Footwear closure system
An improved closure system for athletic footwear, comprises a plurality of lace supports attached to the medial and lateral quarter panels of a boot. Each lace support has a holding unit at a first end and an attachment portion at a second end. The holding unit comprises a tube for holding a shoe lace. The attachment portion preferably comprises two legs which are fastened to a panel of the boot. The legs are fastened to the panels by at least one row of stitching extending traversely across the legs. The lace supports preferably are manufactured of a semi-rigid material, such as plastic, which creates a low-friction surface to pass the lace over. When embodiments of the lace supports are incorporated into athletic footwear, they result in boots that are easy to lace and that provide a secure fit to the user's foot.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to footwear, and more specifically to closure systems for athletic footwear.
2. Description of the Related Art
Footwear generally comprises three parts: the sole, the upper, and the closure system. All three features play a role in the comfort, protection and performance of footwear. Athletic footwear generally includes shoes, boots and skates. Generally, the sole is used for cushioning and protecting the heel and toe portions of the wearer. In skates, such as hockey skates, the sole attaches the foot to a bladeholder or a wheeled chassis.
The upper protects the foot from the environment and holds the footwear securely to the wearer's foot. Preferably the upper is made of a lightweight material such that it does not require the user to expend extra energy in lifting the foot. In some applications, however, a sturdier and heavier material is preferred in order to protect the foot from damage. Boots and hockey skates are typical examples of such footwear.
The closure system holds the upper and the sole securely to the user's foot. In athletic footwear, the closure system is operable between an open position in which the footwear is configured so that the user can insert or remove the foot from the footwear, and a closed position in which the footwear is secured about the foot.
A typical shoe closure system employs eyelets placed along edges of the quarter panels of the shoes to provide holes through which laces may be drawn. The eyelets accommodate relatively high tension as the laces are pulled to tighten the upper about the user's foot. More specifically, the laces pull on the eyelets to correspondingly pull the upper edges of the shoe panels toward one another and around the wearer's foot. When a boot upper is constructed of relatively heavy materials, eyelets often fail to distribute sufficient tension through the quarter panels to provide a snug fit about the foot.
Consequently, an improved footwear closure system is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with one embodiment, a sports shoe is provided. The shoe comprises an inner foot panel having an upper edge and an outer foot panel having an upper edge. The inner and outer panels are disposed on generally opposite sides of the shoe, and a space is defined between the upper edges. A lacing system of the shoe comprises a plurality of lace supports. Each lace support comprises a generally rigid hollow holding portion configured to accommodate a shoelace slidably fit therethrough, and at least two elongate leg portions extending from the holding portion. The leg portions of each lace support are attached to one of the inner and outer panels by at least one row of stitching extending transversely across the leg portions.
In accordance with another embodiment, the holding portion comprises a low-friction inner surface. In still a further embodiment, each holding portion is generally elongate and has a longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axis is generally parallel to a tangent line generally to the corresponding panel edge adjacent the holding portion.
In accordance with a further embodiment, a method of making a sports shoe is provided. In accordance with the method, a shell is provided having an inner upper edge and an outer upper edge, the upper edges being spaced apart from one another. A plurality of lace supports are also provided. Each lace support comprises a generally rigid hollow barrel portion configured to slidably accommodate a shoelace fit therethrough, and an elongate attachment portion extending from the barrel portion. The elongate attachment portions are arranged on the shell so that the respective barrel portions are disposed in a space between the upper edges. Stitches are disposed transversely across the attachment portions.
In accordance with yet another embodiment, a sports shoe is provided, comprising an inner foot panel having an upper edge and an outer foot panel having an upper edge. The inner and outer panels are disposed on generally opposite sides of the shoe, and a space is defined between the upper edges. A lacing system comprises a plurality of lace supports. Each lace support comprises a generally rigid hollow holding portion having a tube portion configured to accommodate a shoelace fit therethrough. A surface of the tube portion has relatively low friction, and the tube has a longitudinal axis. Each lace support further comprises at least two elongate leg portions extending from the holding portion. Preferably, the lace support is unitarily formed. The leg portions of each lace support are attached to one of the inner and outer panels at at least two spaced apart locations so that the tube portion is suspended in the space between the upper edges. The longitudinal axis of each tube portion is generally parallel to a tangent of the respective edge adjacent the lace portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
There is a need for a footwear closure system that can effectively close a stiff footwear member such as a skate boot, but which is easy for a wearer to lace up and provides a secure, well distributed closure.
