Article of footwear having a closure system

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper attached to a sole structure to define an interior cavity and a closure system. The sole structure includes a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The closure system includes a closure mechanism, a securing element and a cord that is operably engaged with the upper of the footwear and the closure mechanism. The closure mechanism is actuated to adjust the footwear from a loosened configuration to a tightened configuration. The securing element extends across the upper from a medial side to a lateral side. The securing element only partially covers a winding region formed by the cord proximate a tongue of the footwear. The securing element has a fixed end that is permanently fastened to the sole structure.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper attached to a sole structure to define an interior cavity, wherein the sole structure includes a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region; and   a closure system, the closure system comprising:   a closure mechanism;   a securing element; and   a cord that is operably engaged with the upper of the footwear and the closure mechanism, wherein the closure mechanism is actuated to adjust the footwear from a loosened configuration to a tightened configuration, wherein the securing element extends across the upper from a medial side to a lateral side, wherein the securing element only partially covers a winding region formed by the cord proximate a tongue of the footwear, and wherein the securing element has a fixed end that is permanently fastened to the sole structure.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism tensions the cord when actuated to the tightened configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the closure mechanism is mounted to the upper proximate the winding region of the footwear. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the securing element has a free end opposite the fixed end, and
 wherein the free end engages the securing element with the winding region in a fastened position and does not engage the securing element with the winding region in an unfastened position.   
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the securing element extends in a toe-to-heel direction from the fixed end to the free end. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the closure mechanism is configured to be tightened when the securing element is in the unfastened position. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the securing element is configured to be engaged with the winding region in the tightened configuration. 
     
     
         8 . An article of footwear that has a closure system, the closure system comprising:
 a closure mechanism disposed centrally on an upper and proximate a tongue of the footwear;   a securing element; and   a cord that is operably coupled to the upper and the closure mechanism, wherein the closure mechanism is configured to be actuated to tighten and loosen the footwear, wherein at least a portion of a winding region proximate to the tongue remains exposed when the securing element is engaged with the winding region, wherein the securing element is a strap that includes a free end configured to be articulated between an unfastened position where the strap is spaced apart from the winding region and a fastened position, and wherein the strap has a first segment that extends across the upper and has a fixed end that is secured to the sole structure.   
     
     
         9 . The closure system of  claim 8 , wherein the fixed end is positioned within a midfoot region and the first segment extends from a lateral side of the sole structure to a medial side of the sole structure. 
     
     
         10 . The closure system of  claim 9 , wherein the strap has a second segment that extends across the upper in a midfoot region. 
     
     
         11 . The closure system of  claim 10 , wherein the second segment engages the first segment in the fastened position. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the cord is laced through a plurality of eyelets on the upper and is at least partially concealed by the securing element. 
     
     
         13 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole structure;   an upper attached to the sole structure; and   a closure system coupled to the upper, the closure system comprising:
 a tensioning device operably coupled to the upper; and 
 a strap having a first end permanently secured to the sole structure and a second end that selectively engages a winding region of the footwear. 
   
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the first end is permanently secured to the sole structure in a midfoot region of the footwear. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the tensioning device is mounted to the upper and includes a cord operably coupled to the upper and the tensioning device. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the tensioning device is operable between a first position where the cord is tensioned and a second position where the cord is loosened. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the tensioning device remains in the first position or the second position until the tensioning device is actuated. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the second end of the strap is movable between a fastened position where the strap engages the winding region and an unfastened position where the strap is disengaged from the winding region. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the strap extends diagonally across the upper from a lateral side of the footwear to a medial side in the fastened position. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the second end of the strap includes an engagement feature that secures the strap in the fastened position.