Continual comfort adjusting fastener for a footwear article

Abstract

The present invention relates to a continual comfort adjusting fastener for a footwear article and provides an alternative to fasteners that necessitate periodic attention by the wearer in order to maintain a proper combination of support, fit and comfort by utilizing spring mechanisms to induce a predetermined amount of tension between opposing eye flaps of the footwear article. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the spring mechanism portion of the spring assembly that provides constant tension between eye flaps may be one of a tension spring, compression spring and torsion spring. The spring assembly is comprised substantially of a spring mechanism and may be fastened directly to eyelets in the footwear article. In accordance with other exemplary embodiments, the spring assembly is further comprised of locking eyelets which themselves are attached to the eye flap of the footwear article via rivets, thus replacing the eyelets. With respect to embodiments that make use of eyelets in the footwear eye flap, the attachment means for the spring mechanism is a simple “J” hook and thereby may be hooked into existing eyelets, alternatively the J hook attachment might be fastened to the aforementioned locking eyelets. The J hook attachment is open ended, thereby allowing the spring mechanism to be easily disconnected from the corresponding eyelet at any time for ease of entry into the footwear article and further, the J hook attachment configuration is compatible with all types of spring mechanisms.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present U.S. patent application is a continuation in part patent application with priority based on the following co-pending U.S. patent applications:

[0002] U.S. non-provisional patent application entitled, “CONTINUAL COMFORT ADJUSTING FASTENER FOR A FOOTWEAR ARTICLE”, Attorney Docket No. JAC0002 having application No. ______ and filed on Aug. 25, 2001, currently pending having priority based on the following U.S. provisional patent application; and

[0003] U.S. provisional patent application entitled, “CONTINUAL COMFORT ADJUSTING FASTENER FOR A FOOTWEAR ARTICLE”, having application No. 60/300,311 and filed on Jun. 22, 2001, currently pending;

[0004] which have identical inventive entities as the present invention and each of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] 1. Field of the Invention

[0006] The present invention relates generally to the field of footwear, and more particularly to an improved footwear article for applying a predetermined amount of support to the wearer which continually adjusts to changes in the wearer's foot without manual intervention.

[0007] 2. Description of Related Art

[0008] Throughout history, footwear has been sought after that provide protection and support for a wearer's foot, while at the same time is comfortable and simple to wear and secure. Currently, a popular fastening means for securing footwear to the wearer's foot is by using a shoelace and eyelet combination, wherein a lace is threaded through eyelets that are positioned on a footwear article so as to lie either side of a shoe tongue and along opposing eyelet flaps. The laces are first laced through the eyelets in a crossway pattern, alternating from one eyelet flap to the other and then back again. After lacing, the footwear article is normally tightened comfortably to provide support and then the laces are tied. While this is an adequate method of securing footwear, when one string breaks a new one is needed. Moreover, the laces must be periodically loosened and tightened to maintain the desired support while remaining comfortable.

[0009] Footwear comes in a variety of styles including low-quarter, mid-quarter, high-quarter, high-top and boot. Generally, the higher the footwear article fits on the wearer's ankle, the more support afforded to the wearer by the article. Thus, persons desiring more support naturally gravitate toward mid-quarter, high-quarter, high-top and boot type footwear. Also, as the height of the footwear article increase, so does the amount of fasteners needed to secure the article on the wearer's foot. It then follows that persons needing more foot support must devote a significant amount of time for securing the article with the accompanying fastening means.

[0010] A particular problem inherent with prior art fasteners is that they need periodic attention in order to maintain the support, fit and comfort to the wearer. As the day progresses, a wearer's foot goes through successive stages of swelling and contraction which necessitate adjusting footwear for support and comfort. As the human foot becomes uncomfortable, overheated or stressed from long periods of standing or walking, the capillaries carrying blood to and from the feet become constricted and the blood flow to the foot is diminished, usually due to the retention of fluid. With the diminished blood flow, the foot retains even more fluid causing the capillaries to constrict even further until the source of the discomfort is alleviated. Normally, the best cure for foot swelling is the removal of the offending footwear, followed by elevating the wearer's feet. However, in the normal rigger of an everyday life it is virtually impossible to take a time-out for pediatric care, much less elevating ones bare feet for a period of time. Thus, those who suffer from foot discomfort are left with the alternative of loosening the footwear fasteners at the onset of discomfort and then, once the period of discomfort abates, re-securing the fasteners to provide the necessary support.