With initial reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment portion 26 comprises two leg portions 34, 36. The leg portions 34, 36 both extend from the central portion and are generally spaced apart from one another. Preferably, the leg portions 34, 36 are disposed at an angle α relative to one another. In the illustrated embodiment, the leg portions 34, 36 are the same length. Further, the second ends 32a, 32b of the respective leg portions 34, 36 generally align with one another and have a generally flat shape. As such, a line 38 extending between the second ends 32a, 32b of the legs 34, 36 is generally aligned with both second ends across each end. It is to be understood that, in other embodiments, the legs can be different lengths. Also, the second ends 32a, 32b of the legs 34, 36 may have different shapes and configurations, and may or may not generally align with one another.
The holding portion 22 preferably comprises an elongate barrel 40 having a hollow tube 42 formed therein. The barrel 40 preferably is elongate and is configured so that a center line 44 of the tube 42 is generally transverse to a line between the first and second ends 30, 32 of the lace support 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the tube 42 of the barrel 40 is generally cylindrical and straight. It is to be understood that, in another embodiment, the tube portion 42 of the barrel 40 may include a gentle or acute curve. Preferably, the barrel tube 42 has a low-friction, smooth tube surface 46 configured so that a shoelace 100 may slide readily through the tube 42.
With continued reference to
With continued reference to
With reference next to
Each of the quarter panels 74, 76 comprises an upper edge 80 and a front edge 82. A toe cap 84 is disposed at a forward end of the boot 62 immediately adjacent the front edges 82 of the quarter panels 74, 76.
The quarter panels 74, 76 preferably are attached to the sole along a bottom portion 86 of the panels 74, 76. The upper edges 80, however, preferably are unattached. In the illustrated embodiment, a space 90 is defined between the upper edges 80 of the medial and lateral quarter panels 74, 76. As such, the panels may be moved relative to one another in order to allow a user to insert or remove a foot from within the boot upper 20. Preferably a tongue 92 is disposed generally between the quarter panels 74, 76 near their upper edges 80.
With continued reference to
With particular reference to
The central portion 24 and attachment portions 26 of the lace supports 20 are attached to the quarter panels 74, 76, preferably at more than one spaced-apart location. In the illustrated embodiment, two lines of stitching 110, 112 extend transversely over and across the legs 34, 36 of each lace support 20. Preferably, each line 110, 112 of stitching is spaced apart from, but generally follows the contour of, the upper edge 80 of the quarter panel 74, 76. The illustrated embodiment employs two spaced apart, generally parallel lines 110, 112 of stitching. However, it is to be understood that more or less lines of stitching can be employed. In a still further embodiment, each attachment portion 26 can individually be sewn to the quarter panel by, for example, stitching that extends generally around the perimeter of at least the legs 34, 36 of the lace support.
With continued reference to
In order to accommodate the complex curvature of each quarter panel, the attachment portion 26 of the lace supports 20 preferably is versatile. In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment portion 26 comprises the two illustrated legs 34, 36. This is preferable in the illustrated embodiment, as the legs 34, 36 are bendable relative to one another and can readily conform to the complex curvature of the quarter panel 74, 76. Further, since the legs 34, 36 are disposed at an angle α to one another, the second ends 32a, 32b of the legs are spaced significantly apart from one another. The lace supports 20 are secured to the quarter panel at or near the second ends 32a, 32b at securement points 116. A space 118 is disposed between the securement points 116. Thus, the securement points 116 securely hold the lace support 20 in place on the quarter panel 74 so that the lace support 20 does not rotate relative to the quarter panel.
Since the elongate legs 34, 36 extend generally away from the upper edges 80 of the quarter panels 74, 76, forces exerted by the tightened laces 100 upon the lace support 20 are transferred by the lace support 20 to the points 116 at which the legs 34, 36 are attached to the quarter panel 74, 76. Thus, tightening forces are distributed through the quarter panel 74, 76 rather than being concentrated at the upper edges 80 of the quarter panel, as is typical in traditional eyelet-type skate boots.
Since the barrel tubes 42 have a substantially low friction interior surface 44 and since the tubes 42 are generally parallel to the upper edges 80 of the quarter panels 74, 76, friction resisting tightening or loosening of the shoelaces 100 is minimized. Further, In the illustrated embodiment, the barrels 40 are suspended in the space 90 between the upper edges 80. Thus, the shoelace 100 is also suspended in the space 40, and frictional contact between the shoelace 100 and other portions of the skate boot 62, such as the tongue 52, is minimized. As such, a wearer can put on the skates 62 and quickly pull on the laces 100 to immediately and quickly tighten the laces 100. This is in contrast to more traditional eyelet or loop lacing systems in which a wearer will have to tighten the laces several times and at several locations along the lace line, usually starting near the toe cap 84 and successively tightening the laces 100 further up the boot 62 until finally tightening the laces near an upper portion 119 of the boot and finally tying off the laces.
