Footwear including a removable closure device

Abstract

An article of footwear is provided and includes an upper including a shoelace, a base plate attached to the upper and a closure device movably attached to the shoelace, where in the closure device is moved along the shoelace to adjust the fit of the upper on a user's foot, and the closure device is removably secured to the base plate, such that the user may remove the closure device from the base plate to loosen the upper on their foot and attach the closure device to the base plate to secure the upper on their foot without moving the closure device along the shoelace.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present application relates generally to footwear, and more particularly, to a closure device for footwear that is movably secured to a closure mechanism, such as a shoelace, to enable a user to tighten or loosen the position of the upper relative to their feet where the closure device is removably secured to the upper.

[0002] Footwear typically includes a sole and an upper attached to the sole where the upper includes a foot opening for a user to insert their foot. After inserting their foot in the foot opening, the user adjusts the position of the upper relative to each foot by adjusting a closure mechanism, such as a shoelace, on the upper. The shoelace is tightened or loosened based on the desired fit and comfort on each foot and then secured in place by tying the ends of the shoelace together.

[0003] Some footwear includes closure devices that secure shoelaces in place without needing to tie the shoelaces. For example, a toggle type closure device has a pressure mechanism, such as a button, that moves relative to a housing such that the pressure mechanism moves between a non-pressed position and a pressed position where a spring biases the pressure mechanism to the non-pressed position. The ends of a shoelace are threaded through openings in the toggle type closure device and are secured in place by clamping the shoelace between the pressure mechanism and the housing using the tension provided by the spring. Other types of closure devices used to secure a shoelace in place are buckles, snaps and buttons. These types of closure devices must be adjusted each time a user wants to wear or remove their shoes.

[0004] It is therefore desirable to provide a shoe having a closure device for a shoelace that is adjustable and also removable from an upper to enable a user to quickly and efficiently put on their shoes and remove their shoes from their feet.SUMMARY

[0005] The present invention is for an article of footwear such as a shoe, and more specifically, to a closure device for a shoe where the closure device is movable along a shoelace on the upper to change the fit of the upper on a user's foot and where the closure device is removably attached to the upper so that a user may quickly put a shoe on their foot and quickly remove the shoe from their foot without adjusting the position of the closure device on the shoelace.

[0006] In an embodiment, an article of footwear is provided and includes an upper including a shoelace, a base plate attached to the upper and a closure device movably attached to the shoelace, where in the closure device is moved along the shoelace to adjust the fit of the upper on a user's foot, and the closure device is removably secured to the base plate, such that the user may remove the closure device from the base plate to loosen the upper on their foot and attach the closure device to the base plate to secure the upper on their foot without moving the closure device along the shoelace.

[0007] In another embodiment, an article of footwear is provided and includes an upper including a shoelace, a base plate attached to the upper, a closure device movably attached to the shoelace, where the closure device includes a housing with a central opening and through-holes and defining an interior space and a biasing device is inserted in the central opening and movably attached to the housing, the biasing device including through-holes and is movable between a non-pressed position and a pressed position in which the biasing device is at least partially in the interior space of the housing, and where the closure device is moved along the shoelace when the through-holes of the biasing device are aligned with the through-holes of the housing in the pressed position to adjust the fit of the upper on a user's foot, the closure device is secured in position on the shoelace when the shoelace is clamped between the biasing device and the housing when the biasing device is in the non-pressed position, and the closure device is removably secured to the base plate, such that the user may remove the closure device from the base plate to loosen the upper on their foot and attach the closure device to the base plate to secure the upper on their foot without moving the closure device along the shoelace.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article of footwear including an embodiment of the present closure device.

[0009] FIG. 2A is a front view of the closure device of FIG. 1.

[0010] FIG. 2B is a right side view of the closure device of FIG. 1

[0011] FIG. 2C is a rear view of the closure device of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 2D is a left side view of the closure device of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 2E is a top view of the closure device of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 3A is a front view of a base plate of the closure device of FIG. 1, where the rear view is a mirror image of this view.

