Closure mechanisms for articles of footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a closure mechanism with a guide rail, a plurality of carriages disposed on the guide rail, and a strap connecting the carriages. The carriages are movably coupled to the guide rail to adjust the fit of the article of footwear. In some instances, a guide rail includes a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first end and the second end. The first end of the guide rail is disposed on the lateral side portion of the upper, the second end of the guide rail is disposed on the medial side portion of the upper, and the intermediate portion of the guide rail extends from the lateral side portion of the upper, around the heel portion of the upper, and to the medial side portion of the upper.

1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole structure;   an upper coupled to the sole structure, wherein the upper comprises a lateral side portion, a medial side portion, a toe portion, and a heel portion; and   a closure mechanism disposed on and coupled to the upper and spaced apart from the sole structure, wherein the closure mechanism comprises:
 a guide rail comprising a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end of the guide rail is disposed on the lateral side portion of the upper, wherein the second end of the guide rail is disposed on the medial side portion of the upper, and wherein the intermediate portion of the guide rail extends from the lateral side portion of the upper, around the heel portion of the upper, and to the medial side portion of the upper; 
 a first carriage movably coupled to the guide rail and disposed on the lateral side portion of the upper, wherein the first carriage is movable along the guide rail from the lateral side portion of the upper to the medial side portion of the upper; 
 a second carriage movably coupled to the guide rail and disposed on the medial side portion of the upper, wherein the second carriage is movable along the guide rail from the medial side portion to the lateral side portion; and 
 a connecting member extending from the first carriage to the second carriage. 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the guide rail and/or the second end of the guide rail are disposed on a forefoot region of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein either or both of the first carriage and the second carriage are removable from the guide rail via the first end of the guide rail. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein either or both of the first carriage and the second carriage are removable from the guide rail via the second end of the guide rail. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first carriage and the second carriage are removable from the guide rail via the first end of the guide rail and the second end of the guide rail. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the guide rail is disposed closer to the sole structure in an inferior/superior direction than the intermediate portion of the guide rail extending around the heel portion of the upper. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the guide rail is disposed closer to the sole structure in an/the inferior/superior direction than the intermediate portion of the guide rail extending around the heel portion of the upper. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the guide rail is continuous from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the guide rail comprises a rail portion and an attachment portion, wherein the first carriage and the second carriage are disposed on the rail portion, and wherein the attachment portion extends from the rail portion and is coupled to the upper. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the first carriage and the second carriage each comprise an opening and a notch, wherein the opening is configured to receive the rail portion of the guide rail, and wherein the notch is configured to allow the attachment portion of the guide rail to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole structure;   an upper coupled to the sole structure, wherein the upper comprises a lateral side portion, a medial side portion, a toe portion, and a heel portion; and   a closure mechanism disposed on and coupled to the upper and spaced apart from the sole structure, wherein the closure mechanism comprises:
 a track comprising a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end of the track is disposed on the lateral side portion of the upper, wherein the second end of the track is disposed on the medial side portion of the upper, and wherein the intermediate portion of the track extends from the lateral side portion of the upper, around the heel portion of the upper, and to the medial side portion of the upper; 
 a first slider removably coupled to the track and disposed on the lateral side portion of the upper, wherein the first slider is movable along the track to adjust a fit of the article of footwear; 
 a second slider removably coupled to the track and disposed on the medial side portion of the upper, wherein the second slider is movable along the track to adjust the fit of the article of footwear; and 
 a connecting member extending from the first slider to the second slider. 
   
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , further comprising a third slider removably coupled to the track and disposed on the lateral side portion of the upper. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , further comprising a fourth slider removably coupled to the track and disposed on the medial side portion of the upper. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , further comprising a third slider removably coupled to the track and disposed on the medial side portion of the upper. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , further comprising a fourth slider removably coupled to the track and disposed on the lateral side portion of the upper. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the connecting member is fixedly secured to the first slider and the second slider. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the first slider comprises one or more apertures configured for receiving the connecting member, wherein the second slider comprises a plurality of apertures configured for receiving the connecting member, and wherein the connecting member is fixedly coupled to the first slider via the one or more apertures, and wherein the connecting member is adjustably coupled to the second slider via the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the first slider comprises a plurality of apertures configured for receiving the connecting member, wherein the second slider comprises one or more apertures configured for receiving the connecting member, and wherein the connecting member is adjustably coupled to the first slider via the plurality of apertures, and wherein the connecting member is fixedly coupled to the second slider via the one or more apertures. 
     
     
         19 . A closure mechanism for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a guide rail comprising a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end of the guide rail is disposed on a first side portion of the article of footwear, wherein the second end of the guide rail is disposed on a second side portion of the article of footwear, and wherein the intermediate portion of the guide rail extends from the first side portion of the article of footwear to the second side portion of the article of footwear;   a first carriage movably coupled to the guide rail and disposed on the first side portion of the article of footwear, wherein the first carriage is movable along the guide rail from the first side portion of the article of footwear to the second side portion of the article of footwear;   a second carriage movably coupled to the guide rail and disposed on the second side portion of the article of footwear, wherein the second carriage is movable along the guide rail from the second side portion to the first side portion; and   a means for connecting the first carriage to the second carriage.