Footwear tensioning system

摘要

A footwear includes an outer member, an inner lining, an instep member, and a lace. The outer member defines an outer surface of the footwear. The inner lining is positioned within the outer member. The instep member extends across an instep portion of the inner lining. The instep member can be positioned between the outer member and the inner lining or embedded within the inner lining. The lace is coupled to the instep member and to the outer member. Applying a tension force to the lace causes the instep member to apply a force against the instep portion of the inner lining, thereby applying an instep force against an instep portion of a user's foot that is positioned in the footwear. The instep force against the user's foot holds the user's foot against a bottom and rear portion of the footwear.

主权项

1. A footwear comprising:
a flexible sole; an upper connected to the sole, the upper including a toe portion, an instep portion, and a heel portion; a tensioning system configured to apply a force on the instep portion in a downward and rearward direction while simultaneously applying a forward force on the heel portion in at least a forward direction; an inner lining that is configured to be located between the tensioning system and the user's foot; wherein the tensioning system includes a heel counter member adjacent the heel portion of the upper and anchors adjacent the sole, and wherein the tensioning system is configured such that a lace slides through features on the instep portion, through the anchors adjacent the sole, and through features on the heel counter member and the tensioning system is configured such that the tension in the lace that passes through the heel counter member and the instep portion is generally the same.