Vacuum locking for article of apparel or footwear

Abstract

A locking structure for an article includes a bladder including a first barrier element attached to a second barrier element to define a chamber having an interior void. A locking system includes locking elements that each attach to at least one elastic element. The locking elements each include at least one interface surface. The interior void of the bladder operable between a first pressure to move the locking system to a locked state and a second pressure to move the locking system to an unlocked state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A locking structure for an article, the locking structure comprising:
 a bladder including a first barrier element attached to a second barrier element to define a chamber having an interior void;   at least one elastic element disposed within the interior void; and   a plurality of locking elements disposed within the interior void and each attached to the at least one elastic element, each of the locking elements including an interface surface operable to selectively engage an interface surface of another one of the locking elements.   
     
     
         2 . The locking structure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastic element includes a first fastening portion coupled to a first attachment region of each of the plurality of locking elements and a second fastening portion coupled to a second attachment region of each of the plurality of locking elements. 
     
     
         3 . The locking structure of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second attachment regions of each of the plurality of locking elements are defined along an outer edge of each of the plurality of locking elements and are asymmetrically coupled to the first and second fastening portions. 
     
     
         4 . The locking structure of  claim 2 , wherein the first attachment region is offset from the second attachment region relative to a longitudinal axis of the at least one elastic element. 
     
     
         5 . The locking structure of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of locking elements defines an opening at a central region of each locking element and the first and second attachment regions are disposed proximate to the opening at the central region of each locking element. 
     
     
         6 . The locking structure of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one elastic element includes an outer fastening portion coupled to the first attachment region of the plurality of locking elements and an inner fastening portion coupled to the second attachment region of the plurality of locking elements. 
     
     
         7 . The locking structure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastic element comprises a locking strip that defines a locking system with the plurality of locking elements, and the locking system including a tether attached to one of the first barrier element and the second barrier element. 
     
     
         8 . The locking structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the locking elements includes a pair of interface surfaces disposed on opposite sides of each locking element. 
     
     
         9 . The locking structure of  claim 8 , wherein the interface surfaces of the locking elements are in direct contact with the interface surfaces of adjacent locking elements to form a locking layer. 
     
     
         10 . The locking structure of  claim 1 , wherein the interface surface comprises an adhesive material, the adhesive material of adjacent interface surfaces being coupled to each other in a locked state of the plurality of locking elements. 
     
     
         11 . A locking structure for an article, the locking structure comprising:
 a bladder including a first barrier element attached to a second barrier element to define a chamber having an interior void; and   a locking system including locking elements each attached to at least one elastic element and including at least one interface surface, the interior void of the bladder operable between a first pressure to move the locking system to a locked state and a second pressure to move the locking system to an unlocked state.   
     
     
         12 . The locking structure of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one elastic element includes a first fastening portion coupled to a first attachment region of each of the locking elements and a second fastening portion coupled to a second attachment region of each of the locking elements. 
     
     
         13 . The locking structure of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second attachment regions of each of the locking elements are defined along an outer edge of each of the locking elements and are asymmetrically coupled to the first and second fastening portions. 
     
     
         14 . The locking structure of  claim 12 , wherein the first attachment region is offset from the second attachment region relative to a longitudinal axis of the at least one elastic element. 
     
     
         15 . The locking structure of  claim 12 , wherein each of the locking elements defines an opening at a central region of each locking element and the first and second attachment regions are disposed proximate to the opening at the central region of each locking element. 
     
     
         16 . The locking structure of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one elastic element includes an outer fastening portion coupled to the first attachment region of the locking elements and an inner fastening portion coupled to the second attachment region of the locking elements. 
     
     
         17 . The locking structure of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one elastic element comprises a locking strip that defines a locking system with the locking elements, and the locking system including a tether attached to one of the first barrier element and the second barrier element. 
     
     
         18 . The locking structure of  claim 11 , wherein each of the locking elements includes a pair of interface surfaces disposed on opposite sides of each locking element. 
     
     
         19 . The locking structure of  claim 18 , wherein the interface surfaces of the locking elements are in direct contact with the interface surfaces of adjacent locking elements to form a locking layer. 
     
     
         20 . The locking structure of  claim 11 , wherein the interface surface comprises an adhesive material, the adhesive material of adjacent interface surfaces being coupled to each other in a locked state of the locking elements.