# US 9,750,309 B2 · Articles of footwear with an alternate fastening system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,309 B2 - Document ID: US9750309B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/049,708 - Filed: 2016-02-22 - Published: 2017-07-13 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-08 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: George A. Xanthos - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750309B2 ## CPC - A43C 11/16: Fastenings secured by wire, bolts, or the like - A43B 13/22: Soles made slip-preventing or wear-resisting, e.g. by impregnation or spreading a wear-resisting layer - A43B 13/223: {Profiled soles} - A43B 23/028: {Resilient uppers, e.g. shock absorbing} - A43C 1/00: Shoe lacing fastenings (garment fastening devices A41F) - A43C 5/00: Eyelets (machines for setting eyelets A43D100/00) - A43C 11/006: {Elastic fastenings} - A43C 11/008: {Combined fastenings, e.g. to accelerate undoing or fastening} - A43C 11/14: Clamp fastenings {, e.g. strap fastenings}; Clamp-buckle fastenings; Fastenings with toggle levers - A43C 11/1493: {Strap fastenings having hook and loop-type fastening elements} - A43C 11/165: {characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation} - A43B 1/0054: {provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances} - A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract An article of footwear has an upper with tensioning components. The upper includes a fastening system with a tensioning device. The tensioning device may be utilized with a plurality of cables. The tensioning device is removably attached to the upper by a clasp element to facilitate entry of a foot into the article of footwear, or exit of a foot from the article of footwear. The tensioning device can allow the lengths of the cables to readily change in order to accommodate different foot shapes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article of footwear, the article of footwear comprising: an upper including a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a medial side, and a lateral side; the upper including a closed configuration and an open configuration; the upper comprising a fastening system; the fastening system comprising a tensioning device and a plurality of cables; the tensioning device being releasably secured to a lateral side of the upper by a clasp element; the plurality of cables including a first cable, the first cable including a first end, a second end, a forward portion, a rearward portion, and an intermediate portion; the first end of the first cable being attached to a medial side of the upper in the forefoot region, the second end of the first cable being attached to the medial side of the upper in the midfoot region, the intermediate portion extending through an interior of the tensioning device; and wherein the forward portion of the first cable extends between the first end of the first cable to the tensioning device, wherein the rearward portion of the first cable extends between the second end of the first cable to the tensioning device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the clasp element includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the clasp element is disposed along a bottom portion of the tensioning device, wherein the second portion of the clasp element is disposed along the upper, and wherein the fastening system is in the closed configuration when the first portion is engaged with the second portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the forward portion has a first length in a first state, wherein the forward portion has a second length in a second state, and wherein the first length differs from the second length. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the rearward portion has a third length in a first state, wherein the rearward portion has a fourth length in a second state, and wherein the third length differs from the fourth length. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of cables exert a compressive force along at least a part of an instep region of the upper when the upper is in the closed configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein each of the ends of the plurality of cables are attached to the medial side by anchor portions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the forward portion extends across the forefoot region of the upper in the closed configuration and the rearward portion extends across the midfoot region of the upper in the closed configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the upper further includes an opening providing access to an interior cavity of the upper, and wherein a first size of the opening in the closed configuration is different from a second size of the opening in the open configuration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the fastening system is in the open configuration when the first portion is disengaged from the second portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the opening is configured to extend between the heel region and a vamp region of the upper in the open configuration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the clasp element includes a magnetic material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the clasp element is attached to a pull tab. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of cables comprises the first cable, a second cable, and a third cable, and wherein a first length of the first cable is greater than a second length of the second cable, and wherein the second length of the second cable is greater than a third length of the third cable. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning device includes a plurality of channels configured to receive and route the plurality of cables. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the tensioning device includes a first channel portion, a second channel portion, and a third channel portion, and wherein a portion of the first cable is routed through the first channel portion, a portion of the second cable is routed through the second channel portion, and a portion of the third cable is routed through the third channel portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of cables are configured to slide freely through the plurality of channels. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the length of the forward portion increases when the length of the rearward portion decreases. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the length of the rearward portion increases when the length of the forward portion decreases.