A slotted loops and flexible lace locking system and method for assembling pre-fabricated components

Abstract

The following disclosure relates to a method and system for securing and locking a pre-fabricated component of an article of manufacture to another pre-fabricated component of the article using a series of loops. a series of corresponding or matching features (e.g., flaps) having openings or slots configured to receive the matching loops, and a flexible lace. The flexible lace is configured to engage and lock/secure the slotted loops that are received in the features having openings or slots such that the flexible lace completes the assembly of the article

1 . A method for assembling pre-fabricated components of an article or product, the method comprising:
 providing a first pre-fabricated component having a series of loops along a portion of a peripheral surface of the first pre-fabricated component,   providing a second pre-fabricated component with a series of corresponding features configured to receive the series of loops, the features having openings or slots, the features being disposed along at least a portion of a peripheral surface of the second pre-fabricated component;   slotting the series of loops of the first pre-fabricated component through the openings or slots of the corresponding features of the second pre-fabricated component; and   securing the first pre-fabricated component and the second pre-fabricated component together with a lace that is passed through openings of the slotted series of loops such that the lace is configured to secure the slotted series of loops in the series of corresponding features in place.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first pre-fabricated component is one integral piece, the integral piece being an upper of a footwear, and wherein the second pre-fabricated component is an outsole of a footwear. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the series of features of the second pre-fabricated component are configured to have gaps between individual features of the series of features to provide flexibility when a footwear is worn. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first pre-fabricated component comprises a pre-fabricated upper and a pre-fabricated rand. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the pre-fabricated rand comprises an opening formed between an interior layer and an exterior layer of the pre-fabricated rand, the opening configured to received a lower portion of the pre-fabricated upper. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the pre-fabricated rand further comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion of the pre-fabricated rand having the series of loops along a portion of a peripheral surface of the exterior layer, and the lower portion of the pre-fabricated rand having a skirt. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising inserting a lower portion of the pre-fabricated upper into the opening of the pre-fabricated rand, and connecting the pre-fabricated rand to the pre-fabricated upper. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising inserting an insole into an interior of the pre-fabricated upper, the insole being positioned on top of a folded portion of the skirt of the pre-fabricated rand such as to squeeze the folded portion of the skirt of the pre-fabricated rand between the insole and the second pre-fabricated component. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lace is a flexible lace configured to secure to itself or configured to secure to the first pre-fabricated component, the second pre-fabricated component, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lace is a plurality of flexible laces configured to secure to one another or configured to secure to the first pre-fabricated component, the second pre-fabricated component, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A system for securing pre-fabricated components of an article or product, the system comprising:
 a first pre-fabricated component having a series of loops along a portion of a peripheral surface of the first pre-fabricated component,   a second pre-fabricated component having a series of corresponding features configured to receive the series of loops, the features having openings or slots, the features being disposed along at least a portion of a peripheral surface of the second pre-fabricated component; and   a lace configured to secure the series of loops in the series of corresponding features such as to secure the first pre-fabricated component to the second pre-fabricated component,   wherein the lace is passed through openings of the series of loops of the first pre-fabricated component when the series of loops are received through the series of corresponding features of the second pre-fabricated component.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first pre-fabricated component is one integral piece, the integral piece being an upper of a footwear, and wherein the second pre-fabricated component is an outsole of a footwear. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the series of corresponding features of the second pre-fabricated component are configured to have gaps between individual features of the series of corresponding features to provide flexibility when a footwear is worn. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first pre-fabricated component comprises a pre-fabricated upper and a pre-fabricated rand of a footwear. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the pre-fabricated rand comprises an opening formed between an interior layer and an exterior layer of the pre-fabricated rand, the opening configured to receive a lower portion of the pre-fabricated upper. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the pre-fabricated rand further comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion of the pre-fabricated rand having the series of loops along a portion of a peripheral surface of the exterior layer, and the lower portion of the pre-fabricated rand having a skirt. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the pre-fabricated upper is configured to be inserted into the opening of the pre-fabricated rand, and the pre-fabricated upper is connected to the pre-fabricated rand. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising an insole configured to be inserted into an interior of the pre-fabricated upper, the insole being positioned on top of a folded portion of the skirt of the pre-fabricated rand such as to squeeze the folded portion of the skirt of the pre-fabricated rand between the insole and the second pre-fabricated component. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the lace is a flexible lace configured to secure to itself or configured to secure to the first pre-fabricated component, the second pre-fabricated component, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the lace is a plurality of flexible laces configured to secure to one another or configured to secure to the first pre-fabricated component, the second pre-fabricated component, or a combination thereof.