[0015] FIG. 3B is a front view of a housing of the closure device of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 3C is a front view of a biasing device of the closure device of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 3D is a bottom view of the base plate of FIG. 3A.

[0018] FIG. 3E is a side view of the base plate of FIG. 3A, where the opposing side view is a mirror image of this view.

[0019] FIG. 3F is a bottom view of the housing of FIG. 3B.

[0020] FIG. 3G is a bottom view of the biasing device of FIG. 3C.

[0021] FIG. 3H is side view of the biasing device of FIG. 3C, where the opposing side view is a mirror image of this view.

[0022] FIG. 4A is a top view of the base plate of FIG. 3A.

[0023] FIG. 4B is a top view of the closure device of FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 4C is a top view of the biasing device of FIG. 3C.

[0025] FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view of the closure device of FIG. 4B taken substantially along line 4D-4D in the direction generally indicated.

[0026] FIG. 4E is a cross-sectional view of the base plate of FIG. 4A taken substantially along line 4E-4E in the direction generally indicated.

[0027] FIG. 4F is a cross-sectional view of the biasing device of the closure device of FIG. 4D.

[0028] FIG. 4G is a cross-sectional view of the base of FIG. 4A taken substantially along line 4G-4G in the direction generally indicated.

[0029] FIG. 4H is a cross-sectional view of the base of FIG. 4B taken substantially along line 4H-4H in the direction generally indicated.

[0030] FIG. 4I is a cross-sectional view of the base of FIG. 4C taken substantially along line 4I-4I in the direction generally indicated.

[0031] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the closure device.

[0032] FIG. 5B is a top perspective view of the closure device of FIG. 5A where the rear view is a mirror image of this view.

[0033] FIG. 5C is a front perspective view of the closure device of FIG. 5A.

[0034] FIG. 5D is a side perspective view of the closure device of FIG. 5A where the opposite side view is a mirror image of this view.

[0035] FIG. 5E is a bottom perspective view of the closure device of FIG. 5A.

[0036] FIG. 5C is a rear perspective view of the closure device of FIG. 5A.

[0037] FIG. 6A is a top view of the closure device of FIG. 5A.

[0038] FIG. 6B is a top view of a base of the closure device of FIG. 5A.

[0039] FIG. 6C is a top view of a biasing device of the closure device of FIG. 5A.

[0040] FIG. 6D is a cross-sectional view of the closure device of FIG. 6A taken substantially along line 6D-6D in the direction generally indicated.

[0041] FIG. 6E is a cross-sectional view of the closure device of FIG. 6A taken substantially along line 6E-6E in the direction generally indicated.

[0042] FIG. 6F is a cross-sectional view of the closure device of FIG. 6A taken substantially along line 6F-6F in the direction generally indicated.

[0043] FIG. 7A is a front view of the base of the closure device of FIG. 5A.

[0044] FIG. 7B is a front view of the housing of the closure device of FIG. 5A

[0045] FIG. 7C is a front view of the biasing device of the closure device of FIG. 5A.

[0046] FIG. 7D is a bottom view of the base of FIG. 7A.

[0047] FIG. 7E is a bottom view of the housing of FIG. 7B.

[0048] FIG. 7F is a bottom view of the biasing device of FIG. 7C.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] The present invention is for an article of footwear, and more specifically, a closure device that is movably attached to a closure mechanism, such as a shoelace, so that the closure device is movable along the shoelace to loosen or tighten the upper relative to a user's foot, and where the closure device is removably attached to the upper to enable a user to quickly put on their shoes and remove their shoes.

[0050] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4I, an embodiment of an article of footwear 20, such as a shoe, is shown where the article of footwear 20 includes a sole, generally indicated as 22, where the sole 22 is attached to an upper 24. The sole 22 may be an integral, molded component made of a material having a designated hardness value or made with different materials having the same or different hardness values. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper 24 is attached to the sole 22 by sewing the upper on the sole by stitching with a suitable thread or any suitable material. Alternatively, the upper 24 may be attached to the sole 22 using an adhesive, attached by molding the upper to the sole or at least partially molding the upper within the sole or using any suitable attachment method or combination of attachment methods, such as attaching the upper to the sole using an adhesive and stitching.

