include items such as a handbag, a backpack, a container, and the like. These items often have openings that are selectively securable, in a similar fashion to the openings in the articles of apparel that are described above. For example, a handbag is a container for storing various items. Oftentimes, the handbag has one or more openings that is adjustable between an opened position and a closed position. The opened position is the “relatively larger” size for the opening and is usually large enough for users to insert objects into the handbag and to remove objects from the interior of the handbag. The closed position would close or substantially close the opening so that the objects within the interior of the handbag would not easily fall out of the handbag and objects would not easily be able to be inserted into the interior of the handbag. One or more securing mechanisms of the types described above may secure this opening in the closed position. Such a securing mechanism is selectively securable so that it can be adjusted between the opened and the closed position.
In the footwear examples, the foot-receiving opening defined in the upper is configured to receive a wearer's foot. A securing mechanism such as shoelaces or a strap with a hook and loop fastener may be attached to the upper so that it extends across at least a portion of the foot-receiving opening. A protective element, such as a tongue, may be attached to the upper so that it extends beneath the securing mechanism and between the securing mechanism and the wearer's foot. Such a protective element can prevent the securing mechanism from directly rubbing on the wearer's foot and causing discomfort. Any suitable protective element may be incorporated into these examples.
When the foot-receiving opening is adjusted to a first, relatively large size, the opening is large enough for the wearer's foot to be inserted into the void defined by the upper and the sole structure. Once the wearer's foot is inserted into the void (interior of the footwear), the foot-receiving opening may be adjusted to a relatively smaller or “closed” position. The securing mechanism may secure the opening in the small, “closed” position to provide the wearer with a snug, secure fit. The securing mechanism may be attached to the upper and/or the sole structure or any other suitable portion of the article of footwear.
Specific examples of the invention are described in more detail below. The reader should understand that these specific examples are set forth merely to illustrate examples of the invention, and they should not be construed as limiting the invention.
The various figures in this application illustrate examples of securing mechanisms for articles of footwear according to this invention. When the same reference number appears in more than one drawing, that reference number is used consistently in this specification and the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts throughout.
An article of footwear may include a securing mechanism comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a center portion interconnecting the first end and the second end, and at least one twistable portion that is configured to cause at least a portion of the securing mechanism to rotate around at least one axis from a first position to a second position. The at least one twistable portion is positioned in at least one of the first end and the center portion.
In the example footwear 100 shown in
Further, the strap 102 of this example footwear 100 includes a twistable portion 110 that is attached to the first, attached end 104 of the strap 102. The twistable portion 110 connects the first, attached end 104 of the strap 102 to the upper 119. The twistable portion 110 is capable of being rotated around an axis 122 that is generally parallel to the longitudinal length of the strap 102. The twistable portion 110 also may be rotated around one or more other axes, including, but not limited to, an axis that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the strap 102 (e.g., an axis into an out of the page of
In some example configurations, a second securing mechanism may be incorporated into the footwear 100. Any suitable number of securing mechanisms may be incorporated into the article of footwear. Shoelaces or elastic may be incorporated into any portion of the foot-receiving opening to help secure the article of footwear to the wearer's foot during use.
The twistable portion 110 may be twisted or rotated around the axis 122 parallel to the longitudinal length of the strap 102 and may cause the strap 102 to rotate from a first position to a second position. As illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
In one example, the first appearance may be a first color and the second appearance may be a second color that is different from the first color. The wearer may alternate between the two colors by rotating the twistable portion to cause the strap to rotate from the first position to the second position. In another example, the first appearance may illustrate a first logo and the second appearance may illustrate a second logo that is different from the first logo. The first appearance and the second appearance may be any desired physical or aesthetic characteristics, including but not limited to color, texture, pattern, illustrations, material, graphics, and the like. The wearer also may be able to attach objects or other items to any portion of the strap.
In another example, each opposing side of the strap may have a transparent exterior window so that users can place removable inserts into a pocket formed between the window and the remainder of the strap. The inserts may have various pictures, graphics, colors, etc. Wearers also may be able to design or decorate their own inserts. Any suitable insert may be utilized for display in the transparent window.
The securing mechanism may be attachable to the article of footwear in any suitable manner. The securing mechanism may be releasably attached or permanently attached to the upper or the sole structure of the article of footwear. In some examples, one end the securing mechanism may be permanently attached to the upper of the article of footwear by glue, thread, cement, molding, sewing, stitching, mechanical connectors, and the like at or near some portion of the throat area of the foot-receiving opening. The other, opposing end of the securing mechanism may be selectively securable to (i.e., selectively releasable from) the upper. As some more specific examples, the securing mechanism may be a typical hook and loop type fastener comprising a strap of material with one end permanently secured to the upper on one side of the throat area and a second, opposing end that is selectively releasable from a position along the opposing side of the throat area.
The example strap 102 illustrated in
As shown in the examples illustrated in
In another alternative example, the first end and the second end of the strap are both selectively releasable from the upper of the article of footwear. Any of the selectively releasable ends may have a selectively securable securing element such as a hook and loop fastener, a button, a snap, a buckle, a magnet, or any combination thereof, that may selectively secure the selectively releasable end(s) to any suitable portion of the article. In the examples in which both ends of the strap are selectively releasable, the twistable portion(s) may be positioned in any of the first selectively releasable end, the second selectively releasable end, and/or the center portion.
Referring again to
In
In variations of the examples illustrated in
Referring again to
While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and methods. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.
This Non-Provisional U.S. patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/186,332, which was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jun. 11, 2009 and entitled “Securing Mechanisms for Articles.” This application is entirely incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61186332 | Jun 2009 | US |