[0011] As it happens however, persons with a particular need for foot support are often the same persons who experience extreme bouts of foot swelling necessitating continual adjustments to the footwear fasteners. In a cruel twist, these persons are also likely to experience difficulties with footwear fasteners. For example, a pregnant woman may require the added support provided by a mid-quarter, highquarter or high-top shoe due to the increased weight resulting from the pregnancy. Foot swelling that often accompanies a pregnancy causes the pregnant woman additional foot discomfort that is only remedied by intermittently loosening and then re-securing as the footwear fasteners corresponding with the alternating periods of foot swelling and foot contracting passes, and then re-securing. A pregnant woman's condition further exacerbates maintaining the proper mix of footwear support, fit and comfort because of the difficulty in stooping and bending necessary for adjusting the fasteners brought about by the pregnancy. Thus, a pregnant woman is often left with the choices of risking foot and ankle injury from footwear that is comfortable but does not provide any meaningful support, and being tormented with the incessant bending necessary to keep fasteners on supportive footwear adjusted to the continual cycles of foot swelling and foot contracting. Often a pregnant woman will opt for the most convenient footwear and disregard the danger of foot and ankle injury, all too frequently resulting in tragic consequences.

[0012] The problem described above is typical of numerous diseases, conditions and ailments such as diabetes, osteoporosis (and other brittle bone syndromes) and obesity to mention a few. The prior art is silent on providing a fastener that maintains foot support, while simultaneously allowing of ease of adjustment. These fasteners are relegated to include zippers, straps with buckle, hook or snap fasteners, and hook and loop fasteners (Velcro, a trademark of Velcro Industries B.V.). Although these appliances often reduce the amount of time and effort necessary for adjusting footwear, over the lace and eyelet combination, the wearer must still be content with periodically adjusting the footwear article in an effort to maintain the optimal combination of support, fit and comfort.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention relates to a continual comfort adjusting fastener for a footwear article and provides an alternative to fasteners that necessitate periodic attention by the wearer in order to maintain a proper combination of support, fit and comfort by utilizing spring mechanisms to induce a predetermined amount of tension between opposing eye flaps of the footwear article. In contrast with prior art laces and straps, the spring mechanism provide needed support but also flexes in response to foot swelling, thus reducing or eliminating foot discomfort due to tightness about the foot. Moreover, because the spring mechanisms are independent of one another, the support offered by footwear incorporating the present invention can easily be tailored to an individual wearer's particular support requirement and may be varied along the extent of the foot. Footwear manufacturers benefit from the present invention due to the extremely developed nature of elastics and the ready supply of component springs, available in a wide variety of tensions, for production. The present invention bypasses the need to tie shoes, and with respect to one embodiment is similar to a low leather step-in shoe such as a loafer in that the spring assembly is never adjusted, even during putting on or taking off the footwear. Thus it is also easier for young children, disabled and infirm persons who can not tie their own shoes.

[0014] In accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the spring mechanism portion of the spring assembly that provides constant tension between eye flaps may be one of a tension spring, compression spring and torsion spring. The spring assembly is comprised substantially the spring mechanism and thereby may be fastened directly to eyelets in the footwear article, or in accordance other exemplary embodiments, the spring assembly is further comprised of locking eyelets which themselves are attached to the eye flap of the footwear article via rivets, thus replacing the eyelets. With respect to embodiment that make use of eyelets in the footwear eye flap, the attachment means for the spring mechanism is a simple “J” hook and thereby may be hooked into existing eyelets, alternatively the J hook attachment might be fastened to the aforementioned locking eyelets. The J hook attachment is open ended, thereby allowing the spring mechanism to be easily disconnected from the corresponding eyelet at any time for ease of entry into the footwear article and further, the J hook attachment configuration is compatible with all types of spring mechanisms.

[0015] In accordance with another exemplary embodiment the spring attachment means is fashioned into a more closed loop configuration constituting a safety catch which cooperates with a locking eyelet, thus preventing accidental disconnects or the sharp wire ends from protruding into the shoe cavity, as might be possible in the case of the J hook. With respect to further improvements, the safety catch may be disposed internally within the spring coils of the tension spring mechanism and provide a semi-permanent connector or instead the locking eyelet may be connected to the first coil of a tension spring and the safety catch encompasses and secures the locking eyelet thereon, also semi-permanently.

[0016] The invention is also aesthetically pleasing since the spring mechanism, and in fact the spring assembly itself, can be metallically plated with shiny metals or painted in different colors which match or contrast the color of the footwear article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as an exemplary mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0018] The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a footwear article incorporating a plurality of continual comfort adjusting fasteners in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 2A depicts a plurality of tension spring mechanisms as a front elevation of the eye flap portion of a footwear article in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 2B depicts a plurality of tension spring mechanisms in a front elevation of the eye flap portions of a footwear article in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 2C depicts a plurality of tension spring mechanisms as a front elevation of the eye flap portion of a footwear article in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] FIGS. 3A and 3B are side and top elevations of a tension spring assembly, respectively, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0024] FIGS. 3C and 3D are side and top elevations of a tension spring assembly, respectively, in accordance with other exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0025] FIGS. 4A-4C depict a spring assembly including a tension spring mechanism with various spring attachment means in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIGS. 5 A and 5B depict a spring assembly in side and top elevations, respectively, which comprises a compression type spring mechanism, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0027] FIGS. 6A-6C depict a spring assembly comprised of a torsion type spring mechanism in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention; and

