초록 ▼

An article of footwear including a sole and an upper, a lateral quarter and a medial quarter. A device for tightening the upper includes a first lateral lace strand and at least two points for connecting the first lateral strand to the lateral quarter, as well as a first medial lace strand and at le

An article of footwear including a sole and an upper, a lateral quarter and a medial quarter. A device for tightening the upper includes a first lateral lace strand and at least two points for connecting the first lateral strand to the lateral quarter, as well as a first medial lace strand and at least two points for connecting the first medial strand to the medial quarter. Each lateral or medial strand includes a lateral intermediate portion or a medial intermediate portion, respectively, which extends between two connecting points of the same lateral or medial quarter, without being guided by a connecting point of the other lateral or medial quarter, a connector connecting the lateral and medial intermediate portions of the lateral and medial strands, respectively, the connector enabling the sliding of at least one of the lateral and medial strands.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An article of footwear comprising: an outer sole; an upper including a lateral quarter and a medial quarter; a device for tightening the upper, said device comprising: a lacing system comprising a first lateral lace strand and a first medial lace strand; at least two la

The invention claimed is: 1. An article of footwear comprising: an outer sole; an upper including a lateral quarter and a medial quarter; a device for tightening the upper, said device comprising: a lacing system comprising a first lateral lace strand and a first medial lace strand; at least two lateral connecting points connecting the first lateral lace strand to the lateral quarter, the first lateral lace strand being slidably guided by at least one of said at least two lateral connecting points; at least two medial connecting points connecting the first medial lace strand to the medial quarter, the first medial lace strand being slidably guided by at least one of said at least two medial connecting points; said first lateral lace strand including a lateral intermediate portion extending between two of said lateral connecting points without being guided by one of said medial connecting points; said first medial lace strand including a medial intermediate portion extending between two of said medial connecting points without being guided by one of said lateral connecting points; at least one connector connecting the lateral intermediate portion of the first lateral lace strand and the medial intermediate portion of the first medial lace strand; at least one of the first lateral strand and the first medial strand being slidable relative to said at least one connector; at least said one connector not being affixed to said upper other than by said connecting of said intermediate portions of the first lateral and medial lace strands; a tightening zone defined by the following: said at least two lateral connecting points, said at least two medial connecting points and said at least one connector; said lacing system comprising no more than two lace portions having free lace ends extending beyond said tightening zone for applying and maintaining a tightening force to at least one of the first lateral and first medial lace strands; the device for tightening the upper further comprising: a second medial lace strand; at least two connecting points connecting the second medial lace strand to the medial quarter; the second medial lace strand including a medial intermediate portion extending between the two connecting points of the second medial lace strand. 2. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: along a path of the first lateral lace strand, said at least two connecting points comprise: a plurality of fastening points fixing the first lateral lace strand to the upper; and a plurality of lace keepers; along a path of the first medial lace strand, said at least two connecting points comprise: at least one fastening point fixing the first medial lace strand to the upper; and a plurality of lace keepers. 3. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: along a path of the first lateral lace strand, said at least two connecting points comprise first, second, third, fourth, and fifth successive connecting points, wherein: the first and fifth connecting points are fastening points fixing the first lateral lace strand to the upper; and the second, third, and fourth connecting points are lace keepers; along a path of the first medial lace strand, said at least two connecting points comprise first, second, and third successive connecting points, wherein: the first connecting point is a fastening point fixing the first medial lace strand to the upper; and the second and third connecting points are lace keepers; along a path of the second medial lace strand, said at least two connecting points comprise first and second successive connecting points, wherein: the first connecting point is a fastening point fixing the second medial lace strand to the upper; and the second connecting point is a lace keeper. 4. An article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising: a second device for tightening the upper comprising a tightening device for tightening a heel seat of the article of footwear. 5. An article of footwear according to claim 4, wherein: the first tightening device and the second tightening device are coupled. 6. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: said at least two connecting points connecting the first lateral strand to the lateral quarter includes first and second fastening points fixing the first lateral strand to the upper and two successive lace keepers between said first and second fastening points along a path of the first lateral strand; said at least two connecting points connecting the first medial strand to the medial quarter includes a first fastener and two successive lace keepers extending away from said first fastener along a path of the first medial strand; said first medial strand having a free end extending from said two successive lace keepers; said at least one connector comprises three connectors connecting together the first lateral strand and the first medial strand between said lace keepers of said first lateral strand and said first medial strand. 7. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the upper is a low upper having an upper edge adapted to extend at or below an ankle of a wearer, the upper having no high portion along a lower leg of the wearer. 8. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the upper is a high upper having a high portion adapted to extend above an ankle of the user. 9. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: said at least one connector includes a body having two through openings, each of said openings accommodating a respective one of said first lateral and medial lace strands. 10. An article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein: said at least one connector includes a body having one through opening, said opening accommodating both of said first lateral and medial lace strands. 11. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: said at least one connector consists of the passage of one of said first lateral and medial lace strands around another of said first lateral and medial lace strands. 12. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: said lacing system comprises two free ends available for applying and maintaining a tightening force on the upper. 13. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the article of footwear includes no tongue between the lateral and medial quarters. 