Shoe with quick tightening upper
AssigneeCymer, Inc.
InventorsRobert N. Jacques, Marco Giovanardi, Huckleberry B. Dorn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shoe having at least one elongated shape memory alloy element and an electric circuit which when energized will produce a tightening of the shoe upper around the foot of a wearer. In a preferred embodiment, the shoe in one of a pair of golf shoes and the circuit in the shoe is energized by a switch in the heel that is turned on by the golfer clicking his heels together. Typically the golfer does this prior to each important swing of a golf club. A battery contained in the shoe provides a power source to produce a current in the circuit that heats the shape memory alloy causing it to reduce its length providing the tightening of the shoe uppers.
Claims12
A shoe comprising:
- A) a shoe upper,
- B) a shoe sole,
- C) at least one elongated shape memory alloy element attached to said shoe said element defining a threshold temperature at which a change in length of the element takes place,
- D) an electric circuit and a power source for applying an electric current to said at least one elongated shape memory alloy element to cause it to increase in temperature beyond said threshold temperature, and
- E) a switch for energizing said circuit to cause heating of said element and a tension to be applied in said shoe upper to cause a tightening of said upper around a wearer's foot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.