当前申请(专利权)人地址：
Dutch Partnership One Bowerman Drive, Beaverton, OR, US
发明人：
HOLMES, MATTHEW J. | GUEST, STEFAN E. | STERMAN, YOAV
摘要：
An article of footwear (100) has a tubular structure (140) that may conform to various anatomical features of a foot. The tubular structure (140) has a tunnel (141), and a tensile strand (160) runs through the tunnel. Applying tension along the tensile strand (160) may cause the tubular structure (140) to conform more closely to one or more anatomical features. The geometry, or path, of the tubular structure on the article may be customized.
技术功效语段：
The present invention relates to articles of footwear with upper and sole structures. More specifically, the invention is about a mechanism for tying articles of footwear using one or more girth laces. The technical effect of this mechanism is to provide a snug fit and secure support while also allowing for easy adjustment and customization. The invention also includes various embodiments of articles of footwear with a tubular structure conforming to the upper and a sole structure. These embodiments provide enhanced comfort, stability, and flexibility while maintaining a proper fit.
权利要求：
1. An article of footwear (100), comprising: an upper (102); a tubular structure (140), the tubular structure (140) including a first end (142), a second end (144), and an intermediate portion (146), wherein the intermediate portion (146) is attached to the upper (102); the tubular structure (140) forming a tunnel (141) extending through the tubular structure (140) from the first end (142) to the second end (146), wherein the intermediate portion (146) of the tubular structure (140) includes a surface with an opening (152), the opening (152) extending to the tunnel (141); a first tensile strand (160) extending through the tunnel (141) of the tubular structure (140); a second tensile strand (180) having a first portion (190) attached to an attachment region (300) of the article of footwear (100); the second tensile (180) strand also having a second portion (192) engaged with the first tensile strand (160), wherein a portion of the first tensile strand (160) extends through the opening (152) in the tubular structure (140) to engage the second portion (192) of the second tensile strand (180); and wherein applying tension to the first tensile strand (160) also applies tension to the second tensile strand (180) at the second portion (192) of the second tensile strand (180).
2. The article of footwear (100) according to claim 1, wherein the article of footwear (100) includes a sole structure (110), and wherein the attachment region (300) is part of the sole structure (110).
3. The article of footwear (100) as in any of claims 1-2, wherein: a third portion (191) of the second tensile strand (180) is attached to a second attachment region (302); and wherein the second portion (192) of the second tensile strand (180) is disposed between the first portion (190) of the second tensile strand (180) and the third portion (191) of the second tensile strand (180); and, optionally,/or wherein: the tubular structure (140) has an axial direction and a circumferential direction; wherein the opening (152) is a first opening (152) and wherein the tubular structure (140) includes a second opening (152); and wherein a center of the first opening (152) has a different circumferential orientation than a center of the second opening (152).
4. The article of footwear (100) as in any of claims 1-3, wherein applying tension across the first tensile strand (160) elastically deforms the intermediate portion (146) of the tubular structure (140); and, optionally, wherein the upper (102) includes a base portion proximate the intermediate portion (146) of the tubular structure (140), the base portion having a geometry, and wherein the geometry of the base portion changes when the tubular structure (140) is elastically deformed.
5. The article of footwear (100) as in claim 1, wherein the tubular structure (140) includes an adaptive portion (889) corresponding to an anatomical feature of a foot.
6. The article of footwear (100) as in claim 5, wherein: the anatomical feature is a lateral malleolus of the foot; or the anatomical feature is a medial malleolus of the foot; or the anatomical feature is a calcaneus bone of the foot; or the anatomical feature is an arch of the foot.
7. The article of footwear (100) as in claim 6, wherein: the adaptive portion (889) of the tubular structure (140) is attached to the upper (102) at least at a plurality of anchoring portions that provide the adaptive portion with a default geometry when no tension is applied along the first tensile strand (160); and wherein the adaptive portion (889) changes from the default geometry to a conforming geometry when tension is applied along the first tensile strand (160) such that the adaptive portion (889) conforms more closely to the anatomical feature.