The illustrated low-friction arrangement also enables better distribution of forces throughout the skate 62 than traditional closure systems. More particularly, as a wearer tightens the laces 100, lace forces will be distributed throughout the skate so that the force on the lace 100 is generally equalized throughout the tightened lace 100. As such, localized inconsistencies in lace tightening are avoided.
In another embodiment, one or more tightening clips are provided. In one embodiment, the tightening clips are configured to fit about the laces in a clamshell manner in order to secure the laces to one another. Thus, the tightening clips effectively create distinct zones within the closure system. A user may thus tighten different zones of the skate boot with different tightening forces as desired. For example, in one embodiment a user pulls the laces very tight in a lower portion of the boot near the toe cap. These high forces are distributed through the lower portion. The user may then apply a lace clip which engages the laces and securely binds them relative to each other. The laces in the toe portion adjacent the lace clip will retain the desired tightness. The user may then tighten the laces throughout the rest of the boot to a different tightness, such as a lesser tightness, to enhance comfort throughout the boot while maximizing support in the more-tightly-laced area of the boot. The lace clips preferably comprise a clamshell-type clip having a locking member configured to securely hold the lace clip closed even when under tension. In one embodiment, an internal surface of the lace clip comprises a roughened surface and/or a plurality of jaws configured to engage and partially penetrate the laces about the lace clip so as to facilitate a secure hold on the laces.
With continued reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, the lace supports 20 are attached to the quarter panels 74, 76 in two separate groups. A first group 120 of lace supports 20 is disposed on a portion of the quarter panel 74 generally adjacent the wearer's foot. A second group 122 of lace supports 20 is disposed on the quarter panel 74 generally adjacent the wearer's ankle and lower leg. Preferably, a transition point 126 is defined between the groups 120, 122. For purposes of this specification, the transition point 126 is a point on the quarter 74 where the quarter panel transitions from enclosing the foot to enclosing the lower leg and ankle of the wearer. One method of locating the transition point is to draw a generally vertical line from the front of the wearer's shin and along the front of the skate, and defining a point at which the line intersects the quarter panel 74 as the transition point 126.
With reference next to
With continued reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, one of the longer lace supports 142 is disposed adjacent the transition point 126, so as to more thoroughly distribute lace forces to the quarter panel 76 in the area adjacent the transition point 126. More specifically, a long leg of a lace support 142 attaches to the quarter panel 76 generally below and adjacent a malleolus area 150 of the quarter panel 76 so as to enhance the fit of the boot 62 in this area. This is an especially important and difficult area of the boot 62 to fit to the wearer's foot, and the increased force distribution is desirable in the illustrated embodiment.
With continued reference to
In the illustrated lace holder embodiments, the holding portion 22 comprises a cylindrical tube 42. The illustrated cylindrical tube 42 is fully enclosed about its diameter. The fully enclosed tube provides enhanced rigidity for the holding portion 22 and enhanced strength for the lace holder 20. Further, by having the tube 42 fully enclosed, the lace holder 20 can provide high strength, but use relatively little material, thus reducing the overall weight of the lace holder 20 and associated skate.
In another embodiment, the barrel tube 42 does not extend a full 360° about the longitudinal axis 44, resulting in an elongate opening through which the lace may selectively be inserted into and removed from the tube. Preferably, the opening is disposed through a side of the tube generally opposite the first end 30 of the lace support. Further, the opening preferably is quite small, such as less than about 30° of the 360° diameter of the tube. As such, the tube is configured so that the laces, even when loose, will not disengage from the tube unless specifically urged as such by the user.
The illustrated embodiments show lace holders 20 having a pair of legs 34, 36. It is to be understood that, in other embodiments, one, three or more legs may be provided, and different lace supports disposed on the same boot may have different numbers of legs. In one embodiment wherein a lace support comprises only a single elongate leg, the leg tapers to become wider towards the second end of the lace support. The width of the leg toward the second end allows stitching to be significantly spaced apart along the edges of the leg, thus contributing to a stable and secure mounting configuration of the lace support on the skate boot.
In the embodiments illustrated in
In the embodiments illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the holding portions 22 comprise a low friction surface 46 disposed in the tube 42 to enable the shoelace 100 to slide quickly and easily through the holding unit 22. In another embodiment, a high-friction surface is preferred in order to maintain the laces in a generally static position when the shoelaces are tied. Such a higher friction surface could include a fabric material such as a fabric lining within the tube. In one embodiment, only one or a few lace holders toward the top of the boot, such as above the transition point 126, employ high-friction surfaces, while the rest of the lace holders employ low friction surfaces 46. In a still further embodiment, lace supports arranged nearest the toe, and front edge of the quarter panel, employ relatively high-friction surfaces so that the center of the lace remains generally adjacent the toe cap.
