Lacing closure system for an object
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorJoshua P. Heard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A closure system for an object having a first portion with first eyelets and a second portion with second eyelets includes a first lace that is resiliently flexible. The first lace is operable to extend continuously through the plurality of first eyelets and continuously through the plurality of second eyelets to define a first bridge portion and a second bridge portion of the first lace. The first bridge portion is defined between the plurality of first eyelets, and the second bridge portion is defined between the plurality of second eyelets. Additionally, the closure system includes a second lace that is substantially inelastic. The second lace engages both the first bridge portion and the second bridge portion to secure the first and second portions of the object together.
Claims20
A closure system for an object having a first portion and a second portion that are separate from each other, the first portion including a plurality of first eyelets, the second portion including a plurality of second eyelets, the closure system comprising:
- a first lace that is resiliently flexible, the first lace operable to extend continuously through the plurality of first eyelets and continuously through the plurality of second eyelets to define a first bridge portion and a second bridge portion of the first lace, the first bridge portion defined between the plurality of first eyelets, the second bridge portion defined between the plurality of second eyelets;
- and
- a second lace that is substantially inelastic, the second lace engaging both the first bridge portion and the second bridge portion to secure the first and second portions of the object together.
A closure system for an object having a first portion and a second portion that are separate from each other, the first portion including a plurality of first eyelets, the second portion including a plurality of second eyelets, the closure system comprising:
- a first lace operable to extend through the plurality of first eyelets and through the plurality of second eyelets to define a plurality of first bridge portions and a plurality of second bridge portions of the first lace, the plurality of first bridge portions defined between respective ones of the plurality of first eyelets, the plurality of second bridge portions defined between respective ones of the plurality of second eyelets;
- and
- a second lace that continuously extends between and engages plural ones of the first bridge portions and plural ones of the second bridge portions to secure the first and second portions of the object together.
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper having a collar portion that extends about a wearer, a first eyelet portion including a plurality of eyelets, and a second eyelet portion including a plurality of second eyelets;
- a first lace having a first terminal end and a second terminal end, the first and second terminal ends each fixed to the collar portion, the first lace extending continuously through the plurality of first eyelets and continuously through the plurality of second eyelets to define a first bridge portion and a second bridge portion of the first lace, the first bridge portion defined between the plurality of first eyelets, the second bridge portion defined between the plurality of second eyelets;
- and
- a second lace engaging both the first bridge portion and the second bridge portion to secure the first and second eyelet portions together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.