Magnetic footwear fasteners and magnetic footwear utilizing the same

Abstract

Magnetic footwear, magnetic footwear fasteners, magnetic couplers, and methods of utilizing the same are disclosed herein. A magnetic footwear fastener includes a pair of magnetic couplers that are selectively (magnetically) coupled together, such as to selectively secure footwear in a closed, or sized, configuration around a wearer's foot when magnetic coupling regions of the pair of magnetic couplers are magnetically coupled together. The magnetic couplers also include mechanical coupling regions that are configured to be attached to footwear, either in a temporary or permanent manner. When the magnetic couplers are temporarily coupled to the footwear, the mechanical coupling region of each magnetic coupler may include one or more coupler eyelets through which the footwear's lace extends. When the magnetic couplers are permanently coupled to the footwear, the mechanical coupling regions thereof may be integrated into the shell, tongue, vamp, or other upper region of the footwear.

1 . A magnetic footwear fastener, comprising:
 a first magnetic coupler including a magnetic coupling surface and a mechanical coupling region with a plurality of coupler eyelets configured to receive a lace to couple the first magnetic coupler to footwear;   a second magnetic coupler including a magnetic coupling surface and a mechanical coupling region with a plurality of coupler eyelets configured to receive a lace to couple the second magnetic coupler to the footwear; and   wherein one of the first magnetic coupler and the second magnetic coupler includes a magnet, wherein the other of the first magnetic coupler and the second magnetic coupler includes at least one of a magnet and a magnetic material; and further wherein the magnetic coupling surfaces of the first and second magnetic couplers are configured to be magnetically coupled together to secure the magnetic footwear fastener in a coupled configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic footwear fastener of  claim 1 , wherein both of the first and second magnetic couplers include a plurality of magnets in a directed field configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic footwear fastener of  claim 1 , wherein both of the first and second magnetic couplers include a plurality of magnets configured to concentrate a produced magnetic field proximate the magnetic coupling surface of the magnetic coupler and to minimize a produced magnetic field distal the magnetic coupling surface of the magnetic coupler. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetic footwear fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic coupling surfaces of the first and second magnetic couplers are complementary and configured to be physically abutting when the magnetic footwear fastener is in the coupled configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetic footwear fastener of  claim 4 , wherein the magnetic coupling surfaces of the first and second magnetic couplers are nonplanar magnetic coupling surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The magnetic footwear fastener of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second magnetic couplers includes a user engagement portion configured to be grasped by a user for selective and operative uncoupling of the first and second magnetic couplers to configure the magnetic footwear fastener from the coupled configuration to an uncoupled configuration; and further wherein the user engagement portion projects generally away from the magnetic coupling surface of the respective magnetic coupler. 
     
     
         7 . The magnetic footwear fastener of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic couplers includes a body with an exterior surface containing the magnetic coupling surface and an anti-pinch structure extending from a body proximate the magnetic coupling surface. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic footwear fastener of  claim 1 , further comprising a lock mechanism configured to mechanically retain the magnetic footwear fastener in the coupled configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The magnetic footwear fastener of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic couplers includes a body with a guide that projects from the body to facilitate proper alignment of the first and second magnetic couplers as the magnetic coupling surfaces are moved toward each other to configure the magnetic footwear fastener to the coupled configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The magnetic footwear fastener of  claim 1 , in combination with footwear having a plurality of footwear eyelets and a lace interwoven between the plurality of footwear eyelets and the plurality of coupler eyelets of the first and second magnetic couplers to couple the magnetic couplers to the footwear, wherein the footwear includes a foot compartment into which a wearer's foot is received when the footwear is worn, and a foot opening through which the wearer's foot is inserted for the foot to be received into the foot compartment; wherein when the mechanical coupling regions of the first and second magnetic couplers are coupled to respective portions of the footwear and the magnetic footwear fastener is in the coupled configuration, the magnetic footwear fastener restricts enlargement of the footwear's foot opening and the footwear's foot compartment, and further wherein when the magnetic coupling surfaces of the magnetic footwear fastener are not magnetically coupled together, the magnetic footwear fastener does not restrict enlargement of the foot opening and the foot compartment. 
     
