US20050102861A1 - Footwear closure system with zonal locking - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods for zonal tightening of footwear are disclosed. A zonal locking system for an article of footwear having a first zone and a second zone is provided. At least one curving point is disposed between the first zone and the second zone, the curving point being configured so that a closure line winds around the curving point to turn a line of travel of the closure line without bending any single point of the closure line at an acute angle. At least one rotatable closure line lock is configured to move into a locking position wherein the closure line lock frictionably engages the closure line to generally prevent the closure line from moving through the curving point to allow a first tension in the closure line in the first zone to remain different than a second tension in the closure line in the second zone.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• This invention relates generally to footwear and, more specifically, to a system and method for adjustably securing the footwear to a wearer's foot.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Over the last few decades, different ways of closing and securing footwear have been developed. Historically, footwear was designed to slip onto the foot or would be closed with one of laces or a buckling strap. However, with increased popularity of sports, consumers' investment in athletic shoes has resulted in additional techniques for footwear closure and securing systems. For example, athletic shoes were introduced with multiple Velcro® straps for closing the shoes. Also, shoes were introduced with inwardly-directed air bladders which the wearer could adjustably size with a built-in pumping device to custom-fit the shoe. Footwear manufacturers introduced variations on these closure systems and other devices to provide advantages to those selecting their footwear.
• Another closure advancement introduced more recently to athletic shoes is a zonal-adjustable closure system. It was recognized that the wearer of an athletic shoe may, for example, desire a tight fit in the ankle to provide additional support while leaving the mid-foot area more loosely secured for comfort. Conversely, the wearer may want the shoe tightly secured to his or her foot while leaving his or her ankle loosely bound for freedom of movement. Unfortunately, with a conventional lacing system, even if the wearer tightly laces one section of the shoe's upper while leaving another section of the upper less tightly secured, that desired fitting is not likely to last. Tension in the laces in the more tightly secured part of the shoe will pull the looser sections of the lacing until the tension throughout the entire lace is approximately equal. As a result, the tightness of the shoe will be approximately equal across all the zones of the shoe.
• Various mechanisms have been devised to prevent laces from slipping between parts of a shoe to facilitate zonal tightening of the laces. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,367 to Adams provides double-loop eyelets disposed between lower and upper vamp sections of a shoe. The double-loop lace eyelets operate in the nature of a traditional camp belt, wherein the lace is threaded through both loops then wrapped tightly back over a first loop and under a second loop. Once the lace is drawn tight, the lace is pinched between the first and second loops so it cannot slide through the eyelet. As a result, the double-loop eyelets prevent the lace from slipping and thereby prevent loosened lacing on one side of the double-loop lace eyelet from being tightened by more tightly drawn lacing on the other side of the double-loop lace eyelet. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,863 to Skaja employs locking eyelets having eyelet openings and narrowing, elongate locking slots to facilitate zonal tightening. The shoe is laced to a desired tension below the locking eyelets and the laces are pulled into the narrowing, elongate locking slots of the locking eyelets. The locking eyelets pinch the laces to prevent the laces from moving through the eyelets. As a result, the locking eyelets prevent tightened lacing on one side of the locking eyelets from being loosened by drawing slack from the less tightly drawn lacing on the other side of the locking eyelets and vice versa.
• Currently used zonal tightening systems, however, are not optimal or suitable for all applications. To name one example, snowboard boots suitably are secured using a cable instead of a lace because the less stretchable cable is desirable to ensure rigid support of the boot to allow the wearer to control the attached snowboard. Known locking systems, such as Adams's double-loop eyelets are not suitable because it is neither practical nor desirable to bend the cable closure of the boot through the two eyelets to facilitate zonal tightening of the cable. Similarly, it is neither practical nor desirable to pull and/or bend the cable through a system such as Skaja's elongate locking eyelets which can kink or damage the cable closure.
