Adjustable and flexible closure assembly for shoes with variable opening

Abstract

A shoe having a variable opening and tongue utilizing an adjustable and flexible closure assembly which includes separable fastening members having coacting, flexible, gripping elements, such as hook and loop Velcro type fastening means, a fastener strap, and an anchor means with an opening to engage the free end of the fastener strap permitting the wearer to easily adjust and secure the closure assembly to the precise tautness desired, using only one hand.

What is claimed is: .[.1. A shoe having a sole, uppers and a variable instep opening in combination with an adjustable and flexible closure assembly spanning said variable instep opening, said closure assembly comprising: 
     
        closure assembly to fasten said shoe..]. 2. The shoe of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.29 .Iaddend.wherein said arrays of complementary, coacting flexible gripping elements include an array of hook type gripping elements on said first fastening member and an array of loop type gripping elements on said second fastening member. .[.3. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said anchor 
     
     
        means opening is formed of a D-ring..]. 4. The shoe of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.29 .Iaddend.wherein said .[.anchor means.]. opening is formed of a grommet. .[.5. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said anchor means opening is 
     
     
        formed of a connector plate..]. 6. The shoe of claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.25 .Iaddend.wherein said D-ring is provided with a roll bar. .[.7. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said anchor means forms a strap having a fixed end and 
     
     
        a free end, said free end including said anchor opening..]. 8. The shoe of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.29 .Iaddend.wherein said fastener strap is made of 
     
     
        elasticized material. 9. The shoe of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.29 .Iaddend.wherein said uppers include quarters defining said variable instep opening and said closure assembly is connected to said quarters 
     
     
        spanning said variable instep opening. 10. The shoe of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.29 .Iaddend.wherein said uppers includes a vamp defining said variable instep opening and said closure assembly is connected to said 
     
     
        vamp spanning said variable instep opening. 11. The shoe of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.29 .Iaddend.wherein said vamp further includes a U-throat member 
     
     
        further defining said variable instep opening. 12. The shoe of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.29 .Iaddend.wherein said vamp further includes a V-throat 
     
     
        member further defining said variable instep opening. 13. The shoe of claim .[.7.]. .Iadd.27 .Iaddend.wherein said fastener and said anchor straps are connected to the shoe at the junction of the sole and uppers 
     
     
        adjacent the heel area of said uppers. 14. The shoe of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.29 .Iaddend.further including a second adjustable and flexible closure assembly spanning said variable instep opening. .[.15. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said fastener strap is bifurcated forming two leg members fixed to one side of the shoe and a body member portion spanning said leg members permanently retaining said leg members in said anchor means on the 
     
     
        opposite side of said shoe..]. 16. The shoe of claim .[.15.]. .Iadd.28 .Iaddend.wherein said body portion of said bifurcated fastener strap is 
     
     
        free and includes a pad of hook and loop fastening material. 17. The shoe of claim 16 .[.further including.]. .Iadd.wherein said second fastening member includes .Iaddend.a separate pad of hook and loop fastening material which coacts with said pad on said bifurcated fastener strap. 
     
     
            The shoe of claim .[.7.]. .Iadd.27 .Iaddend.wherein said fastener strap crosses said shoe to engage said anchor strap on the opposite side 
     
     
        of said shoe. 19. The shoe of claim .[.7.]. .Iadd.27 .Iaddend.wherein said anchor strap crosses said shoe to engage said fastener strap on the 
     
     
        opposite side of said shoe. 20. The shoe of claim 10 wherein said fastener strap and said anchor strap extend to engage between said shoe uppers. 
     
     
            The shoe of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.29 .Iaddend.wherein said fixed end of said fastener strap is connected at the point where said sole and uppers 
     
     
        join. 22. The shoe of claim .[.7.]. .Iadd.27 .Iaddend.wherein said fixed end of said fastener strap is connected to said uppers above said sole. 
     
