Lace Adjustment System and Shoe

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/545,515 filed Dec. 19, 2023, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

The present application relates to footwear with a lacing system and having an adjustment device for varying the tightness.

Athletic shoes and other footwear typically include an upper to support a foot and the sole structure. The uppers may have laces, or straps, cables or other fasteners, to adjust the fit of the upper around the foot. The laces may be tightened and tied to secure the upper around the user's foot.

Various tightening systems allow the uppers to be adjusted. Typically, these systems allow the tightness of the uppers to be opened to allow entry and removal of the user's foot, and then to incrementally increase the tightness to achieve the desired fit of the upper around the foot.

In one or more embodiments, a lace adjustment device for footwear is provided. The lace adjustment device has a toggle body movable between two positions to provide bi-modal lace adjustment. The toggle body has a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface where the toggle body is in a first position when resting on the first surface and is in a second position when resting on the second surface. A curved face extends between the first surface and second surface in a height direction. The curved faces has a complex contour defined by a first curvature adjacent the first surface, and a second curvature adjacent the second surface. A lace aperture extends through the toggle body for receiving at least one lace. A central axis of the aperture is eccentric relative to the first and second surfaces and is spaced apart in the length direction from the curved face. The toggle body rotates about the central axis of the aperture to move between the first and second position.

In one or more embodiments, the aperture is closer to the first surface of the toggle body than the second surface.

In one or more embodiments, the toggle body has a tab protruding opposite the curved face. The tab is configured for gripping the toggle body and to move between the first position and the second position. In one or more embodiments, the tab extends adjacent the second surface.

In one or more embodiments, the second surface has a second contact area being greater than a first contact area.

In one or more embodiments, the toggle body is formed of a first part being a first material and a second part formed of a second material being softer than the first material.

In one or more embodiments, an article of footwear is provided having a shoe upper having a first and second lace retention features. At least one lace extends between the first and second lace retention features. A toggle body provides bi-modal lace adjustment. The toggle body has a lace aperture extending through the toggle body for receiving the ace where a central axis of the aperture is positioned eccentrically. The toggle body rotates about the central axis to move between a first position and second position, where in the second position, the at least one lace has a greater amount of tightness than when the toggle body is in the first position. The toggle body has a first surface, and the lace aperture is positioned adjacent the first surface. A second surface is opposite the first surface on the toggle body. The toggle body rests on the first surface when in a first loose position, and when the toggle body is in a second tighter position, it rests on the second surface.

In one or more embodiments, the toggle body has a curved face extending between the first surface and second surface in a height direction. In one or more embodiments, the lace aperture is offset by a length dimension from a radial center of the curved surface.

In one or more embodiments, the curved face has a complex curvature defined by a first curvature positioned adjacent the first surface, and a second curvature positioned adjacent the second surface. In one or more embodiments, the lace aperture is offset by a length dimension from a radial center of the second curvature.

In one or more embodiments, the footwear has a reaction pad disposed on the shoe upper. The reaction pad has a surface for supporting the first and second surface of the of the toggle body In one or more embodiments, the reaction pad is positioned along at least one of a tongue, medial surface, lateral surface or heel of the shoe upper. In one or more embodiments, the reaction pad comprises a cushion layer to provide comfort.

In one or more embodiments, the footwear has a plurality of toggle bodies positioned at a plurality of locations along the at least one lace.

In one or more embodiments, the toggle body is formed of a flexible material so that a height of the toggle body may be compressed in the second tighter position to provide comfort.

In one or more embodiments, the at least one lace comprises a pair of laces and the aperture is sized for a pair of laces. The toggle body is positioned between the first and second lace retention features.

In one or more embodiments, a lace adjustment device for footwear is provided. The device has a toggle body movable between two positions to provide lace adjustment. The toggle body rests on a first surface when the toggle body is in a first position. The toggle body rests on a second surface opposite the first surface when the toggle body is in a second position. A curved face extends in a height direction between the first surface and second surface. The toggle body has an eccentric aperture extends through the toggle body for receiving at least one lace. The aperture is positioned eccentrically relative to the first and second surfaces and is spaced apart by a length dimension from a radial center of the curved face. The toggle body rotates about the central axis of the aperture while riding on the curved face to move between the first and second position to provide bi-modal adjustment of the toggle body.