• Thus, there is an unmet need in the art for a zonal tightening system which can rigidly lock a cable closure or other lace closure without having to excessively bend or kink the closure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for zonal locking of an article of footwear. Embodiments of the present invention use at least one rotatable locking member to frictionably secure a closure line used to secure the tightness of the closure line between zones of the article of footwear. The rotatable locking member allows tension in the closure line to remain different on opposing sides of the locking member. Also, the rotatable locking member allows the closure line to be locked without kinking or bending the closure line at an acute angle at any point along the line. As a result, the rotatable locking member is particularly advantageous for cable closure lines which practically cannot or should not be bent at acute angles.
• More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide zonal locking for an article of footwear having a first zone and a second zone. At least one curving point is disposed between a first zone and a second zone of the article of footwear, the curving point being configured so that a closure line curves around the curving point to turn a line of travel of the closure line without bending any single point of the closure line at an acute angle. At least one rotatable closure line lock is configured to move into a locking position wherein the closure line lock frictionably engages the closure line to generally prevent the closure line from moving through the curving point to allow a first tension in the closure line in the first zone to remain different than a second tension in the closure line in the second zone.
• In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the curving point includes a rotatable cylinder mounted between the first zone and the second zone. The rotatable cylinder has an outer surface configured to windably receive the closure line and frictionably engage the closure line so that the closure line generally cannot be moved without rotating the rotatable cylinder. The rotatable cylinder includes a control grip allowing the wearer to adjust at least one of the first tension in the closure line and the second tension in the closure line. The closure line lock includes a cylinder lock configured to selectively prevent the rotatable cylinder from rotating. The closure line lock, for one example, includes a slidable cylinder mount allowing the rotatable cylinder to move along an axis of rotation having a first position wherein the rotatable cylinder can be rotated and a second position wherein the rotatable cylinder cannot be rotated.
• In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the system includes at least two curving points disposed on opposing sides of a body-receiving opening in the article of footwear. Each of the curving points includes a closure line guide opening configured to receive at least one closure line lock and a locking base configured to frictionably engage the closure line when the closure line lock is rotated into the locking position. The closure line lock includes a hinge fixably mounted adjacent the closure line opening and having an axis generally parallel with the closure line as the closure line passes through the closure line guide opening. A cam lever rotatably mounted on the hinge and having a radially expanding lobe is configured so that when the cam lever is rotated into a locked position, a surface of the radially-expanding lobe frictionably secures the closure line against the locking base.
• In accordance with other aspects of the present invention, the closure line suitably includes a cable. Furthermore, the system can be disposed either on a boot shell or on a boot liner. In addition, the system can include at least one additional zone adjacent either the first zone or the second zone. An additional curving point and closure lock are used to allow for a closure line tension in an additional zone to remain different from the closure line tension in an adjacent zone.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.
• FIG. 1A is side view of a snowboard boot using a first embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 1B is a partial top view of a closure of the snowboard boot ofFIG. 1A;
• FIG. 2 is a top cutaway view of a curving point and cam lock configured to secure a closure line;
• FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional side view of the curving point and cam lock ofFIG. 2 in an unlocked position;
• FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional side view of the curving point and cam lock ofFIG. 2 in a locked position;
