Footwear article having an elastic tightening

An article of footwear comprising:

• a low upper, said low upper being at least partially elastic and including a portion extending at least transversely over an instep area through a longitudinal vertical median plane of the article of footwear;
• a sole;
• an elastic tightening system comprising an elastic material extending through the longitudinal median plane of the article of footwear and from the instep area to an area of the sole;
• the elastic tightening system comprising a central portion extending over the instep through the longitudinal median plane and a series of branches extending radially from the central portion to the area of the sole, each of said branches including a respective lower end;
• and
• a lower border, the lower ends of each of said branches being connected to the lower border.

An article of footwear comprising:

• a low upper, said low upper being at least partially elastic and including a portion extending at least transversely over an instep area through a longitudinal vertical median plane of the article of footwear;
• a sole;
• an elastic tightening system comprising an elastic material extending through the longitudinal median plane of the article of footwear and from the instep area to an area of the sole;
• a strapping extending along at least a part of a lower periphery of the upper, the elastic tightening system comprising portions on medial and lateral sides of the upper, the strapping being non-adjustably fixed to said portions of the elastic tightening system.

An article of footwear comprising:

• a low upper, said low upper being at least partially elastic and including a portion extending at least transversely over an instep area through a longitudinal vertical median plane of the article of footwear;
• a sole;
• an elastic tightening system comprising an elastic material extending through the longitudinal median plane of the article of footwear and from the instep area to an area of the sole;
• the elastic tightening system comprising a central portion extending over the instep through the longitudinal median plane and a series of branches extending radially from the central portion to the area of the sole;
• the central portion and the branches of the elastic tightening system being made of the same elastic material.

An article of footwear comprising:

• a low upper, said low upper being at least partially elastic and including a portion extending at least transversely over an instep area through a longitudinal vertical median plane of the article of footwear;
• a sole;
• an elastic tightening system comprising an elastic material extending through the longitudinal median plane of the article of footwear and from the instep area to an area of the sole;
• the elastic tightening system comprising a central portion extending over the instep through the longitudinal median plane and a series of branches extending radially from the central portion to the area of the sole;
• the central portion and the branches of the elastic tightening system forming a unitary element;
• at least the central portion of the elastic tightening system is permanently affixed to the upper.

A climbing shoe comprising:

• a sole;
• an upper fixed to the sole, the upper comprising an elastic material adapted to stretch upon insertion of a foot within the shoe, the upper fixed to the sole at least along a continuous peripheral extent along a medial side of the shoe, along a front of the shoe, and along a lateral side of the shoe;
• a tightening system comprising:
• an instep portion adapted to be positioned over an instep of a foot of a wearer when the foot of the wearer is within the shoe;
• a lower medial portion and a lower lateral portion, the lower medial and lateral portions being fixed relative to the sole;
• a plurality of medial branches connecting the instep portion to the lower medial portion, and a plurality of lateral branches connecting the instep portion to the lower lateral portion;
• at least the instep portion and the pluralities of medial and lateral branches comprising a continuous connection from the medial side of the shoe to the lateral side of the shoe.

An article of footwear comprising:

• a sole;
• an upper fixed to the sole, the upper comprising an elastic material adapted to stretch upon insertion of a foot within the shoe, the upper fixed to the sole at least along a continuous peripheral extent along a medial side of the shoe, along a front of the shoe, and along a lateral side of the shoe;
• a tightening system comprising:
• an instep portion adapted to be positioned over an instep of a foot of a wearer when the foot of the wearer is within the shoe;
• a lower medial portion and a lower lateral portion, the lower medial and lateral portions being fixed relative to the sole;
• a plurality of medial branches connecting the instep portion to the lower medial portion, and a plurality of lateral branches connecting the instep portion to the lower lateral portion;
• at least the instep portion and the pluralities of medial and lateral branches comprising a continuous connection from the medial side of the shoe to the lateral side of the shoe.