Closure devices and methods for golf shoes

Abstract

An article of footwear having a tension member that is guided or directed about a path of the footwear via one or more guides that are coupled to the footwear. A tightening mechanism is operationally coupled with the tension member to effect a first tensioning of the tension member and a first tightening of the footwear upon operation of the tightening mechanism. A tension adjustment component is positioned along the path of the tension member and is also operationally coupled with the tension member to effect a second tensioning of the tension member and a second tightening of the footwear upon a movement of the tension adjustment component between a first position and a second position. The tension adjustment component effects the second tensioning of the tension member and the second tightening of the footwear without requiring operation of or interaction with the tightening mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear having multiple tightness modes comprising:
 a tension member that is guided or directed about a path of the footwear via one or more guides coupled with the footwear;   a tightening mechanism that is operationally coupled with the tension member to effect a first tensioning of the tension member and a first tightening of the footwear upon operation of the tightening mechanism; and   a tension adjustment component positioned along the path of the tension member and operationally coupled with the tension member to effect a second tensioning of the tension member and a second tightening of the footwear upon a movement of the tension adjustment component between a first position and a second position;   wherein the tension adjustment component effects the second tensioning of the tension member and the second tightening of the footwear without requiring operation of or interaction with the tightening mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the tension adjustment component is a lever that is positioned along or near an eyestay of the footwear, the lever being pivotable between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the tension adjustment component is a lever that is positioned near a toe portion of the footwear, the lever being pivotable between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the tension adjustment component is a pull tab that is coupled with the lace, the pull tab being configured to be pulled distally and removably coupled with a coupling component that is attached to the shoe. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the tension adjustment component is a slidable component that is slidably coupled with the footwear, the slidable component being configured to slide between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein the tightening mechanism is positioned on the slidable component. 
     
     
         7 . A method of configuring an article of footwear comprising:
 positioning a tension member about a path of the footwear via one or more guides coupled with the footwear;   operationally coupling a tightening mechanism with the tension member to effect a first tensioning of the tension member and a first tightening of the footwear upon operation of the tightening mechanism; and   operationally coupling a tension adjustment component with the tension member to effect a second tensioning of the tension member and a second tightening of the footwear upon a movement of the tension adjustment component between a first position and a second position;   wherein the tension adjustment component effects the second tensioning of the tension member and the second tightening of the footwear without requiring operation of or interaction with the tightening mechanism.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the tension adjustment component is a lever that is positioned along or near an eyestay of the footwear, the lever being pivotable between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the tension adjustment component is a lever that is positioned near a toe portion of the footwear, the lever being pivotable between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the tension adjustment component is a pull tab that is coupled with the lace, the pull tab being configured to be pulled distally and removably coupled with a coupling component that is attached to the shoe. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the tension adjustment component is a slidable component that is slidably coupled with the footwear, the slidable component being configured to slide between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tightening mechanism is positioned on the slidable component.