# US 2013/0152425 A1 · Footwear with improved tightening of upper > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0152425 A1 - Document ID: US20130152425A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/713,420 - Filed: 2012-12-13 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: Salomon S.A. - Inventors: René BOREL - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152425A1 ## CPC - A43C 11/00: Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes (dress fastenings in general A44B) - A43C 1/003: {Zone lacing, i.e. whereby different zones of the footwear have different lacing tightening degrees, using one or a plurality of laces (laces combined with another system A43C11/008; zone tightening using straps A43C11/14)} - A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL ## Abstract An article of footwear, or shoe, including an outer sole assembly and an upper, the upper including a vamp extending lengthwise from a rear zone to a front zone, widthwise between a lateral portion and a medial portion, and heightwise from the outer sole assembly to an apex, the shoe including a first device for tightening a first subdivision of the vamp and a second device for tightening a second subdivision of the upper. For at least one of the first and second subdivisions, the tightening device includes a linkage extending from an anchoring point in relation to the upper to a blocking point in relation to the upper, the anchoring point being located in the area of the vamp, the blocking point being located in the area of the vamp. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article of footwear comprising: an outer sole assembly; an upper extending above the outer sole assembly; the upper comprising: a vamp comprising: a length extending a rear zone to a front zone; a width extending between a lateral portion and a medial portion; and a height extending from the outer sole assembly to an apex; a first tightening device structured and arranged to tighten a first subdivision of the vamp; a second tightening device structured and arranged to tighten a second subdivision of the vamp; at least one of the first and second tightening devices comprises a linkage extending from an anchoring point in relation to the upper to a blocking point in relation to the upper; the anchoring point located in an area of the vamp; the blocking point being located in an area of the vamp. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the first tightening device extends from the rear zone to the front zone, along a distance ranging between 40% and 90% of the length of the vamp. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the first tightening device comprises a first linkage; the anchoring point for anchoring the first linkage of the first tightening device to the upper comprises stitching. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the first tightening device comprises keepers located on the lateral portion and medial portion of the vamp. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the second tightening device extends from the rear zone to the front zone, along a distance ranging between 15% and 60% of the length of the vamp. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the second tightening device comprises a second linkage; the anchoring point for anchoring the second linkage of the second tightening device to the upper comprises stitching. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the second tightening device comprises keepers located on the lateral portion and medial portion of the vamp. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the first tightening device comprises a first anchoring point and the second tightening device comprises a second anchoring point; the first anchoring point of the first tightening device and the second anchoring point of the second tightening device are longitudinally offset. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the first tightening device comprises a first linkage and the second tightening device comprises a second linkage; the first tightening device comprises a first blocking device for blocking the linkage; the second tightening device comprises a second device for blocking the linkage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein: the first blocking device and second blocking device are transversely opposite one another. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising: a single blocking device; the first tightening device comprises a first linkage and the second tightening device comprises a second linkage; the blocking point is comprised by the single blocking device acting on both the first and second linkages. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the blocking point for the one of the linkages is located in the area of the rear zone of the vamp. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An article of footwear according to claim 12, wherein: the linkage for at least the one of the tightening devices is a lace. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: for at least one of the tightening devices, the linkage is a strap. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the vamp comprises an outer envelope including a lateral quarter and a medial quarter; the outer envelope demarcates an opening between the lateral and medial quarters; the opening extending from the rear zone of the vamp toward the front. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein: in a direction extending away from the rear zone, the opening curves towards either a lateral side or a medial side of the article of footwear. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) An article of footwear according to claim 16, wherein: the opening curves toward the medial side. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) An article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein: the opening is straight. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) An article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein: the vamp comprises an inner envelope underlying the lateral and medial quarters, and at least partially covering the opening of the outer envelope. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) An article of footwear according to claim 19, wherein: the inner envelope is reversibly extensible. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) An article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein: the outer envelope comprises a flap extending from either the lateral quarter or the medial quarter, the flap being provided to extend at least partially in the area of the opening, between the lateral and medial quarters. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) An article of footwear according to claim 21, wherein: the flap extends from the medial quarter o f the outer envelope. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) An article of footwear according to claim 21, wherein: the flap has a continuous free end. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) An article of footwear according to claim 21, wherein: the flap has a discontinuous free end. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) An article of footwear according to claim 21, wherein: the flap extends in an area of the second tightening device, in a direction of the length of the article of footwear. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) An article of footwear according to claim 25, wherein: the second tightening device comprises keepers located on the lateral portion and medial portion of the vamp; a plurality of the keepers of the second tightening device are located on the flap. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: for one of the first and second subdivisions of the vamp, the second tightening device comprises a flap reversibly tightened by a tightening mechanism.