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US 9,872,539 B2Granted
Article with tensioning system including driven tensioning members
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorTiffany A. Beers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article of footwear includes an intermediate covering portion with an adjustable volume. The intermediate covering portion is closed around the instep of the foot. The article also includes a tensioning system that can be used to change the volume of the intermediate covering portion. The tensioning system includes two tension balancing members engaged with driven tensioning members, and a common driving tensioning member that engages both tension balancing members.
Claims19
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper having a toe covering portion and an entry hole for receiving a foot;
- an intermediate covering portion disposed between the toe covering portion and the entry hole, wherein the intermediate covering portion is adapted to be closed around an instep of the foot and wherein a volume of the intermediate covering portion is variable;
- a first tension balancing member comprising a first sidewall joined to a second sidewall that form a substantially enclosed space, the first sidewall being disposed between the upper and the second sidewall, the enclosed space including a first post portion, a second post portion and a third post portion;
- the first post portion, the second post portion, and the third post portion each being cylindrical and extending from a surface of the first sidewall to a surface of the second sidewall;
- a driving tensioning member having a first portion that is permanently attached to the second post portion of the first tension balancing member and the driving tensioning member having a second portion that engages with a tensioning device;
- a first driven tensioning member disposed around the first post portion, the first driven tensioning member having a first and second end, wherein the first and second ends of the first driven tensioning member are attached to the upper;
- a second driven tensioning member disposed around the third post portion, the second driven tensioning member having a first and second end, wherein the first and second ends of the second driven tensioning member are attached to the upper;
- wherein the first driven tensioning member can translate around the first post portion of the first tension balancing member and wherein the second driven tensioning member can translate around the third post portion of the first tension balancing member;
- and
- wherein increasing the tension of the driving tensioning member results in increased tension in the first driven tensioning member and the second driven tensioning member, which substantially decreases the volume of the intermediate covering portion.
7 more elements
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper having an instep portion;
- a first tension balancing member and a second tension balancing member, the first tension balancing member having a central axis about which the first tension balancing member rotates with respect to the upper;
- a driving tensioning member including a first portion that is permanently attached to a first post portion on an interior of the first tension balancing member such that movement of the driving tensioning member causes rotation of the first tension balancing member, the driving tensioning member including a second portion that is permanently attached to a second post portion on an interior of the second tension balancing member such that movement of the driving tensioning member causes rotation of the second tension balancing member, and the driving tensioning member including a third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion, the third portion being associated with a tensioning device, the tensioning device being attached to the article of footwear;
- a first driven tensioning member extending from a medial side to a lateral side of the instep portion, the first driven tensioning member having a first and second end, wherein the first and second ends of the first driven tensioning member are permanently attached to the article of footwear;
- a second driven tensioning member extending from the medial side to the lateral side of the instep portion, the second driven tensioning member having a first and second end, wherein the first and second ends of the second driven tensioning member are permanently attached to the article of footwear;
- wherein the first tension balancing member rotates about the central axis in response to forces applied to the first tension balancing member by the driving tensioning member, the first driven tensioning member and the second driven tensioning member;
- and
- wherein increasing tension in the driving tensioning member using the tensioning device increases the tension in the first driven tensioning member and the second driven tensioning member, thereby fastening the upper.
5 more elements
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper having an instep portion;
- a tension balancing member including a first pulley device and a second pulley device;
- a driving tensioning member having a first portion that is permanently attached to the tension balancing member and a second portion that engages with a tensioning device, the tensioning device being attached to the article of footwear;
- a first driven tensioning member disposed around the first pulley device, the first driven tensioning member having a first and second end, wherein the first and second ends of the first driven tensioning member are attached to the upper;
- a second driven tensioning member disposed around the second pulley device, the second driven tensioning member having a first and second end, wherein the first and second ends of the second driven tensioning member are attached to the upper;
- wherein the first driven tensioning member extends from a first end that is attached to a medial side of a lower periphery of the upper to the first pulley device disposed on a lateral side of the upper, loops around the first pulley device, and extends from the first pulley device to a second end that is attached to the medial side of the lower periphery of the upper;
- wherein the first driven tensioning member can move around the first pulley device and wherein the second driven tensioning member can move around the second pulley device;
- and wherein increasing tension in the driving tensioning member using the tensioning device decreases a distance between the tension balancing member and the tensioning device and increases the tension in the first driven tensioning member and the second driven tensioning member, thereby fastening the upper.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.