• FIG. 4 is a top view of a closure of a snowboard boot using a second embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 5 is a perspective schematic view of a rotatable cylinder zonal lock configured to secure a closure line in an unlocked position; and
• FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a routine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• By way of overview, embodiments of the present invention provide zonal locking for an article of footwear having a first zone and a second zone. At least one curving point is disposed between a first zone and a second zone of the article of footwear, the curving point being configured so that a closure line winds around the curving point to turn a line of travel of the closure line without bending any single point of the closure line at an acute angle. At least one rotatable closure line lock is configured to move into a locking position wherein the closure line lock frictionably engages the closure line to generally prevent the closure line from moving through the curving point to allow a first tension in the closure line in the first zone to remain different than a second tension in the closure line in the second zone.
• FIG. 1A is a side view of asnowboard boot100 using a first embodiment of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention are well-suited for asnowboard boot100 because the wearer may desire a different tightness of theboot100 in afirst section110 of theboot100, such as a section over the foot of the wearer, than in asecond section120 of the boot, such as a section over the ankle or lower leg of the wearer. For example, the wearer may desire a lesser degree of tightness of theboot100 in thefirst section110 for comfort while the wearer desires a higher degree of tightness in thesecond section120 to provide greater support and increased control of the snowboard, or vice versa. To provide for different degrees of tightness between thefirst section110 and thesecond section120 of thesnowboard boot100, thesnowboard boot100 is equipped with azonal lock130 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
• Although asnowboard boot100 is shown inFIG. 1, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention can be adapted for use with any other type of footwear. For example, a high-topped basketball shoe can incorporate an embodiment of the present invention to allow a player to lace his or her shoe more loosely in the foot section for comfort and more tightly in the ankle section for greater support, or vice versa. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to snowboard boots, ski boots, boots, or athletic shoes, as any type of footwear can benefit from an embodiment of the present invention.
• In addition,FIG. 1 depicts footwear having two zones, afirst zone110 and asecond zone120, separated by a singlezonal lock130. However, it will be appreciated that one or more additional zones could be added to provide for more than two zones having different degrees of tension in the closure line. An additional zone could be added adjacent to either thefirst zone110 or thesecond zone120 and separated from the adjacent zone by an additionalzonal lock130. Thus, for example, theboot100 could include a first zone at the wearer's mid-foot, a second zone at the wearer's heel, and an additional zone at the wearer's ankle. Any number of additional zones can be added by including an additional zonal lock to set off each additional zone.
• FIG. 1B is a top view of aclosure140 of thesnowboard boot100 ofFIG. 1A. Theclosure140 is a closable opening in an upper of a boot shell, boot liner, or other footwear, such as an opening that is secured over a tongue across a top of the wearer's foot or lower leg. Theclosure140 includes aclosure line150 allowing theclosure140 to be closed to secure theboot100 on the wearer's foot and ankle. Theclosure line150 suitably is a cable, a lace, or another suitable form of cord. Theclosure line150 engages securingpoints160 on opposing sides of theclosure140 so that, when tension is applied to theclosure line150, the closure is secured to the user's foot.
• The closure140 (FIG. 1B) includes thezonal lock130 to enable aclosure line150 to maintain a first degree of tension in thefirst zone110 different from a second degree of tension in thesecond zone120. More specifically, thezonal lock130 frictionably secures theclosure line150 in place to allow a different degree of tension to be maintained in theclosure line150 on opposing sides of thezonal lock130. Thezonal lock130 includes acurving point180 engaging theclosure line150 similarly to how the securingpoints160 engage the closure line. However, the zonal lock also includes arotatable lock190 configured to enable the zonal lock to frictionably engage theclosure line150 to permit different degrees of tension on opposing sides of thezonal lock130.