     
         11 . Footwear, comprising:
 a sole;   a shell coupled to the sole and defining, with the sole, a foot compartment sized to receive a wearer's foot when the footwear is worn, wherein the foot compartment includes a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region corresponding to respective regions of the wearer's foot when the wearer's foot is received in the foot compartment, wherein the shell defines a foot opening above the heel region of the foot compartment and a channel extending from the foot opening toward the forefoot region; and further wherein the shell includes first and second vamp portions on opposed sides of the channel; and   a magnetic footwear fastener, comprising:
 a first magnetic coupler including a magnetic coupling surface and further including a mechanical coupling region integrated into a first vamp portion of the footwear's shell; 
 a second magnetic coupler including a magnetic coupling surface and further including a mechanical coupling region integrated into a second vamp portion of the footwear's shell; 
 wherein one of the first magnetic coupler and the second magnetic coupler includes a magnet, wherein the other of the first magnetic coupler and the second magnetic coupler includes at least one of a magnet and a magnetic material; and 
 wherein the magnetic coupling surfaces of the first and second magnetic couplers are configured to be magnetically coupled together to secure the magnetic footwear fastener in a coupled configuration; and further wherein when the magnetic footwear fastener is in the coupled configuration, the magnetic footwear fastener restricts enlargement of the foot opening and the foot compartment of the footwear. 
   
     
     
         12 . The footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the mechanical coupling region of each of the first and second magnetic couplers includes a fastening layer that is at least one of sewn or adhered to the respective first and second vamp portions. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second magnetic couplers includes a hinge pivotally coupling a portion of the magnetic coupler containing the magnetic coupling surface with the mechanical coupling region of the magnetic coupler. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first and second vamp portions includes an elastic region. 
     
     
         15 . The footwear of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first and second vamp portions includes a biasing mechanism that urges the magnetic footwear fastener away from the coupled configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the footwear further includes a sizing mechanism configured to adjust the relative size of the foot compartment when the magnetic footwear fastener is in the coupled configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The footwear of  claim 11 , wherein one of the first and second magnetic couplers includes at least one of correlated magnets, a Halbach array of magnets, and a series of magnetic dipoles; and wherein the other of the first and second magnetic couplers includes at least one of a magnet, a magnetic material, correlated magnets, a Halbach array of magnets, and a series of magnetic dipoles. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second magnetic couplers includes a plurality of magnets configured to concentrate a produced magnetic field proximate the magnetic coupling surface of the magnetic coupler and to minimize a produced magnetic field distal the magnetic coupling surface of the magnetic coupler. 
     
     
         19 . Footwear, comprising:
 a sole;   a shell coupled to the sole and defining, with the sole, a foot compartment sized to receive a wearer's foot when the footwear is worn, wherein the foot compartment includes a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region corresponding to respective regions of the wearer's foot when the wearer's foot is received in the foot compartment, wherein the shell defines a foot opening above the heel region of the foot compartment and a channel extending from the foot opening toward the forefoot region; and further wherein the shell includes first and second vamp portions on opposed sides of the channel; and   a magnetic footwear fastener, comprising:
 a first magnetic coupler including a magnetic coupling surface and a mechanical coupling region mechanically coupled to a first vamp portion of the footwear's shell; 
 a second magnetic coupler including a magnetic coupling surface and mechanical coupling region mechanically coupled to a second vamp portion of the footwear's shell; and 
 wherein at least one of the first magnetic coupler and the second magnetic coupler includes at least one of correlated magnets, a Halbach array of magnets, and a series of magnetic dipoles; and wherein the other of the first magnetic coupler and the second magnetic coupler includes at least one of a magnet, a magnetic material, correlated magnets, a Halbach array of magnets, and a series of magnetic dipoles; and 
   wherein the magnetic coupling surfaces of the first and second magnetic couplers are configured to be magnetically coupled together to secure the magnetic footwear fastener in a coupled configuration; and further wherein when the magnetic footwear fastener is in the coupled configuration, the magnetic footwear fastener restricts enlargement of the foot opening and the foot compartment of the footwear.   
     
     
         20 . The footwear of  claim 19 , wherein each of the first and second magnetic couplers includes a plurality of magnets configured to concentrate a produced magnetic field proximate the magnetic coupling surface of the magnetic coupler and to minimize a produced magnetic field distal the magnetic coupling surface of the magnetic coupler.