Closure system and/or shoe configurations for enhancing the performance of running shoes

Abstract

A shoe may include a sole and an upper. The upper may have a medial side and a lateral side that each have an edge positioned on opposing side of the shoe's tongue. The upper's medial side and/or the upper's lateral side may include stiffened regions and flexible regions with each stiffened region being disposed between two flexible regions so that the stiffened regions are moveable relative to one another upon tensioning of the medial and lateral sides of the upper. The opposing edges of the upper's medial and lateral sides may be substantially linear or straight prior to tensioning of the upper's medial and lateral sides and may be substantially uneven or nonlinear subsequent to tensioning of the upper's medial and lateral sides due to relative movement of the stiffened regions.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A shoe comprising:
 a sole;   an upper that is attached to the sole and configured to fit around the foot of a user, the upper having a medial side and a lateral side that fit around the medial and lateral side of the foot respectively;   a tension member that is guided or directed about a path along the shoe, the path being positioned on either the medial or lateral side of the shoe so that the tension member is positioned along the medial or lateral side of the shoe without being positioned on an upper portion of the shoe so as to be atop a user's foot, the tension member being operationally coupled with the shoe so as to cause the shoe to tighten about the foot when the tension member is tensioned; and   a tightening mechanism that is operable with the tension member to effect tensioning of the tension member upon operation of the tightening mechanism, the tightening mechanism being positioned on the medial or lateral side of the shoe adjacent the path of the tension member.   
     
     
         22 . The shoe of  claim 21 , wherein the tightening mechanism is positioned below a collar portion of the shoe so as to be positioned below the user's ankle. 
     
     
         23 . The shoe of  claim 21 , wherein a portion of the tension member extends toward a heel of the shoe and couples with a strap that is positioned around at least a portion of the heel of the shoe. 
     
     
         24 . The shoe of  claim 21 , wherein the tension member is guided along the path via a plurality of guides, wherein a first set of guides is positioned adjacent the sole and a second set of guides is coupled with a distal end of a strap that extends laterally across the upper portion of the shoe. 
     
     
         25 . The shoe of  claim 24 , wherein a proximal end of the strap includes two separate section and a flexible portion disposed at least partially there between to separate at least a portion of the two separate sections such that the two separate sections are moveable relative to one another and thereby conformable to the shoe and shape of the foot. 
     
     
         26 . The shoe of  claim 24 , wherein a proximal end of the strap is attached to the shoe adjacent the sole, the proximal end being positioned on an opposite side of the shoe from the path of the tension member. 
     
     
         27 . The shoe of  claim 25 , wherein a second strap extends at least partially around a heel of the shoe, and wherein the tension member is operationally coupled with a distal end of the second strap such that tensioning of the tension member tightens the second strap about the shoe's heel. 
     
     
         28 . A shoe comprising:
 a sole;   an upper attached to the sole and configured to fit around the foot of a user;   a tension member that is routed or directed about a path along a medial or lateral side of the shoe such that the tension member is positioned along the medial or lateral side of the shoe without being positioned on an upper portion of the shoe; and   a tightening mechanism that is operable with the tension member to tension the tension member upon operation of the tightening mechanism;   wherein tensioning of the tension member causes the shoe to tighten about a user's foot.   
     
     
         29 . The shoe of  claim 28 , wherein the tightening mechanism is positioned below a collar portion of the shoe so as to be positioned below the user's ankle. 
     
     
         30 . The shoe of  claim 28 , wherein a portion of the tension member extends toward a heel of the shoe and couples with a strap that is positioned around at least a portion of the heel of the shoe. 
     
     
         31 . The shoe of  claim 28 , wherein the tension member is guided along the path via a plurality of guides, wherein a first set of guides is positioned adjacent the sole and a second set of guides is coupled with a distal end of a strap that extends laterally across the upper portion of the shoe. 
     
     
         32 . The shoe of  claim 31 , wherein the strap includes a relatively stiff portion and a flexible portion that separates a proximal portion of the strap so that the strap is moveable and conformable to the shape of the foot. 
     
     
         33 . The shoe of  claim 31 , wherein a proximal end of the strap is attached to the shoe adjacent the sole, the proximal end being positioned on an opposite side of the shoe from the path of the tension member. 
     
     
         34 . The shoe of  claim 33 , wherein a second strap extends at least partially around a heel of the shoe, and wherein the tension member is operationally coupled with a distal end of the second strap such that tensioning of the tension member tightens the second strap about the shoe's heel. 
     
     
         35 . The shoe of  claim 28 , wherein the path of the tension member is positioned on the medial side of the shoe and the tightening mechanism is positioned on the lateral side of the shoe. 
     
     
         36 . The shoe of  claim 35 , wherein a pair of tension members are routed from the tightening mechanism positioned on the lateral side of the shoe and over the shoe's upper surface to the medial side of the shoe, or wherein a first tension member is routed from the tightening mechanism over the shoe's upper surface to the medial side of the shoe and a second tension member is routed around a heel of the shoe to the medial side of the shoe.