• As shown inFIG. 1B, thezonal lock130 is shaped with acurving point180 channeling theclosure line150 without bending a single point on theclosure line150 without kinking or bending theclosure line150 at an acute angle. Not sharply bending theclosure line150 is desirable when the closure line is a cable or any other type of lace that could be damaged by sharp bending of the cable. In addition, even using aflexible closure line150 such as a woven lace, avoiding sharp bending of the closure line allows theclosure line150 to be drawn more readily through thezonal lock130 until it is desired that theclosure line150 be locked in place.
• FIG. 2 is a top cutaway view of thezonal lock130 showing thecurving point180 and therotatable lock190 for securing theclosure line150. Abase200 of thecurving point180 is secured to the shoe upper on opposing sides of theclosure140. Thecurving point180 channels theclosure line150 aroundcurved corners210 so that the travel of theclosure line150 can be turned without sharply bending theclosure line150 as previously described. As theclosure line150 passes through thecurving point180, therotatable lock190 secures theclosure line150. Therotatable lock190 is a cam lock that rotates about a hinge which, for example, may be integrated into thebase200 of thecurving point180. Moving therotatable cam lock190 into place frictionably engages theclosure line150 between thecam lock190 and thecurving point180.
• FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional side view of theclosure line150, thecurving point180, and thecam lock190 ofFIG. 2 in an unlocked position. Theclosure line150 passes against alocking base250 presented by thecurving point180. Thelocking point150 laterally engages theclosure line150 from an inward side of the closure140 (FIG. 1B) so that theclosure140 is drawn closed when tension is applied to theclosure line150.
• Thecam lock190 includes alever arm300 for rotating a radially-expandinglobe310 about ahinge320. An axis of thehinge320 is generally parallel to theclosure line150 as it passes thecam lock190. Thecam lock190 is rotated about thehinge320 into a locked position by turning thelever arm300, as shown inFIG. 3A, in a counterclockwise direction. As thecam lock190 is rotated into the locked position, asurface330 of the radially-expandinglobe310 presses theclosure line150 against the lockingbase250, locking theclosure line150 in place as is shown inFIG. 3B.
• FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional side view of theclosure line150, thecurving point180, and thecam lock190 ofFIG. 2 in a locked position. In the locked position, thesurface330 of the radially-expandinglobe310 of thecam lock190 presses theclosure line150 against the lockingbase250. The combined lateral force of thecam lock190 and thelocking base250 against theclosure line150 frictionably locks theclosure line150 in place. To adjust or readjust the tension in theclosure line150, thelever arm300, as shown inFIG. 3B, is turned in a clockwise direction. Rotating thecam lock190 in a clockwise direction retracts thesurface330 of the radially-expandinglobe310 of thecam lock190, thereby allowing the closure line to move freely.
• FIG. 4 is a top view of aclosure400 of a snowboard boot using a second embodiment of the present invention. Once again, theclosure400 is a closable opening in an upper of a boot shell, boot liner, or other footwear, such as an opening that secured over a tongue across a top of the wearer's foot or lower extremity. Theclosure400 includes aclosure line410 allowing theclosure400 to be closed to secure a boot or other article of footwear (not shown) on the wearer's foot and ankle. Theclosure line410 suitably is a lace or a cable. Theclosure line410 engages securingpoints420 on opposing sides of theclosure400 so that, when tension is applied to theclosure line410, the closure is secured to the user's foot.
• As in the case of the first embodiment of the present invention, a second embodiment of azonal lock430 enables theclosure line410 to maintain a first degree of tension in thefirst zone440 different from a second degree of tension in thesecond zone450. More specifically, thezonal lock430 frictionably secures theclosure line410 in place to allow a different degree of tension to be maintained in theclosure line410 in thefirst zone440 and thesecond zone450 on opposing sides of thezonal lock430.
• FIG. 5 is a perspective schematic view of thezonal lock430. Thezonal lock430 includes a curving point500 in the nature of a rotatable cylinder; Theclosure line410 wraps around an outer surface of the rotatable cylinder500. As tension is applied to theclosure line410, the outer surface of the rotatable cylinder500 frictionably engages theclosure line410. When the rotatable cylinder500 frictionably engages theclosure line410, theclosure line410 cannot be moved without moving the rotatable cylinder500. Thus, securing the rotatable cylinder500 allows different degrees of tension to be controllably maintained in theclosure line410 on opposing sides of thezonal lock430, thereby allowing for different degrees of tension in theclosure line410 inzones440 and450 on opposing sides of thezonal lock430.