[0028] FIGS. 7A and 7B are tables that depict tension spring assembly attributes for footwear articles having five eyelets in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description which follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a footwear article incorporating a plurality of continual comfort adjusting fasteners in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the Figure, footwear article 100 is illustrated as a high-quarter or high-top shoe and disposed thereon are seven continual comfort adjusting fasteners. However, it should be understood that the use of a particular footwear article is merely illustrative and in no way is intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, the use of a particular type of spring mechanism, spring assembly or quantity of said mechanisms and assemblies is likewise merely a matter of convenience for describing the present invention to the reader and in no way limits the use or application of the present invention. The present invention may be incorporated on virtually any footwear article in any position on the article.

[0031] The present invention relates to a continual comfort adjusting fastener for a footwear article and provides an alternative to fasteners that necessitate periodic attention by the wearer in order to maintain a proper combination of support, fit and comfort by utilizing spring mechanisms to induce a predetermined amount of tension between opposing eye flaps of the footwear article. In contrast with prior art laces and straps, the spring mechanism provide needed support but also flexes in response to foot swelling, thus reducing or eliminating foot discomfort due to tightness about the foot. Moreover, because the spring mechanisms are independent of one another, the support offered by footwear incorporating the present invention can easily be tailored to an individual wearer's particular support requirement and may be varied along the extent of the foot. The spring mechanisms can, as can the spring assemblies, be tuned independently for the individual, size of the wearer's foot and footwear article size, number of eyelets or fasteners and shoe type to name a few. Spring tensions can be individually calculated for any application and with minimal investigation, spring tension algorithms can be developed for each application (shoe size, type, number of fasteners, distance between eye flaps, etc.). Footwear manufacturers benefit from the present invention due to the extremely developed nature of elastics and the ready supply of component springs, available in a wide variety of tensions, for production.

[0032] In illustrating the present invention, footwear article 100 has disposed thereon a plurality of spring assemblies, each of which comprising of spring mechanism 103 and a pair of locking eyelets 108 that are attached to the eye flap of footwear article 100 with rivets. Spring mechanism 103 may be any one of the spring mechanisms depicted in FIGS. 3A-D, 4A-C, 5A-B or 6A-C, however as can be seen from FIG. 1, spring mechanism 103 is a tension spring is of the type illustrated on FIGS. 3C and 3D as spring mechanism 303 which will be discussed in greater specificity further below.

[0033] Referring first to FIGS. 3A and 3B, side and top elevations of a tension spring assembly, respectively, are depicted in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The spring assembly illustrated in the present exemplary embodiment comprises tension spring mechanism 302 and a pair of locking eyelets 304. Tension spring mechanism 302 is shown in its relaxed state and in such state, exerts no tension on locking eyelets 304. Locking eyelets 304 further comprise a main body with eyelet 310 near one extent and an aperture near the opposite extent (not shown), through which rivet 312 traverses for fastening locking eyelet 304 to an eye flap, for instance on footwear article 100 shown in FIG. 1. Returning to FIGS. 3A and 3B, tension spring mechanism 302 is connected to eyelet 310 of locking eyelets 304 by a tension spring connector or spring attachment means 314. In the present illustration, attachment means 314 is substantially closed loop configuration constituting a safety catch which substantially encircles eyelet 310 on locking eyelet 304, thus reducing the likelihood of an accidental disconnection.

[0034] By contrast with FIGS. 3A and 3B, FIGS. 3C and 3D are side and top elevations of a tension spring assembly, respectively, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Here the spring assembly illustrated in the present exemplary embodiment comprises tension spring mechanism 303 and a pair of locking eyelets 308. Tension spring mechanism 303 is shown in its relaxed state and in such state, exerts no tension on locking eyelets 308. Locking eyelets 308 further comprise a main body with eyelet 311 near one extent and an aperture near the opposite extent (not shown), through which rivet 312 traverses for fastening locking eyelet 308 to an eye flap, for instance on footwear article 100 shown in FIG. 1. Returning to FIGS. 3C and 3D, tension spring mechanism 303 is connected to eyelet 311 of locking eyelets 308 by spring attachment means 315. In the present illustration, a tension spring connector or attachment means 315 is a “U-shaped” configuration constituting a safety catch which prevents attachment means 315 from accidental disconnecting with locking eyelet 308 on by curving around eyelet 311 and terminating on the body of locking eyelet 308.

