Cage lacing footwear

Abstract

A shoe comprising a sole having a medial side and a lateral side. A sleeve attached to the sole and having an opening for receiving an ankle. A cage attached to the sleeve. The cage having a medial side with a first plurality of eyelets and a lateral side with a second plurality of eyelets. A medial wing coupled to the medial side of the sole and having a third plurality of eyelets. A lateral wing coupled to the lateral side of the sole and having a fourth plurality of eyelets. Wherein the first plurality of eyelets are configured to intertwine with the third plurality of eyelets via at least one lace, and the second plurality of eyelets are configured to intertwine with the fourth plurality of eyelets via the at least one lace.

1 . A shoe, comprising:
 a sole having a medial side and a lateral side;   a sleeve attached to the sole and having an opening for receiving an ankle;   a cage attached to the sleeve, the cage having a medial side with a first plurality of eyelets and a lateral side with a second plurality of eyelets;   a medial wing coupled to the medial side of the sole and having a third plurality of eyelets; and   a lateral wing coupled to the lateral side of the sole and having a fourth plurality of eyelets,   wherein the first plurality of eyelets are configured to intertwine with the third plurality of eyelets via at least one lace, and the second plurality of eyelets are configured to intertwine with the fourth plurality of eyelets via the at least one lace.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the cage comprises a spine at a center of the cage, and tabs extending from the spine along the medial side and lateral side of the cage, wherein each tab on the medial side has at least one of the first plurality of eyelets fixedly attached and each tab on the lateral side has at least one of the second plurality of eyelets fixedly attached. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of eyelets configured to intertwine with the third plurality of eyelets via at least one lace creates a first lacing zone on a medial side of the shoe. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 3 , wherein the second plurality of eyelets are configured to intertwine with the fourth plurality of eyelets via the at least one lace creates a second lacing zone on a lateral side of the shoe. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the cage comprises at least one lace channel configured to receive the at least one lace. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of eyelets comprising:
 a first end fixedly attached to the shoe;   a second end configured to receive the at least one lace;   wherein the second end has rounded edges and a post to reduce friction.   
     
     
         7 . A shoe, comprising:
 a first lacing zone on a medial side of the shoe, and a second lacing zone on the lateral side of the shoe, wherein the first and second lacing zones each comprise:
 a plurality of eyelets arranged on a first side of the lacing zone and a plurality of eyelets arranged on a second side of the lacing zone; and 
 a lace threaded through the plurality of eyelets on the first and second sides of the lacing zone alternating from an eyelet on the first side and to an eyelet on the second side. 
   
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 7  wherein each of the plurality of eyelets comprising:
 a first end fixedly attached to the shoe; and 
 a second end configured to receive the lace, 
 wherein the second end has rounded edges and a post to reduce friction. 
 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a sole having a medial side and a lateral side. 
 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a sleeve attached to the sole and having an opening for receiving an ankle. 
 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a cage attached to the shoe, the cage having a medial side and a lateral side. 
 
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the first side of the first lacing zone is a medial wing coupled to the medial side of the shoe and the second side of the first lacing zone is the medial side of the cage. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the first side of the second lacing zone is lateral wing coupled to the lateral side of the shoe and the second side of the second lacing zone is the lateral side of the cage. 
     
     
         14 . A shoe, comprising:
 a sole having a medial side and a lateral side;   a body attached to the sole;   a cage configured to be positioned over a top of the body and having a medial side with a first plurality of eyelets extending along a length of the cage and a lateral side with a second plurality of eyelets extending along a length of the cage;   a third plurality of eyelets coupled to the body or sole; and   a fourth plurality of eyelets coupled to the body or sole,   wherein the first plurality of eyelets are configured to intertwine with the third plurality of eyelets via at least one lace, and the second plurality of eyelets are configured to intertwine with the fourth plurality of eyelets via the at least one lace.   
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 14 , wherein the cage comprises a spine at a center of the cage, and tabs extending from the spine along the medial side and lateral side of the cage, wherein each tab on the medial side has at least one of the first plurality of eyelets fixedly attached and each tab on the lateral side has at least one of the second plurality of eyelets fixedly attached. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 14 , wherein the first plurality of eyelets configured to intertwine with the third plurality of eyelets via at least one lace creates a first lacing zone on a medial side of the shoe. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 16 , wherein the second plurality of eyelets are configured to intertwine with the fourth plurality of eyelets via the at least one lace creates a second lacing zone on a lateral side of the shoe. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 14 , wherein the cage comprises at least one lace channel configured to receive the at least one lace. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe of  claim 18 , wherein the cage comprises a first lace channel at a first end of the cage, and a second lace channel and third lace channel at the second end of the cage, each lace channel configured to receive the at least one lace. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of eyelets comprising:
 a first end fixedly attached to the shoe;   a second end configured to receive the at least one lace,   wherein the second end has rounded edges and a post to reduce friction.