     
            The shoe of claim .[.7.]. .Iadd.27 .Iaddend.wherein said anchor strap 
     
     
        is connected at the point where said sole and said uppers join. 24. The shoe of claim .[.7.]. .Iadd.27 .Iaddend.wherein said anchor strap is 
     
     
        connected to said uppers above said sole. .Iadd.25.  A shoe having a sole, uppers and a variable instep opening in combination with an adjustable and flexible closure assembly spanning said variable instep opening, said closure assembly comprising: a flexible, multi-adjustable, separable fastener means having first and second fastening members including arrays of complementary, coacting flexible gripping elements for securing said closure assembly;   a fastener strap included on one side of said shoe having a fixed portion and a free end, said free end including said first fastening member, said second fastening member positioned adjacent said fixed portion of said fastener strap; and   anchor means on the opposite side of said shoe, said anchor means having an opening formed of a D-ring through which said free end of said fastener strap passes permitting adjustment to maintain a precise desired tautness of said closure assembly to fasten said shoe. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. A shoe having a sole, uppers and a variable instep opening in combination with an adjustable and flexible closure assembly spanning said variable instep opening, said closure assembly comprising:   a flexible, multi-adjustable, separable fastener means having first and second fastening members including arrays of complementary, coacting flexible gripping elements for securing said closure assembly;   a fastener strap included on one side of said shoe having a fixed portion and a free end, said free end including said first fastening member, said second fastening member positioned adjacent said fixed portion of said fastener strap; and   anchor means on the opposite side of said shoe, said anchor means having an opening formed of a connector plate through which said free end of said fastener strap passes permitting adjustment to maintain a precise desired tautness of said closure assembly to fasten said shoe. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.     A shoe having a sole, uppers and a variable instep opening in combination with an adjustable and flexible closure assembly spanning said variable instep opening, said closure assembly comprising: a flexible, multi-adjustable, separable fastener means having first and second fastening members including arrays of complementary, coacting flexible gripping elements for securing said closure assembly;   a fastener strap included on one side of said shoe having a fixed portion and a free end, said free end including said first fastening member, said second fastening member positioned adjacent said fixed portion of said fastener strap; and   anchor means on the opposite side of said shoe, said anchor means having an opening through which said free end of said fastener strap passes permitting adjustment to maintain a precise desired tautness of said closure assembly to fasten said shoe, said anchor means forming a strap having a fixed end and a free end, said free end including said anchor opening. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. A shoe having a sole, uppers and a variable instep opening in combination with an adjustable and flexible closure assembly spanning said variable instep opening, said closure assembly comprising:   a flexible, multi-adjustable, separable fastener means having a first and second fastening members including arrays of complementary, coacting flexible gripping elements for securing said closure assembly;   a bifurcated fastener strap included on one side of said shoe having a fixed portion and a free end, said free end including said first fastening member, said second fastening member positioned adjacent said fixed portion of said fastener strap, said bifurcated fastener strap forming two leg members fixed to one side of the shoe and a body member portion spanning said leg members permanently retaining said leg members in an anchor means on the opposite side of said shoe; and   anchor means on the opposite side of said shoe, said anchor means having an opening through which said free end of said fastener strap passes permitting adjustment to maintain a precise desired tautness of said closure assembly to fasten such shoe. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. A shoe having a sole, uppers and a variable instep opening in combination with an adjustable and flexible closure assembly to span and close the variable instep opening, said closure assembly comprising:   a flexible, multi-adjustable, separable fastener means having first and second fastening members each including arrays of complementary, coacting flexible gripping elements for securing said closure assembly;   a fastener strap having a free end and a fixed portion permanently attached to the shoe and positioned at one side of the variable instep opening, said first fastening member being fixed to said free end of said fastener strap, said second fastening member being in alignment with said fastener strap and being fixed adjacent to said fixed portion of said fastener strap;   an anchor strap having a free end and a fixed portion permanently attached to the shoe and positioned at the opposite side of the variable instep opening, said free end of said anchor strap including an opening through which said free end of said fastener strap passes to adjust and close the variable instep opening; and   said closure assembly spanning the variable instep opening and overlaying the shoe uppers at the area where said fastener strap passes through said opening, the portion of the shoe uppers adjacent the variable instep opening providing a cushion between said closure assembly and the wearer's instep;   whereby this construction permits the adjustment and fastening of said closure assembly to a precise desired tautness and secures the shoe by the   
     