[0035] By way of comparison, notice that locking eyelet 308 on FIGS. 3C and 3D differs from locking eyelet 304 on FIGS. 3A and 3B in that locking eyelet 308 is wider than locking eyelet 304. Notice also that the diameter of eyelet 311 is substantially smaller than eyelet 310. The present applicants have discovered that although the combination of tension spring mechanism 302 and locking eyelets 304 provide continual comfort adjusting for a footwear article wearer, this embodiment requires exorbitant manufacturing efforts. This is so because during assembly of footwear article, 100 for instance, tension spring mechanism 302 is manually threaded through each of locking eyelets 304 on either eyelet flap. Because the safety catch portion of spring attachment means 314 substantially encircles eyelet 310 on locking eyelet 304, extraordinary dexterity is required on the part of the assembly-person in order to quickly mate the safety catch to locking eyelet 304. In a effort to reduce the effort needed to mate the parts, the diameter locking eyelet 304 is exaggerated for easy insertion and conversely the length of eyelet 310 is kept to a minimum to allow for less problematic assembly. However, in practice, even with these considerations, it is not always possible to easily assemble tension spring mechanism 302 through each of locking eyelets 304 because the amount of effort needed to manually assemble the footwear article depends on other factors, such as shoe size, spring tensions, the number of tension spring mechanisms on the footwear article, etc.

[0036] Alternatively, tension spring mechanism 303 quickens the assembly process by eliminating the need for the assembly-person to contend with mating the safety catch portion of spring attachment means 315 to the locking eyelet. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, tension spring mechanism 303 is fabricated without forming the safety catch at the spring attachment means 315 (the extremities of tension spring mechanism 303). During assembly, the extremities of tension spring mechanism 303 are substantially straight rather than curvilinear, thus allowing for a longer and smaller diameter eyelet, such as eyelet 311. Once the assembly-person has inserted a first extremity of tension spring mechanism 303, a special tool is employed to capture the substantially straight portion of wire forming the extremity, and then manually bend the straight portion of wire to form an more pronounced safety catch than that used with respect to tension spring mechanism 302. Here, the safety catch portion of spring attachment means 315 is formed by an abrupt “U-shape” or 180 degree bend in the wire. Notice that by comparison, the safety catch portion of spring attachment means 314 is less abrupt and is configured as more of a sweeping curvilinear bend that forms a substantially closed loop constituting the safety catch which substantially encircles eyelet 310 on locking eyelet 304. The special tool used to form the safety catch is a screwdriver shaped implement with a hole at the distil end of the shaft for receiving the wire extremity that will form the safety catch. The diameter of the hole is such that the wire can be received with little lateral play and the hole's depth is the approximate length of the desired height of the “U” to be formed in the wire. Once the wire is received in the tool, the assembly-person merely hole merely reorients the tool thereby bending the wire into a “U.” Another tool used for this process is a pair of specially modified pliers or “needle-node pliers” that have a channel for receiving the wire. Once the wire is received in the channel, the assembly-person merely hole merely twists the pliers thereby bending the wire into a “U.” The above described process and tension spring mechanism 303 quickens the assembly process by simplifying mating the safety catch portion of spring attachment means 315 to the locking eyelet. Also, while the catch portion of spring attachment means 315 must be manually formed by the assembly-person, the time necessary for that task is more than offset by time-saving resulting from mating the safety catch portion of spring attachment means 315 with eyelet 311 and also by reducing the need to pre-fabricate the safety catch portion of spring attachment means 315 prior to assembly.

[0037] Turning now to FIG. 2A, a plurality of tension spring mechanisms are depicted in a front elevation of the eye flap portion of a footwear article in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Notice that in the present depiction, tension spring mechanisms 202 are in their respective related state and in such state, exerts no tension on locking eyelets 204 or eye flaps 200. This is so because the tension provided by tension spring mechanisms 202 is meant to be exerted on the foot of the wearer and not on the footwear itself—when not in use. Thus, the amount of tension is dictated by the outward pressure exerted on eye flaps 200 when being forced open by a foot or the like. It can now be clearly understood that the amount of tension applied to a wearer's foot is approximately proportional to the amount of distance that eye flaps 200 are forced apart. It then follows that unlike prior art fasteners that exert force on the wearer's foot in a nonlinear fashion due to the inflexibility of the fastener itself, the spring mechanisms of the present invention exert a more linear increase in tension that is brought about by, for example, foot swelling. Moreover, because even significant foot swelling will cause eye flaps 200 to be forced apart by only minimal distances, the force increase on the wearer's foot is likewise minimal, many times imperceptible, while maintaining the fit and support needed by the wearer.

[0038] In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, tension spring mechanisms 202 are of the type depicted in FIGS. 3A-3B as spring mechanism 302 and described above. Note also that tension spring mechanisms 202 include attachment means 314 that forms a substantially closed loop configuration constituting a safety catch which substantially encircles locking eyelet 204, thus reducing the likelihood of an accidental disconnection.

