Footwear with improved tightening of upper

Abstract

An article of footwear including a sole, an upper, a first tightening device for tightening the lateral portion and the medial potion of the article of footwear, as well as a second tightening device for tightening a rear portion. The second tightening device includes a linkage, such as a lace, the linkage including a first inextensible portion and an elastic mechanism, the first inextensible portion extending along the rear portion, as well as along at least one of the lateral and medial portions, the elastic mechanism biasing the first inextensible portion in a direction reducing the length of the linkage, the article of footwear further including a reversible immobilization mechanism for immobilizing the inextensible portion with respect to the upper.

1 . A boot comprising:
 an external sole;   an upper mounted above the sole;   a rear end and a front end;   a lateral portion, a medial portion, and a rear portion;   a length extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, a width extending between a lateral portion and a medial portion, and a height extending from the sole to an upper end;   an opening for foot insertion within the upper;   a first tightening device for tightening the lateral portion and the medial portion on a wearer's foot;   a second tightening device for tightening the rear portion on the wearer's foot;   the second tightening device comprising:
 a linkage including a first inextensible portion and an elastic mechanism, the linkage having a variable length; 
 the first inextensible portion extending along the rear portion of the boot and also extending along at least one of the lateral portion and medial portion of the boot; 
 the elastic mechanism being structured and arranged to bias the first inextensible portion in a direction reducing the length of the linkage; 
   the boot further comprising a reversible immobilization mechanism structured and arranged to immobilize at least lengthwise movement of the inextensible portion with respect to the upper.   
     
     
         2 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first tightening device is structured and arranged to cause the second tightening device to be maintained in a given tightened and stable state when the first tightening device is biased in a tightening direction.   
     
     
         3 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the linkage is set in a nominal length by means of the tightening of the first tightening device.   
     
     
         4 . A boot according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an envelope extending in an area of the lateral, medial, and rear portions;   the linkage closely encircles the envelope in the area of the lateral, medial, and rear portions.   
     
     
         5 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the linkage having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends being in an asymmetrical and transverse arrangement.   
     
     
         6 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the linkage extends in a tightening plane inclined with respect to a plane defined by a lower surface of the external sole.   
     
     
         7 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first tightening device comprises:
 a linkage; 
 a plurality of connections for guiding and connecting the linkage to the upper. 
   
     
     
         8 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inextensible portion of the linkage includes an immobilization segment and a constriction segment;   the elastic mechanism includes an elastic band;   the reversible immobilization means includes a locking finger and a guide guiding movement of the locking finger.   
     
     
         9 . A boot according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 an end of the elastic band is removably and adjustably affixed to the upper.   
     
     
         10 . A boot according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the guide is located on the lateral portion between the sole and the opening for foot insertion;   the guide is structured and arranged to guide the immobilization segment.   
     
     
         11 . A boot according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the guide includes an inner wall and an outer wall opposite the inner wall;   a lower bridge and an upper bridge connect the inner wall and the outer wall to one another;   the inner and outer walls and the lower and upper bridges demarcate a passage;   the immobilization segment extends within the passage;   the guide includes an inner slot arranged in the inner wall, as well as an outer slot arranged in the outer wall;   a finger is housed in the guide while being perpendicular to the walls, and extends through the slots and through the passage.   
     
     
         12 . A boot according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first tightening device comprises:
 a linkage; 
 a plurality of connections to  41 ) for guiding and connecting the linkage to the upper; 
   one of the plurality of connections of the first tightening device is affixed to the finger.   
     
     
         13 . A boot according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the movement of the finger is along a direction that extends through the rear end of the boot and an instep of the boot.   
     
     
         14 . A boot according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the immobilization segment includes a rack comprising a plurality of teeth, the locking finger being immobilized between a pair of successive ones of the teeth of the rack.   
     
     
         15 . A boot according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the rack has a width extending between two opposite edges;   a transverse direction of the rack is defined as extending from a first of the two opposite edges to a second of the two opposite edges;   each tooth of the rack is dissymmetrical in a plane parallel to inner and outer surfaces of the rack and with respect to an axis oriented in said transverse direction and extending through an apex of each respective tooth.   
     
     
         16 . A boot according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the immobilization segment of the inextensible portion of the linkage comprises a flexible band, inextensible lengthwise;   the immobilization segment having a constant width in an active portion.   
     
     
         17 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upper comprises a lateral flap and a medial flap, the lateral and medial flaps partially overlapping one another.   
     
     
         18 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upper includes a lower portion, as well as an upper portion, the upper portion extending above an ankle of a wearer.