• The rotatable cylinder500 is rotatably mounted on a mountingbase510. Anaxle520 provides rotatable engagement between the mountingbase510 and the rotatable cylinder500. Theaxle520 suitably is fixably mounted to the mountingbase510 and rotatably mounted to the rotatable cylinder500, rotatably mounted to the mountingbase510 and fixably mounted to the rotatable cylinder500, or rotatably mounted to both the mountingbase510 and the rotatable cylinder.
• Alocking mechanism530 is operable to prevent the rotatable cylinder500 from rotating relative to the mountingbase510. Thelocking mechanism530 can include a number of locking techniques. For example, thelocking mechanism530 suitably is a cam lock for frictionably engaging an end of the rotatable cylinder500. Alternatively, the rotatable cylinder500 can be movable transversely along theaxis520 and the rotatable cylinder500 and the mounting base can be fitted with fixed interlocking gears or teeth. In such an embodiment, pushing the rotatable cylinder500 against the mountingbase510 engages the interlocking gears or teeth, thereby preventing the rotatable cylinder from rotating relative to the base in a down and locked position. Similarly, a base of theaxle520 can be fitted with radially-extending teeth to engage inward-facing teeth inside an annular surface of the rotatable cylinder to lock the rotatable cylinder in a down and locked or up and locked position. Any suitably rotation locking technology can be used to prevent the rotatable cylinder from rotating when it is desired to lock thezonal lock430.
• Also, the rotatable cylinder500 of thezonal lock430 is desirably equipped with agripping ring540 at a distal end of the rotatable cylinder500. Thegripping ring540 facilitates a wearer being able to turn the rotatable cylinder500 when it is in an unlocked position to be able to adjust tension in theclosure line410 in azone440 and450 on either side of thezonal lock430. As in the case of the first embodiment of the invention (FIGS. 1A-3B), one or more additional zones could be added to provide for more than two zones having different degrees of tension in the closure line. An additional zone can be added adjacent to either the first zone440 (FIG. 4) or thesecond zone450 and separated from the adjacent zone by an additionalzonal lock430.
• FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a routine600 for using a single zonal lock130 (FIGS. 1B-3B) and430 (FIGS. 4 and 5) to maintain zonal tightening and locking of two zones of an article of footwear. It will be appreciated that the routine600 suitably is extended to allow for use of additional zonal locks facilitating creational of additional, separately controllable tightening zones as desired.
• The routine begins at ablock610 with a wearer beginning to fit the footwear by placing his or her foot into the footwear. At ablock620, tension of a closure line is adjusted in a first zone of the article of footwear. In accordance with previously described embodiments of the present invention, the tension suitably is adjusted according to the first embodiment by pulling the closure line to a desired tightness. In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, the tension suitably is adjusted by pulling a closure line until it frictionably engages the zonal lock and further adjusted by rotating the rotatable cylinder500.
• At adecision block630, it is determined if the tension in the first zone has reached a desired level. If not, the routine600 reverts to theblock620 for further adjustment of the tension. On the other hand, if it is determined at thedecision block630 that a desirable level of tension has been reached, at a block640 a rotatable lock such as the cam lock or lockable rotatable cylinder is moved into a locked position to maintain the desired tension in the first zone.
• At ablock650, tension in the closure line can be adjusted to a desired level in a second zone and the closure line can be secured. At adecision block660, it is determined if changes in fit or tension of the article of footwear are desired. If so, at ablock670, the rotatable lock is moved into an unlocked position to release the closure line. The routine600 then reverts to theblock620 where the wearer can further adjust the degree of tension in the closure line. However, if it is determined at thedecision block660 that a desired degree of tension has been reached, the routine ends at ablock680 with the ending of the fitting of the article of footwear. It will be appreciated that a wearer can repeat the routine as often as desired to adjust or change the zonal fitting of the article of footwear.
• While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.