[0039] Turning now to FIG. 2B, a plurality of tension spring mechanisms are depicted in a front elevation of the eye flap portions of a footwear article in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. However, in contrast with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A, shown to the right, here tension spring mechanisms 202 are configured with “J” hook spring attachment means and connected directly to existing eyelets 206 in eye flaps 200. The J hook is a substantially open ended spring attachment formed by shaping the outer extent of tension spring mechanisms 202 into a shape that is reminiscent of the letter “J.” With respect to embodiment that make use of eyelets in the footwear eye flap, the attachment means for the spring mechanism is a simple “J” hook and thereby may be hooked into existing eyelets, alternatively the J hook attachment might be fastened to the aforementioned locking eyelets. The J hook spring attachment means allows spring mechanism 202 to be easily disconnected from a corresponding eyelet 206 at any time. This allows the wearer a convenient means to disconnect tension spring mechanisms 202 for putting on and taking off the footwear. It is anticipated that in most embodiments the wearer will easily be able to ingress and egress various types of footwear without disconnecting the spring mechanism. However, in some high-top footwear and boots the opening left for insertion of the wearer's foot is simply too small to accommodate a human foot, thus the J hook spring attachment means is a viable alternative. Moreover, even though the wearer must disconnect the J hook during entry, it will be appreciated that thereafter the continual comfort adjusting fasteners function as intended and the wearer need not disconnect the fastener for foot swelling or the like.

[0040] With respect to FIG. 2C, a plurality of tension spring mechanisms are depicted in a front elevation of the eye flap portion of a footwear article in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Notice that the present depiction is similar to those described above with respect to FIGS. 2A and 2B, in that tension spring mechanisms 203 are in their respective related state and in such state, exerts no tension on locking eyelets 208 or eye flaps 200. Notice that with respect to footwear article 200 that the inner edge of eye flap 209 is linear.

[0041] In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, tension spring mechanisms 203 are of the type depicted in FIGS. 3C-3D as spring mechanism 303 and described above. Note also that tension spring mechanisms 203 include attachment means 315 that forms a “U-shaped” configuration constituting a safety catch which prevents attachment means 315 from accidental disconnecting with locking eyelet 308 on by curving around eyelet 311 and terminating on the body of locking eyelet 308.

[0042] Turning now to FIGS. 4A-4C, a spring assembly is depicted including a tension spring mechanism and with various spring attachment means in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. With respect to the Figures, FIG. 4A is a side elevation of a tension spring mechanism 402, depicting eyelets 410 of locking eyelets 404 partially inserted in the coils of tension spring mechanism 402, wherein a spring attachment means is fashioned from the outer extent of tension spring mechanism 402 and into a substantially more closed loop configuration constituting a safety catch (not shown). The safety catch may be disposed internally within the spring coils of tension spring mechanism 402 and thereby provides a semi-permanent connection which cooperates with eyelet 410 to prevent accidental disconnects. FIG. 4B illustrates a similar concept. There a side elevation of a tension spring mechanism 402 is shown with eyelets 410 of locking eyelets 404 encircling the lowermost extent of the first coil on tension spring mechanism 402. With respect to this exemplary embodiment, eyelets 404 are connected to the first coil of a tension spring and the safety catch (not shown) encompasses and secures tension spring mechanism 402 to locking eyelet 404 in a semi-permanent fashion, i. e. the wearer may remove tension spring mechanism 402 from locking eyelet 404 but with some difficulty. FIG. 4C illustrates a top elevation of a tension spring mechanism 402 shown in either FIGS. 4A or 4B. It should be now understood that spring mechanism configurations depicted in FIGS. 4A-4C allow for utilizing more spring coils in an equivalent amount of space as that shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B due to the reduction to the length of the attachment means, thus less tensions for application where space is limited and the tension must remain lower.

[0043] Turning now to FIGS. 5 A and 5B, a spring assembly is depicted which comprises a compression type spring mechanism, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 5A and 5B are side and top elevations of compression spring mechanism 502, respectively, and is connected to a pair of locking eyelets 504. Compression spring mechanism 502 is shown in its relaxed state and in such state, currently exerts no tension on locking eyelets 504. Similar to the other illustrations described above, locking eyelets 504 further comprise a main body with eyelet 510 near one extent and an aperture near the opposite extent (not shown), through which rivet 512 traverses for fastening locking eyelet 504 to an eye flap, for instance on footwear article 100 shown in FIG. 1. The depicted spring assembly is shown with a safety catch type of spring attachment means 514 but a J hook could also be substituted. However, due to the unique operating nature of compression spring mechanism 502, care must be taken when attempting to configure spring attachment means 514 with a safety catch disposed internally within the coils of compression spring mechanism 502, the workings of the spring may be interfered with. Additionally, because the coils of compression spring mechanism 502 move in the opposite direction as that of a tension type spring mechanism, it is not possible to connect eyelet 510 to the first coil as in a tension type spring mechanism.