[0051] In the illustrated embodiment, the sole includes a midsole 26 and an outsole 28 where the outsole 28 is attached to a bottom surface of the midsole 26 by an adhesive or by molding. In an embodiment, the midsole 26 is made of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and the outsole 28 is made of rubber, where it is contemplated that the sole, i.e., the midsole and the outsole, may be made out of any suitable material or combination of materials known in the art. In this embodiment, the outsole 26 includes a plurality of tread members 30 that are configured to grip an underlying surface, such as the ground, during movement. In another embodiment, the article of footwear 20 does not have an outsole, where the bottom surface of the sole 22, and more specifically, the midsole 26, directly contacts an underlying surface. In this embodiment, the sole 22 or midsole 26 has one or more tread members 30 on a bottom surface of the sole or midsole.

[0052] In an embodiment, the upper 24 is an integrated upper where the front end 32, the rear end 34 and the sides 36, 38 of the upper are integrally formed with one or more materials, such as a fabric material and / or a knit material. The upper 24 further includes a tongue 40 having sides 42, 44. As shown, the upper also includes eyelets 46 that each include a through-hole 48 where the eyelets are configured to receive a shoelace 50. The shoelace 50 is threaded through each of the eyelets 46 in a criss-cross pattern so that the ends 52 and 54 of the shoelace 50 are near the foot opening 56. Typically, a user pulls on the ends 52 and 54 of the shoelace 50 to tighten the shoelace and thereby move the upper 24 closer to a user's foot. The user then ties the ends 52, 54 of the shoelace 50 together to secure the shoelace in place on the upper 24. The shoelace 50 is loosened by moving the ends 52, 54 of the shoelace inward toward the eyelets 46, which enables a user to move the upper 24 away from their foot.

[0053] In an embodiment, a closure device, generally indicated by 58, is attached to the shoelace 50 and is movable along the shoelace to tighten and loosen the shoelace relative to the upper 24. The closure device 58 has a base plate 60, a housing 62 removable secured to the base plate 60 and a biasing device 64 that is seated within the housing 62. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3D, the base plate 60 includes a first member 66 having an oval shape and a second member or lock member 68 having a L-shape (FIG. 3E), where the second member 68 extends outwardly from a surface of the first member 66. A guide tab 71 is on an opposing side of the first member 66 from the lock member 68. The first member 66, the lock member 68 and the guide tab 71 may be separate parts that are attached together by adhesive or another attachment method, or integrally formed as a single unit. As shown in FIG. 4A, the top surface 70 of the base plate 60 includes a recessed area 69 configured to receive one or more magnets 71 (FIG. 2F). In this embodiment, the base plate 60 is secured to the upper 24 near the foot opening 56 as shown in FIG. 1. In an embodiment, the base plate 60 is attached to the upper 24 by stitching. The base plate 60 may also be attached to the upper 24 by using an adhesive on the bottom surface 70 of the base plate, molding the base plate to the upper 24 or using any suitable attachment method.

[0054] The housing 62 has a conical shape with a top end 76 and a bottom end 78. The top end 76 includes a central opening 80 that extends to an interior space 82 (FIG. 4D) defined within the housing 62. Additionally, a first side 84 and an opposing, second side 86 of the housing 62 each include first openings 88 and second openings 90 that are spaced apart and extend to the interior space 82 where the first and second openings are aligned with each other along horizontal axes through the housing 62. The bottom surface 92 of the housing 62 shown in FIG. 3E has a circular recessed area 94 that is configured to receive a magnet 95. Also, the bottom surface 92 includes receptacles 96. The magnet 95 on the bottom surface 92 of the housing 62 help to guide the housing into position on the base plate 60.