In a still further embodiment, a lace support may be constructed having two or more holding portions. Preferably the holding portions are spaced from one another. In one embodiment, both holding portions extend from a single central portion. In another embodiment, a lace support having multiple holding portions has multiple central portions as well, one central portion corresponding to each of the holding portions, and the central portions are connected via legs which extend therebetween. In another embodiment, two or more legs are attached to one another at or near the second end of the lace support.
In the illustrated embodiments, stitching 110, 112, 144 is used to hold lace supports 20 in place. It is to be understood that other physical fasteners such as rivets, screws, or the like may be used. Similarly, chemical fasteners such as adhesives, epoxies or the like may also be employed. Further, a combination of different types of fasteners may be used to secure lace supports in place. Further, the lace supports may all be connected to one another so that forces are communicated between lace supports.
Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while a number of variations of the invention have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of this invention, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combinations or subcombinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.
Claims
1. A sports shoe, comprising:
- an inner foot panel having an upper edge and an outer foot panel having an upper edge, the inner and outer panels disposed on generally opposite sides of the shoe, and a space is defined between the upper edges; and
- a lacing system comprising a plurality of lace supports, each lace support comprising: a generally rigid hollow holding portion configured to accommodate a shoelace slidably fit therethrough; and at least two elongate leg portions extending from the holding portion;
- wherein the leg portions of each lace support are attached to one of the inner and outer panels by at least one row of stitching extending transversely across the leg portions.
2. The sports shoe of claim 1, wherein a plurality of lace supports are disposed on each of the inner and outer panels, and the at least one row of stitching on each panel extends transversely across at least two of the lace supports.
3. The sports shoe of claim 1, wherein the row of stitching is spaced from and generally follows a curvature of the corresponding panel edge.
4. The sports shoe of claim 1, wherein the holding portion comprises a low-friction inner surface.
5. The sports shoe of claim 4, wherein each holding portion is generally elongate and has a longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axis is generally parallel to a tangent line generally to the corresponding panel edge adjacent the holding portion.
6. The sports shoe of claim 5, wherein the holding portion comprises a tube that is fully enclosed about its diameter.
7. The sports shoe of claim 4, wherein the holding portion comprises a polymer.
8. The sports shoe of claim 8, wherein each of the lace supports is unitarily formed.
9. The sports shoe of claim 8, wherein each of the lace supports is injection molded.
10. The sports shoe of claim 1, wherein the holding portion of each of the lace supports is suspended in the space between the panel edges.
11. The sports shoe of claim 10, wherein the legs of each lace support are secured to the corresponding panel by two spaced apart rows of stitching extending transversely across the legs.
12. A method of making a sports shoe, comprising:
- providing a shell having an inner upper edge and an outer upper edge, the upper edges spaced apart from one another;
- providing a plurality of lace supports, each lace support comprising: a generally rigid hollow barrel portion configured to slidably accommodate a shoelace fit therethrough; and an elongate attachment portion extending from the barrel portion;
- arranging the elongate attachment portions on the shell so that the respective barrel portions are disposed in a space between the upper edges; and
- stitching transversely across the attachment portions.
13. The method of making a sports shoe as in claim 12 further comprising adding a second row of stitching across each attachment portion.
14. The method of making a sports shoe as in claim 12, wherein the stitching follows the curvature of the respective upper edge.
15. The method of making a sports shoe as in claim 12, wherein the elongate attachment portion comprises two legs.
16. A sports shoe, comprising:
- an inner foot panel having an upper edge and an outer foot panel having an upper edge, the inner and outer panels disposed on generally opposite sides of the shoe, and a space is defined between the upper edges; and
- a lacing system comprising a plurality of lace supports, each lace support comprising: a generally rigid hollow holding portion having a tube portion configured to accommodate a shoelace fit therethrough, a surface of the tube portion having relatively low friction, and the tube has a longitudinal axis; and at least two elongate leg portions extending from the holding portion; wherein the lace support is unitarily formed;
- wherein the leg portions of each lace support are attached to one of the inner and outer panels at at least two spaced apart locations so that the tube portion is suspended in the space between the upper edges, and wherein the longitudinal axis of each tube portion is generally parallel to a tangent of the respective edge adjacent the lace portion.
17. The sports shoe of claim 16, wherein the legs are angled relative to one another.
18. The sports shoe of claim 17, wherein the tube portion is enclosed about its diameter.
19. The sports shoe of claim 16, wherein the leg portions are generally flat.
20. The sports shoe of claim 16, wherein the lace support is arranged to suspend the lace generally above a tongue of the skate so that the lace is substantially clear of the tongue.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 24, 2004
Publication Date: Dec 29, 2005
Inventors: Justin Hoffman (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA), James Mahoney (Laguna Niguel, CA)
Application Number: 10/875,563