Automated footwear with cable and upper tensioner

Abstract

To provide a footwear assembly including a lacing system.SOLUTION: A footwear assembly comprises an upper, a lace cable, a plurality of lace guides, and a tensioner. The tensioner includes: an elastic member extending between two lace guides out of the plurality of lace guides; an elastic member extending between a first and second parts of the upper; an elastic member extending between the part of the upper and one lace guide out of the lace guides; a heel channel which is coupled to a heel part of the upper, for facilitating access to an internal space; an elastic member which is coupled to the footwear assembly, for smoothing torque to lace displacement curve in tightening of the lace cable; a tension member which is fixed to a toe box and a side of the upper in the vicinity of the lace cable; and a floating overlay which is fitted to the toe box and the side of the upper in the vicinity of the lace cable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 20

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] [Priority Claim] This patent application is a continuation of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 4718, filed March 15, 2017. No. 50, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 47510, filed March 22, 2017 No. 5, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0002] This application relates generally to footwear tension adjustment systems. More specifically, this application relates to a footwear tension adjustment system. The upper and lacing allow you to adjust the fit of your footwear. ) system.

[0003] Current footwear uppers are generally fixed in size and easily adapt to the shape of the foot. Therefore, the wearer usually uses the lacing system to fasten the upper Adjust fit and tension. However, In footwear, the footwear wearer can benefit from a manual lacing system. Adjust the lacing system for improved foot comfort with tactile feedback and feel. This can make it difficult to tighten the bars, especially in automated racing machines. The lacing engine improves the functionality of the upper and lacing system to keep the foot at the desired tension. It is necessary to fit the shape of Summary of the Invention

[0004] In the following description, the term "electric or non-electric racing engine" refers to a racing engine Related footwear components, automated racing footwear platforms Footwear including lacing systems, including platforms and related manufacturing processes More specifically, much of the following specification will discuss various aspects of the assembly. Footwear containing medium-sized lacing electric or non-electric racing engines In addition, the following specifications are provided: The document describes a method for incorporating the material into a footwear assembly, such as a lacing structure upper. This article explains various tensioners (tension adjustment devices) that are used.

[0005] The footwear assembly comprises: a toe box, an inner lateral section, an outer lateral section, and a heel. The inner and outer side surfaces are respectively located close to the toe box and heel. and a footwear upper extending along the distal lateral portion of the medial lateral portion; and a second end anchored along the distal lateral portion of the lateral side portion. A lace cable and a plurality of laces distributed along the inner and outer sides of the carapace. a lace guide, each of the plurality of lace guides being a part of a lace cable; The lace cable passes through each of the lace guides. to form a pattern along each of the medial and lateral sides of the footwear upper, Lace guide and lace cable formed by the medial side portion of multiple lace guides The lace cable is connected to the racing engine located inside the midsole. the medial side proximal lace guide and the lace cable; From the position where the race cable can be connected to the racing engine, a lateral proximal lace guide that routes in the pattern formed by the lateral portion; a first resilient member extending between first and second race guides of the plurality of race guides; Includes:

[0006] The footwear assembly comprises: a toe box, an inner lateral section, an outer lateral section, and a heel. The inner and outer side surfaces are respectively located close to the toe box and heel. and a footwear upper extending along the distal lateral portion of the medial lateral portion; and a second end anchored along the distal lateral portion of the lateral side portion. A lace cable and a plurality of laces distributed along the inner and outer sides of the carapace. a lace guide, each of the plurality of lace guides being a part of a lace cable; The lace cable passes through each of the lace guides. to form a pattern along each of the medial and lateral sides of the footwear upper, Lace guide and lace cable formed by the medial side portion of multiple lace guides The lace cable is connected to the racing engine located inside the midsole. the medial side proximal lace guide and the lace cable; From the position where the race cable can be connected to the racing engine, a lateral proximal lace guide that routes in the pattern formed by the lateral portion; a first elastic member extending between the first and second portions of the footwear upper; .

[0007] The footwear assembly comprises: a toe box, an inner lateral section, an outer lateral section, and a heel. The inner and outer side surfaces are respectively located close to the toe box and heel. and a footwear upper extending along the distal lateral portion of the medial lateral portion; and a second end anchored along the distal lateral portion of the lateral side portion. A lace cable and a plurality of laces distributed along the inner and outer sides of the carapace. a lace guide, each of the plurality of lace guides being a part of a lace cable; The lace cable passes through each of the lace guides. to form a pattern along each of the medial and lateral sides of the footwear upper, Lace guide and lace cable formed by the medial side portion of multiple lace guides The lace cable is connected to the racing engine located inside the midsole. the medial side proximal lace guide and the lace cable; From the position where the race cable can be connected to the racing engine, a lateral proximal lace guide that routes in the pattern formed by the lateral portion; between a first portion of the footwear upper and a first lace guide of the plurality of lace guides; and a first elastic member extending from the

[0008] The footwear assembly consists of: a sole structure; a toe box section; an inner upper section; an outer upper section. and a footwear upper defining a heel portion, the foot being coupled to a sole structure. and forming a collar that allows access to the interior space. , a footwear upper and; a racing engine disposed within the sole structure; A footwear upper system comprising: medial and lateral edges anchored to the footwear upper; a race cable having a portion thereof and a central portion thereof passing through a racing engine; The cable is attached to the inner and outer ends of the footwear between the racing engine and the Lacing system including multiple lace guides that route along the upper and a heel portion coupled to the heel portion and configured to facilitate access to the interior space. and a channel.

[0009] The footwear assembly consists of: a sole structure; a toe box section; an inner upper section; an outer upper section. and a footwear upper defining a heel portion, the foot being coupled to a sole structure. and forming a collar that allows access to the interior space. , a footwear upper and; a racing engine disposed within the sole structure; A footwear upper system comprising: medial and lateral edges anchored to the footwear upper; a race cable having a portion thereof and a central portion thereof passing through a racing engine; The cable is attached to the inner and outer ends of the footwear between the racing engine and the Lacing system including multiple lace guides that route along the upper and; coupled to the footwear assembly to control torque vs. lace during lace cable tightening. and a resilient member that functions to smooth the displacement curve.

[0010] The footwear assembly comprises: a toe box, an inner lateral section, an outer lateral section, and a heel. The inner and outer side surfaces are respectively located close to the toe box and heel. Footwear upper and the medial side of the upper adjacent to the toe box. a fixed medial tensile member; and a fixed lateral tensile member on the lateral side of the upper adjacent to the toe box. an outer tensile member; a first end attached to the inner tensile member; and a lace cable having a second end attached to the inner side and the outer side; A plurality of race guides are distributed and arranged along the surface portion, and each of the plurality of race guides The lace guide is designed to accept the lace cable section. through each of the plurality of lace guides and into the medial and lateral sides of the footwear upper. and a lace guide forming a pattern along each of the lace guides.

[0011] The footwear assembly consists of: a sole structure; a toe box section; an inner upper section; an outer upper section. and a footwear upper defining a heel portion, the foot being coupled to a sole structure. and forming a collar that allows access to the interior space. , a footwear upper and; a racing engine located within the sole structure; and a towbo The medial flow meter attached to the medial side of the footwear upper near the heel area. ting overlay and the outer lateral surface of the footwear upper adjacent to the toe box and a lacing system with an outer instep floating overlay attached to the : Medial and lateral sides Anchored to floating overlays a race cable having ends passing through the race engine and a central portion passing through the race engine; The inner and outer ends of the footwear cable are connected to the racing engine. Lacing system including multiple lace guides that route along the upper and a system.

[0012] The footwear assembly comprises: a toe box, an inner lateral section, an outer lateral section, and a heel. A footwear upper including a toe box portion, wherein the medial side portion and the lateral side portion are each extending proximally from the ankle portion to the heel portion to form a throat region of the footwear upper. Footwear upper and; secured to the medial lateral portion of the upper adjacent to the toe box a medial tension member fixed to the outer side of the upper adjacent to the toe box; an outer tensile member; a first end attached to the inner tensile member; and an outer tensile member a lace cable having a second end attached to the medial side portion and the lateral side portion; and a plurality of lace guides distributed along the inner shell side; From the first end located on the force member, across the throat region, along the outer side surface, or a plurality of lace guides; the lace cable extends through the first lace guide located on the outer lateral tension member. From the end of the second section, across the throat area, one or more race guides are placed along the inner side of the carapace. Extends through the id.

[0013] The drawings are not necessarily to scale and like reference numerals may represent like components in different figures. Similar symbols with different suffixes may refer to similar components. The drawings may represent different examples of various embodiments described herein. are given generally by way of example and not by way of limitation, [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded view illustrating some components of a footwear assembly with a powered lacing system, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a top view illustrating a lacing structure for use in a footwear assembly including an electric racing engine, according to some illustrative embodiments. [Figure 3A] FIG. 1 is a top view illustrating a flattened footwear upper with a lacing structure for use in a footwear assembly including an electric racing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 3B] FIG. 1 is a top view illustrating a flattened footwear upper with a lacing structure for use in a footwear assembly including an electric racing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 3C] FIG. 1 is a top view illustrating a flattened footwear upper with a lacing structure for use in a footwear assembly including an electric racing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 4A] 1 illustrates a portion of a footwear upper with a lacing structure for use in a footwear assembly including an electric racing engine and heel and tongue access adjustment components of the footwear upper, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 4B] FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a footwear upper with a lacing structure for use in a footwear assembly including heel elastics and tongue elastics coupled to the lacing structure. [Figure 5] 1 illustrates a portion of a footwear upper with a lacing structure for use in a footwear assembly including an electric racing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates a portion of a footwear upper with a lacing structure for use in a footwear assembly including an electric racing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 7]Figure 7A is a diagram illustrating a portion of a footwear upper with a lacing structure for use in a footwear assembly including a motorized racing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. Figure 7B is a diagram illustrating a portion of a footwear upper with a lacing structure for use in a footwear assembly including a motorized racing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. Figure 7C is a diagram illustrating a deformable lace guide for use in a footwear assembly, according to some exemplary embodiments. Figure 7D is a diagram illustrating a deformable lace guide for use in a footwear assembly, according to some exemplary embodiments. Figure 7E is a graph illustrating various torque vs. lace displacement curves for a deformable lace guide, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 8] FIG. 8A illustrates a race guide for use with a particular lacing design, according to some exemplary embodiments. FIG. 8B illustrates a race guide for use with a particular lacing design, according to some exemplary embodiments. FIG. 8C illustrates a race guide for use with a particular lacing design, according to some exemplary embodiments. FIG. 8D illustrates a race guide for use with a particular lacing design, according to some exemplary embodiments. FIG. 8E illustrates a race guide for use with a particular lacing design, according to some exemplary embodiments. FIG. 8F illustrates a race guide for use with a particular lacing design, according to some exemplary embodiments. FIG. 8G illustrates a race guide for use with a particular lacing design, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 9] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a footwear assembly process for a footwear assembly including a racing engine, according to some illustrative embodiments. [Figure 10] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a footwear assembly process for a footwear assembly including a racing engine, according to some illustrative embodiments. [Figure 11]FIG. 1 is a front view of a footwear upper partially cut away showing elastic strips connecting the medial and lateral panels of the upper. [Figure 12] 12 is a rear view of the footwear upper of FIG. 11 showing the heel strap assembly connecting the lace cable portions on the medial and lateral sides of the upper. FIG. [Figure 13] 12 is a side view of the footwear upper of FIG. 11, partially cut away, showing a lace guide coupled to the footwear upper along an elastic strip. [Figure 14] 14 shows the footwear upper of FIG. 13 bent to show the lace guides connected to the footwear upper separately from the elastic strips. [Figure 15A] 13 is a view of the footwear upper of FIG. 12 showing the loose lace cable being pulled from the electric racing engine by the pretensioning strap of the heel strap assembly. [Figure 15B] 15B is a view of the footwear upper of FIG. 15A showing the lace cables fastened to the electric racing engine and the heel strap of the heel strap assembly fastened around the heel portion of the footwear upper. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of a footwear upper showing medial and lateral lace cable tension straps. [Figure 17] 10 is a graph illustrating various force versus lace displacement curves for shoe uppers including various elastic members described herein, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 18] 17 shows the footwear upper of FIG. 16 laid out flat to show the lacing structure including tension straps connected to laces in a crossover configuration. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 illustrates the tension strap of FIG. 18, showing the lockout and stretch regions. [Figure 20]10A-10C illustrate another embodiment of a footwear upper including a lacing structure including tension straps connected to laces in a non-crossover configuration. [Figure 21] FIG. 1 is a top view of a two-zone lacing structure for use in a footwear assembly including an electric or non-electric racing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a top perspective view of an article of footwear incorporating an upper and the two-zone lacing structure of FIG. 21 according to some exemplary embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not limit the scope or and do not necessarily affect the meaning or discussion under the heading.

