Closure system for children's footwear

Abstract

A closure system for footwear is provided. The footwear has an outsole, an upper defining a tongue opening, and a closure assembly configured to selectively close the tongue opening. The closure assembly includes an elastic connector, a closure panel, and one or more stretchable faux laces. The elastic connector is anchored to the upper or the outsole inside the article of footwear. The closure panel bridges the tongue opening and has first and second ends; the first end is attached to the elastic connector and disposed within the upper and the second end is disposed outside the upper and releasably affixed to the upper. The faux lace is joined to the upper and the closure panel. The elastic connector is disposed within the upper and hidden from view from an exterior of the footwear when worn by a wearer.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole;   an upper joined to the sole, the upper defining a tongue opening; and   a closure assembly configured to selectively close the tongue opening, the closure assembly having a closure panel, an elastic connector, and at least one stretchable faux lace, the closure panel bridging the tongue opening, the closure panel having a first end disposed inside the upper on a first side of the tongue opening and a second end disposed outside the upper on a second side of the tongue opening, the closure panel joined to at least one of the upper or the sole by the elastic connector, the elastic connector disposed inside the upper where hidden from view from an exterior of the article of footwear when worn by a wearer, the closure panel releasably affixed to the upper on the second side of the tongue opening, the at least one faux lace having a first end joined to the upper and a second end joined to the closure panel.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein the upper includes a liner disposed along an inner surface, at least a portion of the elastic connector disposed behind the liner. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  further including an upper trim piece extending around a portion of the tongue opening and a closure panel trim piece affixed to the second end of the closure panel; and
 wherein when the second end of the closure panel is affixed to the upper, the upper trim piece and the closure panel trim piece align to provide an appearance of a unitary trim piece. 
 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3  wherein the upper trim piece is a faux eyestay, the faux eyestay including a plurality of eyelet holes through the upper trim piece and the closure panel trim piece, the at least one faux lace extending between opposed eyelet holes. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4  wherein the closure panel includes a pull tab formed at the second end thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 4  wherein the closure panel is removably joined to the upper via a hook and loop closure element. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 6  further including a tongue positioned beneath the tongue opening, the tongue including a cooperating hook and loop closure element on an exterior surface thereof and configured to engage the hook and loop closure element of the closure panel. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein the upper defines a height between a lower periphery thereof and the tongue opening, the height measured at a middle of a width of the elastic connector; and
 the elastic connector defines a length, wherein the length of the elastic connector is about 50% to about 90% of the height of the upper. 
 
     
     
         9 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an outsole;   an upper joined to the outsole, the upper defining a void configured to receive a foot of a wearer; and   a closure assembly having an elastic connector and a closure panel, the elastic connector having first and second ends, the elastic connector first end anchored to one of the upper and the outsole, the closure panel having first end second ends, the closure panel first end disposed inside the upper, the closure panel second end disposed outside the upper and releasably affixed to the upper,   wherein the elastic connector is hidden from view from an exterior of the article of footwear when the article of footwear is worn, and the elastic connector is configured to stretch to fit the wearer's foot and to stretch in response to movement of the wearer's foot.   
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9  comprising a liner disposed on an inner surface of the upper, at least a portion of the elastic connector disposed behind the liner. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 9  wherein the closure assembly includes at least one stretchable faux lace having a first end joined to the upper and a second end joined to the closure panel. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  further including:
 an upper trim piece extending around a portion of a tongue opening defined in the upper; and 
 a closure panel trim piece affixed to the second end of the closure panel; and 
 a plurality of eyelet holes through the upper trim piece and the closure panel trim piece, 
 wherein when the second end of the closure panel is affixed to the upper, the upper trim piece and the closure panel trim piece align to provide an appearance of a unitary trim piece, and the at least one faux lace extends between opposed eyelet holes. 
 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12  wherein the second end of the closure panel includes a pull tab. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13  wherein the closure panel is removably joined to the upper via a hook and loop closure element. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14  comprising a tongue positioned beneath the tongue opening, the tongue including a cooperating hook and loop closure element on an exterior surface thereof and configured to engage the hook and loop closure element of the closure panel. 
     
     
         16 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an outsole;   an upper joined to the outsole; and   a closure assembly comprising:
 an elastic connector having first and second ends, the first end fixedly joined to one of a lower periphery of the upper and the outsole; 
 a closure panel having first end second ends, the first end joined to the elastic connector, the second end releasably affixed to the upper; and 
 at least one faux lace having a first end joined to the upper and a second end joined to the closure panel; 
   wherein the closure panel extends laterally across the upper, the first end of the closure panel disposed inside the upper and the second end of the closure panel disposed outside the upper,   wherein the elastic connector and the at least one faux lace are stretchable such that the upper can expand when the elastic connector and the at least one faux lace are stretched, and the elastic connector is hidden from view, when stretched or unstretched, from an exterior of the article of footwear when worn by a wearer.   
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16  wherein the upper includes a liner disposed along an inner surface and at least a portion of the elastic connector is disposed behind the liner. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 16  wherein the upper has a lowermost peripheral allowance, and a strobel board is joined with the peripheral allowance to close a bottom of the upper with a strobel construction,
 wherein the first end of the elastic connector is stitched to at least one of the peripheral allowance and the strobel board. 
 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18  wherein the closure panel is releasably affixed to the upper via a hook and loop closure element. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19  comprising a tongue positioned beneath a tongue opening, the tongue includes a cooperating hook and loop closure element on an exterior surface thereof configured to engage the hook and loop closure element of the closure panel.