Back to results
US 6,568,103 B2Granted
Speed lacing device
AssigneeBauer Nike Hockey Inc.
InventorJacques Durocher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A speed lacing device for an article of footwear having a rigid portion comprising a curved neck and a fastening tail that together define an almost-friction-free sliding surface for a lacing cord, the lacing cord being in contact with the sliding surface in either a state of tension or a state of relaxation. The speed lacing device also having a flexible portion that extends from the rigid portion to form an upper half of a closed loop through which the lacing cord is threaded.
Claims36
A speed lacing device comprising:
- (a) a rigid J-shaped element adapted to be securely fastened at one end to a quarter of a footwear, said J-shaped element comprising a curved neck portion and a fastening tail that together define an almost-friction-free sliding surface, and a lacing cord in contact with said almost-friction-free sliding surface in either a state of tension or a state of relaxation;
- (b) a flexible strap that combined with said J-shaped element forms a closed loop for receiving the lacing cord, said strap being adapted to be fastened at both ends to a quarter of a footwear;
- and
- (c) said rigid J-shaped element and said strap together defining a lacing-cord-passageway adapted to receive the lacing cord for tightening a footwear around a wearer's foot.
1 more element
An article of footwear comprising:
- (a) an upper that extends upwardly from the base of the wearer's foot and comprises two quarters that are separated by an opening at the frontal part of said upper for allowing placement of the wearer's foot;
- (b) a series of lacing devices that are attached in rows along an edge of each of said two quarters, said rows being positioned in pairs opposite each another, one of said lacing devices comprising:
- i) a rigid J-shaped element adapted to be securely fastened to one of said quarters, said J-shaped element comprising a curved neck portion and a fastening tail that together define an almost-friction-free sliding surface, and a lacing cord in contact with said almost-friction-free sliding surface in either a state of tension or a state of relaxation;
- ii) a flexible strap that combined with said J-shaped element forms a closed loop for receiving the lacing cord, said strap being adapted to be fastened to one of said quarters;
- and
- iii) said rigid J-shaped element and said strap together defining a lacing cord passageway adapted to receive the lacing cord for tightening said article of footwear around the wearer's foot.
3 more elements
A speed lacing device comprising:
- (a) a J-shaped element comprising a curved neck portion and a fastening tail, said fastening tail being adapted to be fastened to a quarter of a footwear;
- and
- (b) a strap extending around said J-shaped element for forming therewith a closed loop for receiving a lacing cord, said strap being adapted to at least partially sandwich said fastening tail and be fastened to a quarter of a footwear.
A speed lacing device comprising:
- (a) a rigid portion comprising a curved neck and a fastening tail that together define an almost-friction-free sliding surface for a lacing cord that is in contact with said almost-friction-free sliding surface in either a state of tension or a state of relaxation;
- and
- (b) a flexible portion that extends from the rigid portion to form an upper half of a closed loop for receiving the lacing cord, said flexible portion being adapted to lie directly on top of said fastening tail at a point where said fastening tail and said flexible portion are securely fastened to a footwear, said fastening tail and said flexible portion together being thin enough to have stitches sewn through, but thick enough to be affixed to a footwear.
A speed lacing device comprising:
- (a) a J-shaped element having a curved neck portion and a fastening tail that together define a sliding surface for a lacing cord, said curved neck portion comprising a back portion with a guidepath;
- and
- (b) a strap forming with said J-shaped element a closed loop for receiving the lacing cord, said strap contacting said guidepath.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.