8. The article of footwear (100) as in claim 7, wherein the adaptive portion (889) includes: a first anchoring portion (922), a second anchoring portion (924) and a first adaptive segment (914) extending between the first anchoring portion (922) and the second anchoring portion (924); a third anchoring portion (926) and a second adaptive segment (916) extending between the second anchoring portion (924) and the third anchoring portion (926); wherein the first adaptive segment (914) forms an angle with the second adaptive segment (916) at the second anchoring portion (924), the angle being less than one hundred and eighty degrees when no tension is applied along the first tensile strand (160); and wherein the angle between the first adaptive segment (914) and the second adaptive segment (916) causes the adaptive portion (889) to conform more closely to the anatomical feature as tension is applied along the first tensile strand (160).
9. The article of footwear (100) as in claim 1, wherein: at least some of the intermediate portion (146) of the tubular structure (140) is anchored to a heel counter; or at least some of the intermediate portion (146) of the tubular structure (140) is anchored to a lace stay; or the second tensile strand (180) is anchored to a heel counter; or the second tensile strand (180) is anchored to a lace stay; or the intermediate portion (146) is further comprised of a first tubular structure (885) and a second tubular structure; wherein the first tubular structure (885) includes the first end (891), the second end (892), and a first tunnel portion of the tunnel (141) extending between the first end (891) and the second end (892); wherein the second tubular structure (886) includes a third end (893) and a fourth end (894), and a second tunnel portion of the tunnel (141) extending between the third end (893) and the fourth end (894); wherein the intermediate portion (146) further includes a connecting portion (884) extending from the second end of the first tubular structure (885) to the third end of the second tubular structure (886); and wherein the first tensile strand (160) extends through the first tunnel portion, between the first tunnel portion and the second tunnel portion and through the second tunnel portion.
10. An article of footwear (100), comprising: an upper (102); a tubular structure (140), the tubular structure (140) including a first end (142), a second end (144), a first intermediate portion and a second intermediate portion, the first intermediate portion being attached to the upper (102) and the second intermediate portion being attached to the upper (102); the tubular structure (140) forming a tunnel extending through the tubular structure (140) from the first end (142) to the second end (144); wherein the first intermediate portion of the tubular structure (140) includes a first surface with a first opening (152) extending to the tunnel (141) and wherein the second intermediate portion of the tubular structure (140) includes a second surface with a second opening (152) extending to the tunnel; a first tensile strand (160) extending through the tunnel (141) of the tubular structure (140); a second tensile strand (180) having a first portion engaging the first tensile strand (160) adjacent the first opening and the second tensile strand (180) having a second portion engaging the first tensile strand (160) adjacent the second opening; and wherein applying tension along the second tensile strand (180) applies tension between two different portions of the first tensile strand (160).
11. The article of footwear (100) according to claim 10, wherein the tubular structure (140) includes at least one non-linear portion between the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion.
12. The article of footwear (100) as in any of claims 10-11, wherein: the second tensile strand (180) extends over a top portion of the upper (102); or the second tensile strand (180) extends beneath a lower portion of the upper (102).
13. The article of footwear (100) as in any of claims 10-12, wherein the second tensile strand (180) has a different diameter than the first tensile strand (160).
14. The article of footwear (100) as in any of claims 10-13, wherein the first intermediate portion is on one of a lateral side or a medial side of the upper (102); and wherein the second intermediate portion is on the other of the lateral side or the medial side of the upper (102).
15. The article of footwear (100) as in any of claims 10-14, wherein: the article of footwear (100) further includes a sole structure; wherein the first intermediate portion has a third opening; wherein a third tensile strand engages the first tensile strand adjacent the third opening; and wherein the third tensile strand is anchored to the sole structure (12).