[0016] The concept of self-tightening shoelaces first came about in the 1989 film Worn by Marty McFly in "Back to the Future II" The fictional Nike® power lace sneaker Nike® is a film adaptation of Back to the Future® II. At least one version of Power Race is similar in appearance to the prop version in the picture. The company released a sneaker with a built-in mechanism, but the internal mechanical system and the surrounding footwear platform Forms are not necessarily suitable for mass production or everyday use. Other previous designs of lacing systems have been subject to high manufacturing costs, complexity and assembly challenges. The inventors have found that the above-mentioned problems, among others, for electric and non-electric racing engines that solve some or all of the problems. We have developed a modular footwear platform that responds to the needs of the individual. Co-pending U.S. Patent entitled "LACING APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED FOORWEAR PLATFORM" A modular racing engine, as described in more detail in application Ser. No. 62 / 308686. To fully utilize the technology, the inventors developed the lacing structure described herein. The lacing structures described herein provide uniformity in terms of fit, comfort, and This solves various problems that arise with centralized lace tightening mechanisms, such as speed and performance. This lacing construction smooths lace tension over a longer stretch of lace. and improved comfort while maintaining fit. One aspect of improving comfort is reducing pressure across the top of the foot. Also, exemplary lacing structures include: and front-to-back (front-to-back) operation for improved fit and performance. Various other advantages of the components described below are apparent to those skilled in the art. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

[0017] The described lacing structure is disposed in a midsole portion of a footwear assembly, It is specially developed to interface with modular racing engines. However, this concept is not suitable for the heel or Electric and manual racing wheels located at various points around the footwear, including the toe area The lacing structure described uses a lace guide. Lace guides can be tubular plastic, metal clips, fabric loops or Various shapes and materials available, including open U-channels, plastic clips, and open U-channels. In some instances, different types of lace guides can be combined. This allows certain race routing functions to be performed within the racing structure.

[0018] The electric racing engine described below is a robust, maintainable, replaceable, and automatic To provide components for a unified racing footwear platform, Developed from the ground up, the racing engine is a modular footwear platform This includes unique design elements that allow for retail-level final assembly into the system. The design of the lacing engine allows for a large portion of the footwear assembly process to be performed using known assembly methods. Its unique adaptation to standard assembly processes allows it to leverage existing assembly technology. Resources can be utilized.

[0019] In one example, a modular, automated racing footwear platform The midsole plate is fixed to the midsole to accommodate the racing engine. The midsole plate design allows the racing engine to be attached to the foot at the time of purchase. The midsole plate and Other aspects of the Joule automated footwear platform allow for a wide variety of For example, the electric racing engine described below can be used interchangeably. The racing engine may be replaced with a human-powered racing engine, or is a fully automated, electrically operated device with foot presence sensing or any other function. The racing engine can be housed within a standard midsole plate.

[0020] Tightening athletic shoes using an electric or non-electric centralized racing engine In this regard, it is important to provide sufficient performance without sacrificing a certain level of comfort. The racing architecture described herein is a centralized racing engine. Specially designed for use in a wide range of applications from casual to high performance. It is designed to enable footwear design.

[0021] This initial overview is intended to introduce the subject matter of this patent application. It is not intended to provide an exclusive or exhaustive description of the various inventions disclosed in the more detailed description. Not illustrated.

[0022] [Automated Footwear Platform] Below are the various components of the automated footwear platform: This platform is comprised of an electric racing engine, a midsole plate, and various other components of the platform. Although the focus is on racing structures for use in racing engines, the designs described are Human-powered racing engines or other electric motors with additional or fewer capabilities It can be applied to the "Automated Footwear" The term "automated" as used in this Platform means that the software operates without user input. Rather, it does not only refer to systems that operate automated footwear. The "platform" includes an electric footwear platform for tightening the laces or retention system of the footwear. and various mechanisms that are manually, automatically, and human-activated. .

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a powered lacing system for footwear, according to some exemplary embodiments. FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing the components of the powered lacing system 1 shown in FIG. The engine includes a racing engine 10, a lid 20, an actuator 30, and a midsole plate 40. , midsole 50, and outsole 60. Illustrates the basic assembly sequence of the footwear platform components The electric lacing system 1 secures the midsole plate 40 within the midsole. Next, the actuator 30 is attached to an actuator that may be embedded in the outsole 60. Insert it into the opening on the side of the midsole plate opposite the interface button. The racing engine 10 is then dropped into the midsole plate 40. Insert the lacing system 1 under the continuous loop of the lacing cable and It fits onto the spool (described below) inside the racing engine 10. Finally, the lid 20 is , inserted into the groove of the midsole plate 40 and fixed in the closed position, and the midsole plate 40 The lid 20 can capture the racing engine 10 and also It can also help maintain alignment of the lace cables during operation.

[0024] In one example, the footwear article or powered lacing system 1 may be configured to measure the foot presence characteristics. or includes one or more sensors capable of monitoring or measuring and a foot presence sensor configured to interface with the foot presence sensor. Footwear including a motorized lacing system 1 performs various functions based on For example, a foot presence sensor may be configured to detect whether a foot is present in the footwear. The binary signal from the foot presence sensor may be configured to provide binary information regarding Activate the electronic lacing system1 to lock the footwear in place when a foot is present. The lace cable can be automatically tightened or relaxed (i.e., loosened). In one example, the article of footwear can receive or interpret signals from a foot presence sensor. Optionally, the processor circuitry may include a processor circuit for controlling the speed of the racing engine 10. or together with the racing engine 10, in the sole of the footwear article, etc. It can be embedded.

[0025] [Racing structure] FIG. 2 illustrates an example lacing configuration for an upper, according to some exemplary embodiments. 200. In this example, the upper 205 includes laces 210 and In addition to the racing engine 10, an outer race fixing portion 215, an inner race fixing portion 21 6, outer race guide 222, inner race guide 220, and Brio cable 22 5. The example shown in Figure 2 is a diagonal lacing path with non-overlapping medial and lateral lacing paths. The upper 205 includes a continuous knit fabric with a lacing pattern. The guide path begins at the outer race fixing portion 215, passes through the outer race guide 222, and The inner race guide 220 passes through the single engine 10 and the inner race fixing portion 21. In this example, the lace 210 is made to return to the outer instep side lace fixing portion 21 5 to the inner lace fixing part 216. The tightening force from the upper to the outer side is transmitted via the Brio cable 225. To transmit the clamping force in the medial-lateral direction across the entire Par 205, the lacing path is , intersecting, or incorporating additional functionality. The concept of a sloop is a central (middle) gap and a rail that crosses the central gap from front to back. It can be incorporated into a more traditional upper with a base 210 and a

[0026] 3A-3C illustrate a vehicle including an electric racing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. Footwear assembly including a lacing structure 300 for use in the footwear assembly. 3 is a top view of the upper 305. For purposes of illustrating an exemplary footwear upper, The Par 305 is designed for incorporation into the right-foot version of the footwear assembly. FIG. 3A shows a flattened lacing structure 300. 1 is a top view of a footwear upper 305. In this example, the footwear upper 30 5 is a series of lace guides 320A to 320J (collectively referred to as lace guide 320) and a lace cable 310 extending through the lace guide 320. In this example, the bull 310 has an outer instep side race fixing portion 345A and an inner instep side race fixing portion 34 5B, forming loops that terminate on each side of the upper 305. is threaded through the racing engine in the midsole of the footwear assembly. The upper 305 also includes reinforcements associated with each of a series of lace guides 320. The reinforcement may cover an individual race guide or span multiple race guides. In this example, the reinforcements are a central reinforcement 325, a first outer reinforcement 335A, a second First inner shell reinforcement member 335B, second outer shell reinforcement member 330A, second inner shell reinforcement member 330B The center portion of the lace cable 310 is connected to the outer rear lace guide 315A and the inner via the rear race guide 315B on the back side, to the racing engine and / or Routed from the engine, the outer race exit 340A and the inner race exit 3 Enter and exit the Upper 300 via 40B.

[0027] The upper 305 includes a forefoot (toe) part 307, a midfoot part 308, and heel portion 309. Forefoot portion 307 may include different portions, such as the metatarsal The midfoot point 308 corresponds to the joint connecting the arch of the foot to the phalanges of the foot. The heel portion 309 may correspond to the rear or heel portion of the foot. The heel portion 309 on the outer instep side can be connected via a heel member 350, and the heel portion Material 350 may include a medial strip 352 and a lateral strip 354. The medial and lateral sides of the midfoot portion of the shoe 305 may include a central portion 306. In some common footwear designs, the midsection 306 is part of the footwear upper Crossover laces (or similar) pattern to allow for customizable fit around the legs The central portion 306 may include an opening that extends from the footwear assembly. The shoe also includes openings that facilitate foot entry and exit.

[0028] The lace guide 320 is a tubular or channel-like member for holding the lace cable 310. The upper 305 has a pattern along each of the outer and inner sides, and the In this example, the lace guide 320 is 305, circulating up and down along the medial and lateral sides of the U-shaped grooves arranged in an essentially sinusoidal pattern. The number of cycles the lace cable 310 completes depends on the length of the shoe. The small size footwear assembly may vary depending on the size of the footwear. The exemplary upper 305 may only accommodate a medial rear race guide 3 15B or outer rear race guide 315A before entering the 2.5 cycle At least in this example, the U-shaped guide creates a profile that is wider than the peaks or valleys of a true sine wave. Since the file contains the waveform, this pattern can be described as sinusoidal in nature. A pattern that more closely resembles a true sine wave pattern can be used (carefully curved lenses). Without extensive use of race guides, a true sine wave would be generated by the (This is not easily achieved with lace.) The lace guide 320 can be reshaped to accommodate different torques. A torque vs. lace displacement curve can be generated. This is measured with a teeing engine. Higher frequency of the loop (e.g., more cycles with more lace guides) For example, a race with a smaller radius of curvature may change the torque vs. race displacement curve. Guides can increase friction on the lace cable and increase initial torque. This can make the torque appear smoother in the torque vs. race displacement curve. However, certain implementations may utilize the lace guide placement pattern or lace guide design. This helps smooth the torque vs. race displacement curve (e.g., reducing friction within the race guide). It may be more desirable to keep the initial torque level low (by keeping it low) Such a race guide design is described with reference to Figures 7A and 7B and is another alternative. An alternative race guide design is described with reference to Figures 8A and 8G. In addition to the race guides described with reference to , metal, or fabric. For example, a layer of fabric may be used to Creating molded channels for routing lace cables in desired patterns As described below, plastic or metal guides and fabric -Barley combinations are used to select the guide components to be used in the lacing structure described. It is possible to generate components.

[0029] Returning to FIG. 3A, the reinforcements 325, 335, and 330 may be attached to a race guide 320, etc. The reinforcement 335 is shown associated with various lace guides. A heat-activated adhesive-impregnated foil that can be glued onto the guides 320G and 320H. Fabrics can be included, and this process is sometimes called hot melt. Reinforcement such as Reinforcement 325 can cover some of the race guides, and in this example, Six upper lace guards positioned adjacent a central portion of the footwear, such as central portion 306. In another example, the reinforcement 325 is split down the center of the central portion 306. In addition to the lace guide along the outer side of the central portion 306, It is possible to form two pieces that cover the race guide. In the example, reinforcement 325 may be divided into six individual reinforcements that cover the individual race guides. The use of reinforcements can be modified to allow for a more precise fit between the lace guide and the underlying footwear upper. The dynamics of interaction between the upper and lower layers (such as the upper layer 305) can be altered. Reinforcements may also be attached to the upper in a variety of different ways, including stitching, adhesives, or a combination of mechanisms. The method of bonding the reinforcement material depends on the fabric used for the reinforcement material. The type of material, along with the type of bridle, will affect the friction experienced by the lace cable as it passes through the lace guide. For example, hot melted adhesive on an otherwise flexible race guide can cause A stiffer material may increase the friction experienced by the lace cable. The flexible material bonded onto the race guide further maintains the flexibility of the race guide. The reinforcement 325 covers the throat area of ​​the footwear upper. It is also possible to include an elastic mesh.

[0030] As mentioned above, FIG. 3A shows the medial and lateral upper lace guides (320A, 320B, 320E, 320F, 320I, and 320J) , showing the central reinforcement 325. The reinforcement 325 is attached to the underlying footwear upper. (in this example, upper 305) is assumed to be stiffer and less flexible, resulting in The resulting central portion 306 of the footwear assembly exhibits less forgiving fit characteristics. In some applications, a stiffer, less forgiving central portion 306 may be desirable. However, in applications where the flexibility of the entire central portion 305 needs to be increased, The central stiffener 325 may be divided into two or more stiffeners. The central reinforcement may be made to span the central portion 306 using a variety of flexible or resilient materials. This allows for a more fitting shape to the central portion 306. In some examples, the central reinforcement 325 itself may be elastic. 5 may have a small gap extending the length of the central portion 306, In the case of the flexure, a plurality of elastic members are arranged across the gaps to connect the plurality of central reinforcements. For example, the cross-section of ... is shown.

[0031] The heel member 350 is configured to accommodate a variety of pressure points to adjust access to the footwear upper 305. Additionally or alternatively, to adjust the effective spring stiffness of the footwear upper 305, In one example, the medial side of the device or component may be The strip 352 and the outer instep strip 354 are attached to the medial and lateral heel portions 30 9 each sewn or otherwise attached, elastic sewn to each other In another embodiment, only one elastic strip is provided on the medial side. and the outer heel portion 309. In this way, the strip 352 and 354 can provide a certain degree of elasticity to the heel portion of the footwear upper 305. As will be explained below, this effect can be utilized to provide various comfort and For example, elasticity can provide a heel and heel cushioning during use of the article of footwear. This can help the loop portion 309 remain engaged with the heel of the wearer. 352 and 354 may include elastic, spandex, rubber, or the like.

