Article of footwear having a closure system

Abstract

A fastening system for an article of footwear includes a fastening mechanism, a lace, and a cable. The fastening mechanism includes an upper cover that is rotatably coupled to a chassis. The lace is operably engaged with an upper of the footwear and the fastening mechanism. The cable is attached to the upper cover and rotated relative to the chassis about a rotational axis to adjust the footwear between a loosened configuration and a tightened configuration. The fastening mechanism is tightened by actuating the cable and is loosened by rotating the upper cover counterclockwise.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A fastening system for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a fastening mechanism including an upper cover that is rotatably coupled to a chassis;   a lace that is configured to be operably engaged with an upper of the footwear and the fastening mechanism; and   a cable that is attached to the upper cover, wherein the cable is configured to be rotated relative to the chassis about a rotational axis to adjust the footwear between a loosened configuration and a tightened configuration, wherein the fastening mechanism is tightened by actuating the cable, and wherein the fastening mechanism is loosened by rotating the upper cover counterclockwise.   
     
     
         2 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening mechanism is mounted to the upper on a lateral side of the footwear within a midfoot region. 
     
     
         3 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the lace is operably engaged with the fastening mechanism and extends through a spool, and wherein the lace is proximate a tongue of the footwear. 
     
     
         4 . The fastening system of  claim 3 , wherein the fastening mechanism includes the upper cover that is configured to receive a cable, the spool that is configured to receive the lace, and a screw that is operably engaged with the upper cover and the spool. 
     
     
         5 . The fastening system of  claim 4 , wherein the fastening mechanism includes a floating latch that is coupled to the upper cover, wherein the floating latch is configured to be selectively engaged with a pinion. 
     
     
         6 . The fastening system of  claim 5 , wherein the fastening mechanism includes an affixed latch that is coupled to a static bolt, wherein the affixed latch is configured to be selectively engaged with the pinion. 
     
     
         7 . The fastening system of  claim 4 , wherein the spool is integrally formed with a pinion, and wherein the rotation of the spool is configured to rotate the pinion. 
     
     
         8 . The fastening system of  claim 6 , wherein the floating latch reaches a final position angle of 270 degrees relative to a reference axis that intersects a center point of the static bolt. 
     
     
         9 . The fastening system of  claim 6 , wherein the floating latch is configured to move radially about the screw and vertically above the affixed latch, wherein a first thickness is defined by a plurality of teeth of the pinion, a second thickness is defined by the floating latch, and a third thickness is defined by the affixed latch, the first thickness being no less than a sum of the second thickness and the third thickness. 
     
     
         10 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper cover is rotated counterclockwise to loosen a tension of the lace. 
     
     
         11 . A fastening system for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a fastening mechanism including an upper cover, a chassis, a floating latch, an affixed latch, a cable, and a pinion-spool assembly; and   a lace that is configured to be operably engaged with an upper of the footwear, wherein the fastening mechanism is configured to be actuated to adjust the footwear from a loosened configuration to a tightened configuration.   
     
     
         12 . The fastening system of  claim 11 , wherein a pinion and a spool are integrally formed to define a pinion-spool assembly, the pinion-spool assembly including a medial hole that extends through the pinion-spool assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The fastening system of  claim 11 , wherein the chassis includes a receptacle that has a guide passage through which a portion of the cable is pulled to cause rotation of the upper cover relative to the chassis. 
     
     
         14 . The fastening system of  claim 13 , wherein rotation of the upper cover is configured to adjust a tension of a spring element. 
     
     
         15 . The fastening system of  claim 14 , wherein the floating latch is configured to be rotated radially about a central axis to increase the tension of the spring element, and wherein a main arm of the floating latch is configured to engage at least one of a plurality of teeth of the pinion to maintain the tension of the spring element. 
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a fastening system, comprising the steps of:
 providing an article of footwear that comprises an opening that is configured to receive a foot;   providing a fastening mechanism comprising a first actuation mechanism to adjust a tightness of the footwear; and   providing a second actuation mechanism to further adjust the tightness of the footwear, wherein the second actuation mechanism and the first actuation mechanism are configured to be operably engaged with a pinion-spool assembly,   wherein the first actuation mechanism is operably engaged with a spring element, the spring element adjusting a tension between a lace that is operably connected with the pinion-spool assembly,   wherein the pinion-spool assembly is rotated in a first direction to adjust the fastening mechanism to a tightened configuration, and   wherein the pinion-spool assembly is rotated in a second direction to adjust the fastening mechanism to a loosened configuration.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein an initial angle of an initial position is measured between a first point that is intersected by a longitudinal axis of a dynamic bolt and a second point that is intersected by a longitudinal axis of a static bolt, and wherein the initial angle is between about 75 degrees and about 89 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein an intermediate angle of an intermediate position is measured between the first point and the second point, and wherein the intermediate angle is between about 89 degrees and about 269 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a final angle of a final position is measured between the first point and the second point, and wherein the final angle is between about 270 degrees and about 290 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the dynamic bolt rotatably couples a floating latch to the fastening mechanism, and wherein the floating latch is selectively configured to disengage from a plurality of teeth of the pinion-spool assembly.