US 5,467,537 AGranted

Shoe with adjustable closure system

AssigneeNIKE, Inc.

InventorsMichael A. Aveni, Daniel R. Potter

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Abstract

A shoe having a closure system is disclosed. The shoe has an upper and a sole attached to the upper. A first strap member is attached to the medial side of the shoe at two longitudinal locations. A second strap member is attached to the lateral side of the shoe at two longitudinal locations. A first adjusting member is slidably coupled to both the first and second strap members. The first adjusting member is slidable along the first and second strap members towards the front of the foot to tighten the upper about the forefoot of the foot. A second strap member is slidably coupled to both the first and second strap members. The second adjusting member is slidable along the first and second strap members toward the rear of the foot to tighten the upper about the ankle and heel of the foot.

Claims43

Dependent claims

A shoe having a closure system, comprising:

an upper;
a sole attached to said upper;
a first strap member attached to the medial side of the shoe at two longitudinal locations;
a second strap member attached to the lateral side of the shoe at two longitudinal locations;
a first adjusting member slidably coupled to both said first and second strap members, said first adjusting member slidable along said first and second strap members towards the front of the foot to adjustably tighten the upper about the forefoot of the foot;
and
a second adjusting member slidably coupled to both said first and second strap members, said second adjusting member slidable along said first and second strap members towards the rear of the foot to adjustably tighten the upper about the ankle and heel of the foot;
wherein said first strap member is attached at a first location in the forefoot portion of the shoe and at a second location in the heel portion of the shoe and wherein said second strap member is attached at a first location in the forefoot portion of the shoe and at a second location in the heel portion of the shoe;
and
wherein said first and second strap members are attached to one of the sole and the upper of the shoe and said second locations of said first and second strap members are located intermediate the top of said upper in the heel portion of the shoe and the top of said sole.

7 more elements

A shoe having a closure system, comprising

an upper;
a sole attached to said upper;
a first strap portion extending along the medial side of the shoe with an end attached at a first location in the forefoot portion of the shoe;
a second strap portion extending along the lateral side of the shoe with an end attached at a first location in the forefoot portion of the shoe;
and
at least two adjusting members, coupled to said first and second strap portions, for adjusting the spacing between said first and second strap portions at a plurality of locations such that the upper is tightened about the heel and forefoot of the foot;
wherein said first and second strap portions are separate members, each of said first and second strap portions having a second end attached at a second location in the heel portion of the shoe;
and
wherein a first of said adjustable members is moveable towards the front of the foot to tighten the upper about the forefoot of the foot by shortening the effective length of said first and second strap members between said first adjustable member and said first locations of said first and second strap members to apply a tightening force generally inward toward the center of the shoe;
and
wherein a second of said adjustable member is moveable towards the rear of the foot to tighten the upper about the heel and ankle of the foot by shortening the effective length of said first and second strap members between said second adjustable member and said second locations of said first and second strap members to apply a tightening force generally inward toward the center of the shoe and generally forward towards the forefoot portion of the shoe.

8 more elements

A sandal having an attaching system, comprising;

a sole;
a first strap portion extending along the medial side of the sandal with an end attached at a first location in the forefoot portion of the sandal;
a second strap portion extending along the lateral side of the sandal with an end attached at a first location in the forefoot portion of the sandal;
at least two adjusting members, coupled to said first and second strap portions, for adjusting the spacing between said first and second strap portions at a plurality of locations such that the sole of the sandal is adjustably tightened to the heel and forefoot of the foot;
and
a heel strap secured to both said first and second strap portions and extending around the heel of the foot;
wherein said first and second strap portions are separate members, each of said first and second strap portions having a second end attached at a second location in the heel portion of the sandal;
and
wherein said first and second strap portions are attached at said first locations such that they are generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sandal and said first and second strap members are attached at said second locations at an acute forward facing angle to the longitudinal axis of the sandal.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.