Footwear lacing system

Abstract

An article of footwear has an upper and a sole structure, wherein the upper includes a footwear lacing system having a first panel with a plurality of first lateral receiving elements, a tongue having a plurality of first medial receiving elements, a plurality of second medial receiving elements, a first aperture, a second aperture, a second panel having a plurality of second lateral receiving elements, and a cord lock coupled to a rear side of the tongue. A user may thread the laces through a cord lock, interweaving the laces sequentially between a plurality of medial and lateral receiving elements and tighten the lacing system to longitudinally align the receiving elements without any laces traversing the tongue of the footwear, thereby saving time in use, optimizing shoe fit, relieving potential discomfort, and exposing the tongue of the shoe for placement of shoe designers' logos.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe lacing system, comprising:
 a first panel comprising a plurality of first lateral receiving elements extending in an inwardly direction;   a second panel comprising a plurality of second lateral receiving elements extending in an inwardly direction; and   a tongue, comprising:
 a plurality of first medial receiving elements extending in an outwardly direction; 
 a plurality of second medial receiving elements extending in an outwardly direction; 
   wherein each of the first medial receiving elements is configured to be interposed between respective first lateral receiving elements and each of the second medial receiving elements is configured to be interposed between respective second lateral receiving elements.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe lacing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cord lock. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe lacing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a distal lace positioning receiver. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe lacing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a center portion. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe lacing system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of first medial receiving elements from the center portion and the plurality of second medial receiving elements extend from the center portion. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe lacing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first aperture and a second aperture at a first, proximal end of the tongue. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe lacing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first lace positioning loop and a second lace positioning loop at a first, proximal end of the tongue. 
     
     
         8 . A shoe lacing system, comprising:
 a first panel comprising a plurality of first lateral receiving elements extending in an inwardly direction;   a second panel comprising a plurality of second lateral receiving elements extending in an inwardly direction;   a tongue, comprising:
 a plurality of first medial receiving elements extending in an outwardly direction, each of the first medial receiving elements longitudinally offset from the first lateral receiving elements; 
 a plurality of second medial receiving elements extending in an outwardly direction, each of the second medial receiving elements longitudinally offset from the second lateral receiving elements; 
   a lace; and   a cord lock;   wherein in a first position:
 each of the first medial receiving elements is not interposed between the first lateral receiving elements, and 
 each of the second medial receiving elements is not interposed between the second lateral receiving elements; and 
   wherein in a second position:
 each of the first medial receiving elements is interposed between respective first lateral receiving elements, and 
 each of the second medial receiving elements is interposed between respective second lateral receiving elements. 
   
     
     
         9 . The shoe lacing system of  claim 8 , further comprising a distal lace positioning receiver. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe lacing system of  claim 8 , further comprising a center portion. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe lacing system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of first medial receiving elements from the center portion and the plurality of second medial receiving elements extend from the center portion. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe lacing system of  claim 8 , further comprising a first aperture and a second aperture at a first, proximal end of the tongue. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe lacing system of  claim 8 , further comprising a first lace positioning loop and a second lace positioning loop at a first, proximal end of the tongue. 
     
     
         14 . A method of using a shoe lacing system, comprising:
 threading a lace through a cord lock;   extending the lace down a longitudinal axis of an article of footwear;   interweaving the lace sequentially from a first lateral receiving element to a first medial receiving element, to a second lateral receiving element to a second medial receiving element to a third lateral receiving element to a third medial receiving element and to a fourth lateral receiving element;   traversing the width of the tongue with the lace and extending it up the longitudinal axis of the article of footwear by interweaving the lace sequentially from a fifth lateral receiving element to a fourth medial receiving element to a sixth lateral receiving element to a fifth medial receiving element to a seventh lateral receiving element and to a sixth medial receiving element to an eighth lateral receiving element; and   tightening the lace by pulling rearwardly.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising before extending the lace down the longitudinal axis, threading the lace through a first aperture on a first end of the tongue. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising before traversing the width of the tongue, threading the lace through a distal lace positioning receiver. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising securing the lace with a cord lock. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein when the lace is tightened, each medial receiving element is interposed between respective lateral receiving elements. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the lace is tightened by pulling rearwardly on the lace with one hand.