Lacing configurations for boots and other footwear

Abstract

A footwear closure system includes an article of footwear, such as a boot, having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a mid-portion that is positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion. The footwear closure system also includes a plurality of reel based closure devices that are coupled with the footwear. The plurality of reel based closure devices are configured to effect closure or tightening of the upper portion, the lower portion, and the mid-portion of the footwear. Each reel based closure device is independently operable and each reel based closure device effects closure or tightening of one of the upper portion, the lower portion, the mid-portion, or a combination thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A footwear closure system comprising:
 a footwear including:
 an upper portion or cuff that is positionable about a wearer's leg; 
 a lower portion that is positionable over a wearer's foot; 
 a heel portion that is positionable about a wearer's heel; and 
 a strap that is coupled with the footwear and positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion of the footwear; 
   a first closure system including:
 a first reel based closure device that is coupled with the footwear; 
 a first tension member that is operationally coupled with the first reel based closure device; and 
 at least one first guide member that is coupled with the footwear and that is configured to route or guide the first tension member along the upper portion or cuff of the footwear; 
   a second closure system including:
 a second reel based closure device that is coupled with the footwear; 
 a second tension member that is operationally coupled with the second reel based closure device; and 
 a second guide member that is coupled with a distal end of the strap and that is configured to route or guide the second tension member; and 
   a third closure system including:
 a third reel based closure device that is coupled with the footwear; 
 a third tension member that is operationally coupled with the third reel based closure device; and 
 at least one third guide member that is coupled with the footwear and that is configured to route or guide the third tension member along the lower portion of the footwear; 
   wherein:
 the first reel based closure device is operable to tension the first tension member and thereby close or tighten the upper portion about the wearer's leg; 
 the second reel based closure device is operable to tension the first tension member and thereby pull the strap downward and rearward against the wearer's foot to secure the wearer's heel in the heel portion of the footwear; 
 the third reel based closure device is operable to tension the third tension member and thereby close or tighten the lower portion about the wearer's foot; 
 wherein the first reel based closure device, the second reel based closure device, and the third reel based closure device are independently operable. 
   
     
     
         2 . The footwear closure system of  claim 1 , wherein the first reel based closure device, the second reel based closure device, and the third reel based closure device are coupled with the upper portion of the footwear. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear closure system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion, the lower portion, and the heel portion form or define an exterior shell of the footwear, and wherein the strap is positioned under the exterior shell. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear closure system of  claim 3 , wherein a proximal end of the strap is coupled with the footwear near a sole of footwear, and wherein the strap extends over a tongue portion of the footwear. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear closure system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first tension member, the second tension member, or the third tension member has a distal end that terminates or is affixed to the footwear. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear closure system of  claim 1 , wherein the first reel based closure device has a different torque output than the second reel based closure device or the third reel based closure device. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear closure system of  claim 1 , wherein the footwear is a snowboard boot. 
     
     
         8 . A footwear closure system comprising:
 a footwear including:
 an upper portion; 
 a lower portion; and 
 a mid-portion that is positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion; 
   a first reel based closure device coupled with the footwear, the first reel based closure device being operable to effect closure or tightening of the upper portion of the footwear;   a second reel based closure device coupled with the footwear, the second reel based closure device being operable to effect closure or tightening of the mid-portion of the footwear; and   a third reel based closure device coupled with the footwear, the third reel based closure device being operable to effect closure or tightening of the lower portion of the footwear;   wherein the first reel based closure device, the second reel based closure device, and the third reel based closure device are independently operable to effect differential closure or tightening of the respective upper portion, lower portion, or mid-portion of the footwear.   
     
     
         9 . The footwear closure system of  claim 8 , wherein the first reel based closure device is coupled with a panel that extends at least partially across an opening of the upper portion of the footwear. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear closure system of  claim 8 , wherein the second reel based closure device is operationally coupled with a tension member that is coupled with a strap that, upon tensioning, effects closure or tightening of the mid-portion of the footwear. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear closure system of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the strap is positioned under an exterior shell of the footwear. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear closure system of  claim 8 , wherein the third reel based closure device is operationally coupled with a tension member that is coupled with a panel that extends at least partially over an opening of the lower portion of the footwear. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear closure system of  claim 8 , wherein the first reel based closure device, the second reel based closure device, and the third reel based closure device are coupled with the upper portion of the footwear. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear closure system of  claim 8 , wherein the first reel based closure device is operationally coupled with a first tension member, the second reel based closure device is operationally coupled with a second tension member, and the third reel based closure device is operationally coupled with a third tension member, and wherein at least one of the first tension member, the second tension member, or the third tension member has a distal end that terminates or is affixed to the footwear. 
     
     
         15 . The footwear closure system of  claim 8 , wherein the footwear is a snowboard boot. 
     
     
         16 . A footwear closure system comprising:
 a footwear including:
 an upper portion; and 
 a lower portion; 
   a first reel based closure device coupled with the upper portion of the footwear, the first reel based closure device being operable to effect closure or tightening of a first zone of the footwear;   a second reel based closure device coupled with the upper portion of the footwear, the second reel based closure device being operable to effect closure or tightening of a second zone of the footwear; and   a third reel based closure device coupled with the upper portion of the footwear, the third reel based closure device being operable to effect closure or tightening of a third zone of the footwear.   
     
