Closure system and/or shoe configurations for enhancing the performance of running shoes

Abstract

A shoe may include a sole and an upper. The upper may have a medial side and a lateral side that each have an edge positioned on opposing side of the shoe's tongue. The upper's medial side and/or the upper's lateral side may include stiffened regions and flexible regions with each stiffened region being disposed between two flexible regions so that the stiffened regions are moveable relative to one another upon tensioning of the medial and lateral sides of the upper. The opposing edges of the upper's medial and lateral sides may be substantially linear or straight prior to tensioning of the upper's medial and lateral sides and may be substantially uneven or nonlinear subsequent to tensioning of the upper's medial and lateral sides due to relative movement of the stiffened regions.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A shoe comprising:
 a sole;   an upper that is attached to the sole and configured to fit around a foot of a user, the upper having a first side and a second side that fit around a medial and lateral side of the foot;   a first strap or panel that is attached to the first side of the shoe and that extends laterally across an upper portion of the shoe toward the second side of the shoe;   a second strap or panel that is attached to the first side of the shoe and that extends laterally across the upper portion of the shoe toward the second side of the shoe;   a first tension member that is guided or directed about a first path along the shoe, the first tension member being coupled with a distal end of the first strap or panel such that tensioning of the first tension member tightens the first strap or panel about the upper portion of the shoe;   a second tension member that is guided or directed about a second path along the shoe, the second tension member being coupled with a distal end of the second strap or panel such that tensioning of the second tension member tightens the second strap or panel about the upper portion of the shoe;   a first tightening mechanism that is operably coupled with the first tension member to effect tensioning of the first tension member upon operation of the first tightening mechanism; and   a second tightening mechanism that is operably coupled with the second tension member to effect tensioning of the second tension member upon operation of the tightening mechanism.   
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the first tightening mechanism and the second tightening mechanism are positioned on the second side of the shoe. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 3 , wherein the first tightening mechanism is positioned below a collar portion of the shoe so as to be positioned below a user's ankle. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the first strap or panel and the second strap or panel are coupled together and form or define a single strap or panel. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the first tension member is guided along the path via a plurality of guides, wherein a first guide is positioned adjacent the sole and a second guide is coupled with the distal end of the first strap or panel. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the second tension member is guided from the second tightening mechanism to the second strap or panel and is guided therefrom to the second tightening mechanism so that the second tension member is operationally coupled only with the second tightening mechanism and the second strap or panel. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the first strap or panel is separate from the second strap or panel. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first tension member or the second tension member crosses itself along the first path or second path, respectively. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the other of the at least one of the first tension member or the second tension member does not cross itself along the first path or second path, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 2 , further comprising a sole strap or panel that is attached to the second side of the shoe adjacent the sole, wherein the first tension member or the second tension member is coupled with the sole strap or panel such that at least a portion of the first tension member or second tension member is routed atop the upper between the sole strap or panel and the first strap or panel or the second strap or panel. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 2 , further comprising a heel strap or panel that is attached to the first side of the shoe and that extends at least partially around a heel of the shoe, wherein the first tension member is coupled with a distal end of the heel strap or panel and is configured to tighten the heel strap or panel about a heel of the shoe. 
     
     
         13 . A shoe comprising:
 a sole;   an upper attached to the sole and configured to fit around a foot of a user;   a first strap or panel that is attached to a first side of the shoe and that extends laterally across an upper portion of the shoe toward a second side of the shoe;   a second strap or panel that is attached to a first side of the shoe and that extends laterally across an upper portion of the shoe toward a second side of the shoe;   a first tightening mechanism that is operably coupled with the first strap or panel, the first tightening mechanism being operable to tension the first strap or panel; and   a second tightening mechanism that is operably coupled with the second strap or panel, the second tightening mechanism being operable to tension the second strap or panel.   
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 13 , further comprising a first tension member that is coupled with the first strap or panel and the first tightening mechanism to operably couple the first tightening mechanism with the first strap or panel. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 14 , further comprising a second tension member that is coupled with the second strap or panel and the second tightening mechanism to operably couple the second tightening mechanism with the second strap or panel. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 14 , further comprising a third strap or panel that is attached to the second side of the shoe adjacent a sole of the shoe, wherein the first tension member is coupled with the third strap or panel such that at least a portion of the first tension member is routed atop the upper between the first strap or panel and the third strap or panel. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the first tightening mechanism and the second tightening mechanism are positioned on the second side of the shoe. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the first strap or panel and the second strap or panel are coupled together and form or define a single strap or panel. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the first strap or panel and the second strap or panel are separate straps or panels that are moveable relative to one another. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe of  claim 19 , further comprising a flexible portion that is disposed at least partially between the separate straps or panels, wherein the flexible portion separates at least a portion of the separate straps or panels. 
     
     
         21 . The shoe of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first tension member or the second tension member crosses itself along a path of the first tension member or the second tension member. 
     
     
         22 . The shoe of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first tension member or the second tension member does not cross itself along the path of the first tension member or the second tension member. 
     
     
         23 . The shoe of  claim 14 , further comprising a heel strap or panel that is attached to the first side of the shoe and that extends at least partially around a heel of the shoe, wherein the first tension member is coupled with a distal end of the heel strap or panel and is configured to tighten the heel strap or panel about a heel of the shoe. 
     
     
         24 . The shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the first strap or panel or the second strap or panel includes a relatively stiff portion and a flexible portion that separates a proximal portion so that the first strap or panel or the second strap or panel is moveable and conformable to a shape of a user's foot.