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US 2014/0338227 A1Published application
Ankle and Foot Support System
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsClifford B. Gerber, John Hurd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems relating to an ankle and foot support system are disclosed. In some embodiments, a covering having a cable tightening mechanism may be associated with a cable that is slidably engaged with the cover. In some embodiments, the cable may be slidably engaged with a tube guide that is attached to the cover. In some embodiments, the cable may form an exposed loop that associates with a loop receiving member. In some embodiments, the loop receiving member may be attached to the cover.
Claims21
An ankle and foot support system comprising:
- a covering configured to be removably wrapped around a portion of an article of footwear, the covering having an outer surface;
- the covering having a one piece construction and including a lateral portion having a first edge and a medial portion having a second edge, wherein the covering is configured to encircle an ankle of a wearer of the support system such that the first edge of the lateral portion and the second edge of the medial portion abut one another in a rear portion of the ankle;
- a tube guide attached to the outer surface of the covering;
- a cable tightening mechanism attached to the outer surface of the covering;
- and
- a cable wherein a first portion of the cable is slidably engaged with the tube guide, a second portion of the cable is associated with the cable tightening mechanism, a third portion of the cable forms a first exposed loop extending from the first edge of the lateral portion of the covering;
- and a fourth portion of the cable forms a second exposed loop extending from the second edge of the medial portion of the covering;
- a first loop receiving member attached to the outer surface of the covering proximate to the second edge of the medial portion of the covering, wherein the first loop receiving member is configured to removably receive the first exposed loop;
- and
- a second loop receiving member attached to the outer surface of the covering proximate to the first edge of the lateral portion of the covering, wherein the second loop receiving member is configured to removably receive the second exposed loop.
7 more elements
An ankle and foot support system comprising:
- an article of footwear including an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the article of footwear having a lateral side and a medial side;
- a covering having a one piece construction and being configured to be removably wrapped around a portion of the article of footwear, the covering having an outer surface;
- wherein the covering is configured to encircle an ankle of a wearer of the support system such that a first edge of a first portion of the covering and a second edge of a second portion of the covering abut one another in a rear portion of the ankle;
- a cable tightening mechanism attached to the outer surface of the covering;
- and
- a cable, wherein a first portion of the cable is slidably engaged with the covering, wherein a second portion of the cable is associated with the cable tightening mechanism;
- wherein a third portion of the cable forms a first exposed loop, and a fourth portion of the cable forms a second exposed loop;
- and
- wherein the article of footwear includes a first loop receiving member disposed on the lateral side of the article of footwear and configured to removably receive the first exposed loop of the cable, and a second loop receiving member disposed on the medial side of the article of footwear and configured to removably receive the second exposed loop.
6 more elements
15-21. (canceled)
A method of providing support to an ankle and foot comprising:
- removably positioning a covering having a one piece construction over a portion of an article of footwear such that the covering is configured to encircle an ankle of a wearer of the article of footwear such that a first edge of a lateral portion of the covering and a second edge of a medial portion of the covering abut one another in a rear portion of the article of footwear;
- slidably engaging at least a first portion of a cable with the covering, the cable further including a second portion associated with a cable tightening system, a third portion forming a first exposed loop extending from the first edge of the lateral portion of the covering;
- and a fourth portion forming a second exposed loop extending from the second edge of the medial portion of the covering;
- removably positioning the first exposed loop on a first loop receiving member attached to the outer surface of the covering proximate to the second edge of the medial portion of the covering;
- and removably positioning the second exposed loop on a second loop receiving member attached to the outer surface of the covering proximate to the first edge of the lateral portion of the covering;
- and
- adjusting the covering about the article of footwear by adjusting the cable tightening mechanism.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.