[0032] In another embodiment, the medial and lateral strips 352 and 354 are The footwear upper 305 may be releasable to allow a user of the article of wear to selectively open and close the footwear upper 305. For example, strips 352 and 353 may include components that are functionally engaged. 54 is a cross-sectional view of the opposing components of a hook-and-loop fastener material or a zipper structure. In such an embodiment, the heel member 350 may include a The foot can move in and out of the footwear upper 305 regardless of the state of the base cable 310. More specifically, the heel member 350 is configured to The lace cable 310 is pulled into the sole structure to secure the lace cable 310 to the footwear. Even if you tighten the upper 305, you can still pull your foot out of the footwear upper 305. It can be done like this.

[0033] FIG. 3B shows a flattened footwear upper with the illustrated lacing structure 300. 305. In this example, the footwear upper 305 includes lace guides 320 and modified reinforcements 325, 330, and 335. As noted above, changes to the stiffener configuration include at least This results in slightly different fit characteristics and also changes the torque vs. race displacement curve. There is.

[0034] FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of a flattened footwear upper in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 1 is an example of a series of lacing structures. Lacing structure 300A is made up of individual lace guides that cover the individual lace guides. A race guide similar to the sine wave pattern described with reference to FIG. 3A, with additional reinforcement. Lace structure 300B also has a wave-shaped lacing pattern. Also known as parachute lacing, it consists of a pair of upper lace guides across the center section and and a pattern with elongated reinforcement strips covering each lower race guide. Structure 300C is yet another wavy lacing pattern with a single central stiffener. The lace structure 300D is made up of individual laces cut to fit individual lace guides. The lace structure 300E incorporates a triangular lace pattern with reinforcements. The following shows variations in reinforcement configurations in triangular lace patterns. The Race Structure 300F features a different reinforcement configuration, including a central reinforcement and a stronger lower reinforcement. The following shows variations of

[0035] FIG. 4A illustrates a fuel cell vehicle including an electric racing engine, according to some illustrative embodiments. Footwear upper 4 with lacing structure 400 for use in footwear assembly 05. In this example, the medial side surface of the upper 405 is The race guide 410 routes the race 430 through the medial exit guide 415. The race guide 410 is encapsulated within a reinforcement 420 to support the race. forming a guide component 415 and at least one of the race guide components A portion can be repositioned on the upper 405. In one example, the lace guide component The component 415 is lined with a hook-and-loop fastener material, and the upper 405 has a hook-and-loop fastener. In this example, the race guide component 415 is The upper 405 can be lined with a hook and has a lace guide component. 415. In another example, a knit loop surface is provided to receive the lace guide connector. Component 415 has an integrated track for engaging with a track, such as track 445. Track-based integration allows for the use of race guide components. The goal is to provide a safe, limited-travel movement option for the 415. For example, the track 445 may extend essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the central portion 450, allowing race guide components 415 to be positioned along the length of the track. In some examples, the track 445 spans from the lateral side to the medial side and The guide components can be held on either side of the central portion 450. Place the lace guide in the proper location to hold all of the components. You can adjust the restrictive direction of all lace guides on the footwear upper. This becomes possible.

[0036] Footwear upper 405 may include a central elastic member, such as elastic member 440. These examples show typical lacing structures along the medial and lateral sides. The upper lace guide component allows different footwear designs to have different levels of fit. The elastic material extends across the central portion 450, allowing for a comfortable fit and performance. For example, high performance shoes that require the foot to be secured over a wide range of lateral movement can be used. Noh basketball shoes have elastic to ensure a snug fit. In another example, in a running shoe, high modulus elastic material can be used. A low modulus elastic material can be used because the running shoe is designed to Focused on comfort for long distance road running, not high level air containment In some examples, the elastic member 440 is replaceable. or may include a mechanism that allows the level of elasticity to be adjusted. In some cases, footwear uppers, such as the upper 405, have a a gap extending along the central portion 450 at least partially separating the outer shell side from the outer shell side; Even if there is a small gap along the center portion 450, the elastic members such as the elastic member 440 can can be used to fill in the gaps.

[0037] Although FIG. 4A shows a single track 445 or a single elastic member 440, these These elements may be replicated in part or all of the lace guides in a particular lacing configuration. For example, each race guide component 415 generally has a central portion 450 It may be mounted on its own track 445 which extends transversely in a medial-lateral direction. The position of each lace guide component 415 is determined by the presence of the foot within the footwear upper 405. For example, a presence sensor such as a contact switch located within the sole structure can be used to correlate the When the sensor detects the weight of the foot within the footwear upper 405, the lace guide component The slit 415 draws the lace cable closer to the center portion 450, 0 and tighten the footwear upper 405 on the foot. If the sensor does not detect the weight of the foot within the footwear upper 405, the lace guide component The component 415 is pulled away from the center section 450, allowing the lace cable 430 to slacken. This makes it easier to insert the foot into the footwear upper 405. In such an embodiment, an additional lace cable drive mechanism may be used to drive the lace guide components. The components 415 can be moved on tracks 445. In another embodiment, one or more One or more additional drive mechanisms (e.g., motors) may be incorporated into the article of footwear. Additionally, in such an embodiment, a central reinforcement 325 may be added to the center to provide an elastic zone. Additionally or alternatively, a hook such as a zipper (e.g., zipper 465) may be provided. An opening to the toewear upper 405 can be provided.

[0038] FIG. 4B shows the heel strap 480 spanning the heel ridge 650 and the lace guide 4 15 and a plurality of elastic members 440. Heel strap 480 and elastic member 440 to adjust the effective spring stiffness of footwear upper 405. As previously described, the heel strap 480 and the elastic member 440 The elasticity provided by the various strips, such as This allows for a range of comfort and performance benefits for the upper 405. In the example, the heel strap 480 is attached to the inner side of the heel ridge 650. and on the outer side, it can be directly connected to the heel lacing component guide 615. Alternatively, the heel strap 480 may be attached at one end to the lacing component guide 61. 5 and may be stitched to the footwear upper 605 at the heel ridge 650. In such an embodiment, a single heel may be provided on the medial or lateral side of the footwear upper 605. The footwear upper 605 may be fitted with a strap 480 or may be fitted with a strap 480. A heel strap 480 can be used on each of the instep and outer instep. The single component guide 615 is separated from the footwear upper 405 and Footwear upper 40 by lace cable 430 and heel strap 480 The elastic member 440 may be suspended from the rear of the footwear upper 405. Pretension the Heel Lacing Component Guide 615 on the heel or With the base cable 430 loose, pull out the race cable from the racing engine. However, the racing engine tightens the race cable 430. To secure the heel strap 480 to the footwear upper 405, The base cable 430 can be tightened to tighten the heel portion of the footwear upper 405. The footrest can be pulled down by the heel of the user.

[0039] The elastic member 440 can provide additional stretch to the footwear upper 405. The elastic member 440 is attached at one end to the race guide component 415 and at the other end On the other side of the lace guide component 415 or footwear upper 405 ( The heel strap 480 may be connected to either the center portion 450 or the center portion 460. Member 440 is used to pull the race cable 430 from the racing engine. However, the lace cable 430 can be fastened to the footwear upper 405. It is possible to extend it like this.

[0040] The heel strap 480, the elastic member 440 and the elastic central reinforcement 325 each have a flat It allows the upper to have some stretch, which is provided by the lacing mechanism. Various comfort and performance zones can be introduced into the racing motion provided. 7 includes lace cable 480, elastic member 440, elastic heel member 350, and elastic center Various exemplary footwear uppers incorporating various combinations of reinforcements 325 are shown. , showing various comfort and performance curves.

[0041] FIG. 5 illustrates a foot race including an electric racing engine, according to some illustrative embodiments. A footwear upper 40 with a lacing structure 400 for use in a garment assembly. 4A shows a portion of the central closure mechanism 5. In this example, the central portion 450 shown in FIG. 460. In this example, the central closure mechanism is replaced by a central zipper 46 5. The central closure mechanism allows for easy foot entry and exit. Designed to widen the opening of the upper 405. 65 can be easily removed to allow for foot placement. In this example, the central closure mechanism 460 may be a hook and loop fastener, a snap, a buckle, a toggle, a secondary rail, or the like. The fastening mechanism may be a shoelace, or any similar closure mechanism.

[0042] FIG. 6 illustrates a foot race including an electric racing engine, according to some illustrative embodiments. A footwear upper 40 having a lacing structure 600 for use in a garment assembly. 5. In this example, the lacing structure 600 includes a heel lace guide. 610 and a heel lacing component 615 including a heel reinforcement 620, and A heel redirect guide 610 and a heel exit guide 615 are added to the heel. The race cable redirection guide 610 guides the race cable 430 to the final race guide 410. Shift from Heel Racing Components 615. Component 615 is formed from a heel lace guide 610 with a heel reinforcement 620. The heel lace guide 610 is a lace guide used elsewhere on the upper 405. However, in another embodiment, the heel lace guide may be The race guide 610 may be of another shape or may include multiple race guides. In this example, the heel race component 615 is attached to the heel track 645. The heel track is shown as being in the position of the heel race component 615. Similar to the adjustable lace guide mentioned above, the heel lace component To allow for positioning adjustment of component 615, a hook-and-loop fastener or equivalent fastening mechanism may be used. Any other mechanism can be used.

[0043] In some instances, the upper 405 includes a closure mechanism, such as the central portion 450 described above. In an example with a heel closure mechanism, the heel closure mechanism includes a heel ridge 650. The structure extends the foot opening of a conventional footwear assembly, allowing the foot to be In addition, in some cases, the heel is designed to facilitate easy insertion and removal of the foot. The racing components 615 are fitted with a heel ridge 6510 (heel closure mechanism) can be connected to a corresponding heel lacing component on the opposite side (with or without a heel lacing component) This connection may include a resilient member similar to resilient member 440.

[0044] 7A-7B illustrate a vehicle including an electric racing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. Footwear assembly including a lacing structure 700 for use in the footwear assembly. 7 illustrates a portion of a par 405. In this example, the lacing structure 700 includes races 730 The race guide 710 includes a race guide 710 for routing the associated reinforcement. In this example, the lace guide 710 may include the open lace guide 720 shown in FIG. The bending of the lace guide 710 portion from its initial, bent position to the bent, closed position shown in FIG. 7B. (Each figure has an imaginary line indicating the opposite position for reference.) In this example, the lace guide 710 has an open initial position and a closed position. In another example, the race guide 710 includes an extension that exhibits approximately 14 degrees of bend between the race guide 710 and the The base guide can bend more between its initial and final position (or shape). Alternatively, a smaller flex is possible. When the lace 730 is tightened, the lace The bending of the race guide 710 requires some force to be applied to the race 730. It provides initial tension and additional functionality to dissipate lace tension during the tightening process. This has the effect of smoothing the torque versus race displacement curve. In the initial shape or bent position, the lace guide 710 provides some force to the lace cable. It creates some initial tension, which also acts to take up slack in the lace cable. As the lace cable begins to tighten, the lace guide 710 bends or deforms.

[0045] In this example, the race guide 710 is a plastic or polymer tube. The tube may have different moduli of elasticity depending on the particular composition of the tube. The elastic modulus of 710, together with the configuration of the reinforcement 720, is determined by the bending of the lace guide 710. Adjust the amount of additional tension induced in the lace guide 730. The elastic deformation of the race guide 710 (or extension) causes the race 7 In some instances, the entire lace guide is placed in tension with the lace guide. In another example, this bending occurs primarily in the U-shaped portion of the race guide. In yet another example, the extensions may be substantially straight. corresponds to most of the bending, while the U-shaped portion remains relatively fixed.

[0046] The stiffeners 720 support the race guide 710 in a manner that allows movement of the ends of the race guide 710. 10. In some examples, the reinforcement 720 may be a hot melt polymer as described above. The openings are bonded in a process that allows the lace guide 710 to flex. In another embodiment, the reinforcement 720 may be sewn or glued in place. A combination of adhesive and stitching may be used. The type of structure depends on the load from the lace cable and which part of the lace guide is In some cases, the hot melt may affect the flex of the race guide. The tension is concentrated around the U-shaped part of the handle, allowing the extensions (legs) to bend more freely.

[0047] DEFORMABLE LEG FOR USE IN A FOOTWEAR ASSEMBLIES, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SOME EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 7A and 7B. The lace guide 710 is shown in detail. FIG. 7C can be considered as the undeformed state. FIG. 7D shows the lace guide 710 in a first (open) state. 1 shows the lace guide 710 in a second (closed / flexed) state, which can be achieved by The base guide 710 may include three different sections: a middle section 712, a first extension section 714, and a second extension 716. The lace guide 710 also includes a lace receiving opening. The race guide 7 may include a mouth 740 and a race exit opening 742. As described above, the race guide 7 10 have different elastic moduli, which determine the level of deformation when a constant tension is applied. In some examples, the lace guide 710 has an intermediate portion 712 the first extension has a first modulus of elasticity, the first extension has a second modulus of elasticity, and the second extension has a third modulus of elasticity. In one example, the elastic modulus may be made up of different sections having different elastic moduli, such as The second and third elastic moduli are substantially the same, and the first extension portion and the second extension portion are the same. In this example, the bending or deformation is substantially the same. This means that the difference in modulus of elasticity between the two materials is within a few percent. In some examples, the race guide 710 may have a high modulus at the apex 746, resulting in a first elongation. having a variable modulus of elasticity that changes to a lower modulus of elasticity towards the outer ends of the long portion and the second extension portion; In these examples, the modulus of elasticity may vary based on the wall thickness of the race guide 710. obtain.

