Article of footwear for substantially reducing friction and related components and apparatus

Abstract

An article of footwear for substantially reducing friction related to tying a shoe with a shoelace having an uncompressed cross-section. The shoe comprises eyelets for receiving the shoelace, each eyelet having a cross-section larger than the uncompressed cross-section of the shoelace. The shoe further comprises shoelace interfacing structures configured inside one of the eyelets. The shoelace interfacing structures comprises a material for withstanding tensions associated with tying the shoe. In addition, the shoelace interfacing structures supports movement of the shoelace along an outer surface of the shoelace interfacing structure and permits the shoelace to pass with minimal friction so that pulling on the ends of the shoelace ties the shoe with minimal force, thereby evenly distributing the tension of the shoelace with each shoelace interfacing structures throughout the shoe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear providing substantially reduced friction related to fastening a shoelace associated with the article of footwear, the shoelace having an uncompressed cross-section, the article of footwear comprising:
 a plurality of eyelets for receiving the shoelace, each of said plurality of eyelets having a cross-section larger than said uncompressed cross-section of the shoelace, and   a plurality of shoelace interfacing structures, each of said plurality of shoelace interfacing structures configured inside one of said plurality of eyelets and comprising a material for withstanding tensions associated with tying the shoe, while supporting movement of the shoelace along an outer surface of said shoelace interfacing structure and permitting the shoelace to pass with minimal friction so that pulling on the ends of the shoelace ties the shoe with minimal force, thereby evenly distributing the tension of the shoelace with each of said shoelace interfacing structures throughout the shoe.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said outer surface of each of said shoelace interfacing structures comprising a material with a low coefficient of friction for the shoelace to slide past. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein each of said shoelace interfacing structures are fixed to said one of said eyelets. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein each of said shoelace interfacing structures connected to said one of said eyelets through a rotatable interface, said rotatable interface rotating in response to sufficient friction between the shoelace and said outer surface of one of said shoelace interfacing structures. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said outer surface of each of said shoelace interfacing structures comprising a material with a high coefficient of friction for forming a static interface with the shoelace. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein each of said shoelace interfacing structures connected to said one of said eyelets through a rotatable interface, said rotatable interface rotating in response to sufficient friction between the shoelace and said outer surface of one of said shoelace interfacing structures. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of inner axles, each of said inner axles configured inside one of said shoelace interfacing structures, wherein each of said inner axles are fixed to one of said eyelets, further wherein said one of said shoelace interfacing structures connected to one of said inner axles through an interface. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein said interface comprising lubricant for permitting movement of each of said shoelace interfacing structures around one of said inner axles with minimal friction. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein said interface comprising one or more bearings for permitting movement of each of said shoelace interfacing structures around one of said inner axles with minimal friction. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein said one or more bearings are ball bearings, roller bearings, or needle bearings. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein an inner surface of each of said shoelace interfacing structures comprising a material with a low coefficient of friction for permitting said inner surface of each of said shoelace interfacing structures to slide past said one or more bearings. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , further wherein an outer surface of each of said inner axles comprising a material with a low coefficient of friction for permitting said outer surface of each of said inner axles to slide past said one or more bearings. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein an inner surface of each of said shoelace interfacing structures comprising a material with a high coefficient of friction for forming a static interface with said one or more bearings, thereby enabling said one or more bearings to roll across an outer surface of one of said inner axles. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , further wherein said outer surface of each of said inner axles comprising a material with a high coefficient of friction for for forming a static interface with said one or more bearings, thereby enabling said one or more bearings to roll across said outer surface of one of said inner axles. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said shoelace interfacing structures are longitudinal and said material comprising urethane or a hard, wear-resistant, non-pliable plastic. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the shoelace having a first end and a second end, said first end fixed to the shoe and said second end connected to a rotatable member for increasing the tension of the shoelace with each of said shoelace interfacing structures. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein said rotatable member is motorized. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein said rotatable member operably associated with a crank. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the shoelace wrapping around a perimeter of the shoe. 
     
     
         20 . A method for configuring an article of footwear providing substantially reduced friction related to fastening a shoelace associated with the article of footwear, the shoelace having an uncompressed cross-section, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of eyelets for receiving the shoelace, each of said plurality of eyelets having a cross-section larger than said uncompressed cross-section of the shoelace, and   providing a plurality of shoelace interfacing structures, each of said plurality of shoelace interfacing structures configured inside one of said plurality of eyelets and comprising a material for withstanding tensions associated with tying the shoe, while supporting movement of the shoelace along an outer surface of said shoelace interfacing structure and permitting the shoelace to pass with minimal friction so that pulling on the ends of the shoelace ties the shoe with minimal force, thereby evenly distributing the tension of the shoelace with each of said shoelace interfacing structures throughout the shoe.