14. An article of footwear comprising: an outer sole; an upper including a lateral quarter and a medial quarter; a device for tightening the upper, said device comprising: a lacing system comprising a first lateral lace strand and a first medial lace strand; at least two lateral connecting points connecting the first lateral lace strand to the lateral quarter, the first lateral lace strand being slidably guided by at least one of said at least two lateral connecting points; at least two medial connecting points connecting the first medial lace strand to the medial quarter, the first medial lace strand being slidably guided by at least one of said at least two medial connecting points; said first lateral lace strand including a lateral intermediate portion extending between two of said lateral connecting points without being guided by one of said medial connecting points; said first medial lace strand including a medial intermediate portion extending between two of said medial connecting points without being guided by one of said lateral connecting points; at least one connector connecting the lateral intermediate portion of the first lateral lace strand and the medial intermediate portion of the first medial lace strand; at least one of the first lateral strand and the first medial strand being slidable relative to said at least one connector; at least said one connector not being affixed to said upper other than by said connecting of said intermediate portions of the first lateral and medial lace strands; a tightening zone defined by the following: said at least two lateral connecting points, said at least two medial connecting points and said at least one connector; said lacing system comprising no more than two lace portions having free lace ends extending beyond said tightening zone for applying and maintaining a tightening force to at least one of the first lateral and first medial lace strands; the device for tightening the upper further comprising: a second lateral lace strand; at least two connecting points connecting the second lateral lace strand to the lateral quarter; the second lateral lace strand including a lateral intermediate portion extending between the two connecting points of the second lateral lace strand. 15. An article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein: along a path of the first medial lace strand, said at least two connecting points comprise: a plurality of fastening points fixing the first medial lace strand to the upper; and a plurality of lace keepers; along a path of the first lateral lace strand, said at least two connecting points comprise: at least one fastening point fixing the first lateral lace strand to the upper; and a plurality of lace keepers. 16. An article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein: along a path of the first medial lace strand, said at least two connecting points comprise first, second, third, fourth, and fifth successive connecting points, wherein: the first and fifth connecting points are fastening points fixing the first medial lace strand to the upper; and the second, third, and fourth connecting points are lace keepers; along a path of the first lateral lace strand, said at least two connecting points comprise first, second, and third successive connecting points, wherein: the first connecting point is a fastening point fixing the first lateral lace strand to the upper; and the second and third connecting points are lace keepers; along a path of the second lateral lace strand, said at least two connecting points comprise first and second successive connecting points, wherein: the first connecting point is a fastening point fixing the second lateral lace strand to the upper; and the second connecting point is a lace keeper. 17. An article of footwear according to claim 14, further comprising: a second device for tightening the upper comprising a tightening device for tightening a heel seat of the article of footwear. 18. An article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein: the first tightening device and the second tightening device are coupled. 19. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: said at least two lateral connecting points further comprise a forwardmost lateral connecting point guiding or fastening the first lateral strand, and a rearwardmost lateral connecting point guiding or fastening the first lateral strand; said at least two medial connecting points further comprise a forwardmost medial connecting point guiding or fastening the first medial strand, and a rearwardmost medial connecting point guiding or fastening the first medial strand; the tightening zone is contained within an area of the article of footwear forward of an ankle region and is further defined by the forwardmost lateral connecting point, the forwardmost medial connecting point, the rearwardmost lateral connecting point, and the rearwardmost medial connecting point. 20. An article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein: said at least two lateral connecting points further comprise a forwardmost lateral connecting point guiding or fastening the first lateral strand, and a rearwardmost lateral connecting point guiding or fastening the first lateral strand; said at least two medial connecting points further comprise a forwardmost medial connecting point guiding or fastening the first medial strand, and a rearwardmost medial connecting point guiding or fastening the first medial strand; the tightening zone is contained within an area of the article of footwear forward of an ankle region and is further defined by the forwardmost lateral connecting point, the forwardmost medial connecting point, the rearwardmost lateral connecting point, and the rearwardmost medial connecting point. 21. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: said no more than two lace portions extending beyond said tightening zone comprise no more than two lace portions extending rearwardly beyond said tightening zone. 22. An article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein: said no more than two lace portions extending beyond said tightening zone comprise no more than two lace portions extending rearwardly beyond said tightening zone. 23. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: said first lateral lace strand not being guided by a medial connecting point or said first medial lace strand not being guided by a lateral connecting point. 24. An article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein: said first lateral lace strand not being guided by a medial connecting point or said first medial lace strand not being guided by a lateral connecting point. 25. An article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein: said at least two connecting points connecting the first lateral strand to the lateral quarter includes first and second fastening points fixing the first lateral strand to the upper and two successive lace keepers between said first and second fastening points along a path of the first lateral strand; said at least two connecting points connecting the first medial strand to the medial quarter includes a first fastener and two successive lace keepers extending away from said first fastener along a path of the first medial strand; said first lateral strand having a free end extending from said two successive lace keepers; said at least one connector comprises three connectors connecting together the first lateral strand and the first medial strand between said lace keepers of said first lateral strand and said first medial strand. 26. An article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein: the upper is a low upper having an upper edge adapted to extend at or below an ankle of a wearer, the upper having no high portion along a lower leg of the wearer. 27. An article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein: the upper is a high upper having a high portion adapted to extend above an ankle of the user. 28. An article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein: said at least one connector includes a body having two through openings, each of said openings accommodating a respective one of said first lateral and medial lace strands. 29. An article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein: said at least one connector includes a body having one through opening, said opening accommodating both of said first lateral and medial lace strands. 30. An article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein: said at least one connector consists of the passage of one of said first lateral and medial lace strands around another of said first lateral and medial lace strands. 31. An article of footwear according to 14, wherein: said lacing system comprises two free ends available for applying and maintaining a tightening force on the upper.