[0048] Lace Guide 710 explains how the deformable lace guide works. For example, the first extension 714 defines a number of axes that are useful for a first entry race axis 75 aligned with at least an outer portion of an inner channel defined therein; 0 can be defined. The second extension 716 can be defined by a Defining a first delivery race axis 760 aligned with at least an outer portion of the inner channel. When deformed, the lace guide 710 can be attached to the first extension and the second extension. The second entry raceway 752 and the second exit raceway 754 are aligned with the respective portions of the first and second entry raceways 752 and 754, respectively. The race guide 710 defines a race axis 762. The race guide 710 intersects with the race guide 710 at the apex 746. (Assuming a symmetrical lace guide in an undeformed state, as shown in Figure 7C) It includes a median axis 744 that is equidistant from the first extension and the second extension.

[0049] 7A-7E illustrate various views of a deformable race guide, according to some exemplary embodiments. 7 is a graph 770 showing a torque vs. race displacement curve. As mentioned above, the race guide 710 One of the advantages achieved by using a torque (or race tension) vs. race displacement (or The curve 776 is used in an example lacing structure. Curve 776 shows the torque vs. displacement curve for a non-deformable race guide. Near the end of the process, the lace shows a sudden increase in tension over a short displacement. Generally, curve 778 represents the first deformable race guide used in the example lacing structure. Curve 778 begins similar to curve 776, but at a lower As the lace guide deforms under the additional lace tension, the curve flattens, resulting in a larger Lace displacement increases tension. Flattening the curve reduces the end user's footwear wear. This allows for more precise adjustment of fit and performance.

[0050] The final example has three segments: an initial tightening segment 780, an adaptive segment 781, and a The reaction segment 780 is divided into a reaction segment 782 and a reaction segment 784. , 784 may be utilized in any situation where torque and resulting displacement are desired. However, the reaction segment 784 is particularly suited to the electric racing engines expected external factors that are not involved (such as the wearer suddenly stopping their movement, which places a relatively high load on the laces) It can be used in situations where the race displacement needs to be suddenly changed or corrected in response to a change in speed, speed, or other factors. Segment 782, in contrast, is designed to be a more predictable load change on the race (e.g., The change in resistance is not so sudden, or the wearer's activity changes are or electric racing engines are activated through machine learning. This allows for more gradual displacement of the race when possible (because the change in the race can be predicted). The resulting deformable race guide design in this last example can be Through the structural design of the guide (channel shape, material selection, or parameter combination, etc.), The adaptive segment 782 and the reactive segment 784 are designed to generate the adaptive segment 782 and the reactive segment 784, respectively. The lacing structure and lace guides that make up the last example also have a pre-installed lacing cable. Tension is created, resulting in the initial clamping segment 780 shown.

[0051] 8A-8F illustrate a method for using a particular lacing structure, according to some exemplary embodiments. 8 shows a lace guide 800 having an open lace channel. An alternative lace guide is shown. The lace guide 800 includes guide tabs 805, step Chassis opening 810, guide top surface 815, race retainer 820, race channel 825, The guide radius 830, the race access opening 840, the guide underside 845, and the guide radius 8 50. The benefits of open channel lace guides, such as the Lace Guide 800, include: After attaching the lace guide to the footwear upper, you can easily route the lace cable. This includes tubular lace structures such as those shown in many of the lace structure examples above. For lace guides, the lace cables must be removed before the lace guide is bonded to the footwear upper. It is easiest to thread the rail through the lace guide. Open channel lace guides allow the rail to After the Sguide 800 is placed in the footwear upper, the lace cable is attached to the lace retainer. Easy routing of lacing by simply allowing the 820 to pass through The race guide 800 can be made from a variety of materials, including metal or plastic. It can be made.

[0052] In this example, lace guides 800 are stitched or glued to the footwear upper The illustrated design may first attach the lace guide 800 to the footwear upper. (or similar materials) by hand or automatically. The lace guide 800 includes a stitch opening 810 configured to allow the lace guide 800 to Once attached to the upper, simply pull the lace cable loop through the lace channel 825. By inserting the lace access hole, you can route the lace cable. The aperture 840 extends through the lower surface 845 to allow the lace cable to pass around the lace retainer 820. In this example, the channel radius 830 provides a relief recess for the lace cable. The channel is designed to accommodate or slightly larger than the diameter of the The radius 830 adjusts the amount of friction experienced by the lace cable passing through the lace guide 800. This is one of the parameters of the Race Guide 800. Other parameters of the race guide 800 that affect the race guide include the guide radius 850. The 850 id radius also determines the frequency or placement of lace guides on the footwear upper. This may affect spacing.

[0053] FIG. 8G illustrates a lace guide 800 in accordance with some exemplary embodiments. 8 shows a portion of a footwear upper 405 with a lining structure 890. The lace guide 800 is arranged on the outer side of the footwear upper 405. lacing structure 890. Similar to the lacing structure described above, the lacing The structure 890 uses the lace guide 800 to route the lace cables. This type of radar forms a wave pattern or a parachute racing pattern. One of the advantages of the lacing construction is that the laces tighten at the front of the footwear upper 405. It is possible to bring about both a posterior tightening and an lateral-medial tightening. do.

[0054] In this example, the lace guide 800 is attached via a stitch 860 to at least First, the upper 405 is glued to the stitching 860. The stitching 860 is located above the stitching opening 810. One of the lace guides 800 is shown attached to or engaged with the stitch opening. It is also depicted with reinforcement 870 covering the race guide. Alternatively, a larger reinforcement may be used. It is possible to cover multiple race guides by using the reinforcement 87. The closure may be attached by adhesive, heat-activated adhesive, and / or stitching. Therefore, the reinforcement 870 is made of a (heat activated or non-heat activated) adhesive and a reinforcement on the race guide. The adhesive can be bonded using a vacuum bag process that compresses the stiffeners evenly. The welding process can also be used with the reinforcements and lace guides previously described. In this example, a mechanical press or similar machine is used to bond the reinforcement onto the race guide. We can provide support.

[0055] First, place all lace guides 800 on the footwear upper 405 and remove them. Once attached, the lace cable can be routed through the lace guide. Routing the lace cable involves connecting the first end of the lace cable to the outer instep anchor point. You can start by securing the 470. Then, run the lace cables through each lace channel. Pull the lace guide into the upper 825, starting from the front lace guide, and then pull it towards the heel of the upper 405. Lace cables can be easily attached to all Lace Guide 800 Once the lace guide is threaded through the lace cable, secure both the lace guide and the lace cable in place. A stiffener 870 may optionally be adhered onto each of 800 .

[0056] [Assembly process] FIG. 9 illustrates a footwear including a racing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a footwear assembly process 900. In this example, the assembly process 900 includes the following operations: (910) through the tubular lace guide; Route the lace cable (920); anchor the first end of the lace cable (930); anchoring the second end of the lace cable (940); lace guide (950); Fixing the lace guide (960); Upper and footwear The assembly is then integrated (970). The process 900, which is described in more detail below, It may include some or all of the process actions, and at least some of the process actions The work can be performed in different locations and / or using different automation tools. do.

[0057] In this example, the process 900 includes a footwear upper, a plurality of lace guides, and The method begins with step 910 of obtaining a lace cable. The garment upper is made up of the remainder of the footwear assembly (e.g., sole, midsole, It may be a flattened footwear upper separated from the outer cover, etc. The race guide in this example includes a tubular plastic race guide as described above. It is also possible to include other types of lace guides. In this case, the process 900 routes the lace cables through a plurality of lace guides. At different points in the assembly process 900, the lace guide While you can route the lace cable through the tubular lace guide, If using lace guides, route the laces through the lace guides before assembling them into the footwear upper. In some cases, lace guides may be used to attach the lace cage. The cable can be pre-threaded, and the process 900 continues during operation of step (910). Start with a number of lace guides already threaded with the lace you will be using.

[0058] Next, in step (930), the process 900 connects the first end of the lace cable to the first end of the lace cable. For example, the lace cable 430 may be attached to the upper 405 along the outer edge of the instep. When integrated with the rest of the footwear assembly, more permanent anchors are used to secure the laces. The cable may be temporarily anchored to the upper 405. The process 900 then anchors the second end of the lace cable to the footwear upper. Temporarily anchor the second end to the upper, like the first end of a lace cable. Additionally, process 900 may optionally include a step at a later stage in the process or The anchoring of the second end can be delayed until integration with the hardware assembly. .

[0059] In step (950), the process 900 includes attaching a plurality of lace guides to the upper. For example, lace guides 410 may be placed on the upper 405 to provide the desired lacing. Once the lace guide is in place, Process 9 00 is a step (96 0) can be continued. For example, the reinforcement 420 can be fixed on the race guide 410. , which can hold them in place. Finally, the process 900 continues with step ( 970), the footwear upper and the remaining footwear assembly including the sole In one example, the integration may involve joining the lateral and medial sides of the footwear upper. Place the loop of the lace cable that connects to the footwear assembly in place. This may include engaging a racing engine located at the dosole.

[0060] FIG. 10 illustrates a fuel tank containing multiple racing engines, according to some illustrative embodiments. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a footwear assembly process 1000. In this example, the assembly process 1000 includes the following operations: Get the runner, lace guide, and lace cable (1010); lace guide to the foot Secure to the upper of the garment (1020); anchor the first end of the lace cable (1030);Routing the lace cable through the lace guide (1040); Anchor the second end of the lace cable (1050); optionally, on the lace guide. (1060) to fix the reinforcement to the upper; (1060) to integrate the upper with the footwear assembly; 070). Process 1000, described in more detail below, includes some of the process operations described. may include some or all of the process operations, at least some of which may be performed at various locations. , and / or may be performed using different automated tools.

[0061] In this example, the process 1000 includes a footwear upper, a plurality of lace guides, and The process starts with step (1010) of obtaining the lace cable. The garment upper is made up of the remainder of the footwear assembly (e.g., sole, midsole, It may be a flattened footwear upper separated from the outer cover, etc. The lace guide in this example is an open channel plastic lace guide as described above. It may also include other types of lace guides. At 1020, the process 1000 secures the lace guide to the upper. , lace guide 800 may be individually stitched into place on upper 405 .

[0062] Next, in step 1030, the process 1000 The lace cable 430 anchors the end of the lace cable 430 to the footwear upper. Optionally, the footwear upper may be anchored along the outer edge of the par 405. When integrating the shoe with the rest of the footwear assembly, more permanent anchors are used. The lace cable may be temporarily anchored to the upper 405. Step (1040) In the process 100, the lace cable is passed through an open channel lace guide. This step involves routing the footwear upper between the lateral and medial sides. This involves leaving a race loop to engage the racing engine located at the race track. The sloop ensures that the racing engine properly tightens the assembled footwear. The length may be predetermined to ensure that

[0063] Next, in step 1050, the process 1000 The first end of the lace cable can be anchored to the footwear upper. The second end can be temporarily anchored to the upper, such as the prosthesis. The Sess 1000 is optionally integrated later in the process or with footwear assembly. In certain instances, the anchoring of the second end may be delayed until the lace cable is By delaying the anchors at the first and / or second ends of the lace, the overall lace length can be increased. This allows for adjustment of the length, which is useful during the integration of racing engines. This may be the case.

[0064] In step 1060, the process 1000 optionally includes fabric reinforcement. A cover is fixed onto the lace guide, and the lace guide is attached to the footwear upper. For example, the lace guide 800 may include a further fastening operation. and a heat-fused reinforcement material on the race guide to further secure the race cable. Finally, the process 1000 may include step (1070). to integrate the footwear upper with the rest of the footwear assembly, including the sole. In one example, the integration may include a lace connecting the lateral and medial sides of the footwear upper. With the cable loop in place, attach it to the midsole of the footwear assembly. The method may include engaging a racing engine.

[0065] [Tension Strap] FIG. 11 illustrates an inner upper side portion 1104 and an outer upper side portion 1106 of a footwear upper 1100. 11 is a partially cut-away view of a footwear upper showing elastic strips 1102 connecting the Footwear upper 1100 is a front view of an electric racing engine. The footwear upper 1104 may be coupled to a sole structure 1108 on which the shoe may be positioned. 100 includes an inner upper panel 1110 and an outer upper panel 1112 configured to wrap around the foot. The inner upper panel 1110 and the outer upper panel 1112 may include a lining layer or panel. The elastic strip 1102 may include a padding layer (not shown). The outer panel 1112 may be connected to both the upper panel 1112 and the outer panel 1112.

[0066] The footwear upper 1110 also includes lace guides 1114, laces 1116, and The upper 1100 may include an outer layer 1118. The upper 1100 may include laces 1116, elastic strips 110 2, and an outer layer 1118 configured to cover the race guide 1114. In FIG. 11, an inner panel 1110, an outer panel 1112, an elastic strip 1102, The outer layer 1118 is cut away to reveal the lace guide 1114 and lace 1116. are.

[0067] The lace guide 1114 may be connected to the inner panel 1110 and the outer panel 1112. The lace guides 1114 each include a guide tab 1115 and a lace channel body. 1117. The guide tabs 1115 may be secured by adhesive, stitching, rivets, etc. , can be attached directly to the panels 1110 and 1112. The race 1116 may be configured similarly to the other race guides described herein. The race 11 is threaded through a channel disposed within the channel body 1117 of the guide 1114. 16 has a distal portion anchored to the upper toward the toe area, and a distal portion and and a proximal portion coupled to and positioned within the racing engine.

