Footwear having a lace fastening

Abstract

Footwear having a lace fastening is described and comprises an opening having a first edge and a second edge which are juxtaposed and which each have a plurality of lacing eyes, between which at least one lace of the fastening extends, and a tongue-form flap extending along the edges at the location of the opening. The footwear also comprises at least one lace-locking device secured to the flap in a position between the edges, so that respective ends of the at least one lace that extend through corresponding end lacing eyes of the fastening are locked in the device with a selected tensioning in order consequently to close the fastening with the desired degree of tightening.

1 . Footwear having a lace fastening, comprising an opening having a first edge and a second edge which are juxtaposed and which each have a plurality of lacing eyes between which at least one lace of the fastening extends, and a tongue-form flap extending along the edges at the location of the opening, said fastening further comprising at least one lace-locking device secured to the flap in a position between the edges, so that respective ends of the at least one lace which extend through corresponding end lacing eyes of the fastening are locked in the said device with a selected tensioning in order consequently to close the fastening with a desired degree of tightening.  
   
   
       2 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , comprising a single lace-locking device provided to lock the ends of each lace of the fastening extending through the respective end lacing eye.  
   
   
       3 . Footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the flap extends from a lower portion of the opening in the direction towards an entrance for the fitting-on of the footwear and the lace-locking device is secured to the flap in the vicinity of that entrance.  
   
   
       4 . Footwear according to  claim 1  comprising plural laces, wherein the ends of the laces of the fastening that exit from the end lacing eye of one of the edges are lockable in the said device independently of the ends of the laces that exit from the corresponding end lacing eye of the other edge.  
   
   
       5 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the lace-locking device comprises at least one groove which is provided to accommodate and retain one or more lace portions extending through the respective end lacing eye of the fastening on each of the opposed edges.  
   
   
       6 . Footwear according to  claim 5 , wherein portions of the at least one groove are provided which are extensions of one another with a substantially “U”-shaped overall extension configuration.  
   
   
       7 . Footwear according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one groove comprises a pair of opposite groove portions directed substantially parallel with the edges, the portions being connected to each other by a further portion directed transversely to the edges.  
   
   
       8 . Footwear according to  claim 5 , wherein the action of retaining the lace under tension in the corresponding groove portion is achieved exclusively by surface friction action.  
   
   
       9 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein auxiliary retaining means are provided on the groove portions in order to prevent the lateral escape of the lace, in particular in the absence of locking of the lace by surface friction in the lace-locking device.  
   
   
       10 . Footwear according to  claim 9 , wherein the auxiliary means comprise tooth-like formations projecting into the groove portions.  
   
   
       11 . Footwear comprising: 
 an upper defining an opening having juxtaposed first and second edges and lacing eyes positioned along said edges through which at least one lace can extend, said upper having a tongue-form flap extending along said edges at said opening; and    at least one lace-locking device secured to said flap in a position between said edges of said opening, said device being configured to receive respective ends of the lace from end lacing eyes and to lock the ends of the lace with a selected tensioning.    
   
   
       12 . Footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein said flap extends from a lower portion of said opening in a direction towards an entrance for the fitting-on of said footwear, said lace-locking device being secured to said flap in the vicinity of said entrance.  
   
   
       13 . Footwear according to  claim 11 , said lacing eyes being configured to receive plural laces through respective ones of said lacing eyes, wherein ends of laces that exit from an end lacing eye positioned along one of said edges are lockable in said device independently of ends of laces that exit from a corresponding end lacing eye positioned along the other of said edges.  
   
   
       14 . Footwear according to  claim 11 , said lace-locking device defining at least one groove configured to retain a portion of a lace.  
   
   
       15 . Footwear according to  claim 14 , said groove having a substantially “U”-shaped configuration.  
   
   
       16 . Footwear according to  claim 14 , said groove comprising a pair of opposed groove portions oriented substantially parallel with said edges.  
   
   
       17 . Footwear according to  claim 16 , said opposed grove portions being connected to each other by a further portion oriented substantially transverse to said edges.  
   
   
       18 . Footwear according to  claim 14 , said groove being configured to retain a portion of the lace under tension by surface friction.  
   
   
       19 . Footwear according to  claim 14 , further comprising means for preventing lateral escape of a portion of the lace from said groove.  
   
   
       20 . Footwear according to  claim 19 , said preventing means comprising one or more tooth-like formations projecting into said groove.