     
         17 . The footwear closure system of  claim 16 , wherein the first zone is the upper portion of the footwear. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear closure system of  claim 17 , wherein the first reel based closure device is operationally coupled with a tension member that is routed or guided across an opening of the upper portion of the footwear. 
     
     
         19 . The footwear closure system of  claim 16 , wherein the second zone is a mid-portion of the footwear between the upper portion and the lower portion. 
     
     
         20 . The footwear closure system of  claim 19 , wherein the second reel based closure device is operationally coupled with a tension member that is coupled with a strap that, upon tensioning, effects closure or tightening of the mid-portion of the footwear. 
     
     
         21 . The footwear closure system of  claim 20 , wherein at least a portion of the strap is positioned under an exterior shell of the footwear. 
     
     
         22 . The footwear closure system of  claim 16 , wherein the third zone is the lower portion of the footwear. 
     
     
         23 . The footwear closure system of  claim 22 , wherein the third reel based closure device is operationally coupled with a tension member that is routed or guided across an opening of the lower portion of the footwear. 
     
     
         24 . The footwear closure system of  claim 16 , wherein the first reel based closure device is operationally coupled with a first tension member, the second reel based closure device is operationally coupled with a second tension member, and the third reel based closure device is operationally coupled with a third tension member, and wherein at least one of the first tension member, the second tension member, or the third tension member has a distal end that terminates or is affixed to the footwear. 
     
     
         25 . The footwear closure system of  claim 16 , wherein the footwear is a snowboard boot. 
     
     
         26 . A footwear closure system comprising:
 a footwear including:
 an upper portion; 
 a lower portion; and 
 a mid-portion that is positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion; and 
   a plurality of reel based closure devices coupled with the footwear, wherein:
 the plurality of reel based closure devices are configured to effect closure or tightening of the upper portion, the lower portion, and the mid-portion of the footwear; 
 each reel based closure device is independently operable; and 
 each reel based closure device effects closure or tightening of a different one of the upper portion, the lower portion, the mid-portion, or a combination thereof. 
   
     
     
         27 . The footwear closure system of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of reel based closure devices consists of a first reel based closure device and a second reel based closure device. 
     
     
         28 . The footwear closure system of  claim 27 , wherein the first reel based closure device is configured to effect closure or tightening of one of the upper portion, the lower portion, or the mid-portion and the second reel based closure device is configured to effect closure or tightening of the other two of the upper portion, the lower portion, or the mid-portion. 
     
     
         29 . The footwear closure system of  claim 27 , wherein the first reel based closure device and the second reel based closure device are coupled with the upper portion of the footwear. 
     
     
         30 . The footwear closure system of  claim 27 , wherein the first reel based closure device is operationally coupled with a first tension member and the second reel based closure device is operationally coupled with a second tension member, and wherein at least one of the first tension member and the second tension member has a distal end that terminates or is affixed to the footwear. 
     
     
         31 . The footwear closure system of  claim 27 , wherein the first reel based closure device has a different torque output than the second reel based closure device. 
     
     
         32 . The footwear closure system of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of reel based closure devices includes a first reel based closure device that is configured to effect closure or tightening of the upper portion, a second reel based closure device that is configured to effect closure or tightening of the mid-portion portion, and a third reel based closure device that is configured to effect closure or tightening of the lower portion. 
     
     
         33 . The footwear closure system of  claim 26 , wherein the footwear is a snowboard boot. 
     
     
         34 . A footwear closure system comprising:
 a footwear including:
 an upper portion; 
 a lower portion; and 
 a mid-portion that is positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion; and 
   at least one reel based closure device coupled with the footwear;   wherein the at least one reel based closure device is configured to effect closure or tightening of the upper portion, the lower portion, and the mid-portion of the footwear.   
     
     
         35 . The footwear closure system of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one reel based closure device consists of a single reel based closure device. 
     
     
         36 . The footwear closure system of  claim 35 , wherein the single reel based closure device is coupled with the upper portion of the footwear. 
     
     
         37 . The footwear closure system of  claim 35 , wherein the single reel based closure device is operationally coupled with a tension member, wherein the tension member is coupled with at least one strap positioned in the upper portion, the mid-portion, or the lower portion of the footwear, and wherein the tension member is also coupled with at least one panel positioned in the upper portion, the mid-portion, or the lower portion of the footwear. 
     
     
         38 . The footwear closure system of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one reel based closure device consists of a first reel based closure device and a second reel based closure device. 
     
     
         39 . The footwear closure system of  claim 38 , wherein the first reel based closure device is configured to effect closure or tightening of one of the upper portion, the lower portion, or the mid-portion and the second reel based closure device is configured to effect closure or tightening of the other two of the upper portion, the lower portion, or the mid-portion. 
     
     
         40 . The footwear closure system of  claim 34 , wherein the footwear is a snowboard boot.