[0068] As described herein, operation of a racing engine involves tightening the race 1116 and It can act to press the upper panel 1110 and the outer upper panel 1112. During operation of the racing engine, the proximal portion of the race 1116 is positioned within the sole structure 1108. The lace guide 1114 is pulled toward the sole structure 1108 by being pulled into the sole structure 1108. The lace guides 1114 on the inner panel 1110 and the outer panel 1112 When the elastic strip 1102 is pulled near the sole structure 1108, the elastic strip 1102 The elastic strip 11 can stretch around the foot and is disposed within the upper 1100. 02 can be made of any kind of material that is elastic as well as resilient, e.g. The elastic strip 1102 may be rubber or spandex. When placed in the upper 1100, the In another embodiment, the elastic strip may be configured to rest in a pretensioned state. The pad 1102 can be replaced with an elastic mesh material.

[0069] FIG. 12 shows a heel joint connecting the medial and lateral laces 1116 of the upper 1110. 11A is a rear view of the upper 1110 of the footwear of FIG. 11, showing the strap assembly 1120. The heel strap assembly 1120 includes a pretension strap 1122, It may include a heel strap 1124 and an anchor point 1126. The support strap 1122 is attached to the outer side of the footwear upper 1100 shown in FIG. Extending from the lace 1116 and passing through the heel portion 1128 of the footwear upper 1100 12. The upper 1100 extends to the medial side (not visible in FIG. 12) of the footwear upper 1100. The pretensioning strap 1122 can be connected to the opposite end of the pretensioning strap 1122. may be secured to the joint 1112 in any suitable manner, for example by using a lace guide 1114. 130 to the race 1116. In one example, the race 1116 is pretensioned. It can slide within the joint 1130 with the strap 1122. The connection strap 1122 is connected to the guide tab 1115 of the lace guide 1114, The race 1116 may be coupled to the race channel body 1117 of the race guide 1114. The pretension strap 1122 can be stretched and then returned to its original length. The elastic elongated member may be a resilient member that can be restored. As will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 15B and 15C, the pretensioning straps 1122 are When the racing engine spool is rewound and the race 1116 is released, The engine may be configured to pull race 1116 from the engine.

[0070] The heel strap 1124 is connected to the lace 1116 of the pretension strap 1122. From the junction 1130, the wire can extend to the anchor point 1126. In this state, the heel strap 1124 is connected to the anchor point 1126 and the joint 1130. This will be explained in more detail below with reference to Figures 15A and 15B. The heel strap 1124 is attached to the footwear upper 110 at the interface 1130. When pulled towards the toe of 0, it unfolds and finally reaches anchor point 112 6 pulls the heel portion 1128 toward the toe portion, Assists in holding the footwear upper 1100 to the heel. Anchor Point 11 16 may be any suitable anchoring point on the footwear upper 1100. In the illustrated embodiment, the anchor point 1126 may include any of the following means or devices: Footwear upper 1100 may include a threaded fastener extending through it.

[0071] FIG. 13 shows a footwear upper 1100 coupled along elastic strips 1102. 11, partially cut away, showing lace guide 1114. 14 shows a side view of the footwear accessory 1100, separate from the elastic strip 1102. 13 bent to show the race guide 1114 connected to the upper 1100. 13 and 14 are views showing a garment upper 1100. FIGS.

[0072] An outer panel independently connected to elastic strips 1102 and lace guides 1114 The outer layer 1118 is partially cut away to show the lace guide 1112. The four guide tabs 1115 are connected to the outer panel 1112 by any suitable method. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide tab 1115 is attached to the outer upper panel by stitching 1132. The guide tab 1115 extends from the upper edge of the outer panel 1112. The upper edge is spaced apart, and an elastic strip 1102 is disposed on the upper edge to secure the guide tab 1 A gap is formed between 115 and the elastic strip 1102 .

[0073] The elastic strip 1102 may comprise a single strip or may be formed as shown in FIG. 14 and 15, the strips may include multiple strips aligned end-to-end. The elastic strip 1102 may be attached to the outer shell by any suitable method, such as with adhesive or stitching. In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic strip 1102 may be coupled to the panel 1112. The lace guide 1114 is connected to the outer panel 1112 by a buckle 1134. By separating from the strip 1102, the elastic strip 1102 is This allows the lace guides on the lace to extend evenly along the length of the 112. This can result in a more uniform movement during operation.

[0074] FIG. 15A shows a pretensioned strap 1122 attached to an electric racing engine. Footwear upper 1100 of FIG. 12, showing loose lace 1116 pulled out from As shown, the gap between the race guide 1114A and the race guide 1114B is The distance D1 may be the first open length. The distance D2 between the anchor point 1126 and the first folding length may be Distance D1 is greater than distance D3 in FIG. 15B. When lace 1116 is loosened, the foot The footwear upper 1100 can be fitted with a pretension strap 112. 2 is actuated to pull the race 1116 at the joint 1130 towards the heel 1128, This pulls the proximal end 1131 of the race 1116 out of the racing engine. Excessive slack from joint 1131 acts on the pretensioning strap to tighten joint 1130. Heel strap 1 to allow pulling towards anchor point 1126 124 bends or folds between joint 1130 and anchor point 1126 It can be enjoyed.

[0075] Figure 15B shows the lace 1116 fastened to the electric racing engine and the heel strap. Footwear upper 1100 of FIG. 15A tightened around the heel portion of the footwear upper. 1100. As shown, lace guide 1114A and lace guide 1114B are The distance D3 between the lace 114B and the lace 114B can be the second folded length. The distance D4 between the guide 1114A and the anchor point 1126 is the second open length. The racing engine may be operated to rotate the proximal end 113 of the race 1116. Since the distance D3 is smaller than the distance D1, This stretches the previously retracted tension strap 1122, causing D4 to 2, the heel strap 1124 is flattened and stretched. Stretching the strap 1124 allows the lace 1116 to attach to the footwear upper 1100 and When the shoe fits snugly against the foot, the heel portion 1128 of the footwear upper 1100 The heel of the foot is pulled into the garment 1100.

[0076] FIG. 16 shows inner and outer lace cable tension straps 1202 and 1204. 12 illustrates another embodiment of a footwear upper 1200. 1200 connects to a sole structure 1206 in which an electric racing engine may be placed. The footwear upper 1200 includes an inner upper panel 1208, an outer upper panel 1209, and a 10 and a toe panel 1212, which at least partially surround the foot. The inner upper panel 1208 and the outer upper panel 1210 are configured to have a lining layer or may include additional layers, such as a padding layer (not shown). and 1204 are attached at their lower ends to an inner shell panel 1208 and an outer shell panel 1210, respectively. and distal ends 1216A and 1216B are connected to races 1214, respectively. The footwear upper 1110 may also include lace guides 1218 and elastic panels. 1220.

[0077] The elastic panels 1220 function similarly to the elastic strips 1102 of FIGS. 11-15B, Allows the footwear upper 1200 to have some stretch. The race guide 1218 can function similarly to the other race guides described herein. For the sake of brevity, this will not be further described here. 201 and 1204, while the race 12 The central portion of 14 may be disposed within a lacing mechanism disposed in sole structure 1206 . Therefore, when the lacing mechanism winds the lace 1214, the lace 1214 The laces 1214 are attached to the footwear upper 1200 through the saddle 1218. The tension straps 1202 and 1204 are fastened to the ends of the lace 1214. Anchors are provided at 1216A and 1216B to facilitate the clamping action.

[0078] The tension straps 1202 and 1204 secure the laces 1214 to the footwear upper. 1220 at least partially around panels 1208 and 1210, The lace 121 allows the sole structure 1206 to be anchored. 4 is once on the inner panel 1208 and once on the outer panel 1210, It crosses over Par 1200. This allows tensioning of race 1214. A portion of the force is directed inward to the footwear upper 1200 adjacent to the toe panel 1212. The tension straps 1202 and 120 can also be used directly to apply pressure. 4 is a larger table where the tension of the lace 1214 is distributed to the panels 1208 and 1210. That is, the laces 1214 are attached to the sole structure 1206 and the footwear upper. When anchored to panel 1200, the straps contacting panels 1208 and 1210 The surface area of ​​the tops 1202 and 1204 is the same as that of the panels 1208 and 1204 at the same location as the race 1214. In one embodiment, the surface area of ​​the straps 1202 and 1210 is larger than the surface area of ​​the straps 1202 and 1210. In another embodiment, straps 1202 and 1204 are trapezoidal. For example, the strap 1202 may have a top region 1224 The bottom end region 1222 may be wider than the bottom end region 1222. The bottom end region 1222 may be, for example, an adhesive or The inner upper panel 120 is attached by stitching or by being incorporated into the sole structure 1206. The upper end region 1224 can be attached to the bottom of the strap 1226 by stitching 1226. 1202. The spool 1202 may be attached to the race 1214 in any suitable manner, such as by attaching the race 1214 to the length of the spool 1202. The straps 1202 and 1204 may be attached to the sole structure 120 in a flap-like manner. 6. In another embodiment, the strap may be attached to the footwear upper 1200 only at the strap 1206. Tips 1202 and 1204 may be The straps 1202 and 1203 may be attached to the footwear upper 1200 along the and 1204 may be made of a rigid or inelastic material, or a stretchable (elastic) or elastic material. The trapezoidal or triangular straps 1202 and 1204 can be made of Distributes stress and force more evenly within the toe box of the footwear upper 11200 This allows for a comfortable and secure fit. 2 and 1204 distribute stress and force evenly along the footwear upper 1200 Other shapes may be included that have various advantages, such as allowing for better alignment.

[0079] FIG. 17 illustrates various elastic or flexible materials described herein, according to some exemplary embodiments. 1300A, 1300B, 1300C, 1300D, 1300E, 1300F, 1300G, 1300H ... 0D, 1300E, and 1300F. The bottom X-axis is in millimeters. The Y-axis on the side represents the load in Newtons. The 1300F is associated with different racing loads. Various components described in the specification (lace cable 480, elastic member 440, elastic ridge By adjusting the parameters of the elastic members 350, elastic central stiffener 325, etc. Various levels of comfort are available before the zone is locked out and the performance zone begins. Therefore, the comfort gradient and performance of each curve can be calculated. The gradient may be suitable for different types of shoes or articles of footwear, or for different types of wearers. , can be designed to provide a variety of effects.

[0080] FIG. 18 shows tension straps 1202 connected to laces 1214 in a crossover configuration. 16, laid out flat to show the racing structure including 1204. FIG. 12 shows an upper 1200 of the garment.

[0081] The footwear upper 1200 comprises an inner instep panel 1208, an outer instep panel 1210, and a heel. panels 1211A and 1211B, and a toe panel 1212, These include a heel panel 1211B attached to the outer instep panel 1210 and a footwear When the upper 1200 is attached to the sole structure, it wraps at least partially around the foot. The inner panel 1208 and the outer panel 1210 are configured to surround the (not shown), outer layer 1230 (sole portions 1230A and 1230B and throat portion 1240C and 1230D), and overlay 1232 (sole portion 1232A and 1232B, and throat portions 1232C and 1232D. The substrate may include additional layers, such as a liner.

[0082] The outer layer 1230 is a material for strengthening the inner shell panel 1208 and the outer shell panel 1210. In one example, the outer layer 1230 may include a synthetic material such as nylon. The overlay 1232 may include a layer that supports the race guide 1218. The Ray 1232 distributes the load of the lace guide 1218 to the footwear upper 1200. In one example, the overlay may include a semi-rigid yet flexible material that can be applied to the surface. 1232 is a synthetic material such as Poron®, a microcellular urethane. may include:

[0083] Tension straps 1202 and 1204 are attached at their lower ends 1222A and 1222B to the inner casing. The outer ends 1224A and 1224B are connected to the panel 1208 and the outer panel 1210, respectively. 224B, which are connected to the distal ends 1216A and 1216B of the race 1214, respectively. The footwear upper 1110 also includes lace guides 1218 and elastic panels 1219. 220 may be included.

[0084] The proximal ends 1234A and 1234B of the race 1214 are connected to a racing engine (not shown). The proximal ends 1234A and 1234B form a race 1214. That is, the race 1214 may be constructed as a single piece. The lace 1214 is threaded through a lace guide 1218 and extends to a distal end 1216A and and 1216B extend to tension straps 1202 and 1204. Distal end 1216A is connected to tension strap 1202 with stitching 1226 Similarly, the distal end 1216B may be coupled to the tension strap 1204. , distal ends 1216A and 1216B are, for example, adjacent to throat portion 123 of outer layer 1230. The throat area of ​​the footwear upper 1200 formed between 0C and 1230D is In such a configuration, the races on the throat sections 1230C and 1230D The guide 1218 is omitted near the toe panel 1212 to prevent interference with the race 1214. This can be done.

[0085] Tension straps 1202 and 1204 float on the top surface of footwear upper 1200. This allows the lace 1214 to be pulled tight. Regardless of tension, the various layers of the footwear upper 1200 (e.g., outer layer 1230 and This allows the valve and overlay 1232 to contract. Minutes 1230C and 1230D are located near soles 1230A and 1230B, respectively. As they are pulled, proximal ends 1234A and 1234B are pulled by the racing engine. When pulled tight, throat sections 1230C and 1230D are tensioned by tension straps 1230C and 1230D. 202 and 1204. Thus, in one embodiment, tension Only a portion of each of the straps 1202 and 1204 is attached to the footwear upper 1200. It can be attached to.

[0086] Tension straps 1202 and 1204 apply force to lace 1214 through inner shell panel 1208 and may have various shapes to be distributed over the outer upper panel 1210. 02 and 1204 may be triangular, rectangular, trapezoidal, rectilinear or any other shape In one example, straps 1202 and 1204 may be attached to a lower portion near the sole structure. It is wide at the top and narrow at the top near the laces 1214. This is the footwear upper To distribute forces from the laces 1214 along a wide swath of the 1200 and sole structure The straps 1202 and 1204 may have the same shape or may be different from each other as shown in FIG. It can also have a different shape as shown in FIG.

