Lacing system with guide elements

Abstract

An article of footwear with various types of guide elements is disclosed. The article of footwear provides a set of tensile elements that can be moved through the guide elements to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The tensile elements may be routed through a guide element associated with the upper that can provide compressive strength and support.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper, comprising a first flap and a second flap extending along a lacing gap of the upper, the first flap configured to move relative to the second flap along the lacing gap;   guide elements attached to the upper, each having a respective different length corresponding to a height of the upper along a contour of the upper; and   a tensile element having a plurality of segments, each segment routed through an associated one of the guide elements, wherein the segments of the tensile element are configured to move through the associated guide elements when tension is applied to the tensile element, and wherein tension on a first segment of the plurality of segments and on a second segment of the plurality of segments causes the first flap to move relative to the second flap.   
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the lacing gap is formed between the first flap and the second flap. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein increasing the tension on first and second segments of the plurality of segments causes the lacing gap to shrink. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear according to  claim 4 , wherein decreasing the tension on the first and second segments allows the lacing gap to expand. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the guide elements comprise a hollow tube geometry. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the tensile element is a lace for an article of footwear. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the guide elements are associated with a sidewall portion of the upper, and wherein a rigidity of the guide elements is greater than a rigidity of the sidewall portion of the upper. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the guide elements are associated with a sidewall portion of the upper, and wherein a curvature of a first one of the guide elements is substantially similar to a curvature of the sidewall portion of the upper. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear according to  claim 9 , wherein the guide elements are disposed between an outer lining of the sidewall portion and an inner lining of the sidewall portion. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear according to  claim 2 , further comprising an automated lacing system that controls the tension on one or more segments of the tensile element. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein the automated lacing system comprises a motor, and wherein the tensile element can be automatically moved between a tightened configuration and a loosened configuration by activating the motor. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein a compressive strength of the guide elements is greater than a compressive strength of an associated portion of the upper. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the guide elements are substantially parallel with respect to one another. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making an article of footwear, comprising:
 forming an upper comprising first and second flaps that extend along a lacing gap of the upper, the first flap configured to move relative to the second flap along the lacing gap;   attaching guide elements to the upper, each of the guide elements having a different length corresponding to a height of the upper along a contour of the upper; and   routing segments of a tensile element through corresponding ones of the guide elements, wherein the segments of the tensile element are configured to move through the guide elements when tension is applied to a portion of the tensile element, and wherein tension on first and second ones of the segments causes the first flap to move relative to the second flap.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein forming the upper includes forming the lacing gap between the first flap and the second flap. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein routing the segments of the tensile element comprises routing the segments such that increasing tension on the first and second segments causes the lacing gap to shrink. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein routing the segments of the tensile element comprises routing the segments such that decreasing tension on the first and second segments allows the lacing gap to expand. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein attaching the guide elements includes attaching the guide elements to a sidewall portion of the upper. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein attaching the guide elements includes attaching the guide elements between an outer lining of the sidewall portion and an inner lining of the sidewall portion. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising coupling the tensile element to an automated lacing system that controls the tension applied to the tensile element.