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US 8,756,833 B2Granted
Lacing closure system for an object
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorJoshua P. Heard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A closure system for an object having a first portion with first eyelets and a second portion with second eyelets includes a first lace that is resiliently flexible. The first lace is operable to extend continuously through the plurality of first eyelets and continuously through the plurality of second eyelets to define a first bridge portion and a second bridge portion of the first lace. The first bridge portion is defined between the plurality of first eyelets, and the second bridge portion is defined between the plurality of second eyelets. Additionally, the closure system includes a second lace that is substantially inelastic. The second lace engages both the first bridge portion and the second bridge portion to secure the first and second portions of the object together.
Claims24
An object comprising:
- a body having a first portion and a second portion that are separate from each other, the first portion including a plurality of first eyelets, the second portion including a plurality of second eyelets;
- a first lace that is resiliently stretchable between a first length and a second length, the first lace extending continuously through the plurality of first eyelets and continuously through the plurality of second eyelets, the first lace having a first bridge portion defined between a first pair of the first eyelets, the first lace also having a second bridge portion defined between a second pair of the second eyelets;
- and
- a second lace that is substantially inelastic to have a substantially fixed length, the second lace engaging both the first bridge portion and the second bridge portion to secure the first and second portions of the object together.
1 more element
An object comprising:
- a body with an inner surface and an outer surface, the body also including a first portion and a second portion that are separate from each other, the first portion and the second portion both partially defining the inner surface and the outer surface, the first portion including a plurality of first eyelets that extend between the inner surface and the outer surface, the plurality of first eyelets arranged in a first row, the second portion including a plurality of second eyelets that extend between the inner surface and the outer surface, the plurality of second eyelets arranged in a second row;
- a first lace extending continuously along the first row and through the plurality of first eyelets in sequence, the first lace also extending continuously along the second row and through the plurality of second eyelets in sequence, the first lace defining a first bridge portion and a second bridge portion, the first bridge portion defined between a first pair of adjacent ones of the plurality of first eyelets, the second bridge portion defined between a second pair of adjacent ones of the plurality of second eyelets;
- and
- a second lace that continuously extends between and engages the first bridge portion and the second bridge portion to secure the first and second portions of the object together.
1 more element
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper having a collar portion that extends about a wearer, the upper also including an inner surface and an outer surface, the upper further having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion being separate from each other, the first portion including a first eyelet, a second eyelet, and a third eyelet that are arranged in a first row and that extend between the inner surface and the outer surface, the second portion including a fourth eyelet, a fifth eyelet, and a sixth eyelet that are arranged in a second row and that extend between the inner surface and the outer surface,
- a first lace having a first terminal end and a second terminal end, the first and second terminal ends each fixed to the collar portion, the first lace extending continuously through the first eyelet, the second eyelet, and the third eyelet in sequence, the first lace also extending continuously through the fourth eyelet, the fifth eyelet, and the sixth eyelet in sequence, the first lace defining a first bridge portion, a second bridge portion, a third bridge portion, and a fourth bridge portion, the first bridge portion defined between the first eyelet and the second eyelet, the first bridge portion extending across the outer surface of the upper, the second bridge portion defined between the second eyelet and the third eyelet, the second bridge portion extending across the inner surface of the upper, the third bridge portion defined between the fourth eyelet and the fifth eyelet, the third bridge portion extending across the outer surface of the upper, the fourth bridge portion defined between the fifth eyelet and the sixth eyelet, the fourth bridge portion extending across the inner surface of the upper;
- and
- a second lace engaging both the first bridge portion and the third bridge portion to secure the first and second portions of the upper together.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.