[0087] FIG. 19 illustrates the lockout area 1240 and tension strap 1202 of FIG. The distal end 1216A of the race 1214 is shown as a step. The lockout area may be connected along its length L by a switch 1226.

[0088] The bottom region 1222 of the strap 1202 may be wider than the top region 1224. The lower end region 1222 may be connected to the footwear upper 1200 or the sole structure. In some embodiments, a portion of the stretch region 1242, such as the bottom region 1222, The shoe is connected to the footwear upper 1200 or sole structure. This is to allow stretching of the stretch area 1242. Region 1242 may be an elastic material, a synthetic material, a polymer, or may have one or more of these properties. Constructed from proprietary materials (such as Lunar Fly Strap material). A majority or entirety of region 1242 is connected to footwear upper 1200 .

[0089] The lockout region 1240 may extend from the stretch region 1242 to the top region 1224. The lockout area 1240 extends horizontally across the top of the stretch area 1242. The lockout region 1240 may be less elastic than the stretch region 1242. This may include a portion of the tension strap 1202 that is short and has low stretch. The checkout region 1240 is a separate piece of material attached to the material of the stretch region 1242. In another embodiment, the lockout area 1240 may include 40, the extension of the material in the stretch region 1242, which has been treated to strengthen the material within the For example, stitches 1226 along the length L of lace 1214 may provide reinforcement. In one example, the length L may be about 15 millimeters. Additionally or alternatively, The lockout area 1240 is treated with a hot melt material to secure the distal end 1216A. In another embodiment, the lockout area 1240 can be strengthened by setting The outer region 1240 is treated with a stretch-reducing coating such as Terranina to prevent stretching. The lockout function of the force strap 1202 can be improved. refers to the property of not stretching in order to tighten the lace 1214. That is, completely locked The laces that are released will increase the tightness of your foot in proportion to the amount that the laces are tightened. The lace can no longer be stretched. The out function and the stretch function of the stretch area 1242 are different The variations can be made in different combinations for the embodiment.

[0090] FIG. 20 illustrates tension straps 125 connected to laces 1214 in a non-crossover configuration. Another implementation of the footwear upper 1200, including the lacing structure, including the 1252. 20 shows an embodiment of a footwear upper 1200 that uses the tension straps of FIG. The tension straps 1202 and 1204 are replaced by tension straps 1250 and 1252. 1 except for the addition of lace guides 1218A and 1218B. 8, including several components such as the footwear upper 1200. As can be seen, the distal ends 1216A and 1216B of the race 1214 are The upper 1200 can be configured to remain on the same side of the racing The distal end 1 is connected to the engine and the respective tension strap. 216B is connected to the inner tension strap 1250 and the lace guide 1218A and other It extends through the race guide 1218 to the entire inner panel 1208 and connects to the racing engine. The distal end 1216A may be connected to an outer tension strap 1252. , outer shell panel 1210 through lace guide 1218B and other lace guide 1218 The race guides 1218A and 1218B extend across the entire raceway and can be connected to a racing engine. 8B is the upper 1200 tightening and along the length of the throat area of ​​the upper 1200 As shown, tension strips may be added to facilitate stretching of the elastic panel 1220. Varying the relative sizes of wraps 1250 and 1252, the inside of the upper 1200 The outer and inner surfaces can be given different performance characteristics. For example, the non-intersecting embodiment of FIG. In this embodiment, tension straps 1250 and 1252 may be attached to, for example, distal ends 1216A and To bring 1216B closer to the sole structure, tension straps 1202 and 1204 In addition to the ball of the foot, metatarsal and phalangeal regions, To vary the force applied, the inner tension strap 1250 is placed closer to the outer tension strap 1252. It is possible to make it shorter than the original length or vice versa.

[0091] FIG. 21 illustrates a racing engine for use in a racing engine, according to some illustrative embodiments. FIG. 14 is a top view of a flattened footwear upper 1400 with a flexing structure. 22 is a footwear using the two-zone lacing structure described with reference to FIG. 14 illustrates an example of an assembly. In this example, a footwear upper 1400 includes an inner face 1403 and outer face 1404, as well as distal (toe) and proximal (heel) ends The distal end includes a toe box section 1407 and the proximal end includes a heel The footwear upper 1400 includes a floating textile layer 1406. (optional, not shown), outer layer 1402, and floating tongue 1405. The floating tongue 1405 may be formed by at least the U-shaped portion of the outer layer 1402. Adjacent to the throat portion 1411 (also called the throat section) formed by the cutout 1402. Optionally, the throat portion 1409 extends from the leg opening 1409 of the outer layer 1402. 411 vary in configuration and include sections of various cutout shapes or alternative materials. The entire upper section allows the outer and inner lateral sections of the footwear assembly to fit together. In another example, the throat portion 1411 can be moved by the covering layer of the outer layer 1402. Therefore, the throat portion 1411 and lacing structure can be externally In some cases, the throat section 1411 is The footwear upper 1400 is also a cutout for the lining textile layer. The upper 300 may include some or all of the structures described with reference to the upper 300, but is shown in a simpler way to highlight the two-zone lacing structure.

[0092] In this example, the lacing structure is divided into two distinct zones. The second zone acts on the toe or forefoot area of ​​the footwear upper 1400. The first lacing acts on the midfoot region of the footwear upper 1400. The racing cables in the first lacing zone are shown in solid dark grey and are connected to the second lacing zone. The race cables are shown with black dotted lines. These differences are due to the different race cables. For illustrative purposes only to distinguish between bullpaths, lace cables in these details are It is a single cable extending from end 1420 to end 1421 (the ends are at anchor locations). (Also called anchor point). Alternatively, the first lacing zone and the second lacing zone Even in designs that use laced cables with different casing zones, the materials used are usually The first lacing zone is common to the different zones. The first rail may include a race guide for guiding the race cable 1410. In this example, The lace end 1420 is located on the distal outer portion of the eyestay 1408. 1410 extends from the first race end 1420 across the distal end of the throat portion 1411; The lace cable 1410 is routed through the first medial lace guide 1440. From the inner race guide 1440, return via the throat portion 1411, The lace cable 1410 is routed through the first outer lace guide 1430. From the race guide 1430, it passes through the second outer race guide 1431 and enters the third outer race guide 1432. The lace guides are labeled 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. 1409 from the distal end of the throat portion 411 toward the foot opening 1409. Optionally, the lace cable 1410 extends proximally from the first On the way from the outer shell side race guide 1430 to the third outer shell side race guide 143, From the third outer lace guide 1432, the lace cage Cable 1410 passes through outward tongue lace guide 1417 and through optional material guide 1418. 422 and is sent to the outer heel lace guide 1451. The guide 1451 connects the lace cable 1410 to the midsole via the outer lace outlet 1419. Send it into the dosole plate.

[0093] The second lace zone is formed by connecting the lace cable 1410 from the second end 1421 to the medial lace. In this example, the lace cable 141 includes a series of lace guides that feed the lace cable 141 to the lace outlet 1418. 0 is a second end 1421 on the outer side of the eyestay 1408 to the second inner side race guide The lace cable 1410 is routed to the second medial lace guide 1441. 41, across the throat portion 1411 and into the second outer race guide 1341. The lace cable 1410 then passes through the second outer lace guide 1431, Crosses throat portion 411 (for the third time) and returns, passing through third inner race guide 1442. The third inner lace guide 1442 guides the lace cable 1410 inward. Route the lace cable through the tongue lace guide 1416 and insert it through the inner heel lace guide 145. 0. On the way to the inner heel lace guide 1450, the lace cable Optionally, the material can pass through lace guide 1424. From 450, the race cable 1410 is routed to the midsole via the inner race exit 1418. The data is sent into the rule plate.

[0094] The two-zone lacing structure is located between the distal end and the proximal end of the throat portion 1411. Allows for uneven distribution of lace cable tension. In the first lacing zone This means that the same lace cable tension is applied to fewer lace guides, resulting in a smaller In the second lacing zone, the lace cable tension is distributed over a more even area. The race is spread out over a larger area with many race guides. The user can The flexing construction provides a tighter, more performant fit in the toe (forefoot) area of ​​the footwear. You can experience a comfortable fit, as desired for your particular footwear application. Multi-zone lacing construction allows for varying distribution of lace cable tension can.

[0095] In this example, the lacing structure is a tongue lace guide assembly 1415 (or simply The tongue race guide 1415 is a guide for the inner cartilage. The lace guide 1416 and the outer lace guide 1417 may be included. The facing race guide 1416 and the outer facing race guide 1417 are cast from a single piece of material. They may be separate structures constructed or formed from, or joined in some way. In certain examples, the medial and lateral race guides may be formed by elastic members 44. 0, which allows tension to be applied to the lace cable 1418. When added, separation between the race guides is possible. In certain instances, the inner race guide The tongue lace guide reinforcement is bonded to the tongue lace guide reinforcement. In yet another example, the medial and lateral race guides may placed on, wrapped around, or connected through webbing material Tongue lace guide reinforcement is made of a material with no elasticity or limited elasticity. The tongue lace guide reinforcement can be a flexible, rigid material, or a resilient material. The tang 1405 may be glued, stitched, or similarly secured. Therefore, the tongue lace guide reinforcement may be padded or similarly configured to Distributes the force applied to the grease guide over a larger area, reducing the user's hot spots In another example, the medial facing race guide 1416 and the lateral facing race guide 1418 may be The guide 1417 can be connected by elastic elements or webbing and It may be floating relative to the fingertip 1405.

[0096] Embodiments of the present disclosure allow for adjusting the effective spring stiffness of the shoe when the shoe is tightened on the foot. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a footwear upper with a lacing system that is elastic and has a good elasticity. Different areas allow different tightening speeds, e.g. for very stiff lacing systems can become very tight very quickly and cause discomfort to the wearer. Intentionally added elastic areas in the shoe's closure system and / or footwear upper Manipulate the lockout stiffness, travel, modulus or other parameters to adjust the footwear The fit of the upper can be adjusted to fit the foot. How a footwear upper is preferred by adding an elastic zone in the rear (or heel) area For example, the elastic zone can be attached to the footwear. Can facilitate placement or pretensioning of loose material in the par This can be thought of as a parachute of material that is secured to the foot by a lacing structure. Users can select the footwear item according to their needs, preferences, or uses. The lacing mechanism can be adjusted to tailor the footwear article to have different comfort or performance characteristics. It can be done. [Example]

[0097] Example 1 includes or uses subject matter such as a footwear assembly. The footwear assembly includes: a toe box portion, an inner instep side portion, an outer instep side portion, and a heel portion, and the medial side portion and the lateral side portion are respectively connected to the toe box portion and the heel portion. along the distal lateral portion of the medial lateral portion of the footwear upper; A first end is anchored and a second end is anchored along the distal lateral portion of the lateral carpal flank. a lace cable having an end portion; and a lace cable distributed along the medial side portion and the lateral side portion. a plurality of lace guides, each of which is a lace guide; The lace guides are designed to accept cable sections and allow the lace cable to fit multiple lace guides. through each of the inner and outer side portions of the footwear upper, The lace guides form a lace cable; the lace cable is attached to the medial side of the lace guides. The lace cable is then attached to the laces arranged in the midsole from the pattern formed by the lace cable. a medial proximal race guide, routing it to a position where it can engage the engine; The cable is connected to a number of rails from a position where the race cable can be connected to the racing engine. The lateral proximal rail is routed in the pattern formed by the lateral portion of the guide. a first race guide extending between the first and second race guides of the plurality of race guides; and an elastic member.

[0098] Example 2 includes the subject matter of Example 1, or in any combination therewith, and includes the first An elastic member extends across the centerline portion of the footwear upper and connects the first lace guide and the second lace guide. The present invention may optionally include a structure that can be connected to the race guide.

[0099] Example 3 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 1 or 2. or optionally in combination therewith, a first elastic member is attached to the heel portion of the footwear upper. and optionally including a structure that can connect the first race guide and the second race guide across the It is possible.

[0100] Example 4 may include or incorporate the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 1-3. In any combination with the third and fourth race guides of the plurality of race guides, Optionally, the configuration may further include a second elastic member that may extend between the guide and the support.

[0101] Example 5 may include or incorporate the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 1-4. In optional combination therewith, a first elastic member adjusts the fit characteristics of the footwear upper. Optionally, the structure may be interchangeable with different elastic members to vary the modulus of elasticity. It is possible.

[0102] Example 6 may include or include the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 1 to 5. Optionally, in combination with this, the first elastic member may be configured to reduce torque during tightening of the lace cable. Optionally, features may be included that may function to smooth the race-to-race displacement curve.

[0103] Example 7 may include a housing structure that may contain a footwear assembly. It may include or utilize subject matter such as footwear lacing devices. The footwear assembly includes: a toe box portion, an inner instep side portion, an outer instep side portion, and a heel portion. The inner and outer side sections are respectively from the toe box to the heel. Extending proximally, the footwear upper is anchored along the distal lateral portion of the medial lateral portion. a first end attached to the distal lateral portion of the lateral side of the lateral carpal tunnel; and a second end anchored along the distal lateral portion of the lateral carpal tunnel. a lace cable; and a plurality of lace cables distributed along the medial and lateral sides of the instep. A lace guide, wherein each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides is The lace cable passes through each of the lace guides. This forms a pattern along each of the medial and lateral sides of the footwear upper. , and a lace guide; a lace cable formed by the medial side portion of a plurality of lace guides From the pattern, the lace cable is placed inside the midsole. The medial proximal lace guide and lace cable are routed to a position where they can be engaged with the , from a position where the race cable can be engaged with the racing engine, a plurality of race guides The lateral proximal lace guide routes in the pattern formed by the lateral portion of the and a first elastic member extending between the first and second portions of the footwear upper. nothing.