[0055] Referring to FIGS. 3F, 3G and 4D, the biasing device 64 has a housing 98 with an upper surface 100 and an opposing, bottom surface 102 and spaced through-holes 104. The housing 98 has an oval shape and an outer peripheral surface 106 that is configured to extend through a central opening 80 in the housing 62. A pair of opposing tabs 110 extend outwardly from the housing 98 and engage an inner surface of the housing 62 to help prevent the housing 98 from disengaging from the housing 62. As shown in FIGS. 4D and 4H, the housing 98 includes a central receptacle 112 that is between the through-holes 104 and configured receive a biasing member, such as coil spring 114. A pin member 116 is inserted into an opening 118 in a bottom wall 120 of the housing 62, where the pin member 116 includes a base member 122 and a pin 124 extending from the base member 122. The coil spring 114 has an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the pin 124 so that the coil spring fits onto the pin.

[0056] In this embodiment, the base plate 60, the housing 62 and the biasing device 64 are made with a plastic material or a polymer material. It should be appreciated that the base plate 60, the housing 62 and the biasing device 64 may be made with ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), nylon, a composite material, metal or any suitable material or combination of materials known in the art.

[0057] In operation, a user presses the biasing device 64 toward the bottom end 78 of the housing 62 such that the biasing device moves at least partially into the interior space 82 of the housing 62. As the biasing device 64 being pressed toward the bottom end of the housing 62, which compresses the coil spring 114, until the through-holes 104 on the biasing device 64 are substantially aligned with the first and second openings 88 and 90 of the housing 62. While the through-holes 104 and the first and second openings 88, 90 are aligned, the user inserts each of the ends 52, 54 of the shoelace 50 through one of the aligned through-holes and first and second openings. The ends 52, 54 of the shoelace 50 may be attached together or formed into a continuous loop as shown in FIG. 1 or may be separated from each other. After the ends 52, 54 of the shoelace 50 are inserted through the aligned through-holes 104 and first and second openings 88, 90, the user releases pressure on the biasing device 64, which causes the coil spring 114 to expand and move the biasing device 64 away from the bottom wall and outwardly through the central opening 80 in the housing 62. The biasing device 64 moves through the central opening 80 until the tabs 110 engage the inner surface of the housing 62 and stop the movement of the biasing device. In this position, the shoelace 50 is clamped between the biasing device 64 and the housing 62. This action secures the closure device 58 in place on the shoelace 50 such that the closure device 58 does not move along the shoelace 50.

[0058] To tighten the shoelace 50 and thereby move the upper 24 closer to a user's foot to tighten a shoe on the user's foot, the user presses the biasing device 64 toward the bottom end 78 of the housing 62 as described above until the through-holes 104 of the biasing device 64 are substantially aligned with the first and second openings 88, 90 of the housing 62. Then, the closure device 58 is moved along the shoelace 50 toward the upper 24 until achieving a desired level of tightness. The user then releases pressure on the biasing device 64 as described above to secure or lock the closure device 58 in place on the shoelace 50.

[0059] To loosen the shoelace 50 and thereby move the upper 24 away from the user's foot to loosen the shoe on the user's foot, the user presses the biasing device 64 toward the bottom end 78 of the housing 62 until the through-holes 104 of the biasing device 64 are substantially aligned with the first and second openings 88, 90 of the housing 62. The user then moves the closure device 58 along the shoelace 50 away from the upper 24 until achieving a desired level of looseness. The user releases pressure on the biasing device 64 as described above to secure or lock the closure device 58 in place on the shoelace 50.

[0060] After achieving the desired level of tightness or looseness of the shoelace 50, the closure device 58 is secured to the base plate 60 on the upper 24. Specifically, the closure device 58 is positioned adjacent to or near the base plate until the magnet 95 of the closure device is attracted to the magnet 71 of the base plate 60 and helps guide the closure device 58 toward the base plate 60 so that the bottom surface of the housing 62 is moved close to the magnet 74 on the base plate 60 until there is a magnetic attraction between the magnets. The magnetic attraction between the magnets enables the guide tab 71 to move into one of the receptacles 96 and the lip 75 of the L-shaped lock member 68 to engage the portion of the first member 66 surrounding the opposing receptable 96 and secure the closure device 58 to the base plate 60.

