Article of footwear with securable tongue

Abstract

Articles of footwear having securable tongues may comprise foldable tongues configured to be secured in a retracted position without the use of a wearer's hands. In some examples, articles of footwear having securable tongues comprise tongues having hinges configured to provide a fold point. In some examples, articles of footwear having securable tongues comprise a length of activator material coupled to the securable tongue, such that a user pulling on a pull portion of the length of activator material folds the tongue into a retracted position. In some examples, articles of footwear having securable tongues further comprise guides and/or locks configured to facilitate folding and/or securing of the tongue in a retracted position.

1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper;   a tongue pivotably coupled to the upper; and   a securing mechanism configured to selectively toggle the tongue between a retracted configuration and a foot-engaging configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the tongue further comprises a hinge extending across a width of the tongue, such that the tongue is foldable along the hinge. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises a length of an actuator material received by one or more tongue apertures; and
 wherein the length of actuator material extends along a length of the tongue and is configured such that pulling on a pull portion of the length of activator material causes the tongue to fold along the hinge.   
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises the pull portion extending from a distal end of the tongue. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the tongue further comprises a guide configured to receive the length of actuator material. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein the guide defines two parallel channels, each configured to receive a respective end of the length of actuator material. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the securing mechanism further comprises a lock configured to secure the length of actuator material, such that the tongue is secured in the retracted configuration when the lock is engaged. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the upper defines a foot-receiving cavity, and wherein the tongue comprises a back panel facing the foot-receiving cavity and a front panel positioned opposite the back panel, with the front panel forming an externally-facing surface of the tongue, and wherein the securing mechanism is disposed at least partially between the front panel and the back panel. 
     
     
         9 . A tongue for an article of footwear, the tongue comprising:
 a tongue having a width and a length,   a hinge extending across a width of the tongue, such that the tongue is foldable along the hinge, and   a securing mechanism configured to selectively toggle the tongue between a retracted configuration and a foot-engaging configuration, wherein the tongue is configured to be pivotably coupled to an upper for an article of footwear.   
     
     
         10 . The tongue of  claim 9 , the securing mechanism comprising a length of actuator material received by one or more tongue apertures; and
 wherein the length of actuator material extends along a length of the tongue, wherein the tongue is configured to fold along the hinge by pulling on a pull portion of the length of actuator material.   
     
     
         11 . The tongue of  claim 10 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises the pull portion extending from a distal end of the tongue; and
 wherein the tongue is configured to fold along the hinge by pulling on the pull portion.   
     
     
         12 . The tongue of  claim 11 , wherein the pull portion is disposed at a distal end of the tongue. 
     
     
         13 . The tongue of  claim 11 , wherein the pull portion is disposed at a medial edge of the tongue. 
     
     
         14 . The tongue of  claim 11 , wherein the pull portion is disposed at a lateral edge of the tongue. 
     
     
         15 . The tongue of  claim 10 , further comprising a guide configured to receive the length of actuator material. 
     
     
         16 . The tongue of  claim 15 , wherein the guide defines two parallel channels, each configured to receive a respective end of the length of actuator material. 
     
     
         17 . The tongue of  claim 10 , further comprising a lock configured to secure the length of actuator material such that the tongue is secured in the retracted configuration when the lock is engaged. 
     
     
         18 . The tongue of  claim 17 , wherein the lock comprises a toggle lock having a tubular body, and a translatable clasp, and the translatable clasp is configured to be at least partially received by the tubular body and to translate relative to the tubular body. 
     
     
         19 . The tongue of  claim 9 , further comprising a back panel and a front panel positioned opposite the back panel, with the front panel forming an externally-facing surface of the tongue, and wherein the securing mechanism is disposed at least partially between the front panel and the back panel. 
     
     
         20 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper defining a foot receiving cavity;   a tongue pivotably coupled to the upper and comprising a hinge extending across a width of the tongue, such that the tongue is foldable along the hinge; and   a securing mechanism defining one or more tongue apertures and being configured to selectively toggle the tongue between a retracted configuration and a foot-engaging configuration, the securing mechanism comprising a length of actuator material received by the one or more tongue apertures, wherein the length of actuator material extends along a length of the tongue and is configured such that pulling on a pull portion of the length of activator material causes the tongue to fold along the hinge.