Lace-up tightening device for an article of footwear, and an article of footwear equipped with such device

A lace-up device adapted to equip footwear, the footwear including two portions to be brought closer together with said device, said device comprising:

• a tightening zone comprising return elements positioned on said portions;
• a linkage including two ends, said linkage connecting, along a predetermined path, at least two return elements arranged on different respective ones of said footwear portions for applying a tightening tension on said linkage in said tightening zone, said linkage being slidable with respect to said return elements;
• a linkage tension maintaining structure to maintain said tightening tension on said linkage in said tightening zone;
• said linkage comprising two linkage portions forming a loop outside said tightening zone;
• a gripping device arranged on said linkage in an area of said loop, said gripping device comprising a frame serving to space apart said two portions of said linkage to allow fingers of a hand of a user to extend within said loop, to engage said frame, and to pull on said linkage with said hand.

An article of footwear comprising:

• an upper comprising two portions to be brought closer together to tighten the article of footwear upon a foot;
• a lace-up device comprising:
• a tightening zone comprising at least two return elements positioned on respective ones of said portions of said upper;
• a linkage including two ends, said linkage connecting, along a predetermined path, at least said two return elements for applying a tightening tension on said linkage in said tightening zone, said linkage being slidable with respect to said two return elements;
• a linkage tension maintaining structure to maintain said tightening tension on said linkage in said tightening zone;
• said linkage comprising two linkage portions forming a loop outside said tightening zone;
• a gripping device arranged on said linkage in an area of said loop, said gripping device comprising a frame serving to space apart said two portions of said linkage to allow fingers of a hand of a user to extend within said loop, to engage said frame, and to pull on said linkage with said hand.

A sports boot comprising:

• an upper comprising two portions to be brought closer together to tighten the article of footwear upon a foot;
• a lace-up device comprising:
• a tightening zone comprising at least two return elements positioned on respective ones of said portions of said upper;
• a lace including two ends, said lace connecting, along a predetermined path, at least two return elements for applying a tightening tension on said lace in said tightening zone, said lace being slidable with respect to said two return elements;
• a lace tension maintaining structure to maintain said tightening tension on said lace in said tightening zone;
• said lace comprising two lace portions extending from said tightening zone;
• a gripping device connected to both of said two lace portions, said two lace portions and said gripping device constituting a loop extending away from said upper;
• said gripping device having a non-uniform cross section along a length extending between said two lace portions;
• said gripping device spacing apart said two lace portions to allow fingers of a hand of a user to extend within said loop, grip said gripping device, and apply a tensioning force to said lace.

A tight lace-up device adapted to equip footwear, the footwear including two portions to be brought closer together with said device, said device comprising:

• a tightening zone comprising return elements positioned on said portions;
• a linkage including two ends, said linkage connecting, along a predetermined path, at least two return elements arranged on different respective ones of said footwear portions, said linkage forming a loop outside said tightening zone;
• a means for locking said linkage;
• a gripping device arranged on said linkage, said gripping device enabling a user to pull efficiently on said linkage with at least one hand, said gripping device comprising a frame for distributing tension of said linkage over a hand of the user.

A tight lace-up device adapted to equip footwear, the footwear including two portions to be brought closer together with said device, said device comprising:

• a tightening zone comprising return elements positioned on said portions;
• a linkage including two ends, said linkage connecting, along a predetermined path, at least two return elements arranged on different respective ones of said footwear portions, said linkage forming a loop outside said tightening zone;
• a means for locking said linkage;
• a gripping device arranged on said linkage, said gripping device enabling a user to pull efficiently on said linkage with at least one hand, said gripping device comprising a rigid frame for distributing tension of said linkage over a hand of the user.

A tight lace-up device adapted to equip footwear, the footwear including two portions to be brought closer together with said device, said device comprising:

• a tightening zone comprising return elements positioned on said portions, said tightening zone further comprising at least two zones separated by at least one return element positioned on each of said portions of said footwear;
• a linkage including two ends, said linkage connecting, along a predetermined path, at least two return elements arranged on different respective ones of said footwear portions, said linkage forming a loop outside said tightening zone;
• a means for locking said linkage, said locking means being integrated into said return elements for maintaining said tightening tension in a lower one of said two zones of said tightening zone, said lower zone being separated from said gripping device by said return elements;
• a gripping device arranged on said linkage, said gripping device enabling a user to pull efficiently on said linkage with at least one hand, said gripping device comprising a frame for distributing tension of said linkage over a hand of the user.