Footwear closure system with integrally molded hooks

Abstract

A footwear article with a hook and loop fastening system, wherein the hooks are a field of injection molded hooks. The injection molded hooks can be integral with a wall of the footwear article, such as the shell of a skate or ski boot, or the hooks can be formed on an injection molded subassembly that is assembled into the footwear article.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An article of footwear having a closure system, the closure system comprising a plastic portion, the plastic portion having a first field of hooks injection molded therein, said closure system further including a cooperative loop-bearing member for releasable engagement with said field of injection molded hooks.  
     
     
         2 . The footwear article of  claim 1  wherein said article is selected from the group consisting of a shoe, an athletic shoe, a boot, a ski boot, and a skate.  
     
     
         3 . The footwear article of  claim 1  wherein said plastic portion having said first field of injection molded hooks is integral with a wall of said footwear article.  
     
     
         4 . The footwear article of  claim 1  comprising an injection molded subassembly assembled into said footwear article, and wherein said first field of injection molded hooks is formed on a portion of said subassembly.  
     
     
         5 . The footwear article of  claim 4  wherein said subassembly has a first end and a second end and first and second opposing surfaces, such that when assembled into said footwear article said first end is on a first lateral side of the footwear and said second end is on the other lateral side of said footwear, said first field of hooks being injection molded near one end of said subassembly on a first surface thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The footwear article of  claim 5  wherein said other end of said subassembly comprises means for receiving said cooperative loop-bearing member.  
     
     
         7 . The footwear article of  claim 6  wherein said receiving means comprises a slot formed in said other end of said subassembly, said slot being of sufficient width to accommodate an end of said cooperative loop-bearing member.  
     
     
         8 . The footwear article of  claim 6  wherein said receiving means comprises a D-ring at said other end of said subassembly, said D-ring being of sufficient width to accommodate said cooperative loop-bearing member.  
     
     
         9 . The footwear article of  claim 4  wherein said subassembly has a central portion, said subassembly being assembled into said footwear article such that central portion is disposed between an inner sole and an outer sole of said footwear article.  
     
     
         10 . The footwear article of  claim 4  wherein said subassembly further comprises means for attaching said cooperative loop-bearing member to said footwear article.  
     
     
         11 . The footwear article of  claim 10  wherein said attachment means comprises a second field of hooks formed on the end of said subassembly having said first field of hooks, said second field of hooks being formed on the second surface of said subassembly opposite said first field of hooks.  
     
     
         12 . The footwear article of  claim 6  wherein said end of said subassembly having said receiving means is thicker than said end near said first field of injection molded hooks.  
     
     
         13 . The footwear article of  claim 1  further comprising a means for receiving said cooperative loop-bearing member, said receiving means having an opening therein, said cooperative loop-bearing member including a detent near one end thereof, said detent being wider than said opening so as to releasably retain said member within said receiving means.  
     
     
         14 . The footwear article of  claim 1  wherein said plastic portion having a field of hooks injection molded therein is made from a polymer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, glass fiber reinforced polypropylene, polypropylene copolymers, high density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, polycarbonate, thermoplastic olefin polymer, nylon, high impact polystyrene and acrylonitrite-butadiene-styrene.