[0104] Example 8 includes the subject matter of Example 7, or in any combination therewith, including the first The elastic member has an elastic centerline portion extending proximally from at least the toe box portion to the foot opening. and the first and second portions of the footwear upper are medial and lateral sides, respectively. It may optionally include a configuration that may include a surface portion.

[0105] Example 9 includes the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 7 or 8, or optionally in combination therewith, the first elastic member extending proximally from the foot opening to an elastic heel; the first and second portions of the footwear upper each include an inner heel portion and an inner heel portion, and optionally a configuration that may include an outer shell side portion.

[0106] Example 10 includes or includes the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 1 to 9. Optionally, in combination with this, the first elastic member may be configured to reduce torque during tightening of the lace cable. Optionally, features may be included that may function to smooth the race-to-race displacement curve.

[0107] Example 11 includes the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 7 to 19; or In optional combination therewith, a first elastic member is inserted into an interior space within the footwear upper. The device may optionally include a feature that can be opened or expanded to allow access to the device.

[0108] Example 12 is a footwear lacing device that may include a footwear assembly. The footwear assembly may include or use the subject matter. The inner and outer shells include a box portion, an inner shell side portion, an outer shell side portion, and a heel portion. a footwear upper, each of the side portions extending proximally from a toe box portion to a heel portion; a first end anchored along the distal lateral portion of the medial carpal lateral portion and a distal lateral portion of the lateral carpal lateral portion; a lace cable having a second end anchored along the medial side; A plurality of lace guides distributed along the face portion and the outer shell side portion, Each lace guide is designed to accept a section of lace cable. The lace cable passes through each of the plurality of lace guides and is connected to the inner casing of the footwear upper. and lace guides forming a pattern along each of the outer shell lateral portions; and lace cables. The lace case is selected from a pattern formed by the medial side portions of the plurality of lace guides. - Routed in a position that allows the bull to engage with the racing engine located within the midsole the medial side proximal lace guide and the lace cable; From the position where it can engage with the engine, the race formed by the outer side parts of the race guides The first part of the footwear upper has a proximal lace guide on the outer instep, routing to the turn. a first resilient member extending between the portion and a first race guide of the plurality of race guides; include.

[0109] Example 13 includes the subject matter of Example 12, or in any combination therewith, to provide a The first portion of the apparel upper includes a heel portion, and the first lace guide is positioned adjacent the heel portion. It may optionally include structures that can be placed in contact with each other.

[0110] Example 14 includes the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 12 or 13; or optionally in combination therewith, the first portion of the footwear upper a first lace guide including either the medial side portion or the lateral side portion of the upper; However, the upper may optionally include a structure that may be positioned adjacent to the throat of the upper.

[0111] Example 15 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 12-14. or optionally in combination therewith, a second portion of the footwear upper and a plurality of lace guards. The present invention may further include a second elastic member extending between the first race guide and the second race guide. can be included in.

[0112] Example 16 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 12 to 15. or optionally in combination therewith, the first elastic member adjusts the fit of the footwear upper. The structure may be interchangeable with different elastic members, varying the modulus of elasticity to change properties. It can be included in the meaning.

[0113] Example 17 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 12 to 16. or optionally in combination therewith, the first elastic member is adapted to: Optionally, features may be included that may function to smooth the torque versus race displacement curve. .

[0114] Example 18 is a footwear lacing device that may include a footwear assembly. The footwear assembly may include or use the subject matter. a foot structure defining a toe box portion, an inner side portion, an outer side portion, and a heel portion; a sole structure connected to the sole structure to form an interior space for receiving a foot; a footwear upper forming a collar that allows access to the interior space; a racing engine disposed within the racing structure; and a racing system comprising: The inner and outer ends of the carcass that are anchored to the upper wheel, and the racing engine a lace cable having a central portion passing through the inner and outer carapaces; - Routing along the footwear upper between the side edge and the racing engine a lacing system including a plurality of lace guides; and an internal lacing system coupled to the heel portion. and a heel channel configured to facilitate access to the space.

[0115] Example 19 includes the subject matter of Example 18, or in any combination therewith, The heel channel may include an elastic member connecting the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the heel portion. The composition may optionally include:

[0116] Example 20 includes the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 18 or 19; Alternatively or in any combination thereof, an elastic member is connected to the footwear assembly. This allows for a smoother torque vs. race displacement curve during race cable tightening. It can include a functional configuration.

[0117] Example 21 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 18-20. Alternatively or in combination therewith, the heel channel may optionally include a zipper. It can be done.

[0118] Example 22 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 18-21. or optionally in combination therewith, a heel channel extending between the medial and lateral portions of the heel; Optionally, the construction may include strips of hook-and-loop fastener material disposed on each of the side portions. This can be done.

[0119] Example 23 is a footwear lacing device that may include a footwear assembly. The footwear assembly may include or use the subject matter. a foot structure defining a toe box portion, an inner side portion, an outer side portion, and a heel portion; a sole structure connected to the sole structure to form an interior space for receiving a foot; a footwear upper forming a collar that allows access to the interior space; a racing engine disposed within the racing structure; and a racing system comprising: The inner and outer ends of the carcass that are anchored to the upper wheel, and the racing engine a lace cable having a central portion passing through the inner and outer carapaces; - Routing along the footwear upper between the side edge and the racing engine a lacing system including a plurality of lace guides; and a lacing system connected to a footwear assembly. are connected to smooth the torque vs. race displacement curve during race cable tightening. and a resilient member.

[0120] Example 24 includes the subject matter of Example 23, or in any combination therewith, The elastic member is configured to extend after the racing engine tightens the race cable. The present invention may optionally include a configuration for obtaining the above.

[0121] Example 25 includes the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 23 or 24; or in any combination thereof, the modulus of elasticity of the elastic member is adjusted to match the modulus of elasticity of the footwear upper. It may optionally include configurations that are less efficient than the standard.

[0122] Example 26 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 23 to 25. In combination therewith, the elastic member may be configured to expand the collar. may optionally include

[0123] Example 27 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 23 to 26. or optionally in combination therewith, a resilient member is attached to the first and second of the plurality of race guides. A structure for connecting a race guide may be optionally included.

[0124] Example 28 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 23 to 27. or optionally in combination therewith, first and second lace guides, respectively, at the heel portion; The present invention may optionally include a configuration that can be disposed on the medial and lateral portions of the instep.

[0125] Example 29 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 23 to 28. or optionally in combination therewith, first and second lace guides, respectively, The upper may optionally include a configuration that can be disposed on the medial side surface and the lateral side surface of the upper. do.

[0126] Example 30 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 23 to 29. or optionally in combination therewith, the first and second lace guides are Optionally, it may include a floating configuration relative to the par.

[0127] Example 31 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 23 to 30. or optionally in combination therewith, a resilient member is attached to a first race guide of the plurality of race guides. The shoe upper may optionally include a structure for connecting the shoe head to the first portion of the shoe upper.

[0128] Example 32 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 23 to 31. or optionally in combination therewith, a first lace guide is attached to the inner lining of the footwear upper; or the outer side of the instep, and the first part of the shoe upper is disposed in the heel part. The present invention may optionally include a configuration in which the device may be placed.

[0129] Example 33 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 23 to 33. or optionally in combination therewith, a first lace guide and a first portion of the shoe upper; The shoe upper is located on either the medial or lateral side of the footwear upper. Optionally, the first portion of the par may be disposed in the throat.

[0130] Example 34 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 23 to 33. or optionally in combination therewith, the first and second lace guides are Optionally, it may include a floating configuration relative to the par.

[0131] Example 35 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 23 to 35. or optionally in combination therewith, an elastic member is provided between the first and second portions of the shoe upper. It may optionally include a structure that can be connected to the component.

[0132] Example 36 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 23 to 35. or optionally in combination therewith, the first portion of the shoe upper including the outer side portion; The second portion of the shoe upper includes an inner side surface portion, and the elastic member can span the heel portion. may include:

[0133] Example 37 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 23 to 36. or optionally in combination therewith, the first portion of the shoe upper including the outer side portion; a second portion of the footwear upper including an inner side portion, and an elastic member It may optionally include a configuration that can span the port portion.

[0134] Example 38 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 23 to 37. or a plurality of elastic members that may be incorporated into the lacing system in any combination thereof. may optionally include

[0135] Example 39 is a footwear lacing device that may include a footwear assembly. The subject matter may include or be used in a footwear assembly. The inner and outer carapace lateral portions include a heel portion, a medial carapace lateral portion, an lateral carapace lateral portion, and a heel portion. each extending proximally from a toe box portion to a heel portion; an inner tensile member secured to the inner side of the upper adjacent to the toe box; An outer lateral tension member and an inner lateral tension member fixed to the outer lateral side of the upper adjacent to the box. a first end attached to the outer shell tension member and a second end attached to the outer shell tension member. A lace cable and multiple laces distributed along the medial and lateral sides of the carapace. a plurality of lace guides, each of which is a portion of a lace cable; The lace cable is passed through each of the lace guides. , forming a pattern along each of the medial and lateral sides of the footwear upper, and a base guide.

[0136] Example 40 includes the subject matter of Example 39, or in any combination therewith, The footwear upper is made of a material in which the inner side surface and the outer side surface of the footwear upper are joined together. Optionally, the garment upper may further include an elastic member coupled along the throat region. It can include.

[0137] Example 41 includes the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 39 or 40; Or in any combination thereof, the medial and lateral tension members are respectively At least partially floating relative to the medial and lateral sides of the wear upper It may optionally include a configuration that allows

[0138] Example 42 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 39 to 41. or optionally in combination therewith, each of the inner and outer tension members: lockout Optionally, the configuration may include a zone; and a stretch zone.

[0139] Example 43 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 39 to 42. In any combination thereof, a lockout zone is connected to the lace cable to The stretch zone may optionally include a configuration that may be coupled to the footwear upper.

[0140] Example 44 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 39 to 43. or optionally in combination with the lower edge of the stretch zone connected to the footwear upper. The structure may optionally include a structure that can be connected.

[0141] Example 45 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 39 to 44. or optionally in combination with the lockout zone against the footwear upper It may optionally include a completely floating configuration.

[0142] Example 46 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 39 to 45. Alternatively or optionally in combination therewith, the lockout zone may include an elongation-reducing coating. The present invention may optionally include a configuration in which:

[0143] Example 47 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 39 to 46. or optionally in combination therewith, lockout zones and stretch zones are The sheet may optionally include a structure that can be made up of a continuous sheet of the above.

[0144] Example 48 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 39 to 47. or optionally in combination therewith, the first and second ends of the lace cable are In the outer zone, a structure that can be sewn to the inner and outer shell tension members may be optionally included. can be done.

[0145] Example 49 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 39 to 48. Or optionally combined with the lace cable: the inner side of the footwear upper a first proximal portion coupled to the first end of the lace cable; a second proximal portion coupled to the outer carapace lateral portion of the par and the second end of the lace cable; The lace cable further includes a first end connected to the medial side tension member, and the lace cable The second end of the tension member may optionally include a configuration in which the second end of the tension member can be connected to the outer shell tension member.

[0146] Example 50 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 39 to 49. or optionally in combination therewith, the first end and the second end of the lace cable are The inflatable shoe may optionally include a structure that may traverse the throat region of the apparel upper.

[0147] Example 51 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 39-50. or optionally in combination therewith, a lace cable; a first proximal portion coupled to the side portion and the first end of the lace cable; a second end of the lace cable connected to the outer side of the shoe upper; and a second proximal portion, the first end of the lace cable being connected to the outer the second end of the lace cable is connected to the inner instep tension member; The device may optionally include a structure that can be coupled to the

[0148] Example 52 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 39 to 51. or in any combination thereof, a lace cable is connected to the inner side of the plurality of lace guides. The lace cable is positioned within the midsole from the pattern formed by the portion. The inner proximal race guide is routed to a position that allows it to engage the attached racing engine. and a race cable in a position where the race cable can be engaged with the racing engine. The pattern formed by the outer portion of the plurality of lace guides is then routed from the lace guide. and an outer proximal race guide for supporting the outer proximal race guide. .

[0149] Example 53 is a footwear lacing device that may include a footwear assembly. The subject matter may include or be used in a footwear assembly comprising: a sole structure; and a footwear structure defining a toe box portion, an inner instep side portion, an outer instep side portion, and a heel portion. an upper coupled to the sole structure to define an interior space for receiving a foot; Footwear upper and sole forming a collar that allows access to the interior space a racing engine disposed within the structure; and a medial side floating overlay attached to the medial side portion of the upper; Attached to the outer side of the footwear upper adjacent to the toe box , outer instep floating overlay; lacing system: inner and outer instep medial and lateral ends anchored to the instep floating overlay; and a race cable having a central portion passing through the racing engine; The footwear arms are connected between the inner and outer ends of the footwear arms and the racing engine. Lacing system including multiple lace guides that route along the upper and,

[0150] Example 54 includes the subject matter of Example 53, or in any combination therewith, The medial end of the lace cable is connected to the medial floating overlay. The outer end of the cable can be connected to the outer floating overlay. It can include.

