Footwear Structures Providing Adjustable Responsiveness and/or Energy Return

Abstract

Footwear includes modifiable responsiveness and/or energy return properties. Such footwear may include: (a) a base foot support component that defines a passageway extending from the forefoot region to the heel region; (b) a forefoot securing system in the forefoot region; (c) a heel securing system in the heel region; and (d) a band (including at least one elastic or stretchable portion or region) extending through the passageway and connected with the forefoot and heel securing systems. The band may include features and/or may be attached with components that form portions of the forefoot and/or heel securing systems. Application of different tensile forces to the band modifies and controls the responsiveness and/or energy return properties of the footwear. The tensile forces may be changed, for example, by moving the heel end of the band from a first securing position to a second securing position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear including a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region extending between and connecting the forefoot region and the heel region, the article of footwear comprising:
 a base foot support component including an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface opposite the upper-facing surface, the base foot support component defining a passageway that extends from the forefoot region to the heel region and through the midfoot region of the article of footwear;   a forefoot securing system located in the forefoot region of the article of footwear;   a heel securing system located in the heel region of the article of footwear; and   a band extending through the passageway and having a first end connected with the forefoot securing system and a second end connected with the heel securing system, wherein the band includes at least one elastic or stretchable portion.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the forefoot securing system includes: (i) a retaining post provided on the upper-facing surface or the ground-facing surface at a forefoot location of the base foot support component and (ii) a post-engaging component defined at the first end of the band. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the post-engaging component comprises a through hole opening extending through the band, wherein a recess is defined in the upper-facing surface of the base foot support component, and wherein the recess extends around the retaining post. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the heel securing system includes: (i) a retaining element provided at a rear heel location of the base foot support component and (ii) a securing component located at the second end of the band. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear according to  claim 4 , wherein the retaining element includes a first pair of retaining hooks extending rearward from a rear heel wall of the base foot support component. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear according to  claim 5 , wherein the securing component extends through an opening defined through the second end of the band and includes opposite exposed ends that engage the first pair of retaining hooks. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear according to  claim 5 , wherein the securing component includes: (i) a handle member having a first opening defined through it, and (ii) a retaining bar that extends through the first opening and through a second opening defined through the second end of the band, wherein the retaining bar includes opposite exposed ends that engage the first pair of retaining hooks. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the heel securing system is adjustable to alter a tensile force applied to the band. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the heel securing system includes: (i) a first retaining element provided at a first rear heel location of the base foot support component, (ii) a second retaining element provided at a second rear heel location of the base foot support component, the second retaining element being spaced from the first retaining element, and (iii) a securing component located at the second end of the band and configured to be selectively and separately engageable with each of the first retaining element and the second retaining element. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear according to  claim 9 , wherein the first retaining element includes a first pair of retaining hooks extending rearward from a rear heel wall of the base foot support component, and wherein the second retaining element includes a second pair of retaining hooks extending rearward from the rear heel wall of the base foot support component and vertically spaced from the first pair of retaining hooks. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the securing component extends through an opening defined through the second end of the band and includes opposite exposed ends that are configured to be selectively and separately engageable with each of the first pair of retaining hooks and the second pair of retaining hooks. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the securing component includes: (i) a handle member having a first opening defined through it, and (ii) a retaining bar that extends through the first opening and through a second opening defined through the second end of the band, wherein the retaining bar includes opposite exposed ends that are configured to be selectively and separately engageable with each of the first pair of retaining hooks and the second pair of retaining hooks. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the heel securing system includes: (i) a first retaining element provided at a first rear heel location of the base foot support component, (ii) a second retaining element provided at a second rear heel location of the base foot support component, the second retaining element being spaced from the first retaining element, (iii) a third retaining element provided at a third rear heel location of the base foot support component, the third retaining element being spaced from the first retaining element and the second retaining element, and (iv) a securing component located at the second end of the band and configured to be selectively and separately engageable with each of the first retaining element, the second retaining element, and the third retaining element. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear according to  claim 13 , wherein the first retaining element includes a first pair of retaining hooks extending rearward from a rear heel wall of the base foot support component, wherein the second retaining element includes a second pair of retaining hooks extending rearward from the rear heel wall of the base foot support component and vertically spaced from the first pair of retaining hooks, and wherein the third retaining element includes a third pair of retaining hooks extending rearward from the rear heel wall of the base foot support component and vertically spaced from the first pair of retaining hooks and the second pair of retaining hooks. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear according to  claim 14 , wherein the securing component extends through an opening defined through the second end of the band and includes opposite exposed ends that are configured to be selectively and separately engageable with each of the first pair of retaining hooks, the second pair of retaining hooks, and the third pair of retaining hooks. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising a system for changing a tensile force applied to the band. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear according to  claim 16 , wherein the system for changing the tensile force applied to the band includes a plurality of spaced apart retaining elements provided at the heel region of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising an exterior sole component at least partially covering the ground-facing surface of the base foot support component. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear according to  claim 18 , wherein the ground-facing surface of the base foot support component includes a plurality of projections, wherein a ground-facing surface of the exterior sole component includes a plurality of cleats, and wherein the plurality of projections extend into interior chambers defined by the plurality of cleats. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear according to  claim 18 , wherein a groove separates a lateral heel side of the exterior sole component from a medial heel side of the exterior sole component, and wherein the base foot support component is exposed in the groove.