Zonal dynamic lacing system

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper having an instep region at an anterior end of an ankle opening, a heel counter at a posterior end of the ankle opening, and a quarter region extending between the instep region and the heel counter. The article of footwear also includes a sole structure attached to the upper, a heel strap disposed at the heel counter of the upper, and a cable lock disposed within the sole structure. The article of footwear further includes a tensioning system, including a tensioning element having a heel portion extending from the cable lock to the heel strap, and a control element extending from the cable lock to an exterior surface of the upper. The control element is operable to move the tensioning element between a first position and a second position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper including an instep region at an anterior end of an ankle opening, a heel counter at a posterior end of the ankle opening, and a quarter region extending between the instep region and the heel counter;   a sole structure attached to the upper;   a heel strap disposed at the heel counter of the upper;   a cable lock disposed within the sole structure; and   a tensioning system including a tensioning element having a heel portion extending from the cable lock to the heel strap, and a control element extending from the cable lock to an exterior surface of the upper, the control element operable to move the tensioning element between a first position and a second position.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the heel strap extends around the heel counter from a medial end on a medial side of the upper to a lateral end on a lateral side of the upper. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein each of the medial end and the lateral end includes a cable guide configured to cooperate with the tensioning element. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the heel portion of the tensioning element includes at least one of a medial portion extending from the cable lock to the medial end of the heel strap and a lateral portion extending from the cable lock to the lateral end of the heel strap. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one of the lateral portion and the medial portion includes a first segment extending from the cable lock to the heel strap and a second segment extending from the heel strap to one of the quarter region and the instep region. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein the upper includes a plurality of eyelets and the second segment extends from the heel strap to one of the eyelets. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning system further includes an instep portion operable to move the instep region between a tightened state and a relaxed state. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the heel counter has a greater pliability than the quarter region of the upper. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the heel counter is formed of an elastic material. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the control element extends along the exterior surface of the upper from a first end on a medial side of the upper to a second end on a lateral side of the upper. 
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper including an instep region at an anterior end of an ankle opening, a heel counter at a posterior end of the ankle opening, and a quarter region extending between the instep region and the heel counter;   a sole structure attached to the upper;   a cable lock disposed within the sole structure; and   a tensioning system including a heel portion operable to control a fit of the heel counter and an instep portion operable to control a fit of the instep region.   
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , further comprising a heel strap extending around the heel counter from a medial end on a medial side of the upper to a lateral end on a lateral side of the upper. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein each of the medial end and the lateral end includes a cable guide configured to cooperate with a tensioning cable of the tensioning system. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the heel portion of the tensioning system includes at least one of a medial portion extending from the cable lock to the medial end of the heel strap and a lateral portion extending from the cable lock to the lateral end of the heel strap. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one of the lateral portion and the medial portion includes a first segment extending from the cable lock to the heel strap and a second segment extending from the heel strap to one of the quarter region and the instep region. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the upper includes a plurality of eyelets and the second segment extends form the heel strap to one of the eyelets. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the instep portion is independently operable from the heel portion. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the heel counter has a greater pliability than the quarter region of the upper. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the heel counter is formed of an elastic material. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the instep portion includes a lace operable to selectively draw a medial side of the upper and a lateral side of the upper toward one another to adjust the fit of the instep region.