Closure devices and methods for climbing shoes

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a tightening system for a climbing shoe includes a tension member, a tightening mechanism that is operationally coupled with the tension member to effect tensioning of the tension member, and a fit adjustment system. The fit adjustment system is coupled with the climbing shoe and operationally coupled with the tension member so that tensioning of the tension member effects tensioning of the fit adjustment system to adjust a fit of the climbing shoe about a user's foot. The fit adjustment system generally includes a plurality of arms or ends that extend from a mid-section. The arms or ends are typically positioned above the climbing shoe's upper and coupled near an eyestay of the shoe. The mid-section commonly extends diagonally across the bottom portion of the shoe between opposing ends or arms of the fit adjustment system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tightening system for a climbing shoe comprising:
 a tension member that is routed about the climbing shoe along a path via one or more guide members;   a tightening mechanism that is operationally coupled with the tension member to effect tensioning of the tension member; and   a fit adjustment system having a first end, a second end, and a mid-section that extends between the first and second ends, and having a third end, a fourth end, and a mid-section that extends between the third and fourth ends, wherein:
 the first, second, third, and fourth ends are each:
 1) positioned above an upper of the climbing shoe, 
 2) attached to the climbing shoe near an eyestay of the climbing shoe, and 
 3) operationally coupled with the tension member so that tensioning of the tension member effects tensioning of the fit adjustment system; 
 
 and wherein:
 1) the first end is positioned on a first side of the climbing shoe adjacent an upper portion of the eyestay, 
 2) the second end is positioned on a second side of the climbing shoe opposite the first side, and is positioned adjacent a lower portion of the eyestay, 
 3) the mid-section extends under an insole and diagonally across the climbing shoe between the first and second ends; 
 4) the third end is positioned on the second side of the climbing shoe adjacent the upper portion of the eyestay, 
 5) the fourth end is positioned on the first side of the climbing shoe and is positioned adjacent the lower portion of the eyestay, and 
 6) the mid-section extends under the insole and diagonally across the climbing shoe between the third and fourth ends. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The climbing shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the fit adjustment system comprises a harness, wherein the mid-section comprises a main body, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth ends extend from the main body. 
     
     
         3 . The climbing shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the first and third ends extend approximately horizontally from the main body and the second and fourth ends extend approximately diagonally from the main body. 
     
     
         4 . The climbing shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the fit adjustment system comprises a pair of independent straps, wherein the mid-section is a main body of each strap, and wherein the first and second ends and the third and fourth ends are respective end portions of each strap. 
     
     
         5 . The climbing shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth ends are each coupled with the climbing shoe to form a loop within which the tension member is inserted, wherein each of the formed loops forms a guide member for routing the tension member along the path. 
     
     
         6 . The climbing shoe of  claim 1 , further comprising a heel component that is positioned around a heel portion of the climbing shoe and operationally coupled with the tension member so that tensioning of the tension member effects tensioning of the heel component and thereby adjusts a fit of the heel portion about a user's heel. 
     
     
         7 . The climbing shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the mid-section of the fit adjustment system is positioned within a channel or groove, or unattached from a rand of the shoe, so as to be slidable under the insole of the climbing shoe. 
     
     
         8 . The climbing shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the mid-section of the fit adjustment system is coupled with a rand of the climbing shoe. 
     
     
         9 . The climbing shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the tightening mechanism is positioned remotely of the climbing shoe or otherwise not attached directly to the climbing shoe. 
     
     
         10 . The climbing shoe of  claim 1 , wherein a knob of the tightening mechanism is removably couplable to the climbing shoe. 
     
     
         11 . A method for configuring a climbing shoe with a tightening system comprising:
 routing a tension member about the climbing shoe along a path via one or more guide members;   operationally coupling a tightening mechanism with the tension member, the tightening mechanism being configured to effect tensioning of the tension member; and   coupling a fit adjustment system with the climbing shoe, the fit adjustment system having a first end, a second end, and a mid-section that extends between the first and second ends, and having a third end, a fourth end, and a mid-section that extends between the third and fourth ends, wherein coupling the fit adjustment system with the climbing shoe comprises:
 1) positioning the first, second, third, and fourth ends above an upper of the climbing shoe with:
 a) the first end being positioned on a first side of the climbing shoe adjacent an upper portion of the eyestay, 
 b) the second end being positioned on a second side of the climbing shoe adjacent a lower portion of the eyestay with the mid-section extending under an insole and diagonally across the climbing shoe between the first and second ends, 
 c) the third end being positioned on the second side of the climbing shoe adjacent the upper portion of the eyestay, and 
 d) the fourth end being positioned on the first side of the climbing shoe adjacent the lower portion of the eyestay with the mid-section extending under the insole and diagonally across the climbing shoe between the third and fourth ends, 
 
 2) attaching the first, second, third, and fourth ends to the climbing shoe near an eyestay of the climbing shoe, and 
 3) operationally coupling the first, second, third, and fourth ends with the tension member so that tensioning of the tension member effects tensioning of the fit adjustment system. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fit adjustment system comprises a harness, wherein the mid-section comprises a main body, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth ends extend from the main body. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and third ends extend approximately horizontally from the main body and the second and fourth ends extend approximately diagonally from the main body. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fit adjustment system comprises a pair of independent straps, wherein the mid-section is a main body of each strap, and wherein the first and second ends and the third and fourth ends are respective end portions of each strap. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising coupling the first end, the second end, the third end, and the fourth end with the climbing shoe so that each end forms a loop within which the tension member is insertable, wherein each of the formed loops forms a guide member for routing the tension member along the path. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising positioning a heel component around a heel portion of the climbing shoe and operationally coupling the heel component with the tension member so that tensioning of the tension member effects tensioning of the heel component and thereby adjusts a fit of the heel portion about a user's heel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising positioning the mid-section of the fit adjustment system within a channel or groove so that the mid-section is unattached from a rand of the climbing and so that the mid-section is slidable under the insole of the climbing shoe. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising coupling the mid-section of the fit adjustment system with a rand of the climbing shoe. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising positioning the tightening mechanism remotely of the climbing shoe so that the tightening mechanism is not attached directly to the climbing shoe. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a knob of the tightening mechanism is removably couplable to the climbing shoe.