In one or more embodiments, the curved face has a complex contour defined by a first curvature adjacent the first surface and a second curvature adjacent the second surface. The first curvature has a first radius being greater than a second radius of the second curvature. The aperture is spaced apart in the length dimension from at least one of a first radial center of the first curvature or a second radial center of the second curvature.

In one or more embodiments, the curved face has a complex contour defined by a first curvature adjacent the first surface and a second curvature adjacent the second surface, wherein the central axis of the aperture is spaced apart in the length direction from the second radial center of the second curvature, where the aperture is positioned closer to the first surface.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

shows an article of footwearas a running shoe having an uppercoupled to a sole. The uppermay be formed of one or more components that are stitched, bonded, or otherwise joined together to form a structure for receiving and securing a foot relative to sole structure. The sole structuremay include a midsole, an outsole and an insole or cushioning layer.

The shoeincludes a lacing systemfor tightening a shoe upper. The lacing systemincludes a plurality of retention featuresfor retaining the laces. As shown here, the retention featuresmay include a number of eyelets and loops arranged on opposing sides of a throat of the shoe upper, however, the lacing systemmay have webbing, straps, hooks or any suitable retention features. The laceis fed through the retention featureson the right and the left side of the throat to urge opposing sides of the throat towards each other and tighten the laceto fasten the athletic shoe to the user's foot. The lacing systemallows the wearer of the shoe to tighten and loosen the shoe upperby adjusting the laceswithin the retention features.

Traditional lacing systems or other tightening systems can be infinitely adjusted. However, traditional lacing systems do not provide the opportunity to quickly make small adjustments mid sport. For example, in running, feet can swell and change volume throughout a race, such as a marathon. Being able to quickly ease the laces without undoing them could change the running experience.

In other sports, players are constantly being subbed in and out of the game, such as in basketball, soccer, or volleyball, or other sports. Being able to quickly switch to relax the fit of the shoe during breaks and then go back into game mode is an advantage. Other sports may want different fits for different stages. For example, in cycling, the user may want to switch to a different fit for flat versus uphill, or spinning versus sprinting. Athletic shoes used for training may benefit from different tightness during a varied workout, like interval training, where explosive movements require stability and tightness, but low impact movements could provide for a looser, more comfortable fit. The lacing systemwith the adjustment deviceprovides a simple component that lets the user easily switch the fit of the laces mid activity without having to re-lace their shoes.

In addition to providing small adjustments, the lacing systemmay provide for larger adjustments with multiple adjustment devices. The multiple adjustment devicescould be used to provide a large amount of loosening or tightening of the shoe for taking it on and off, for example. As shown infor example, three adjustment devicesmay be position along the throat of the shoe so that switching all three devices can be simultaneously moved to a loose position to allow a user to put the shoe on. Then simply flipping the devicesto a tight position allows the user to fully tighten the shoe.

As shown in, the adjustment devicecan be placed where the laces cross along the throatof the shoe. The adjustment devicemay also be positioned on the medial side, lateral sideor tongueor heelof the upper. The adjustment devicemay also be placed anywhere along the lacesbetween two retention features, such as eyelets.

The adjustment deviceis shaped to be a bistable mechanism that provides quick and simple lace adjustment between only two preset positions. The adjustment deviceis also able to be added to any traditional lacing system.

As shown in more detail in, the lace adjustment deviceis formed of a toggle bodyaccording to a first embodiment. The toggle bodyis movable between two positions to provide bi-modal lace adjustment. The toggle bodyhas a first surfaceand a second surfaceopposite the first surface. In, the toggle bodyis in a first position when resting on the first surface. The toggle bodyis in a second position when resting on the second surface.

illustrate the toggle bodycooperating with a pair of laces. In, the toggle bodyrests on the first surfaceand is in the first position. In, the toggle bodyrests on the second surfaceand is in the second position.

