Footwear securing system

Abstract

Devices for adjusting the fit of footwear, the devices including a lace receiver configured to frictionally receive a resilient lace and to restrict passage of the resilient lace through the lace receiver, and a latch coupled to the lace receiver and configured to releasingly couple with the resilient lace, wherein coupling the latch to the resilient lace tensions the resilient lace and pulls a first retaining flap of the footwear toward a second retaining flap of the footwear. In some examples, the device is configured to adjust the fit of apparel.

1 . A device for adjusting the fit of footwear, the footwear including a first retaining flap spaced from a second retaining flap across a wearer's instep and a resilient lace operatively coupled to the first retaining flap, the device comprising:
 a lace receiver configured to frictionally receive the resilient lace and to restrict passage of the resilient lace through the lace receiver; and   a latch coupled to the lace receiver and configured to releasingly couple with the resilient lace;   wherein coupling the latch to the resilient lace tensions the resilient lace and pulls the first retaining flap toward the second retaining flap.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first retaining flap and the second retaining flap each comprise an array of eyelets through which the resilient lace is threaded. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the resilient lace defines a first resilient lace;   the lace receiver defines a first lace receiver configured to frictionally receive the first resilient lace and to restrict passage of the first resilient lace through the first lace receiver;   the device further comprising:
 a second lace receiver configured to frictionally receive the second resilient lace and to restrict passage of the second resilient lace through the second lace receiver; and 
 a second latch configured to releasingly couple with a second resilient lace to tension the second resilient lace and pull the first retaining flap toward the second retaining flap. 
   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the latch defines a hook with a hook opening to receive the resilient lace to couple the latch to the resilient lace. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the hook curls upward proximate the hook opening to retain the resilient lace within the hook. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the resilient lace includes:
 end caps disposed at terminal ends of the resilient lace; and 
 a string portion extending between the ends caps; 
   the lace receiver is configured to frictionally receive the string portion of the resilient lace and to restrict passage of the string portion of the resilient lace through the lace receiver.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lace receiver comprises three lace receiving members of which two outer lace receiving members each comprise a gripping portion having arrays of teeth to frictionally receive the resilient lace and a center lace receiving member having a smooth interior surface. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lace receiver comprises at least two lace receiving members defining channels that are aligned with the longitudinal axis of the device, the lace receiving members each further defined by:
 a first surface proximate the latch and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the device;   a second surface opposite the first surface and distal the latch, the second surface being transverse to the longitudinal axis of the device; and   a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the device.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein a first lace receiving member of the lace receiving members comprises a protrusion proximate the second surface and extending into the channel of the first lace receiving member. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the channels defined by the lace receiving members are tapered to further guide the resilient lace towards the arrays of teeth and wedge the resilient lace within the arrays of teeth of the lace receiving members. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the arrays of teeth are pointed away from the latch and correspondingly away from where the resilient lace is introduced into the lace receiving members. 
     
     
         12 . A device for adjusting the fit of an apparel item, the apparel item including a first portion defining a first eyelet, a second portion spaced from the first portion and defining a second eyelet, and a resilient lace routed through the first eyelet and the second eyelet, the device comprising:
 a lace receiver configured to frictionally receive the resilient lace and to restrict passage of the resilient lace through the lace receiver; and   a latch coupled to the lace receiver and configured to releasingly couple with the resilient lace;   wherein coupling the latch to the resilient lace tensions the resilient lace and pulls the first portion toward the second portion.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the lace receiver defines a channel and the channel is configured to frictionally receive the resilient lace and to restrict passage of the resilient lace through the channel. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the lace receiver comprises at least two lace receiving members defining channels that are aligned with the longitudinal axis of the device, the lace receiving members each including:
 a first surface proximate the latch and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the device;   a second surface opposite the first surface and distal the latch, the second surface being transverse to the longitudinal axis of the device; and   a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the device.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein a first lace receiving member of the lace receiving members comprises a protrusion proximate the second surface and extending into the channel of the first lace receiving member. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the channels defined by lace receiving members are tapered to guide the resilient lace towards the arrays of teeth and wedge the resilient lace within the arrays of teeth of the lace receiving members. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the lace receiver comprises three lace receiving members of which two outer lace receiving members comprise a gripping portion having arrays of teeth to frictionally receive the resilient lace and a center lace receiving member has a smooth interior surface. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the arrays of teeth are pointed away from the latch and correspondingly away from where the resilient lace is introduced into the lace receiving members. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the latch defines a hook with a hook opening to receive the resilient lace to couple the latch to the resilient lace. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the hook curls upward proximate the hook opening to retain the resilient lace within the hook.