Shoe with a central closure

A sport, recreation or rehabilitation shoe, having an upper formed of an elastically flexible material at least at side parts thereof, two rope-type tension elements, guide elements on at least one of the upper and an instep cover, each of the rope-type tension elements being guided along a respective path by respective ones of said guide elements, and a central closure to which the two rope-like tension elements are coupled;

• wherein the central closure is provided with an operating member and two tensioning devices that are adjustable independently and jointly with respect to each other and which form a means for selectively shortening and elongating the paths of the tension elements and thereby tightening respective portions of the upper, one tension element being coupled with each of the tensioning devices;
• wherein the tensioning devices are disengageably coupled to each other by coupling elements, said coupling elements being selectively disengageable as a means for enabling only one of the two tensioning devices to be activated in a closing direction by the operating member and being engageable as a means for enabling both of the tensioning devices to be activated in the closing direction by the same operating member, depending on whether one or both of the tension elements is to be shortened to tighten the upper;
• wherein detention means are provided for securing the two tensioning devices in a selected adjustment position independently of each other, such that the path of one of the tension elements can be shortened while enabling an attained position of adjustment of the other tension element to be maintained;
• wherein each of the tensioning devices is provided with a ring of gear teeth that has a steep tooth profile on one side and a flat tooth profile on an adjacent side;
• wherein at least one of the two tensioning devices is axially displaceable relative to the other tensioning device by at least one spring in a manner enabling the rings of gear teeth to disengage from each other, so that the two tensioning devices can be rigidly coupled with each other by the rings of gear teeth during movement of a first of the tensioning devices in the closing direction;
• wherein a second of the tensioning devices remains fixed in its position during movement of the first tensioning device in an opening direction, whereby the flat tooth profiles slide on top of each other, separating the two tensioning devices to such an extent that tips of the teeth of one ring of gear teeth are able to jump over tips of the teeth of the other ring of gear teeth;
• and wherein at least the second tensioning device is provided with a second ring of gear teeth which protrude in a radial manner and whose teeth releasably engage in elastically protruding detent prongs that are arranged in a peripheral wall of a housing of the central closure.

A sport, recreation or rehabilitation shoe, having an upper formed of an elastically flexible material at least at side parts thereof, two rope-type tension elements, guide elements on at least one of the upper and an instep cover, each of the rope-type tension elements being guided along a respective path by respective ones of said guide elements, and a central closure to which the two rope-like tension elements are coupled;

• wherein the central closure is provided with an operating member and two tensioning devices that are adjustable independently and jointly with respect to each other and which form a means for selectively shortening and elongating the paths of the tension elements and thereby tightening respective portions of the upper, one tension element being coupled with each of the tensioning devices;
• wherein the tensioning devices are disengageably coupled to each other by coupling elements, said coupling elements being selectively disengageable as a means for enabling only one of the two tensioning devices to be activated in a closing direction by the operating member and being engageable as a means for enabling both of the tensioning devices to be activated in the closing direction by the same operating member, depending on whether one or both of the tension elements is to be shortened to tighten the upper;
• and wherein detention means are provided for securing the two tensioning devices in a selected adjustment position independently of each other, such that the path of one of the tension elements can be shortened while enabling an attained position of adjustment of the other tension element to be maintained;
• wherein the tension element which is connected with the second tensioning device is mounted for closing a portion of the shoe above the instep;
• and wherein the tension element which is connected with the first tensioning element is mounted for closing a high top portion of the shoe that is at least as high as an ankle area;
• wherein the central closure is arranged on a part of the shoe that lies at a point that is beyond the instep in a direction from a toe area of the shoe;
• and wherein the tension element for closing the portion of the shoe above the instep extends from the central closure within rigid guides that resist contraction under forces applied by the tension element guided thereby.