Inventors: Ed Darden, Tristan Modena

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial Number 61/497,000, filed June 14, 2011, by Ed Darden et al. entitled BOOT WITH LACE TENSIONING SYSTEM, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The inventive subject matter disclosed herein is generally directed to a lace tensioning system for use with footwear. However, the system could also apply to other tightening systems, for example, as used on backpacks, or other wearable packs and bags, where two layers may be pulled together via a tensioning system. The system is particularly suitable for use with sports boots such as snow board boots constructed with inner liners fitting within outer shells.

The lace tensioning system allows tightening the inner liner of the boot against the leg and foot of a user while also biasing the outer shell against the inner liner of the boot. The lace tensioning system is user friendly and allows tying of the lacing without causing discomfort to the user's hands.

Example embodiments are described in more detail in the following detailed descriptions and the figures. Persons skilled in the art are capable of appreciating other embodiments and features from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.

The following figures show embodiments according to the inventive subject matter, unless noted as showing prior art.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a snowboarding boot with a lace tensioning system.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an outer shell tongue and a liner tongue having a lace tensioning system.

FIG. 3 shows a sketch of the outer shell tongue and part of the lace tensioning system.

FIGS. 4-6 show details of the lace tensioning system of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 7-8 show details of a snowboarding boot as the outer shell tongue is folded out.

FIG. 9 shows an inside view of the outer tongue of a snowboarding boot provided with parts of a lace tensioning system.

FIGS. 10-11 shows how a lace tensioning system may be tightened or loosened. FIGS. 12-13 show details of a disassembled lace lock.

FIG. 14-20 show details of another embodiment of a lace hook as may be used in a lace tensioning system according to the inventive subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Representative embodiments according to the inventive subject matter are shown in Figs. 1-20, wherein the same or generally similar features share common reference numerals. Sports boots in general, such a snowboarding boot 2 shown in FIG. l, have a sturdy outer shell 4 that may have a tensioning system 6 at the outside of the boot. The outer shell 4 has an outer shell tongue 8 positioned between overlapping sides at the front of the boot. The outer shell tongue usually interacts with an outer tensioning system, such as lacing and hooks, to hold the boot against the foot of a wearer. These boots generally also have an inner liner 10 that provides comfort and cushioning to the foot and lower leg of a wearer. Inner liner 10 may have an inner liner tongue 12 that is aligned with shell tongue 8 thereby allowing easy insertion of the foot when both the inner and outer tongue are folded forward in the open position. In the closed position, the outer tensioning system retains the foot within the sports boot. The switch from the open position to the tensioning position is carried out by tensioning the lace on the outer shell tongue. The outer lacing is generally routed from a forefoot section to the upper ankle and the boot is tightened by pulling the lace at the upper of the boot. The switch from the tightened position to the open position is carried out by releasing the tension on the outer lacing and pulling the outer shell tongue 8 and inner liner tongue 12 outward.

FIGS. 1-11 show a lace tensioning system 6 positioned on the inside of an outer shell 4 of a sports boot 2. The boot has a sole 16 and an upper 18. Upper 18 generally covers an area of an ankle and lower leg of a user. Upper 18 has an outer shell tongue 8. Liner 10 may be removably or permanently disposed within outer shell 4. Liner 10 has a liner tongue 12 at the front of the boot adapted to rotate or fold forward outside of the side portions of the liner 10. The outer shell tongue 8 and inner liner tongue 12 are spaced apart and adapted to be brought towards one another during tightening of the sports boot. Tensioning system 6 has a lace 20 that is mounted internally to the shell tongue 8 and externally to the liner tongue 12. Lace 20 slidably engages outer shell tongue 8 and liner tongue 12 and runs along a liner lace path on the inner surface of the outer shell tongue 8 so that the free ends 22 of the lace extend outside the boot upper 18. A lace lock 24 is coupled proximately to the free ends 22 of the lace 20 and adapted to slide down along lace 20 and hold the lace 20 substantially at the applied tension. A hand grip 26 may be attached to the free ends 18 of the lace to facilitate pulling the lace 20. Hand grip 26 may be a separate element positioned at the free end of lace 20, or hand grip 26 may be formed as part of lock 24, or the system may have both a hand grip at the lock and at the free ends of the lace strands. As used herein a "lace" may be any type of cord or cable.

The inner surface 28 of the outer shell tongue 8 has a lace lock mount 30 for a tensioned lace lock 24 to rest at so that a user can tension the lace by pulling the free end of the lace 20. Tensioned lace 20 tightens liner 10 against a user's ankle and biases outer shell tongue 8 inwardly against the user's leg.

Inner liner 10 further has lace guide elements 40 mounted on the outside of the inner liner 10 at opposed sides of inner liner tongue 12 and defining a lacing path for the lace strands alternately crossing inner liner tongue 12 from one side of the liner to another side of the liner 10. The lacing path runs from the upper of the inner liner 10 towards the lower leg or foot portion of the inner liner 10 and the lace routing path is oriented reverse to the outer lacing pattern, as shown in FIG. 8. This reverse lacing pattern on the inner liner allows the pull of the tensioning system to start at the instep of the boot, which results in better tightening and fit over the instep. The lacing strands leave the lower portion of the inner liner 10 and are guided upward to converge into an optional guide element 32 on the lower inside surface of the outer shell tongue 8, for example a strip of nylon webbing, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 6, and 9, that guides the strands towards the upper of the outer shell tongue 8. When lacing strands are tightened by a user, the inner liner is tightened from the instep up. Additionally, when the tensioning system is tightened, the outer shell tongue is biased towards the leg of the wearer because the lacing path continues from the instep portion on the inner liner towards the instep portion on the inside of outer shell tongue 8 towards the upper of the outer shell tongue 8. For example, FIG. 9 shows a first nylon webbing guide 32 placed at or above the instep curve of the shell tongue. Proximately to the shell tongue upper an additional guide element 44 may be used to lead the lace strands along a desired path.