     
        coaction of said first and second fastening members. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The shoe of claim 29 wherein the fixed portions of said fastener strap and said anchor strap are attached to the shoe uppers. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. The shoe of claim 30 wherein the fixed portion of the fastener strap is attached to the shoe upper adjacent to the sole of the shoe. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The shoe of claim 30 wherein the second fastening member is positioned on the fastener strap. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. The shoe of claim 30 wherein the fixed portion of the anchor strap is attached to a shoe upper adjacent to the sole of the shoe. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. A shoe having a sole, uppers and a variable instep opening in combination with an adjustable and flexible closure assembly to span and close the variable instep opening, said closure assembly comprising: a flexible, multi-adjustable, separable fastener means having first and second fastening members each including arrays of complementary, coacting flexible gripping elements for securing said closure assembly;   a fastener strap having a free end and a fixed portion permanently attached to the shoe and positioned at one side of the variable instep opening, said first fastening member being fixed to said free end of said fastener strap, said second fastening member being in alignment with said fastener strap and being fixed adjacent to said fixed portion of said fastener strap;   anchor means permanently attaching a D-ring to the shoe and positioning said D-ring at the opposite side of the variable instep opening, said D-ring providing an opening above the shoe upper through which said free end of said fastener strap is adapted to pass to adjust and close the variable instep opening; and   said closure assembly spanning the variable instep opening and overlaying the shoe uppers at the area where said fastener strap passes through said opening, the portion of the shoe uppers adjacent the variable instep opening providing a cushion between said closure assembly and the wearer's instep;   whereby this construction permits the adjustment and fastening of said closure assembly to a precise desired tautness and secures the shoe by the   
     
     
        coaction of said first and second fastening members. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35. The shoe of claim 34 wherein the D-ring is pivotably attached to the shoe so that the pivotal movement of the D-ring is independent of the movement of the shoe uppers. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. The shoe of claim 35 wherein said anchor means comprises an anchor strap having a fixed portion permanently attached to one side of the shoe and a free end at which the pivotable D-ring is connected. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. The shoe of claim 36 wherein said anchor strap is fixed to a shoe upper. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. The shoe of claim 36 wherein said anchor strap is fixed at a point where the sole and uppers join. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. The shoe of claim 36 wherein said D-ring is provided with a roll bar to allow the fastener strap to glide smoothly and easily provide precise adjustment of the closure assembly. .Iaddend. .Iadd.40. A shoe having a sole, uppers, a variable instep opening, a plurality of lace eyelets in said uppers and positioned along both sides of the variable instep opening and laces strung through said lace eyelets, said laces and eyelets serving as a first fastening means, in combination with an adjustable and flexible closure assembly to span and close the variable instep opening and provide greater support to the wearer's foot, said closure assembly comprising: a flexible, multi-adjustable, separable fastener means having first and second fastening members each including arrays of complementary, coacting flexible gripping elements for securing said closure assembly;   a fastener strap having a free end and a fixed portion permanently attached to the shoe and positioned at one side of the variable instep opening, said first fastening member being fixed to said free end of said fastener strap, said second fastening member being in alignment with said fastener strap and being fixed adjacent to said fixed portion of said fastener strap;   an anchor strap having a free end and a fixed portion permanently attached to the shoe and positioned at the opposite side of the variable instep opening, said free end of said anchor strap including an opening through which said free end of said fastener strap passes to adjust and close the variable instep opening; and   said fastener strap and said anchor strap combining to span the variable instep opening and overlay at least some of the laces and thereby provide greater supporting fastening means and comfort to the wearer's foot;   whereby this construction of said closure assembly serves as a second fastening means, provides considerable fastening support in addition to that provided by the laces and permits the adjustment and fastening of said closure assembly to better retain the precise desired tautness as well as provide greater fastening security for the shoe by the coaction of said first and second fastening members. .Iaddend. .Iadd.41. The shoe of claim 40 wherein said closure assembly overlays the shoe uppers at the area where said fastener strap passes through said opening, the portion of the shoe uppers adjacent the variable instep opening providing a cushion between said closure assembly and the wearer's instep. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. The shoe of claim 40 wherein the fastener strap and the anchor strap are positioned to overlay the upper area of the variable instep opening. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43. The shoe of claim 40 wherein the fixed portion of said fastener strap is attached to one side of the shoe proximate to the heel area of the shoe where the sole and uppers join and the fixed portion of said anchor strap is attached to the other side of the shoe proximate to the heel area of the shoe where the sole and the uppers join so that the closure assembly overlays the upper instep of the shoe and provides greater support and fastening security at the ankle area of the wearer's   
     