[0061] This action temporarily locks the closure device 58 on the upper 24 at the desired level of fit, i.e., tightness or looseness, of the shoe on the user's foot. If the user wants to remove the shoe from their foot, the user pulls on the housing 62 by gripping the grip tab 126 on the outside surface of the housing 62 and then moving the housing 62 out of locking engagement and away from the base plate 60. This action instantly loosens the shoelace 50 on the upper 24 and loosens the shoe on the user's foot. When the user puts the shoe back onto their foot, the user moves the housing 62 toward the base plate 60 until the housing 62 is secured and locked to the base plate 60 as described above. In this way, after the user adjusts the position of the closure device 58 on the shoelace 50 to achieve a desired fit, the user can quickly disengage the housing 62 from the base plate 60 to quickly and easily remove the shoe from their foot and quickly re-engage the housing 62 to the base plate 60 when putting the shoe onto their foot without needing to adjust the comfort and fit, i.e., the tightness or looseness, of the shoe on their foot.

[0062] Referring to FIGS. 5A to 7F, another embodiment of the closure device 128 is shown where the closure device 128 includes a base plate 130, a housing 132 and a biasing device 134. The base plate 130 includes a plurality of through-holes 136. When the base plate 130 is placed on the upper 24, similar to the closure device 58 shown in FIG. 1, one or more pieces of thread or other suitable material, is used to stitch or sew the base plate 130 to the upper 24. Alternatively, the base plate 130 may be attached to the upper 24 using an adhesive or by molding the base plate 130 to the upper 24 or by any suitable attachment method. The upper surface 138 of the base plate 130 includes a first end 140 with a first guide tab 142 and a second end 144 with a second guide tab 146. Also, a pair of first locking posts 148 are at the first end 140 and spaced inwardly from the first guide tab 142 and a pair of second locking posts 150 are at the second end 144 and spaced inwardly from the second guide tab 146. The first locking posts 148 and the second locking posts 150 are spaced from each other as shown FIGS. 7A and 7D. Further, the first locking posts 148 have upper ends with first locking tabs 152 and the second locking posts 150 have upper ends with second locking tabs 154.

[0063] The housing 132 includes a first end 156, a second opposing end 158 and a front side 160 and a rear side 162 that each extend between the first end and the second end. The upper surface 164 of the housing 132 includes a central through-hole 166 that extends to an interior space 168 defined within the housing. Further, an upper end 170 of the housing 132 includes first spaced arms 172 at the first end 156 and second spaced arms 174 at the second end 158, where the first spaced arms define a first space 176 and the second spaced arms define a second space 178.

[0064] Additionally, the housing 132 includes a first unlocking member 180 at the first end 156 and a second unlocking member 182 at the second end 158. The first unlocking member 180 is attached to the housing 132 by a first hinge 184 and the second unlocking member 182 is attached to the housing 132 by a second hinge 186. As shown, the first unlocking member 180 includes a planar body 188 with an upper end having a first guide tab 190, an outer surface 192 with a plurality of spaced, gripping ribs 194 and an inner surface 196 having spaced unlocking tabs 198 that extend from the inner surface 196. Similarly, the second unlocking member 182 includes a planar body 200 with an upper end having a second guide tab 202, an outer surface 204 with a plurality of spaced, second gripping ribs 206 and an inner surface 208 having spaced, second unlocking tabs 210 that extend from the inner surface 208. The first and second hinges 184 and 186 are resilient and bias the planar bodies 188 and 200 of the first and second unlocking members 180 and 182 respectively toward the first and second guide tabs 190 and 202.

[0065] As shown in FIGS. 5C and 5F, the front side 160 of the housing 132 includes front through-holes 212 that extend to the interior space 168 and the rear side 162 of the housing 132 includes rear through-holes 214 that extend to the interior space 168, where the front through-holes 212 are spaced from each other and the rear through-holes 214 are spaced from each other. The front through-holes 212 and the rear through-holes 214 are aligned with each other along a horizontal plane. Additionally, the first end 156 of the housing 132 includes first spaced openings 216 and the second end 158 of the housing 132 includes second spaced openings 218. As shown in FIG. 6E, a bottom wall 220 of the housing 132 includes a pin member 222 having a pin 224 with an outer diameter.

