# US 10,368,608 B2 · Dynamic lacing system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,368,608 B2 - Document ID: US10368608B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/946,951 - Filed: 2018-04-06 - Published: 2018-08-09 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-22 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Caleb W. Dyer; Peter Lam; Austin Orand; Andrea M. Vinet; Peter Williams; Samantha Young - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10368608B2 ## CPC - A43B 3/00: Footwear characterised by the shape or the use - A43B 3/26: adjustable as to length or size - A43B 11/00: Footwear with arrangements to facilitate putting-on or removing, e.g. with straps - A43B 13/125: {characterised by the midsole or middle layer} - A43B 23/0245: {characterised by the constructive form} - A43C 7/00: Holding-devices for laces - A43C 11/165: {characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation} - A43C 11/20: Fastenings with tightening devices mounted on the tongue - Y10T 24/3713: having relatively movable holding components or surfaces - Y10T 24/3969: Sliding part or wedge - Y10T 24/3996: Sliding wedge - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An article of footwear includes an upper defining an interior void and a first cable movable in a tightening direction to move the upper into a tightened state and movable in a loosening direction to move the upper into a loosened state. The article of footwear also includes a tightening grip operable to be moved away from the upper in a first direction to move the first cable in the tightening direction and a cable lock operable in a locked state to restrict movement of the first cable in the loosening direction and operable in an unlocked state to permit movement of the first cable in the loosening direction. A release grip is operable to be moved away from the upper in a second direction to move the cable lock from the locked state to the unlocked state, whereby the release grip is separate from the tightening grip. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article of footwear comprising: an upper having a heel portion, an instep portion, and a forefoot portion, the upper including an ankle opening between the heel portion and the instep portion; a tensioning grip disposed at an outer surface of the upper adjacent to an anterior end of the ankle opening; a release grip disposed at the outer surface of the upper; and a tensioning cable operably connected to the tensioning grip and movable in a tightening direction when the tensioning grip is pulled away from the upper to move the upper into a tightened state and movable in a loosening direction when the release grip is pulled away from the upper to move the upper into a loosened state; a cable lock operable between a locked state restricting movement of the tensioning cable in the loosening direction and an unlocked state permitting movement of the tensioning cable in both the loosening direction and the tightening direction; wherein the cable lock is disposed within a cavity provided in a sole structure of the article of footwear. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the cable lock permits movement of the tensioning cable in the tightening direction when the cable lock is the locked state. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the cable lock engages the tensioning cable in the locked state to restrict movement of the tensioning cable in the tightening direction when the cable lock is in the locked state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the cable lock is disposed at one of the heel portion, or the instep portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the tensioning cable includes a first length between the cable lock and the tensioning grip and a second length extending from the cable lock and along the instep portion of the upper, wherein movement of the tensioning cable in the tightening direction causes the first length to increase and the second length to decrease, and movement of the tensioning cable in the loosening direction causes the first length to decrease and the second length to increase. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the cable lock includes a housing and a lock member slidably disposed within the housing, the lock member movable between a locked position restricting movement of the tensioning cable relative to the housing and an unlocked position permitting movement of the tensioning cable relative to the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein the lock member includes a first lock surface opposing a first engagement surface of the housing and a second lock surface opposing a second engagement surface of the housing, the lock member operable to pinch the tensioning cable between the first lock surface and the first engagement surface in the locked position and operable to pinch the tensioning cable between the second lock surface and the second engagement surface in the locked position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the cable lock is supported by an outsole coupled with the upper. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the tensioning cable includes a first length between the cable lock and the tensioning grip and a second length routed across an elastic region of the upper. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The article of footwear of claim 9, further comprising a first conduit configured to surround a portion of the tensioning cable along the first length, the first conduit defining an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the tensioning cable to accommodate bunching by the tensioning cable when the first length increases following movement of the tensioning cable in the tightening direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the first conduit forms a portion of the tensioning grip. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the tensioning grip defines the first conduit and is formed from an elastic material. ### Claim 13 An article of footwear comprising: an upper having a heel portion, an instep portion, and a forefoot portion; a tensioning grip disposed at an outer surface of the upper and defining a first conduit extending over the instep portion from a first end on a medial side of the upper to a second end on a lateral side of the upper; and a tensioning cable disposed within the first conduit and movable in a tightening direction when the tensioning grip is pulled away from the upper to move the upper into a tightened state and movable in a loosening direction to move the upper into a loosened state, the tensioning cable including a smaller cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of the first conduit and operable to bunch within the first conduit following movement of the tensioning cable into the tightened state; a cable lock operable between a locked state restricting movement of the tensioning cable in the loosening direction and an unlocked state permitting movement of the tensioning cable in both the loosening direction and the tightening direction; wherein the cable lock is disposed within a cavity provided in a sole structure of the article of footwear. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The article of footwear of claim 13, further comprising a loosening grip located along one of the medial side of the upper and the lateral side of the upper. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein the tensioning grip is formed of an elastic material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein the tensioning grip lies substantially flat against the upper in a relaxed state, the tensioning grip being biased into the relaxed state by the elastic material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein the cable lock permits movement of the tensioning cable in the tightening direction when the cable lock is the locked state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein the cable lock is disposed at one of the heel portion, or the instep portion.