     
        foot. .Iaddend. .Iadd.44.  The shoe of claim 41 wherein said opening in said anchor strap is a D-ring pivotably attached to said free end of said anchor strap. .Iaddend. .Iadd.45. A shoe having a sole, uppers, a variable instep opening, a plurality of lace eyelets in said uppers and positioned along both sides of the variable instep opening and laces strung through said lace eyelets, said laces and lace eyelets serving as a first fastening means, in combination with an adjustable and flexible closure assembly to span and close the variable instep opening and provide greater support to the wearer's foot, said closure assembly comprising: a flexible, multi-adjustable, separable fastener means having first and second fastening members each including arrays of complementary, coacting flexible gripping elements for securing said closure assembly;   a fastener strap having a free end and a fixed portion permanently attached to one side of the shoe proximate to the heel area of the shoe where the sole and the uppers join and positioned at one side of the variable instep opening, said first fastening member being fixed to said free end of said fastener strap, said second fastening member being in alignment with said fastener strap and being fixed adjacent to said fixed portion of said fastener strap;   an anchor strap having a free end and a fixed end permanently attached to the opposite side of the shoe proximate to the heel area of the shoe where the sole and uppers join and positioned at the opposite side of the variable instep opening, said free end of said anchor strap including an opening through which said free end of said fastener strap passes to adjust and close the variable instep opening;   said fastener strap and said anchor strap combining to span the variable instep opening and overlay at least some of the laces at the upper portion of the variable instep opening to provide greater support and fastening security at the ankle area of the wearer's foot;   whereby this construction of said closure assembly serves as a second fastening means, provides considerable fastening support in addition to that provided by the laces, permits the adjustment and fastening of said closure assembly to better retain the precise desired tautness as well as provide greater fastening security for the shoe by the coaction of said   
     
     
        first and second fastener members. .Iaddend. .Iadd.46.  The shoe of claim 45 wherein said closure assembly spans and overlays the uppers at the area where said fastener strap passes through said opening, the portion of the shoe uppers adjacent the variable instep opening providing a cushion between said closure assembly and the wearer's instep. .Iaddend. .Iadd.47. The shoe of claim 45 wherein said opening in said anchor strap is a D-ring pivotably attached to said free end of said anchor strap. .Iaddend. .Iadd.48. A shoe having a sole, uppers and a variable instep opening in combination with an adjustable and flexible closure assembly to span and close the variable instep opening, said closure assembly comprising: a flexible, multi-adjustable, separable fastener means having first and second fastening members each including arrays of complementary, coacting flexible gripping elements for securing said closure assembly;   a non-retractable, bifurcated U-shaped fastener strap for spanning the variable instep opening, said bifurcated U-shaped fastener strap having an integral free end portion and a pair of spaced, elongated leg members permanently attached at their fixed ends to one side of the shoe and positioned at one side of the variable instep opening, said integral free end portion interconnecting the two leg members at their ends opposite to the fixed ends attached to the shoe, said first fastening member being fixed to said integral free end portion of said bifurcated fastener strap, said second fastening member being in alignment with said bifurcated fastener strap and being fixed adjacent to said fixed ends of said leg members;   permanent anchor means positioned on the opposite side of said variable instep opening, said anchor means including a pair of openings through which said leg members pass, the integral free end portion of said bifurcated fastener strap preventing the withdrawal of said bifurcated fastener strap from said openings;   wherein the bifurcated U-shaped flexible strap spans the variable instep opening and is always retained within said openings in said anchor means and whereby this construction permits simultaneous manipulation of both leg members of the bifurcated strap to adjust and fasten said closure assembly to a precise desired tautness and secure the shoe by the coaction   
     