[0044] With regard to FIGS. 6A-6C, a spring assembly is depicted which comprises a torsion type spring mechanism in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 6A and 6B are top elevation views of torsion spring mechanism 602 in the relaxed and energized states, respectively. FIG. 6B depicts torsion spring mechanism 602 connected to a pair of locking eyelets 604 as would be expected on, for example, on footwear article 100 shown in FIG. 1. Because FIG. 6B depicts torsion spring mechanism 602 as being energized with tension, it is expected that footwear article 100 is being worn as represented in FIG. 6B. Here again locking eyelets 604 further comprise a main body with eyelet 610 near one extent and an aperture near the opposite extent (not shown), through which rivet 612 traverses for fastening locking eyelet 604 to an eye flap, for instance on footwear article 100 shown in FIG. 1.

[0045] The present torsion spring assembly differs from the aforementioned depicted spring assemblies in that the safety catch on spring attachment means 616 is formed by a spiral shaped configuration of the outer extent of the coils. This difference is necessary due the peculiar nature of torsion spring mechanism 602. In this case there is a modest danger that should a spring attachment means accidentally disconnect, then torsion spring mechanism 602 would become airborne. The coiled shape of spring attachment means 616 is better shown in FIG. 6C wherein torsion type spring mechanism 602 of the present invention is illustrated in a front elevation.

[0046] Tuning the tension spring mechanisms refers to selecting tension spring mechanisms with particular attributes for implementing continual comfort adjustments to a footwear article. These attributes include the physical properties of the individual tension spring mechanisms that result in a predetermined amount of tension to be generated across the eyelet flaps of a footwear article. Factors that must be considered when tuning the tension spring mechanisms include the comfort of the individual wearer, size of the wearer's foot and footwear article size, number of eyelets or fasteners and shoe type to name a few. Another factor in determining tension and s tension spring mechanisms is the configuration of the eyelet flaps. Typically, eyelet flaps of most athletic shoes, mid-quarter, high-quarter, high-top and boot are configured with a curvilinear inner edge that roughly approximates the contour of a wearer's foot. This curvilinear inner edge works is used with shoelaces because shoelaces are fastened from the top and tensions is transmitted through the eyelets down the length of the eyelet flap. Eventually, the tension finds some equilibrium across the eyelets on the eyelet flap and stabilizes, however this equilibrium tension has little correlation to wearer comfort. Fabricating the inner edge of the eyelet flap tends to equalize the tension needed across all the eyelets and thereby is advantageous for fasteners such as shoestrings that are not independent of one another by attempting to keep the edges of the eyelet flaps equal distance when the shoelace is tied tight. However, merely because the eyelet flaps maintain and equal distance spacing when the shoelace is tied does not tune the footwear article for comfort, not can it provide a mechanism for continually making comfort adjustments to the footwear article.

[0047] FIGS. 7A and 7B are tables that depict tension spring assembly attribute values for footwear articles having five eyelets in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Table I depicted in FIG. 7A defines tension spring assembly attributes for five-eyed footwear articles between men's size 9 and 13, while Table II depicted in FIG. 7B defines tension spring assembly attributes for five-eyeleted footwear articles between men's size 6 and 8. These tables represent tension spring assembly attributes for a wearer who desires a maximum amount of snugness for comfort, such as for securing motorcycle, rock or ice climbing boots, and is not recommended for casual wearers. However, from Table I it is easily understood that tension rates vary from 4.8 lbs. to 7.5 lbs. for men's size 9 and 13, in order to tune the tension spring mechanisms to accommodate the curvilinear contour of the eye flap for realizing continual comfort adjustments to the five-eyeleted footwear article and therefore five different tension spring mechanisms must be on hand for assembling a five-eyed footwear article. Thus, aside from being an arduous calculation for all possible footwear and comfort combinations, the likelihood of a mistake during assembly is increased due to the shear number of unique combinations of tension spring mechanisms for particular lines and sizes of footwear articles.

