Abstract:
A retention system for footwear can include opposed closure elements and a tensioner configured to urge the opposed closure elements toward each other in response to a tensile force applied to the tensioner. Opposed first and second anchors can be spaced from the tensioner. A retainer can have opposed first and second retainer couplers. The first retainer coupler can operatively engage the first anchor and the second retainer coupler can operatively engage the second anchor such that a tensile load applied to one or both of the first and second retainer couplers urges the retainer toward one or both of the first and second anchors. Each of the retainer couplers can be operatively engaged with the tensioner such that a tensile load applied to the tensioner urges the first retainer coupler and the second retainer coupler into tension and thereby urges the retainer toward one or both of the anchors.
Abstract:
In the conventional lace with knobby portions having elastic rubber core, there is difference in degree of stretch between both ends and core of the knobby portion. Therefore, there are a portion that is subjected to heavy stretching force and a portion that is subjected to no stretching force, and when large strain is accumulated at the boundary between the portions subjected to different stretching forces and the strain reaches the limit, the lace ruptures. In order to solve the above problem, we provide a lace provided with tubular lace body of elastic material, comprising knobby portions repeatedly placed at intervals, of which diameter vary depending on tension on the knobby portion in an axial direction.
Abstract:
The object of the invention is an elastic shoelace with an eye and a ring. The elastic shoelace of the invention can easily be passed through holes (B) in a shoe (A) and by increasing or decreasing the tightening of an elastic string (1) a ring (5) is hooked onto a threaded pin (4) thus achieving favourable shoe tying.
Abstract:
A lace (200) for a shoe (C), consisting of an elongate elastic band (2) made entirely of silicone, said band having elastic properties according to which, when at least one segment of said band is selected, said segment having a constant cross-section and a rest length of 5.0 centimetres, when said segment is stretched to a stretched length of 10.0 centimetres and then released, said segment contracts and reaches a first released length of between 5.6 and 7.0 centimetres after a first period of between 0.1 and 1 second after the release, and reaches a second released length of between 5.0 and 5.6 centimetres after a second period of between 15 and 25 seconds after the release. The invention is particularly applicable in the field of sports shoes, and in particular running shoes, to prevent any compression and thus allow good blood circulation while holding the foot comfortably.
Abstract:
A lace fitting structure for fitting an upper 3 wrapping around an instep of a foot to the instep, the structure including: a medial side portion 31 covering the instep and a medial side surface of a big toe; a lateral side portion 32 covering the instep and a lateral side surface of a little toe; first shoelace means 1 placed to extend in a longitudinal direction Y of the foot and engaged with the medial side portion 31 and the lateral side portion 32 along central edge portions 33 of the medial side portion 31 and the lateral side portion 32 ; placement means for placing a portion of the first shoelace means 1 so that the first shoelace means 1 is exposed in a plurality of exposed areas 1 i , which are separated from one another in the longitudinal direction Y; and second shoelace means 2 engaging, in a transverse direction X of the foot, with the first shoelace means 1 in the plurality of exposed areas 1 i so as to bring the medial side portion 31 and the lateral side portion 32 closer to each other, wherein a length L of the exposed areas 1 i in the longitudinal direction Y is greater than a thickness and a width of the second shoelace means 2 .
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the construction of a shoe that is comprised of a disengageable-heel portion that may be disengaged from an upper. Disengagement of the heel portion from the upper allows the heel portion to fold away from the upper, which exposes a heel-end opening that a foot may pass through to gain entry to the interior of the shoe. Additionally, a stretchable lacing material may be utilized to allow the shoe to absorb energy exerted on to it by a wearer of the shoe without disengaging the heel portion from the upper.