     
        of said first and second fastening members. .Iaddend. .Iadd.49.  The shoe of claim 48 wherein the closure assembly overlays the shoe uppers at the area where said fastener strap passes through said opening so that the portion of the shoe uppers adjacent the variable instep opening provides a cushion between said closure assembly and the wearer's instep. .Iaddend. .Iadd.50. The closure assembly of claim 48 wherein the fixed ends of said leg members are attached to the shoe adjacent the variable instep opening. .Iaddend. .Iadd.51. The closure assembly of claim 48 wherein the second fastening member is positioned adjacent the edge of the variable instep opening. .Iaddend. .Iadd.52. The closure assembly of claim 48 wherein the anchor means comprises a pair of anchor straps, each having a free end and a fixed end permanently attached to the shoe, said pair of openings being formed in said free ends of said anchor straps. .Iaddend. .Iadd.53. The closure assembly of claim 52 wherein each of said pair of openings in said anchor straps is a D-ring pivotally connected to the respective free end of the respective anchor strap. .Iaddend. .Iadd.54. The closure assembly of claim 48 wherein said openings are formed in the shoe uppers proximate to the variable instep opening. .Iaddend. .Iadd.55. The closure assembly of claim 54 wherein each of said openings is formed of a grommet. .Iaddend. .Iadd.56. A shoe having a sole, uppers and a variable instep opening in combination with an adjustable and flexible closure assembly to span and close the variable instep opening, said closure assembly comprising: a flexible, multi-adjustable, separable fastener means having a first and second fastening members each including arrays of complementary, coacting flexible gripping elements for securing said closure assembly;   a non-retractable, bifurcated U-shaped fastener strap for spanning the variable instep opening, said bifurcated U-shaped fastener strap having an integral free end portion and a pair of spaced, elongated leg members permanently attached at their fixed ends to one side of the shoe and positioned at one side of the variable instep opening, said integral free end portion interconnecting the two leg members at their ends opposite to the fixed ends attached to the shoe, said first fastening member being fixed to said integral free end portion of said bifurcated fastener strap, said second fastening member being in alignment with said bifurcated fastener strap and being fixed adjacent to said fixed ends of said leg members;   anchor means permanently attaching a pair of D-rings to the shoe and positioning the D-rings at the opposite side of the variable instep opening, said D-rings providing a pair of openings through which said leg members pass, the integral free end portion of said bifurcated fastener strap preventing the withdrawal of the bifurcated fastener strap from said openings;   wherein the bifurcated U-shaped flexible strap spans the variable instep opening and is always retained within said openings in the anchor means and whereby this construction permits simultaneous manipulation of both leg members to adjust and fasten said closure assembly to a precise desired tautness and secure the shoe by the coaction of said first and   
     
     
        second fastening members. .Iaddend. .Iadd.57.  The shoe of claim 56 wherein each D-ring is pivotably attached to the shoe so that the pivotable movement of each D-ring is independent of the movement of the 
     
     
        shoe uppers. .Iaddend. .Iadd.58.  The shoe of claim 56 wherein said anchor means comprise a pair of anchor straps each having a free end and a fixed end permanently attached to the shoe and wherein said D-rings are pivotably connected to the respective free ends of said anchor straps. .Iaddend. .Iadd.59. A shoe having a sole, uppers and a variable instep opening in combination with an adjustable and flexible closure assembly to span and close the variable instep opening, said closure assembly comprising: a flexible, multi-adjustable, separable fastener means having first and second fastening members each including arrays of complementary, coacting flexible gripping elements for securing said closure assembly;   a non-retractable, bifurcated U-shaped fastener strap for spanning the variable instep opening, said bifurcated U-shaped fastener strap having an integral free end portion and a pair of spaced, elongated leg members permanently attached at their fixed ends to one side of the shoe and positioned at one side of said variable instep opening, said integral free end portion interconnecting the two leg members at their ends opposite to the fixed ends attached to the shoe, said first fastening member being fixed to said integral free end portion of said bifurcated fastener strap, said second fastening member being in alignment with said bifurcated fastener strap and being fixed adjacent to said fixed ends of said leg members;   a pair of openings formed in the upper of the shoe on the opposite side of said variable instep opening, said leg members passing under a portion of said upper and through said openings, the integral free end portion of said fastener strap preventing the withdrawal of the bifurcated fastener strap from said openings;   wherein the bifurcated U-shaped flexible strap spans the variable instep opening and is always retained within said openings in the upper and whereby this construction permits simultaneous manipulation of both leg members of the bifurcated strap to adjust and fasten said closure assembly to a precise desired tautness and secure the shoe by the coaction of said first and second fastening members. .Iaddend. .Iadd.60. The shoe of claim 59 wherein each of said openings is formed of a grommet. .Iaddend.