IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,478,140
Granted Patent B2
US 12,478,140 · App. 18/394,913 · Granted Nov 25, 2025

Footwear having motorized adjustment system and elastic upper

Inventors: Thomas J. Rushbrook (Portland, OR); Tiffany A. Beers (Portland, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A43C11/165A43B3/34A43B5/001A43B5/002A43B5/02A43B5/06A43B9/02A43B9/12A43B11/00A43B23/027A43B23/0275A43B23/0295A43B23/047A43C1/00A43C1/06A43C3/00A43C11/002A43C11/008A43C11/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,478,140
App. No.
18/394,913
Granted
Nov 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An article of footwear may include an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper including one or more elastic portions and one or more substantially inelastic portions. The footwear may further include a plurality of lace receiving members fixedly attached to an outer surface of the upper on the inelastic portions of the upper. Also, the footwear may include a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper. In addition, the footwear may include a motorized tensioning system including a motorized tightening device and a tensile member extending through the plurality of lace receiving members, the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear by drawing two or more of the plurality of lace receiving members closer to one another.

Claims (29)

1 . An article of footwear, comprising:

a tensile member;

a sole structure;

an upper including a top portion, a bottom portion coupled to the sole structure, and an elastic portion, the top and bottom portions being substantially inelastic and spaced apart from one another, the elastic portion forming a void configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the top and bottom portions fixedly attached to the elastic portion, the top portion movably positioned relative to the bottom portion based on stretching or relaxation of the elastic portion, the top portion and the bottom portion substantially laterally offset with respect to the elastic portion, wherein the elastic portion has a tensioned state and a relaxed state; and

a plurality of lace receiving members fixedly attached variously to the top and bottom portions of the upper, wherein the tensile member extends through a first lace receiving member of the plurality of lace receiving members and extends through a second lace receiving member of the plurality of lace receiving members.

2 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion is coupled to the sole structure proximate a middle portion of the sole structure.

3 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion is coupled to the sole structure on a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear.

4 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lace receiving members are secured to the top portion at a medial location and a lateral location.

5 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the top portion at least partially covers the elastic portion.

6 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the tensile member extends from the top portion to a heel region of the article of footwear.

7 . An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:

a top portion;

a bottom portion configured to be coupled to a sole structure;

an elastic portion, the top and bottom portions being substantially inelastic and spaced apart from one another, the elastic portion configured to form a void configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the top and bottom portions fixedly attached to the elastic portion, the top portion movably positioned relative to the bottom portion based on stretching or relaxation of the elastic portion, the top portion and the bottom portion substantially laterally offset with respect to the elastic portion, wherein the elastic portion has a tensioned state and a relaxed state; and

a plurality of lace receiving members fixedly attached variously to the top and bottom portions of the upper, wherein the tensile member is configured to extend through a first lace receiving member of the plurality of lace receiving members and extends through a second lace receiving member of the plurality of lace receiving members.

8 . The upper of claim 7 , wherein the bottom portion is configured to be coupled to the sole structure proximate a middle portion of the sole structure.

9 . The upper of claim 7 , wherein the bottom portion is configured to be coupled to the sole structure on a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear.

10 . The upper of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of lace receiving members are secured to the top portion at a medial location and a lateral location.

11 . The upper of claim 7 , wherein the top portion at least partially covers the elastic portion.

12 . The upper of claim 7 , wherein the tensile member is configured to extend from the top portion to a heel region of the article of footwear.

13 . A method of making an article of footwear, comprising:

coupling an upper to a sole structure, the upper including a top portion, a bottom portion which is coupled to the sole structure, and an elastic portion, the top and bottom portions being substantially inelastic and spaced apart from one another, the elastic portion forming a void configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the top and bottom portions fixedly attached to the elastic portion, the top portion movably positioned relative to the bottom portion based on stretching or relaxation of the elastic portion, the top portion and the bottom portion substantially laterally offset with respect to the elastic portion, wherein the elastic portion has a tensioned state and a relaxed state;

fixedly attaching a plurality of lace receiving members variously to the top and bottom portions of the upper;

extending a tensile member through a first lace receiving member of the plurality of lace receiving members and through a second lace receiving member of the plurality of lace receiving members.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein coupling the bottom portion includes coupling the bottom portion to the sole structure proximate a middle portion of the sole structure.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein coupling the bottom portion includes coupling the bottom portion to the sole structure on a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein securing the plurality of lace receiving members includes securing the lace receiving members to the top portion at a medial location and a lateral location.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the top portion at least partially covers the elastic portion.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein extending the tensile member includes extending the tensile member from the top portion to a heel region of the article of footwear.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2024
From: RUSHBROOK, THOMAS J.; BEERS, TIFFANY A.
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 066389/0306 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17571798 · Jan 10, 2022
Continuation 16518006 · Jul 22, 2019
Continuation 15488158 · Apr 14, 2017
Continuation 14253055 · Apr 15, 2014
Related Publication 20240164489A1 · May 23, 2024
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