US 11,849,812 B2
Footwear with alternate lacing systems
Christopher Anderson, Barnstaple (GB); Adam Meek, Etobicoke (CA); Oliver Saunders, Bristol (GB); and Michael Edward Blackford, York (CA)
Assigned to Canada Goose Inc., Toronto (CA)
Filed by Canada Goose Inc., Toronto (CA)
Filed on Sep. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/476,727.
Prior Publication US 2023/0082391 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. A43C 7/00 (2006.01); A43C 11/00 (2006.01); A43C 11/12 (2006.01); A43B 23/26 (2006.01)
CPC A43C 7/00 (2013.01) [A43B 23/26 (2013.01); A43C 11/008 (2013.01); A43C 11/12 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A boot for being worn on a foot and a lower leg of a wearer, the boot comprising:
a) an upper including a forefoot portion for covering a forefoot of the wearer, a rear portion opposite the forefoot portion for covering a rear of the foot and the lower leg of the wearer, and a pair of laterally spaced apart side portions extending between the forefoot and rear portions for covering opposite sides of the foot and the lower leg, the pair of side portions having corresponding front edges above the forefoot portion and spaced laterally apart from each other by a tongue opening;
b) a gusseted tongue covering the tongue opening, the gusseted tongue including a tongue panel positioned over the tongue opening and a pair of gussets attaching opposite side edges of the tongue panel to corresponding side portions of the upper;
c) a pair of tongue fasteners configured to selectively fasten and unfasten corresponding side edges of the tongue panel to corresponding side portions of the upper, the tongue fasteners configurable between an open configuration, in which each side edge of the tongue panel is spaced apart from the front edge of a corresponding side portion by a gap across which a corresponding gusset extends to expand a boot opening of the boot, and a closed configuration, in which each side edge of the tongue panel is fastened to, and adjacent the front edge of, a corresponding side portion to close the gap and collapse the gusset for contracting the boot opening;
d) an outboard lacing system on the side portions of the upper outboard of the tongue fasteners, the outboard lacing system including a pair of outboard rows of lace guides, each outboard row adjacent the front edge of a corresponding side portion, and the pair of outboard rows arranged for guiding lacing therebetween across the gusseted tongue and tongue fasteners when the tongue fasteners are in the closed configuration; and
e) an inboard lacing system on the tongue panel inboard of the tongue fasteners, the inboard lacing system including a pair of inboard rows of lace guides, each inboard row attached to the tongue panel adjacent a corresponding side edge, and the pair of inboard rows arranged for guiding lacing therebetween across the tongue panel clear of the tongue fasteners and gussets when the tongue fasteners are in the open configuration.