[0048] Therefore, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention the number of unique combinations of tension spring mechanisms for particular footwear article is reduce by configuring the eyelet flap with a substantially linear, or straight, inner edge. Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2C, notice that inner edge is substantially straight across the length of the eyelet flap. By configuring inner edge 209 as a substantially straight edge, the edge and not the tension spring mechanisms accounts for many of the tuning considerations. For instance, the number of unique tension spring mechanisms for a seven-eyeleted footwear article can be reduced from seven to three by merely eliminating the curvilinear edge on the eyelet flap. A typical seven-eyeleted footwear article tuned for a casual wear with a size 9-13 foot can be realized using two −1.5 lbs./inch tension spring mechanisms for upper eyelets, three −2.0 lbs./inch tension spring mechanisms for the three middle eyelets and two −1.0 lbs./inch tension spring mechanisms for the lowermost eyelets (here the upper two eyelets have a detachable spring attachment means). The basic formula for determine tension is rather rudimentary, each tension spring mechanism in the intermediate group of tension spring mechanisms exert half again as much tension (×1.5) as the lower group (x) and the upper exerts twice the tension (×2.0) as a tension spring mechanism in the lower group. The number of individual tension spring mechanisms in a group is determined by the total number of eyelets on the footwear article, but generally the intermediate group contains approximately half the total number of tension spring mechanisms and the remainder is divided up equally between the upper and lower groups. For example, a ten-eyeleted size 9-13 footwear article would have four −1.5 lbs./inch intermediate tension spring mechanisms, three 2.0 lbs./inch upper tension spring mechanisms and thee 1.0 lbs./inch lower tension spring mechanisms (its expected that the upper group would be detachable for ease of entry). The tension values for a ten-eyeleted size 6-8 footwear article would be somewhat less, on the order of 10 percent lower than for the ten-eyeleted size 9-13 footwear article, or with respect to the example described above, four −1.35 lbs./inch intermediate tension spring mechanisms, three 1.8 lbs./inch upper tension spring mechanisms and thee 0.9 lbs./inch lower tension spring mechanisms.

[0049] The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A continual comfort adjusting system for a footwear article comprising:

a footwear article having a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first and second portions of said footwear article adjustably accept a wearer's foot;

a first locking eyelet secured to said first portion of said footwear article;

a second locking eyelet secured to said second portion of said footwear article; and

a spring assembly having a spring mechanism, a first spring connector at a first extremity of said spring assembly and a second spring connector at a second extremity of said spring assembly, said spring mechanism being interposed between said first spring connector and said second spring connector for providing tension between said first and second spring extremities of said spring assembly, said first spring connector being inserted through said first locking eyelet and forming a U-shaped safety catch between the first locking eyelet and the first spring extremity, said second spring connector being inserted through said second locking eyelet and forming a U-shaped safety catch between the second locking eyelet and the second spring extremity, whereby said spring assembly continual adjusts the comfort for the wearer's foot by providing tension between said first and second portions of said footwear article.

2. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a third locking eyelet secured to said first portion of said footwear article;

a fourth locking eyelet secured to said second portion of said footwear article; and

a second spring assembly having a spring mechanism, a first spring connector at a first extremity of said second spring assembly and a second spring connector at a second extremity of said second spring assembly, said spring mechanism being interposed between said first spring connector and said second spring connector for providing tension between said first and second spring extremities of said second spring assembly, said first spring connector being inserted through said third locking eyelet and forming a U-shaped safety catch between the third locking eyelet and the first spring extremity, said second spring connector being inserted through said fourth locking eyelet and forming a U-shaped safety catch between the second locking eyelet and the fourth spring extremity, whereby said second spring assembly continual adjusts the comfort for the wearer's foot by providing tension between said first and second portions of said footwear article independent of the tension between said first and second portions of said footwear article provided by the spring assembly.

3. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a first plurality of locking eyelets secured to said first portion of said footwear article;

a second plurality of locking eyelets secured to said second portion of said footwear article; and

a plurality of spring assemblies, each spring assembly of the plurality of spring assemblies having a spring mechanism, a first spring connector at a first extremity of said second spring assembly and a second spring connector at a second extremity of said second spring assembly, each of said spring mechanisms being interposed between respective said first spring connector and said second spring connector for providing tension between said first and second spring extremities of each respective spring assembly of the plurality of spring assemblies, each said first spring connector being inserted through a locking eyelet in said first plurality of locking eyelets and forming a U-shaped safety catch between the locking eyelet in said first plurality of locking eyelets and the first spring extremity, each said second spring connector being inserted through a locking eyelet of said second plurality of locking eyelets and forming a U-shaped safety catch between the locking eyelet of said second plurality of locking eyelets and the second spring extremity, whereby each spring assembly in the plurality of spring assemblies continual adjusts the comfort for the wearer's foot by providing tension between said first and second portions of said footwear article independent of the tension between said first and second portions of said footwear article provided by the spring assembly.

4. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 3, wherein each spring assembly in the plurality of spring assemblies continual adjusts the comfort for the wearer's foot by providing tension between said first and second portions of said footwear article independent of each other spring assembly in the plurality of spring assemblies.

5. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 1, wherein the spring mechanism is a compression-type mechanism.

6. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 1, wherein the spring mechanism is a torsion-type mechanism.

7. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 1, wherein the spring mechanism is a tension-type mechanism.

8. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 7, wherein the first locking eyelet further comprises a tubular channel for receiving said first spring connector, said tubular channel each having a diameter sufficient to accept said first spring connector and insufficient to accept the U-shaped safety catch, and said second locking eyelets further comprise a tubular channel for receiving said second spring connector, wherein said tubular channel having a diameter sufficient to accept said first spring connector and insufficient to accept the U-shaped safety catch.

9. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 1, wherein an inner edge of the first portion of said footwear article is approximately linear and an inner edge of the second portion of said footwear article is approximately linear.

10. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 9, wherein the first and second portions of said footwear article are eye flaps and the inner edge of the first eye flap faces the inner edge of the second eye flap.

11. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 10, wherein the first locking eyelet further comprises a tubular channel for receiving said first spring connector, said tubular channel each having a diameter sufficient to accept said first spring connector and insufficient to accept the U-shaped safety catch, and said second locking eyelets further comprise a tubular channel for receiving said second spring connector, wherein said tubular channel having a diameter sufficient to accept said first spring connector and insufficient to accept the U-shaped safety catch.

12. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 8, wherein at least one wall of the first locking eyelet protrudes into the U-shaped safety catch portion of said first spring connector, and at least one wall of the second locking eyelet protrudes into the U-shaped safety catch portion of said second spring connector.

13. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 2, wherein spring assembly further comprises:

a first predetermined distance separating the first extremity of said spring assembly is separated from said second extremity of said spring assembly; and

the second spring assembly further comprises:

a second predetermined distance separating the first extremity of said second spring assembly is separated from said second extremity of said second spring assembly, wherein second predetermined distance is greater than said first predetermined distance.

14. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 2, wherein at least one of said first and second predetermined distances are based on wearer comfort.

15. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 1, wherein the footwear article is one of a low-quarter, mid-quarter, high-quarter, high-top and boot.

16. A continual comfort adjusting system for a footwear article comprising:

a first plurality of locking eyelets secured to a first portion of a footwear article;

a second plurality of locking eyelets secured to a second portion of said footwear article; and

a plurality of spring assemblies, each spring assembly of the plurality of spring assemblies having a spring mechanism, a first spring connector at a first extremity of said second spring assembly and a second spring connector at a second extremity of said second spring assembly, each of said spring mechanisms being interposed between respective said first spring connector and said second spring connector for providing tension between said first and second spring extremities of each respective spring assembly of the plurality of spring assemblies, each of said first spring connectors being inserted through said first locking eyelet and forming a U-shaped safety catch between the first locking eyelet and the first spring extremity, said each of said spring connectors being inserted through said second locking eyelet and forming a U-shaped safety catch between the second locking eyelet and the second spring extremity, whereby each spring assembly in the plurality of spring assemblies continual adjusts the comfort for the wearer's foot by providing tension between said first and second portions of said footwear article independent of the tension between said first and second portions of said footwear article provided by the spring assembly.

17. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 16, wherein each of the a first plurality of locking eyelets secured to the first portion of a footwear article and each of the second plurality of locking eyelets secured to the second portion of said footwear article are separated from an adjacent locking eyelet secured to the respective portion of the footwear article by substantially equal distance.

18. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 16, wherein the footwear article is one of a low-quarter, mid-quarter, high-quarter, high-top and boot.

19. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 16, wherein an amount of tension between said first and second spring extremities of each respective spring assembly of the plurality of spring assemblies is determined on the basis of wearer comfort.

20. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 16, wherein each spring assembly of the plurality of spring assemblies is one of metallically plated with a shiny metal, painted with a color matching the footwear article and painted with a color contrasting the footwear article.

21. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 16, wherein each of the spring mechanisms is a tension-type mechanism.

22. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 21, wherein each of the first plurality of locking eyelets further comprises a tubular channel for receiving said first spring connector. said tubular channel each having a diameter sufficient to accept said first spring connector and insufficient to accept the U-shaped safety catch, and each of the second plurality of locking eyelets further comprise a tubular channel for receiving said second spring connector, wherein said tubular channel having a diameter sufficient to accept said first spring connector and insufficient to accept the U-shaped safety catch.

23. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 16, wherein an inner edge of the first portion of said footwear article is approximately linear and an inner edge of the second portion of said footwear article is approximately linear.

24. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 23, wherein the first and second portions of said footwear article are eye flaps and the inner edge of the first eye flap faces the inner edge of the second eye flap.

25. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 24, wherein each of the first plurality of locking eyelets further comprises a tubular channel for receiving said first spring connector, said tubular channel each having a diameter sufficient to accept said first spring connector and insufficient to accept the U-shaped safety catch, and each of said second plurality of locking eyelets further comprise a tubular channel for receiving said second spring connector, wherein said tubular channel having a diameter sufficient to accept said first spring connector and insufficient to accept the U-shaped safety catch.

26. A continual comfort adjusting system recited in claim 16, wherein at least one wall of each of the first plurality of locking eyelets protrudes into the U-shaped safety catch portion of said first spring connector, and at least one wall of each of the second plurality of locking eyelets protrudes into the U-shaped safety catch portion of said second spring connector.