[0066] The biasing device 134 includes a body 226 having an upper flange member 228 and a lower flange member 230 that are connected by a connecting member 232. The body 226 further includes first and second through-holes 234 and 236 that are spaced from each other and extend from the front side 238 to the rear side 240 of the body 226. As shown, the connecting member 232 defines a central receptacle 242 that is between the first and second through-holes 234, 236 and is configured to receive coil spring 244. The coil spring 244 has an inner diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the pin 222. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom end 246 of the biasing device 134 includes outwardly extending tabs 248 that engage corresponding shoulders 250 on the housing 132 to help retain the biasing device 134 within the housing to prevent the biasing device from being removed or falling out of the housing 132.

[0067] In operation, a user presses the top end of the biasing device 134 toward the interior space 168 of the housing 132, which causes the coil spring 244 to move over the pin 224 and press against the bottom wall 220 of the housing 132. The biasing device 134 is pressed into the housing 132 until the first and second through-holes 234 and 236 of the body 226 are substantially aligned with the front and rear through-holes 212, 214 of the housing 132. While the first and second through-holes 234, 236 and the front and rear through-holes 212, 214 are aligned, the user inserts each end of a shoelace 50 through one of the aligned front and back through-holes and first and second through-holes. The ends of the shoelace 50 may be attached together or formed into a continuous loop as shown in FIG. 1 or may be separated from each other. After the ends of the shoelace 50 are inserted through the aligned through-holes, the user releases pressure on the biasing device 134 which causes the coil spring 244 to expand back to a non-compressed position and thereby move the biasing device 134 away from the bottom wall 220 of the housing 132 and partially, outwardly through the central through-hole 166 of the housing 132. Specifically, the biasing device 134 moves through the central through-hole 166 until the tabs 248 engage the shoulders 250 of the housing 132 as described above and stop the movement of the biasing device 134. In this position, the shoelace 50 is clamped between the biasing device 134 and the housing 132. This action secures the closure device 128 in place on the shoelace 50 such that the closure device 128 does not move along the shoelace 50.

[0068] To tighten the shoelace 50 and thereby move the upper 24 closer to a user's foot to tighten a shoe on the user's foot, the user presses the biasing device 134 toward the bottom wall 220 of the housing 132 as described above until the through-holes of the biasing device 134 are substantially aligned with the front and rear through-holes 212, 214 on the housing 132. Then, the closure device 128 is moved along the shoelace 50 toward the upper 24 until achieving a desired level of tightness. The user then releases the biasing device 134 as described above to secure or lock the closure device 128 in place on the shoelace 50.

[0069] To loosen the shoelace 50 and thereby move the upper 24 away from the user's foot to loosen the shoe on the user's foot, the user presses the biasing device 134 toward the bottom wall 220 of the housing 132 until the through-holes of the biasing device 134 are substantially aligned with the front and rear through-holes 212, 214 of the housing 132. The user then moves the closure device 128 along the shoelace 50 away from the upper 24 until achieving a desired level of looseness. The user releases the biasing device 134 as described above to secure or lock the closure device 128 in place on the shoelace 50.

[0070] After achieving the desired level of tightness or looseness of the shoelace 50, the closure device 128 is secured to the base plate 130 on the upper 24. Specifically, the housing 132 is positioned between the first and second guide tabs 142 and 146 and is moved toward the base plate 130 so that the first and second locking posts 148 and 150 extend into the interior space 168 of the housing 132 and the tabs 152, 154 on the first and second locking posts 148 and 150 engage the corresponding first and second openings 216 and 218 on the housing 132. The engagement of the first and second locking posts 148, 150 with the first and second openings 216, 218 secures the housing 132 of the closure device 128 to the base plate 130. As such, this action temporarily locks the closure device 128 on the upper 24 at the desired level of fit, i.e., tightness or looseness, of the shoe on the user's foot.

