Tensioning system for article of footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper and cable routed along the upper and operable between a tightened state and a loosened state. A first strap includes a first plurality of bands each extending from a first end attached at a first side of the upper to a second end attached to a portion the cable on a second side of the upper. A second strap includes a second plurality of bands each extending from a first end attached at the second side of the upper to a second end attached to another portion of the cable on the first side of the upper. The first plurality of bands of the first strap are interweaved with the second plurality of bands of the second strap and are operable to move through the second plurality of bands when the cable is moved between the tightened state and the loosened state.

1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper;   a first strap extending from a first fixed end attached at a first side of the upper to a first free end on a second side of the upper; and   a second strap extending from a second fixed end attached at the second side of the upper to a second free end on the first side of the upper, a first portion of the first strap overlapping a first portion of the second strap and a second portion of the first strap overlapped by a second portion of the second strap.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the first strap is parallel to the second portion of the first strap proximate to the first free end. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the second strap is parallel to the second portion of the second strap proximate to the second free end. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the first strap is a first band extending from a first end at the first fixed end to a second end at the first free end, and the second portion of the first strap is a second band extending from a first end at the first fixed end to a second end at the first free end. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the second end of the first band is attached to the second end of the second band at the first free end of the first strap. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the first end of the first band and the first end of the second band are separately attached at the first side of the upper. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first free end of the first strap and the first free end of the second strap are attached to a tensioning element operable to selectively apply a tightening force to the first free end of the first strap and the first free end of the second strap. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first fixed end and the second fixed end are attached in a mid-foot region of the upper. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first strap and the second strap extend over a mid-foot region of the upper. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the first strap tapers from the first fixed end to the first free end. 
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper;   a cable routed along the upper and operable between a tightened state and a loosened state;   a first strap including a first plurality of bands each extending from a first end attached at a first side of the upper to a second end attached to a first portion of the cable on a second side of the upper; and   a second strap including a second plurality of bands each extending from a first end attached at the second side of the upper to a second end attached to a second portion of the cable on the first side of the upper, the first plurality of bands of the first strap interweaved with the second plurality of bands of the second strap and operable to move through the second plurality of bands when the cable is moved between the tightened state and the loosened state.   
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein bands of the first plurality of bands converge toward one another at the second end of the first strap. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein bands of the second plurality of bands converge toward one another at the second end of the second strap. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the second ends of the first plurality of bands are attached to each other. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the first ends of each of the first plurality of bands are separately attached at the first side of the upper. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the first ends of the first plurality of bands and the first ends of the second plurality of bands are attached in a mid-foot region of the upper. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the first strap and the second strap extend over a mid-foot region of the upper. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein a width of the first strap tapers from the first ends to the second ends. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , further comprising a sole structure attached to the upper and a tensioning device disposed within the sole structure and operable to selectively move the cable between the tightened state and the loosened state. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the cable includes a first strand forming the first portion of the cable and a second strand forming the second portion of the cable, the first strand and the second strand being routed through the tensioning device.