The toggle bodyhas a curved faceextending between the first surfaceand second surfacein a height direction. The complex contour of the curved faceis defined by a first curvatureand a second curvature. The first curvaturehas a first radius Rbeing greater than a second radius Rof the second curvature.

The toggle bodyhas an apertureextending through the toggle bodyfor receiving at least one lace. The apertureis eccentric relative to the first and second surfaces,and is spaced apart in the length direction by a length L from the radial center of the second curvatureby a length dimension that is greater than zero. In the embodiment shown in, the apertureis closer to the first surfaceand the first curvature of the toggle body than the second surface.

The toggle bodyrotates about off-center axis C of the apertureto move between the first position and second position. In the first position, the axis C of the apertureis positioned at a first height H. In the second position, the axis C of the apertureis positioned at a second height H. Hmay be generally 1 mm to 5 mm, for example. Hmay be generally 1.5 mm to 35 mm depending. Hand Hmay vary based on the desired change in tightness. The greater height Hprovides additional tightness in position two, while the lower height Hprovides a first position that is looser.

The apertureis closer to the first surfaceof the toggle bodythan the second surface. The complex contour of the curved faceis defined by a first curvatureadjacent the first surfaceand a second curvatureadjacent the second surface. This geometry makes the toggle bodystable in both the first position and second position. In particular, in the tighter second position, the tighter second curvatureand the location of the apertureensure the toggle bodyis maintained in the tighter second position even while the shoe is in use and experiencing forces and vibrations, such as while the wearer is running. The geometry also ensures that the toggle bodywould not move from the looser first position to the second position without the user intentionally applying force to switch the toggle body.

The toggle bodyalso has stability in the second position based on the location of the lace aperturerelative to the second curvature. The center of the lace apertureis always inboard from center of second radius Rthe curved surface. This provides ensures that the toggle bodyremains in the second position because the apertureis over-center relative to the radius Rof the second curvature. Once the toggle bodyis moved to the second tight position that is over-center, the toggle bodycannot be moved or unlocked unless a certain amount of force is used to pull the toggle body over the second curvature. Therefore, the center C of the lace apertureis overset inboard from the center of the radius Rby the distance L, which is always greater than zero.

The second surfacealso has a second contact areabeing greater than a first contact area. The greater contact areaof the second surfacealso helps ensure the toggle bodyremains in the second position. The greater contact areamay also spread out the force being applied to the wearer on the high-pressure side of the toggle body.

The toggle bodyalso has a tabprotruding opposite the curved face. The taballows a wearer to easily grip the toggle bodyand to move between the first position and the second position. As shown in, the tabextends continuously from the second surface. A distal endof the tabmay be offset toward the first surfacefrom a contact areain the second position. The offset distal endallows the tabto be easily gripped, even when the toggle bodyis in the second position.

illustrate an adjustment devicehaving a toggle bodyaccording to another embodiment. In, illustrated is the toggle bodyinstalled on a pair of lacesand is positioned between the retention featuresand positioned above the tongue. The toggle bodycooperates with a reaction padpositioned on the tongue. In, the toggle bodyis in a first position when resting on the first surface. In, the toggle bodyis in a second position when resting on the second surface.

The toggle bodyhas an overall different shape and contour but has similar features and functions. The toggle bodyhas a curved faceextending between the first surfaceand second surface. The complex contour of the curved faceis defined by a first curvatureand a second curvature. The first curvaturehas a first radius Rbeing greater than a second radius Rof the second curvature.

The apertureis eccentric relative to the first and second surfaces,. The aperture is offset inboard in the length direction by the length dimension L from the center of the second curvature. In, the apertureis closer to the first surfaceand the first curvatureof the toggle bodythan the second surface.

The toggle bodyrotates about the central axis C of the apertureto move between the first position and second position. In the second position, the central axis C of the apertureis positioned at a second height Hto provide additional tightness.

