Methods and devices for retrofitting footwear to include a reel based closure system
AssigneeBoa Technology Inc.
InventorsKristopher C. Lovett, Christopher H. Converse, Clark Morgan, Michael J. Nickel
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Abstract
According to one embodiment, a removable tightening device is described. The tensioning mechanism is removably coupleable with an article without damaging the article so that upon removal, the coupling of the tensioning mechanism with the article is unrecognizable or not readily detectable. The tensioning mechanism is operable with a tension member to maintain a tension of the tension member and thereby maintain a tightness of the article. The tension member is guided along a path about the article, via one or more guide members, and is tensionable, via the tensioning mechanism, to tighten the article.
Claims45
A lacing system that is removably coupleable with footwear, the lacing system comprising:
- a first guide member positionable on a first side of the footwear;
- a second guide member positionable on a second side of the footwear opposite the first side;
- a tension member guided by the first guide member and the second guide member along a path about the footwear, the tension member being tensionable so as to tighten the footwear about a foot;
- and
- a tensioning mechanism coupleable with the footwear and removable therefrom without damaging the footwear such that upon removal of the tensioning mechanism, the coupling of the tensioning mechanism and the footwear is not readily recognizable, the tensioning mechanism being operable with the tension member to maintain a tension of the tension member and thereby maintain a tightness of the footwear about the foot.
A removable tightening device comprising:
- a tensioning mechanism that is removably coupleable with an article without damaging the article such that upon removal, said coupling of the tensioning mechanism is unrecognizable, the tensioning mechanism being operable with a tension member to maintain a tension of the tension member, the tension member being guided along a path about the article via one or more guide members and being tensionable to tighten the article.
A removable device for tightening an article comprising:
- a tensioning mechanism coupleable with the article and removable therefrom without damaging the article such that upon removal of the tensioning mechanism, the article has substantially no visible indications of the tensioning mechanism being coupled therewith, the tensioning mechanism being operable to tension a tension member to tighten the article and to maintain the tension of the tension member so as to maintain a tightness of the article, the tension member extending along a lace path about the article and being guided along the lace path by one or more guide members of the article.
A method of configuring footwear to include a removable tensioning mechanism, the method comprising:
- providing footwear having:
- a first guide member positioned on a first side of the footwear;
- and
- a second guide member positioned on a second side of the footwear opposite the first side;
- positioning a tension member about the footwear and along a path so that the tension member is guided by the first guide member and the second guide member along the path, the tension member being tensionable to tighten the footwear;
- and
- coupling a tensioning mechanism with the footwear without damaging the footwear such that upon removal of the tensioning mechanism, the coupling of the tensioning mechanism and the footwear is unrecognizable, the tensioning mechanism being operable with the tension member to maintain a tension of the tension member and thereby maintain a tightness of the footwear.
A method of removably coupling a tensioning mechanism with an article comprising:
- coupling a tensioning mechanism with an article without damaging the article such that the tensioning mechanism is removable from the article and such that said coupling of the tensioning mechanism is unrecognizable upon removal of the tensioning mechanism;
- and
- coupling the tensioning mechanism with a tension member, the tension member being guided along a path about the article via one or more guide members and being tensionable to tighten the article and the tensioning mechanism being operable to maintain a tension of the tension member and thereby maintain a tightness of the article.
A guide member for routing a tension member along a path of an article comprising:
- a base member;
- and
- an upper member attached to the base member so as to form a loop for routing the tension member after the tension member is inserted there through, the upper member being sufficiently flexible so as to be positioned through an eyelet of the article and the base member being sufficiently rigid so as to restrict the base member from being pulled through the eyelet;
- wherein when the upper member is inserted through the eyelet, the upper member is positioned on one side of the eyelet while the base member is positioned on an opposite side of the eyelet.
A method of forming a guide member, the guide member being configured for routing a tension member along a path of an article, the method comprising:
- providing a base member, the base member being sufficiently rigid so as to restrict the base member from being pulled through an eyelet of the article;
- and
- attaching an upper member to the base member so as to form a loop for routing the tension member after the tension member is inserted there through, the upper member being sufficiently flexible so as to be positioned through the eyelet of the article such that when the upper member is inserted through the eyelet, the upper member is positioned on one side of the eyelet while the base member is positioned on an opposite side of the eyelet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.