Releasable fastener system for footwear

Abstract

A releasable fastening system for footwear features a plurality of fastening clips. Each fastening clip includes an elongate, longitudinally elastic strap and a pair of opposing hooks secured to respective ends of the strap. The opposing hooks of each slip releasably engage a respective pair of positionally corresponding eyelets on opposing flaps of the footwear. This secures the clip to the footwear to extend across the tongue. Each clip is releasably connected to an opposing pair of positionally corresponding eyelets and thereby secured to the footwear to pull the flaps together and tighten the footwear.

1 . A releasable fastening system for footwear, which footwear includes an upper portion having a pair of flaps respectively positioned on opposing sides of a tongue, each flap having a series of spaced apart eyelets, each eyelet in one of the series positionally corresponding to a respective eyelet in the other series, the system comprising:
 a plurality of fastening clips, each said fastening clip including an elongate strap that is elastic along a longitudinal axis and a pair of opposing hooks secured to respective ends of said strap, said opposing hooks configured to releasably engage a respective pair of positionally corresponding eyelets on opposing sides of the tongue to secure said clip to the footwear with said strap extending across the tongue, whereby each said hook is releasably connected to an opposing pair of positionally corresponding eyelets and thereby secured to the footwear to pull the flaps together and tighten the footwear.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each said hook includes a flat terminal section for being received by the eyelet. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said clip further includes a channel element for receiving a respective end of said strap and for carrying a respective said hook. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said channel element includes teeth for securing said channel element to said strap. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3  in which said hook is formed unitarily with said channel element. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  in which said hook is curved to extend substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said strap for engaging a respective eyelet formed transversely through one of said flaps. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  in which said hook is curved to extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of said strap. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  in which each of said clips includes a respective strap having a different length for allowing said clips to secure to the footwear between opposing pair of positionally corresponding eyelets which converge from a top portion to a bottom portion of the tongue. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  in which the flaps and the respective series of eyelets converge from an upper end to a lower end of said tongue and wherein said fastening clips include straps of differing respective lengths for providing a uniform tension across the tongue between the respective opposing pair of positionally corresponding eyelets. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  in which said clips are sufficiently narrow relative to a space between the eyelets in each series such that when said clips are connected with the respective pairs of eyelets, a gap is formed between each adjacent pair of said clips. 
     
     
         11 . A fastening clip for footwear, which footwear has a pair of flaps positioned on respective opposing sides of a tongue, the flaps having a pair of positionally corresponding eyelets attached respectively to the flaps, said clip comprising:
 an elongate, longitudinally elastic strap having a longitudinal axis; and   a pair of opposing hooks secured to respective ends of said strap, said opposing hooks configured to releasably engage the positionally corresponding eyelets to releasably connect said clip to said opposing eyelets and thereby secure said clip to the footwear with said strap extending across the tongue, whereby the flaps are pulled together to tighten the footwear.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein each said hook includes a flat terminal section for being received by one of the eyelets. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said clip further includes a channel element for receiving a respective end of said strap and for carrying a respective said hook 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said channel element includes teeth for securing said channel element to said strap. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  in which said hook is formed unitarily with said channel element. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11  in which said hook is curved to extend substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said strap for engaging a respective eyelet formed transversely through a flap. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11  in which said hook is curved to extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of said strap. 
     
     
         18 . Footwear with a releasable fastening system comprising:
 an upper footwear portion having a pair of flaps respectively positioned on opposing sides of a tongue, each said flap having a series of spaced apart eyelets, each said eyelet in one of said series positionally corresponding to a respective one of said eyelets in the other said series; and   a plurality of fastening clips, each said fastening clip including an elongate, longitudinally elastic strap and a pair of opposing hooks secured to respective ends of said strap, said opposing hooks configured to releasably engage a respective pair of positionally corresponding eyelets on said respective flap to secure said clip to the footwear with said strap extending across said tongue, whereby each said clip is releasably connected to an opposing pair of positionally corresponding eyelets and thereby secured to the footwear to pull said flaps together and tighten the footwear.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  in which said flaps and said respective series of eyelets converge from an upper end to a lower end thereof and wherein said fastening clips include straps of differing respective lengths for providing a uniform tension across said tongue between said respective opposing pairs of positionally corresponding eyelets. 
     
     
         20 . The footwear of  claim 18  in which said clips are sufficiently narrow relative to a space between said eyelets in each said series such that when said clips are connected with said respective opposing pairs of positionally corresponding eyelets, a gap is formed between each adjacent pair of said clips. 
     
     
         21 . A fastening system for footwear, comprising:
 a. an elongate, longitudinally elastic strap having first and second ends and a length configured for positioning between a pair of positionally corresponding eyelets on opposing sides of a tongue of said footwear;   b. a pair of clips, one of said clips positioned at each of said ends, each clip comprising:
 i. a central plate having distal and proximal portions and a surface configured to receive one of said ends of said strap, said central plate configured to fold at an interface between said portions; 
 ii. a hook that extends longitudinally from said proximal portion, said hook configured to engage one of said positionally corresponding eyelets; 
 iii. a first two laterally-extending, foldable wings connected to opposing edges of said proximal portion, each of said wings having a plurality of gripping teeth that project from a side of said wing that is oriented distally relative to said hook, said teeth being configured to engage a surface of said strap; and 
 iv. a second two laterally-extending, foldable wings connected to opposing edges of said distal portion. 
   
     
     
         22 . The fastening system of  claim 21 , wherein said first two wings are configured to be folded over said end of said strap such that said teeth engage said strap when said strap is positioned on said surface of said central plate and said central plate is folded at said interface, and wherein said second two wings are configured to be folded over said first two wings when said first two wings are folded over said end of said strap. 
     
     
         23 . The fastening system of  claim 21  wherein said central plate and said first and second wings are unitarily formed. 
     
     
         24 . The fastening system of  claim 21  wherein said central plate and said hook are unitarily formed. 
     
     
         25 . A fastening system for footwear, comprising:
 a. an elongate, longitudinally elastic strap having first and second ends and a length configured for positioning between a pair of positionally corresponding eyelets on opposing sides of a tongue of said footwear;   b. a pair of clips, one of said clips positioned at each of said ends, each clip comprising:
 i. a hook configured to engage one of said positionally corresponding eyelets; and 
 ii. an arcuate plate attached to a proximal end portion of said hook and having an opening configured to receive said strap. 
   
     
     
         26 . The fastening system of  claim 25 , wherein said arcuate plate includes two substantially curved portions that are separated by a substantially flat portion. 
     
     
         27 . A fastening system for footwear, comprising:
 a. an elongate, longitudinally elastic strap having first and second ends, a plurality of holes in each of said ends, and a length configured for positioning between a pair of positionally corresponding eyelets on opposing sides of a tongue of said footwear;   b. a pair of clips, one of said clips positioned at each of said ends, each clip comprising:
 i. a plate having a first plurality of engaging members positioned to substantially align with said holes of said strap and sized to fit in said holes of said strap; 
 ii. a cap having a second plurality of engaging members positioned to substantially align with said first plurality of engaging members and configured to engage said first plurality of engaging members, wherein said strap is secured in place when said first and second engaging members are engaged; and 
 iii. a hook extending longitudinally from said plate and configured to engage one of said positionally corresponding eyelets. 
   
     
     
         28 . The fastening system of  claim 27  wherein said plate and said hook are unitarily formed. 
     
     
         29 . The fastening system of  claim 27  wherein said cap and said hook are unitarily formed.