[0071] If the user wants to remove the shoe from their foot, the user pushes or presses inwardly on the first and second unlocking members 180 and 182 until the first unlocking tabs 198 engage the corresponding tabs 152 on the first locking posts 148 and the second unlocking tabs 210 engage the corresponding tabs 154 on the second locking posts 150 to release the tabs on the first and second locking posts from the first and second openings on the housing. In this position, the housing 132 may be moved away from the base plate 130 and released from the upper 24. This action instantly loosens the shoelace 50 on the upper 24 and loosens the shoe on the user's foot. When the user puts the shoe back onto their foot, the user moves the housing 132 toward the base plate 130 until the housing 132 is secured and locked to the base plate 130 as described above. In this way, after the user adjusts the position of the closure device 128 on the shoelace 50 to achieve a desired fit, the user can quickly disengage the housing 132 from the base plate 130 to quickly and easily remove the shoe from their foot and quickly re-engage the housing 132 to the base plate 130 when putting the shoe onto their foot without needing to adjust the comfort and fit, i.e., the tightness or looseness, of the shoe on their foot.

[0072] In another embodiment of the closure device, in operation, a user presses the biasing device 134 toward the interior space 168 of the housing 132 to release the housing from the base plate. Furthermore, if the user wants to tighten or loosen the shoelace, the user pushes or presses inwardly on the first and second unlocking members 180 and 182 to align the through-holes and move the closure device along the shoelace.

[0073] While particular embodiments of the present closure device is shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising:an upper including a shoelace;a base plate attached to the upper; anda closure device movably attached to the shoelace,wherein the closure device is moved along the shoelace to adjust the fit of the upper on a user's foot, andwherein the closure device is removably secured to the base plate, such that the user may remove the closure device from the base plate to loosen the upper on their foot and attach the closure device to the base plate to secure the upper on their foot without moving the closure device along the shoelace.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said closure device includes a housing defining an interior space and an upper opening extending to said interior space, said housing further including first openings on a first side of said housing and second openings on an opposing, second side of said housing, said first and second openings extending to said interior space.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2, further comprising a biasing device having a body inserted in said upper opening and being movably connected to said housing, said biasing device including a coil spring, wherein said biasing device moves from a first position in which the coil spring is not compressed and a second position in which the coil spring is at least partially compressed and wherein the coil spring is configured to bias the body to the first position.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein said biasing device includes spaced through-holes, wherein when said body of said biasing device is moved from said first position to said second position, said through-holes are substantially aligned with said first and second openings, and wherein said body is moved to said second position said through-holes are not aligned with said first and second openings.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said closure device has a housing with a bottom surface including a magnet and said base plate includes a magnet, wherein said magnet of said housing is attracted to said magnet of said base plate to help guide said housing into engagement with said base plate.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said closure device includes a housing having a gripping tab.

7. An article of footwear comprising:an upper including a shoelace;a base plate attached to the upper;a closure device movably attached to the shoelace, said closure device including a housing with a central opening and through-holes and defining an interior space; anda biasing device inserted in said central opening and movably attached to said housing, said biasing device including through-holes and being movable between a non-pressed position and a pressed position in which the biasing device is at least partially in the interior space of the housing;wherein the closure device is moved along the shoelace when the through-holes of the biasing device are aligned with the through-holes of said housing in the pressed position to adjust the fit of the upper on a user's foot,wherein the closure device is secured in position on the shoelace when the shoelace is clamped between the biasing device and the housing when the biasing device is in the non-pressed position, andwherein the closure device is removably secured to the base plate, such that the user may remove the closure device from the base plate to loosen the upper on their foot and attach the closure device to the base plate to secure the upper on their foot without moving the closure device along the shoelace.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein said biasing device includes a coil spring, wherein said coil spring is compressed when said biasing device is pressed and moved to the pressed position, and wherein said coil spring expands and biases said biasing device to the non-pressed position when pressure is released from said biasing device.

9. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein said housing has a bottom surface including a magnet and said base plate includes a magnet, wherein said magnet of said housing is attracted to said magnet of said base plate to help guide said housing into engagement with said base plate.

10. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein said housing includes a gripping tab.

11. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein said housing includes a bottom wall defining a receptacle and a pin member including a pin, said pin member being in said receptable, wherein said pin has an outer diameter that is less than an inner diameter of said coils spring and fits within said coil spring when said biasing device is moved to the pressed position.

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