Channeled shoe sole system

Abstract

Shoe soles with channels for receiving shoelaces or other tightening devices. The channels penetrate through the sole crossing the lateral direction (long length of the foot). Variation of the lacing pattern provides for many different aesthetic or functional arrangements. Some versions have tubes in or on the walls of the upper of the shoe. These can shield the laces from view, abrasion, etc.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe comprising
 a sole with a channel extending through the sole   and   a shoestring extending through the sole channel.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1  comprising two or more channels extending through the sole. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 2  comprising three or more channels extending through the sole. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 3 , wherein the sole has a lateral side and a medial side, and the channel passes from the medial side to the lateral side, or the channel passes from the lateral side to the medial side. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the shoestring extends over the shoe. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 5  wherein the shoestring sits in a tube under the surface of the upper, over the surface of the upper, or in the wall of the upper. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the shoestring extends through a plurality of the channels. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 7 , wherein a first portion of the upper extends around an ankle of a user. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 8  wherein the shoestring sits in a tube under the surface of the first portion, over the surface of the first portion, or in the wall of the first portion. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 9  further comprising an upper cover. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 10  wherein the shoestring sits in a tube under the surface of the upper cover, over the surface of the upper cover, or in the wall of the upper cover. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the shoe is an athletic shoe. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the shoe is an athletic shoe. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the shoestring extends through a plurality of the channels. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 14 , wherein the shoe is an athletic shoe. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 15  further comprising at least one other lace, an upper cover, wherein the upper cover comprises shoestring mounts or eyelets, and further comprising a shoestring strip extending over the shoestrings. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the shoestring extends through a plurality of the channels. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the shoe is an athletic shoe. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising
 providing the shoe of  claim 1     and   tightening the shoe to a user's foot.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the tightening step comprises
 extending the shoestrings through the channels,   and securing the shoestrings with a shoestring catch.