[0151] Example 55 includes the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 53 or 54. or in any combination thereof, the medial and lateral ends of the lace cable , which may cross the throat region of the footwear upper between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion. The configuration may optionally include:

[0152] Example 56 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 53 to 55. or in any combination thereof, the inner end of the lace cable is connected to the outer end of the lace cable. The outer end of the lace cable is connected to the inner Optionally, it may include a structure that can be coupled to a side floating overlay.

[0153] Example 57 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 53 to 56. or in any combination thereof, the medial and lateral sides of the footwear upper The structure may optionally further include a connecting elastic member.

[0154] Example 58 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 53 to 57. or optionally in combination therewith, each of the inner and outer tension members: lockout Optionally, the configuration may include a zone; and a stretch zone.

[0155] Example 59 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 53 to 58. or optionally in combination therewith, a lockout thorn is connected to said lace cable. Optionally, the stretch zone may be coupled to the footwear upper. This can be done.

[0156] Example 60 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 53 to 59. or optionally in combination therewith, a lower edge of the stretch zone is formed on said footwear upper The device may optionally include a structure that can be coupled to the

[0157] Example 61 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 53 to 60. or optionally in combination therewith, a lockout zone is attached to said footwear upper. The structure may optionally include a configuration that allows the structure to float completely.

[0158] Example 62 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 53 to 61. Alternatively or optionally in combination therewith, the lockout zone may include an elongation-reducing coating. The present invention may optionally include a configuration in which:

[0159] Example 63 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 53 to 62. or optionally in combination with a lockout zone and a stretch zone in the material Optionally, a configuration may be included that may include a continuous sheet.

[0160] Example 64 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 53 to 63. or optionally in combination therewith, the medial and lateral ends of the lace cable are The lockout zones may be sutured to the medial and lateral tension members, respectively. The configuration may optionally include:

[0161] Example 63 is a footwear lacing device that may include a footwear assembly. The subject matter may include or be used in a footwear assembly. a footwear upper including a heel portion, an inner instep lateral portion, an outer instep lateral portion, and a heel portion; The inner side surface portion and the outer side surface portion extend from the toe box portion to the heel portion. each extending proximally to form a throat region of the footwear upper. an upper; and an inner shoe fastened to the inner side surface of the upper adjacent to the toe box. An instep tension member; and a member fixed to the outer instep side portion of the upper adjacent to the toe box. an outer tensile member; a first end attached to an inner tensile member; and a lace cable having a second end attached to the inner side portion and the outer side portion; a plurality of lace guides distributed along the side portion; and From the first end located at the inner tensile member, across the throat region, the lace cable extends through one or more lace guides along the side portion; from the second end located at the upper tension member, across the throat region, to the medial upper tension member; Extending along the face portion through one or more race guides.

[0162] Example 65 includes the subject matter of Example 64, or in any combination therewith, a footwear upper including the medial side surface portion and the lateral side surface portion of the footwear upper; may further comprise an elastic member connecting the It may include a configuration in which:

[0163] Example 66 includes the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 64 or 65. or in any combination thereof, the inner and outer tension members are each At least partially on each of the medial and lateral side portions of the footwear upper The structure may optionally include a floating structure.

[0164] Example 67 includes the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 64 or 65. or in any combination thereof, wherein each of the inner and outer tension members is: rigid Optionally, the configuration may include a lockout zone; and an elastic stretch zone. can.

[0165] Example 68 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 64 to 67. or optionally in combination therewith, a lockout zone is connected to said lace cable. and optionally including a configuration in which the stretch zone can be coupled to the footwear upper. It is possible.

[0166] Example 69 includes or is the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 64 to 67. or optionally in combination therewith, a lockout zone and said stretch zone; Optionally, the construction may comprise a continuous sheet of material.

[0167] [Other notes] Throughout this specification, multiple instances may refer to components that are described as single instances. Each operation of one or more methods may be considered a separate operation. Although shown and described separately, one or more of the individual operations may be performed simultaneously. The operations may be performed in any order, and need not necessarily be performed in the order shown. Structures and functions presented as separate components are not treated as combined structures or components. Similarly, structures and These and other variations and modifications may be implemented as separate components. , additions, and improvements are included within the scope of the subject matter of this specification.

[0168] Although the present subject matter has been outlined with reference to certain exemplary embodiments, the implementation of this disclosure Various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader scope of the present invention. Such embodiments of the present subject matter are referred to herein as the "invention." Although they may be referred to individually or collectively as "components," this is for convenience only. Therefore, if in fact multiple disclosures are made, the scope of this application may be limited to a single disclosure or inventive concept. It is not intended to be explicitly limiting.

[0169] The embodiments described herein are presented in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed. Structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Other embodiments may be used and derived therefrom so that modifications may be made. Therefore, the present disclosure should not be taken in a limiting sense, and various implementations may be implemented. The scope of the embodiments includes the full range of equivalents to which the disclosed subject matter may be entitled.

[0170] As used herein, the term "or" does not mean either an inclusive or exclusive Also, resources described in a single instance herein may be interpreted as either Multiple instances may be provided for a process, operation, or structure. The boundaries between resources, behaviors, modules, engines, and data stores are somewhat arbitrary. and specific operations are illustrated in the context of specific exemplary configurations. Various applications are contemplated and may be included within the scope of various embodiments of the present disclosure. The structures and functions presented as separate resources in the configuration examples are not necessarily combined structures or resources. Similarly, structures and These and other variations, modifications, and Corrections, additions, and improvements are within the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure as expressed by the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It should be considered to taste.

[0171] Each of these non-limiting examples may be used alone or in combination with one or more of the other examples. Various permutations or combinations may also be used together.

[0172] The above detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this context, these embodiments are also referred to as "examples." Such examples may be used interchangeably with those shown or described. However, the present inventors have not yet determined that the present invention may include multiple elements in addition to the elements shown. are intended as examples in which only the illustrated elements are provided. with respect to the example (or one or more aspects thereof) or to any other example (or any With respect to any of the elements (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described The inventors also contemplate examples using combinations or permutations of the Examples using any combination or permutation of the elements described (or one or more thereof) embodiment), or a specific example (or one or more embodiments thereof), or also contemplates other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) as described.

[0173] In the event of a conflicting usage between this specification and any document incorporated by reference is the usage in this specification.

[0174] In this specification, terms using the indefinite article ("a" or "an") are used in patent documents. As is common in Regardless of example or usage, the term "or" includes one or more. Terms are used in a non-exclusive manner, and unless otherwise specified, "A or B" does not "A but not B," "B but not A," and "A and B" are included. As used herein, the terms "including" and "in which" h)" replaces the words "comprising" and "wherein." Also, in the following claims, the phrase "including" is used as the plain English equivalent of The terms "including" and "comprising" are open-ended. i.e., a system including elements in addition to those recited after such term in a claim. The device, article, composition, formulation, or process remains within the scope of the claims Furthermore, in the following claims, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used interchangeably. Terms such as "of 3" are used only as labels and do not impose numerical requirements on their subjects. It was not intended.

[0175] An example method (process), such as the example footwear assembly described herein, includes: It may include at least partially mechanical or robotic implementations.

[0176] The above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. For example, the above examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments may be utilized by those skilled in the art upon reviewing the above description. If provided, the abstract will be provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is intended to enable the interpretation or meaning of the claims. It is submitted with the understanding that it is not intended to be used to limit or limit the scope of the present invention. In some cases, various functions are grouped together to streamline the disclosure. Interpretation of undisclosed features as intended as essential to any claim. Rather, the subject matter of the present invention should not be construed as limiting all of the particular features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the following claims may be interpreted as including examples or Each claim is incorporated into the detailed description as an embodiment, and each claim stands on its own as a separate embodiment. Such embodiments may be combined with one another in various combinations or permutations. The scope of the present invention is believed to be determined by reference to the appended claims. The scope of the claim should be determined along with the full range of equivalents to which it is entitled.

Claims

1. 1. A footwear assembly comprising: a footwear upper including a toe box portion, a medial side portion, an lateral side portion, a heel portion, and a throat portion located between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion, the medial side portion and the lateral side portion each extending proximally from the toe box portion to the heel portion; a first lace cable having a first distal end anchored to the footwear upper at the toe box and a first proximal end not attached to the footwear upper; a second lace cable having a second distal end anchored to the medial lateral portion or the lateral lateral portion of the footwear upper between the toe box portion and the heel portion and a second proximal end not attached to the footwear upper; a first plurality of lace guides distributed along at least one of the medial side surface and the lateral side surface, each lace guide of the first plurality of lace guides adapted to receive a portion of the first lace cable; a second plurality of lace guides distributed along at least one of the medial side surface and the lateral side surface, each lace guide of the second plurality of lace guides adapted to receive a portion of the second lace cable; Including, the second distal end of the second lace cable is located proximally relative to the first distal end of the first lace cable; the first proximal end of the first lace cable and the second proximal end of the second lace cable are located proximally relative to the first distal end of the first lace cable and the second distal end of the second lace cable; the footwear assembly further comprising a racing engine connected to the first proximal end of the first lace cable and the second proximal end of the second lace cable; the first lace cable crosses the throat section only twice; The second lace cable crosses the throat portion multiple times, The second distal end of the second lace cable is located proximal to two portions of the first lace cable that cross the throat. Footwear assembly.

2. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first lace cable includes a segment that extends generally parallel to the throat.

3. The footwear assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first lace cable is anchored near a distal portion of the throat.

4. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second lace cable includes a segment that extends generally parallel to the throat.

5. 5. The footwear assembly of claim 4, wherein the second lace cable is anchored near a central portion of the throat.

6. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of lace guides and the second plurality of lace guides share at least one common lace guide.

7. The footwear assembly of claim 6 , wherein the at least one common lace guide comprises a double-sided lace guide attached to a tongue of the footwear upper.

8. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first plurality of lace guides and the second plurality of lace guides comprises an open channel lace guide.

9. 2. The footwear assembly of claim 1, wherein the first proximal end of the first lace cable and the second proximal end of the second lace cable are anchored in a lacing engine disposed in a sole structure attached to the footwear upper.

10. 10. The footwear assembly of claim 9, wherein a first length of the first lace cable between the first proximal end and the first distal end of the first lace cable is different from a second length of the second lace cable between the second proximal end and the second distal end of the second lace cable.

11. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the racing engine is disposed within a sole structure connected to the footwear upper.

12. 1. A footwear assembly comprising: a footwear upper including a toe box portion, a medial side portion, an lateral side portion, a heel portion, and a throat portion located between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion, the medial side portion and the lateral side portion each extending proximally from the toe box portion to the heel portion; a first lace cable having a first distal end anchored to the footwear upper at the toe box and a first proximal end; a second lace cable having a second distal end anchored to the medial side portion or the lateral side portion of the footwear upper between the toe box portion and the heel portion and a second proximal end; a first plurality of lace guides distributed along at least one of the medial side surface and the lateral side surface, each lace guide of the first plurality of lace guides adapted to receive a portion of the first lace cable; a second plurality of lace guides distributed along at least one of the medial side surface and the lateral side surface, each lace guide of the second plurality of lace guides adapted to receive a portion of the second lace cable; Including, The second lace cable crosses the throat portion multiple times, the second distal end of the second lace cable is located proximally relative to the first distal end of the first lace cable; the first proximal end of the first lace cable and the second proximal end of the second lace cable are located proximally relative to the first distal end of the first lace cable and the second distal end of the second lace cable; the footwear assembly further comprising a racing engine connected to the first proximal end of the first lace cable and the second proximal end of the second lace cable; the first race cable includes a segment extending generally parallel to the throat; the segments of the first lace cable extending substantially parallel to the throat are opposed to a plurality of portions of the second lace cable that cross the throat; the first lace cable crosses the throat section only twice; The second distal end of the second lace cable is located proximal to two portions of the first lace cable that cross the throat. Footwear assembly.

13. 1. A footwear assembly comprising: a footwear upper including a toe box portion, a medial side portion, an lateral side portion, a heel portion, and a throat portion located between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion, the medial side portion and the lateral side portion each extending proximally from the toe box portion to the heel portion; a first lace cable having a first distal end anchored to the footwear upper at the toe box and a first proximal end; a second lace cable having a second distal end anchored to the medial side portion or the lateral side portion of the footwear upper between the toe box portion and the heel portion and a second proximal end; a first plurality of lace guides distributed along at least one of the medial side surface and the lateral side surface, each lace guide of the first plurality of lace guides adapted to receive a portion of the first lace cable; a second plurality of lace guides distributed along at least one of the medial side surface and the lateral side surface, each lace guide of the second plurality of lace guides adapted to receive a portion of the second lace cable; Including, the first plurality of race guides and the second plurality of race guides share at least one common race guide; the at least one common lace guide comprises a bilateral lace guide attached to a tongue of the footwear upper; the second distal end of the second lace cable is located proximally relative to the first distal end of the first lace cable; the first proximal end of the first lace cable and the second proximal end of the second lace cable are located proximally relative to the first distal end of the first lace cable and the second distal end of the second lace cable; the footwear assembly further comprising a racing engine connected to the first proximal end of the first lace cable and the second proximal end of the second lace cable; the first lace cable crosses the throat section only twice; The second lace cable crosses the throat portion multiple times, The second distal end of the second lace cable is located proximal to two portions of the first lace cable that cross the throat. Footwear assembly.

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