Lacing system for skates
AssigneeK-2 Corporation
InventorsDodd H. Grande, Darrin J. Haugen, Mark S. Williams, John E. Svensson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A skate upper (120) of the type having an elongate vamp (122) with lace keepers (123) and a tongue (130) disposed generally in the vamp is provided with an attached lace locker. The lace locker (150) fixedly attached near the top of the upper, preferably to an upper portion of the tongue. A lace (124) is retained by the lace keepers and releasably engaged by the lace locker. A strap assembly (126) is provided below the lace locker. A lace guide (140) is attached to the tongue, below the lace locker and below the strap assembly. The invention positions the lace locker more conveniently above the strap assembly, and permits the user to tighten and loosen the lace with one hand.
Claims17
An upper for a sports boot comprising:
- an elongate vamp having a lower portion including a plurality of oppositely disposed lace keepers, and an upright upper portion;
- a tongue having an upper portion;
- a lace slidably retained by the lace keepers and extending across the lower portion of the vamp, the lace including opposite end portions extending upwardly along the upright upper portion of the vamp;
- and
- a lace locker for releasably engaging the lace opposite end portions, the lace locker including a button adapted to release the engagement of the lace opposite end portions;
- wherein the lace locker is attached to the upper portion of the tongue and held in an upright orientation with the button outwardly exposed, the combination enabling one-handed release of the lace locker;
- and further comprising a lace guide attached to the tongue below the lace locker, the lace guide having a passageway that slidably receives the lace and is adapted to orient a portion of the lace upwardly towards the lace locker.
A skate comprising:
- an upper having a top portion adapted to wrap about the ankle of a user and a bottom portion adapted to cover the foot of a user, wherein the upper includes an elongate vamp having a lower portion including a plurality of oppositely-disposed lace keepers and an upright upper portion, and a tongue portion disposed generally along the elongate vamp;
- a sole fixedly attached to the bottom portion of the upper;
- a lace slidably retained by the lace keepers such that the lace extends across the lower portion of the vamp, the lace including opposite end portions extending distally from the lace keepers along the upright upper portion of the vamp;
- and
- a lace locker releasably clamping the lace opposite end portions, the lace locker including a button adapted to release the engagement of the lace opposite end portions;
- wherein the lace locker is attached to the top portion of the tongue and held in an upright orientation with the button outwardly exposed, the combination enabling one-handed release of the lace locker;
- and further comprising a lace guide attached to the tongue below the lace locker, the lace guide having a passageway that slidably receives the lace and directs the lace upwardly towards the lace locker such that the lace does not cross the elongate vamp transversely between the lace guide and the lace locker.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.