US 12,011,067 B2
Tension maintaining system for footwear laces
Brad Jeffrey Pelkofer, Cranberry Township, PA (US); Brandon Bennett, Somerset, NJ (US); Evan Heckrote, Mechanicsburg, PA (US); Kyle Houck, Princeton Junction, NJ (US); Aditya Peri, Newtown, PA (US); Shmuley Reitman, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Michael Scandrol, South Park, PA (US); Jacalynn Sharp, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Brent Smedley, Ruffs Dale, PA (US); Faith August, Wilsonville, OR (US); Jared Tudge, Bangor, PA (US); Chen Zhu, San Francisco, CA (US); Jacob Rosenberger, New Cumberland, PA (US); Jared Henderson, Coatesville, PA (US); and Mark Vavithes, New Wilmington, PA (US)
Filed by Panther Laces Corporation, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Filed on Sep. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/474,299.
Application 17/474,299 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/408,033, filed on May 9, 2019, granted, now 11,116,287.
Application 17/474,299 is a continuation in part of application No. 29/760,729, filed on Dec. 3, 2020.
Application 17/474,299 is a continuation in part of application No. 29/760,723, filed on Dec. 3, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/668,983, filed on May 9, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/120,981, filed on Dec. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0125163 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A43C 11/14 (2006.01)
CPC A43C 11/14 (2013.01) 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A footwear comprising: a sole;
an upper supported by the sole;
at least one lace coupled to the upper, the at least one lace having a plurality of lace portions extending at least partially in a lateral direction relative to the upper; and
a clamp coupling at least two of the plurality of lace portions together, the clamp including
a cap;
a base pivotally coupled to the cap;
a plurality of interlocking protrusions supported by at least one of the cap and base and cooperating to grip the plurality of lace portions, the plurality of interlocking protrusions including first and second sets of protrusions spaced apart laterally along the plurality of lace portions, the interlocking protrusions being pyramid-shaped and having truncated upper ends;
a pair of arms supported by at least one of the cap and base positioned and engaging the plurality of lace portions, the first and second sets of interlocking protrusions being laterally positioned between the pair of arms; and
a latch securing the cap and base together.