A lace lock mount 30 may be mounted on the inside of the outer shell tongue 8 proximately to the upper side of the tongue. Lace lock mount 30 is adapted to receive the lace lock 24 so that the lace lock will remain in place and keep the lace tensioned. Lace lock mount 30 may also further guide lace 20 towards the upper of the boot. For example, FIG. 9 shows lace lock mount 30 having a passage 36 for the lace enabling the penetration of the lace underneath the mesh, and a mesh lace lock mount, such as a clip, pocket or other retainer for holding lace lock 24. In other embodiments, the lace lock mount may be formed of a molded plastic. In other possible embodiments, the lace lock may be positioned on the outside of the boot, for example, in a system wherein the lace penetrates the upper of the outer shell tongue. An interacting lace lock may be coupled to the lace on the outside of the outer shell tongue and when the lace is tensioned, the lace lock may be positioned in a lace lock mount on the outside of the outer shell tongue. In other possible embodiments, the lace lock mount may be mounted in any convenient location. For example, it could be routed to the back of the boot.

FIG. 10 illustrates how a user tightens the lacing on liner 10 by pulling a hand grip, such as a tab 50 which is connected to lacing 20, at the free end of lacing 20 and sliding lace lock 24 down towards outer shell tongue 8. The lace is routed to the lower guides on the inner side of the outer shell tongue 8 to get better closure around the instep area and to tension the lace crossing on the inner liner.

FIG. 11 illustrates how a user may loosen the tensioning system by pulling lace lock 24 up and out giving lace 20 some slack and then pull on a piece of webbing coupled to lace 20 at a position on the inner liner that is easily reachable by a user. For example, a piece of nylon webbing 42 is attached to the upper crossing of lace 20 on inner liner 10. Pulling on piece 42 moves the slack up to the upper part of the liner thereby loosening lace 20 along its routing path on the inner liner, and allowing inner liner tongue 12 to move forward so that the wearer's foot may be removed from the boot.

FIG. 12 shows lace lock 24 in a disassembled state. Lace lock part 24A is shown holding two strands of lace 20. Part 24A has two parallel surface, a top surface and a bottom surface, that are interconnected to form a half-oval shape with an opening at the straight edge and a smaller opening at the tip of the half-oval shape to hold and guide the lace strands. FIG. 13 shows a front view of part 24A. Part 24A has elongated narrow openings 27 in both the top and bottom surface. Lace lock 24 further includes a key- shaped element 24B that interacts with part 24A to guide the strands. Element 24B is inserted in part 24A and held in place between the top and bottom surfaces by protrusions 28 extending from the key and interacting with openings 27 of part 24A. This configuration allows holding the lace lock parts together, and moving the lace lock along the strands when part 24B is pulled away from part 24A and tensioning the strands in place by pushing parts 24A/B closer. In other embodiments, the lace lock may have different parts, shapes and configurations.

The inventive subject matter is also directed to a lace hook that may be used with the lace tensioning system. For example, FIGS. 14-20 show an example of a lace hook with a generally hexagonal shape. The hook includes lower and upper hexagonally shaped elements that are interconnected along two sides of the hexagon. The hook further includes two legs coupled to a bottom surface of the lower hexagonally shaped element, and a pocket or slot in the lower hexagonal element adapted to house an insert or plug. The plug extends out from the lower element so that when the lace hook is riveted down, a force will be applied in the outward direction and a consistent force will be applied to the lace. At the open end of the lace hook the inner surface of the upper element may be angled to allow boot lace to be fed through, as shown in section C1-C2 of FIG. 19. The plug may be made of rubber or any suitable rubber-like material. FIG. 20 shows how the plug protrudes from the bottom of the lace hook to hold the plug in the pocket. FIGS. 15-18 and 20 show example dimensions for the different parts of the lace hook.

In other possible embodiments, the tensioning system may have a lace that follows a different lacing path. For example, a lacing path running along the outside of the inner liner starting at a lower section at the instep of the inner liner and going upward towards the upper of the inner liner. At the upper of the inner liner the lace strands may be guided down towards the lower end of the outer shell tongue at the instep portion. The lace strands may converge at the instep portion of the outside tongue shell into a path going upward along the inside of the outer shell tongue, similar to the embodiment described above.

In another possible embodiment, the tensioning system may have a lace following a lacing path that is the reverse of the lacing path described above. For example, the lace strands may run from a lace lock mount on the upper of the outer shell tongue to a lower portion of the outer shell tongue. The lace strands may continue their path further to the instep of the inner liner and up along the inner liner to the upper of the inner liner where the free ends of the lace may be tensioned.

In other embodiments, the lace lock is optional and the lace lock mount serves as a receiver or anchor for the free ends of the laces under tension.

The inventive subject matter further contemplates a method for making and using such a boot and lace tensioning system.

A boot according to the inventive subject matter may come in different styles. The materials used, shapes, and structures of the boot and lace tensioning system may vary.

Persons skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and variations are possible in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts and actions which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the inventive subject matter, and that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit and scope of the teachings and claims contained therein.

All patent and non-patent literature cited herein is hereby incorporated by references in its entirety for all purposes.