Sports boot with articulating lace guide

Abstract

A sports boot includes a sole fixed to an upper having an ankle portion and a forefoot portion. Lateral and medial articulating cable or lace guides are provided in the upper generally between the ankle portion and the forefoot portion. Each of the cable guides define a flexible and elongate arcuate channel for guiding the cable, preferably having fluted ends. Installation panels are provided adjacent each end of the flexible channels. An intermediate installation panel extends outwardly from the arcuate channel and does not significantly interfere with flexure of the arcuate channel. Therefore, the portion of the flexible channel away from the installation panels forms a natural hinge. The channel may be configured to flex such that the spacing between the ends of the channel may vary by more than three centimeters. The upper may be provided with deep U-shaped cutouts that generally co-extend with the U-shaped cable guide.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A cable guide comprising: (i) a flexible U-shaped channel having a first end and a second end; (ii) a first installation panel co-formed with the tubular channel and disposed on the first end of the tubular channel; (iii) a second installation panel co-formed with the tubular channel and disposed on the second end of the tubular channel; and (iv) an intermediate installation panel disposed at an intermediate location on the U-shaped channel and extending away from the first and second installation panels. 
     
     
         2 . The cable or lace guide of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second installation panels extend on opposite sides of the first end of the U-shaped channel. 
     
     
         3 . The cable or lace guide of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the tubular channel and the second end of the tubular channel are fluted. 
     
     
         4 . The cable or lace guide of  claim 1 , wherein the cable or lace guide comprises a unitary injection molded thermoplastic component. 
     
     
         5 . The cable or lace guide of  claim 1 , wherein at least 30% of the U-shaped channel length is not adjacent any of the first, second or intermediate installation panels. 
     
     
         6 . The cable or lace guide of  claim 1 , wherein 30% to 70% of the U-shaped channel is not adjacent either of the first and second installation panels. 
     
     
         7 . The cable or lace guide of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular channel is sized and configured to extend around a corresponding U-shaped cutout in a portion of sports boot upper. 
     
     
         8 . A sports boot comprising:
 an upper fixedly attached to a sole portion, wherein the upper includes a forefoot portion and an ankle portion, wherein the upper defines a front opening having a first portion extending downwardly from a top edge of the upper and a second portion extending forwardly from the first portion, wherein the upper further defines a pair of U-shaped cutouts disposed on opposite sides of the front opening and extending at a downward angle;   a pair of cable or lace guides fixed to the upper, each guide being disposed along one of the pair of U-shaped cutouts, wherein each of the pair of guides comprises: (i) a flexible U-shaped channel having a first end and a second end; (ii) a first installation panel co-formed with the flexible channel and disposed on the first end of the flexible channel; and (iii) a second installation panel co-formed with the flexible channel and disposed on the second end of the flexible channel; and (iv) an intermediate installation panel disposed at an intermediate location on the flexible channel and extending away from the first and second installation panels;   wherein an intermediate portion of the flexible channel disposed between the first and second installation panels is not constrained from flexing such that the intermediate portion of the flexible channel comprises a natural hinge.   
     
     
         9 . The sports boot of  claim 8 , wherein for each cable or lace guide the first installation panels extends on opposite sides of the first end of the flexible channel. 
     
     
         10 . The sports boot of  claim 8 , wherein for each cable or lace guide the first end of the flexible channel and the second end of the flexible channel are fluted. 
     
     
         11 . The sports boot of  claim 8 , wherein for each cable or lace guide comprises an injection molded thermoplastic. 
     
     
         12 . The sports boot of  claim 8 , wherein for each cable or lace guide at least 30% of the flexible channel length is not adjacent any of the first, second or intermediate installation panels. 
     
     
         13 . The sports boot of  claim 8 , wherein for each cable or lace guide 30% to 70% of the flexible channel is not adjacent either of the first and second installation panels. 
     
     
         14 . The sports boot of  claim 8 , wherein the upper further comprises a tongue portion that extends along the front opening and includes at least one crossing guide fixed thereto, the boot further comprising a reel and cable closure system having a cable that engages the pair of cable or guides and the at least one crossing guide, and a locking reel configured to tension the cable to secure the front opening. 
     
     
         15 . The sports boot of  claim 8 , wherein the upper further comprises a pair of flexible panels, each flexible panel being fixed to the upper and spanning an associated one of the U-shaped cutouts.