Footwear variable tension lacing systems

Abstract

Variable tension footwear lacing systems and methods permit and facilitate adjustment of selected zones by a user. In an embodiment, stop devices are used with a footwear lacing system to prevent opposing closure edges of a footwear article from advancing towards each other. The stop device includes a stop guide configured for fastening to a portion of the footwear article, and a stop element. In an implementation, the stop element includes a stop head and a releasable affixing member. The stop head is configured to be manipulated by a user to releasably secure the affixing member to a selected position across the length of the stop guide. The stop head is operable to contact a first closure edge of the footwear article. In an embodiment, during use first and second stop devices contact first and second opposing closure edges of the footwear article and prevent them from advancing towards each other.

1 . A footwear article that includes a footwear lacing system, a lace and at least one stop device for preventing opposing closure edges of a footwear article from advancing towards each other, the stop device comprising a stop guide operatively associated with a first closure edge of the footwear article; and a releasable affixing member operatively associated with stop guide and affixable in at least two different selected positions with respect to the stop guide to selectively vary the advancement of the closure edges toward each other.  
     
     
         2 . The footwear article of  claim 1  wherein the stop guide is fastened to a portion of the footwear article and further comprises a stop element having a stop head and the affixing member, wherein the stop head is configured to be manipulated by a user to releasably secure the affixing member to a selected position on the stop guide and wherein the stop head is operable to contact the first closure edge of the footwear article.  
     
     
         3 . The footwear article of  claim 2  wherein the stop guide has a first distal end that is configured for attachment to a tongue of the footwear article and a second distal end that is free-floating.  
     
     
         4 . The footwear article of  claim 3  further comprising a cross guide member configured for attachment to the tongue, the cross guide member comprising a base section with a sleeve to accommodate the second distal end of the stop guide, and a guide portion including at least one channel for guiding the lace.  
     
     
         5 . The footwear article of  claim 2  wherein the stop guide includes a plurality of openings, and the affixing member includes at least one stop pin for releaseably mating with a selected opening.  
     
     
         6 . The footwear article of  claim 5  wherein the affixing member includes at least two stop pins.  
     
     
         7 . The footwear article of  claim 2  wherein the stop element further comprises a stop tab.  
     
     
         8 . The footwear article of  claim 2  further comprising a second stop device comprising a second stop guide and a second stop element having a second stop head and a second releasable affixing member, wherein the second stop device is fastened to a portion of the footwear article that is adjacent to and opposite a first stop device such that the second stop head is operable to contact a second closure edge of the footwear article.  
     
     
         9 . The footwear article of  claim 2  wherein the stop head has a front surface that is shaped to complement the shape of a lace guide member, wherein the lace guide member is associated with the closure edge of the footwear article.  
     
     
         10 . The footwear article of  claim 2  wherein the stop guide includes a plurality of teeth, and the affixing member includes at least one tooth.  
     
     
         11 . The footwear article of  claim 10  which further comprises a second stop element having a second affixing member that includes at least one tooth for releasably meshing with the teeth of the stop guide, and wherein a first and the second stop elements include first and second stop heads configured to contact the first closure edge and an opposing second closure edge of the footwear article.  
     
     
         12 . The footwear article of  claim 1   1  wherein the first and second stop heads are stop hooks that are shaped to securely contact the first and second closure edges of the footwear article.  
     
     
         13 . The footwear article of  claim 1  further comprising a stop head having a first surface operable to contact the first closure edge of the footwear article, and the affixing member comprises a tab connected to the stop head, wherein the tab includes at least one adjustment hole for attachment to a tongue area of the footwear article and a fastener for releasably securing the tab in a selected position on the tongue area.  
     
     
         14 . The footwear article of  claim 13  further comprising a second stop device comprising a second stop head having a surface operable to contact a second closure edge of the footwear article, a second tab connected to the second stop head, wherein the second tab includes at least one adjustment hole for attachment to a tongue area of the footwear article, and a second fastener for releasably securing the second tab in a selected position that is adjacent to and opposite a first stop device such that the second stop head is operable to contact the second closure edge of the footwear article  
     
     
         15 . The footwear article of  claim 13  wherein the front surface of the stop head is shaped to complement the shape of a cable guide member that is associated with the first closure edge of the footwear article.  
     
     
         16 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , further comprising a stop head having first and second opposing surfaces; and the affixing member comprises a fastener assembly for releasably securing the stop head in a selected location on a tongue area of the footwear article, wherein the stop head includes an offset attachment point for the fastener assembly and is rotatable about the attachment point such that either the first surface or the second surface may be chosen to contact a first closure edge of the footwear article.  
     
     
         17 . The footwear article of  claim 16  further comprising a second stop device comprising a second stop head having first and second opposing surfaces, and a second fastener for releasably securing the stop head in a selected location that is adjacent to and opposite a first stop device, wherein the second stop head includes an offset attachment point for the fastener assembly and is rotatable about the attachment point such that either the first surface or the second surface of the second stop head may be chosen to contact a second closure edge of the footwear article.  
     
     
         18 . The footwear article of  claim 16  further comprising a lace guide member that is associated with the first closure edge of the footwear article and wherein the first and second opposing surfaces of the stop head are shaped to complement the shape of the lace guide member.  
     
     
         19 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing that includes at least one lace channel for permitting a lace to freely pass therethrough; at least one adjustable stop bumper located on at least a first distal end of the housing, the stop bumper including a lace channel therethrough and a contact edge for contacting a closure edge of the footwear article; and at least one tightening mechanism connected to the housing and associated with the stop bumper, for adjusting the length between an edge of the distal end of the housing and the contact edge.  
     
     
         20 . The footwear article of  claim 19  wherein the tightening mechanism comprises a twist tightening mechanism and a threaded tube.  
     
     
         21 . The footwear article of  claim 19  wherein the housing is cross-shaped and further comprises two crossing lace channels and at least two adjustable stop bumpers, the stop bumpers configured to contact first and a second opposing closure edges of the footwear article.  
     
     
         22 . The footwear article of  claim 21  further comprising four adjustable stop bumpers, with the stop bumpers being configured to contact first and a second opposing closure edges of the footwear article, and further comprising a tightening mechanism associated with each of the stop bumpers.  
     
     
         23 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of lace guide members affixed to the first and second side edges and positioned in opposing relationship to each other for guiding the lace to traverse the tongue area; at least one lace guided by the guide members to traverse the tongue area; and at least one adjustable device configured to contact a lace guide when the lace is tensioned for preventing the first side edge from approaching the second side edge when the lace is tensioned.  
     
     
         24 . The footwear article of  claim 23  further comprising a tightening mechanism connected to the footwear article, wherein the lace is rotationally connected to the tightening mechanism.  
     
     
         25 . The footwear article of  claim 23  further comprising a cross guide member configured for attachment to the tongue, the cross guide member comprising a base section with a sleeve to accommodate a free-floating, second distal end of the stop guide, and a guide portion including at least one channel for guiding the lace.