The toggle bodyalso has a tabprotruding opposite the curved face. The taballows a wearer to easily grip the toggle bodyand to move between the first position and the second position. As shown in, the tabextends generally straight in the same general plane as the second surface. The tabincludes a textured grip portionformed opposite the second surface. The grip portionhas ridges that helps the tabto be easily gripped by a user. The grip portionmay have any pattern or shaped textured surface. The grip portionmay be such as on the second surfaceor on the outer sides, for example. The grip portionmay be placed on any suitable surface of the toggle body.

The second surfacealso has a second contact areabeing greater than a first contact area. As shown in, the contact areais generally planar and extends from the curved faceand along the tab.

illustrate additional features that help provide comfort to the wearer when the toggle is in the tighter second position. In, a toggle bodyis shown having two parts. The first partforms the upper portion of the toggle bodyand may be formed of a harder material than the second part. The second partmay be formed of a softer material to provide some cushioning or allow the second surfaceto conform to the shoe or the user's foot or distribute and soften potential pressure points. The toggle bodymay be molded together as a dual injection part with two materials, or the parts may be molded separately and joined together. The first partmay be molded of a stiff structural material while the second partmay be formed of a softer material. For example, the first partmay be formed of stiff materials such as nylon, TPU, fiberglass re-enforced polyamide, ABS, Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers, Acrylic, Polypropylene, Polyoxymethylene (POM), Polycarbonate, or other suitable stiff materials. The second partmay be formed of soft materials such as softer compound TPU, foam, rubber silicone, or other suitable materials that are softer and provide more cushion than the first part.

shows an exploded view of the reaction padthat provides cushioning when the toggle body is in the second, tighter position. The reaction padmay have an outer appearance layer, reaction layerand a cushion layer. The reaction padmay be circular, rectangular, or any suitable shape. The reaction layermay be stiff sheet that resists deformation the adjustment deviceapplies force, especially in the second tighter position. The reaction layer may be a chem sheet, or formed of other materials such as nylon, TPU, non-woven fiber board, cellulose board or other suitable sheet or board material with sufficient stiffness. The appearance layermay be formed of suede, or synthetic suede, or any suitable material. The cushion layermay be formed of foam, such as 5 millimeter foam, or sockliner foam, or any suitable foam or cushion material. The layers of the reaction pad may be stitched to the upperalong the medial side, the lateral sideor the tongue, as shown in, or positioned at any suitable location on the shoe.

shows an end view of a toggle bodyaccording to another embodiment shown in the tighter second position. The second surfacemay have a curvature to match a curvature of the upperor the wearer's foot.

is a toggle bodyaccording to another embodiment shown in the looser first position. The toggle bodyhas an overall different shape and contour, but has similar features and functions as discussed above. The toggle bodyhas a curved faceextending between the first surfaceand second surface. The complex contour of the curved faceis defined by a first curvatureand a second curvature. The first curvaturehas a first radius Rbeing greater than a second radius Rof the second curvature.

The toggle bodyhas an apertureis positioned at a first height H. In the second position, the central axis C of the apertureis positioned at a second height H. The greater height Hprovides additional tightness in position two, while the lower height Hprovides a first position that is looser.

The toggle bodyalso has a tabprotruding opposite the curved face. The tabhas a step contourso that the distal endof the tabis offset toward the first surface. The offset distal endallows the tabto be easily gripped, even when the toggle bodyis in the second position.

is a toggle bodyaccording to another embodiment shown in the looser first position. The toggle bodyhas an overall different shape and contour, but has similar features and functions as discussed above. The toggle bodyhas a curved faceextending between the first surfaceand second surface. The complex contour of the curved faceis defined by a first curvatureand a second curvature. The first curvaturehas a first radius Rbeing less than a second radius Rof the second curvature. The apertureis positioned generally at the center of the radius of curvature of R.

The toggle bodyhas an aperturepositioned at a first height H. In the second position, the central axis C of the aperturemay be positioned at a second height Hto provide increased tightness.