Claims (49)

1. A zonal locking system for an article of footwear having a first zone and a second zone, the system comprising:

at least one curving point disposed between a first zone and a second zone of the article of footwear, the curving point being configured so-that a closure line winds around the curving point to turn a line of travel of the closure line without bending any single point of the closure line at an acute angle; and

at least one rotatable closure line lock configured to move into a locking position wherein the closure line lock frictionably engages the closure line to generally prevent the closure line from moving through the curving point to allow a first tension in the closure line in the first zone to remain different than a second tension in the closure line in the second zone.

2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the system includes at least two curving points disposed on opposing sides of a body-receiving opening in the article of footwear, each of the curving points including:

a closure line guide opening configured to receive at least one closure line lock; and

a locking base configured to frictionably engage the closure line when the closure line lock is rotated into the locking position.

3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the rotatable closure line lock includes:

a hinge fixably mounted adjacent the closure line opening and having an axis generally parallel with the closure line as the closure line passes through the closure line guide opening; and

a cam lever rotatably mounted on the hinge and having a radially expanding lobe configured so that when the cam lever is rotated into a locked position, a surface of the radially expanding lobe frictionably secures the closure line against the locking base.

4. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the curving point includes a rotatable cylinder mounted between the first zone and the second zone, the rotatable cylinder having an outer surface configured to windably receive the closure line and frictionably engage the closure line so that the closure line generally cannot be moved without rotatable the rotatable cylinder.

5. The system ofclaim 4, wherein the rotatable cylinder includes a control grip allowing the wearer to adjust at least one of the first tension in the closure line and the second tension in the closure line.

6. The system ofclaim 4, wherein the rotatable closure line lock includes a cylinder lock configured to selectively prevent the rotatable cylinder from rotating.

7. The system ofclaim 4, wherein the rotatable closure line lock includes a slidable cylinder mount allowing the rotatable cylinder to move along an axis of rotation having a first position wherein the rotatable cylinder can be rotated and a second position wherein the rotatable cylinder cannot be rotated.

8. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the closure line includes a cable.

9. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the system is disposed on a boot shell.

10. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the system is disposed on a boot liner.

11. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the system further comprises at least one additional zone, the system comprising:

at least one additional curving point disposed between the at least one additional zone and an adjacent zone including one of the first zone and the second zone of the article of footwear; and

at least one additional rotatable closure line lock configured to rotate into an additional locking position wherein the additional rotatable closure line lock frictionably engages the closure line to generally prevent the closure line from moving through the additional curving point to allow an additional tension in the closure line in the additional zone to remain different from an adjacent tension in the adjacent zone.

12. A closure system for an article of footwear having a first zone corresponding with a first part of the wearer's lower extremity and a second zone corresponding with a second part of the wearer's lower extremity, the system comprising:

a closure line;

a plurality of securing points to receive the closure line throughout a first zone and a second zone of an article of footwear, the securing points being configured to tighten the article of footwear when tension is applied to the closure line; and

a locking device disposed at a junction between the first zone and the second zone, the locking device including:

at least one curving point disposed between a first zone and a second zone of the article of footwear, the curving point being configured so that a closure line winds around the curving point to turn a line of travel of the closure line without bending any single point of the closure line at an acute angle; and

at least one rotatable closure line lock configured to move into a locking position wherein the closure line lock frictionably engages the closure line to generally prevent the closure line from moving through the curving point to allow a first tension in the closure line in the first zone to remain different than a second tension in the closure line in the second zone.

13. The system ofclaim 12, wherein system includes at least two curving points disposed on opposing sides of a body-receiving opening in the article of footwear, each of the curving points including:

a closure line guide opening configured to receive at least one closure line lock; and

a locking base configured to frictionably engage the closure line when the closure line lock is rotated into the locking position.

14. The system ofclaim 13, wherein the rotatable closure line lock includes:

a hinge fixably mounted adjacent the closure line opening and having an axis generally parallel with the closure line as the closure line passes through the closure line guide opening; and

a cam lever rotatably mounted on the hinge and having a radially expanding lobe configured so that when the cam lever is rotated into a locked position, a surface of the radially expanding lobe frictionably secures the closure line against the locking base.

15. The system ofclaim 12, wherein the curving point includes a rotatable cylinder mounted between the first zone and the second zone, the rotatable cylinder having an outer surface configured to windably receive the closure line and frictionably engage the closure line so that the closure line generally cannot be moved without rotating the rotatable cylinder.

16. The system ofclaim 15, wherein the rotatable cylinder includes a control grip allowing the wearer to adjust at least one of the first tension in the closure line and the second tension in the closure line.

17. The system ofclaim 15, wherein the rotatable closure line lock includes a cylinder lock configured to selectively prevent the rotatable cylinder from rotating.

18. The system ofclaim 15, wherein the rotatable closure line lock includes a slidable cylinder mount allowing the rotatable cylinder to move along an axis of rotation having a first position wherein the rotatable cylinder can be rotated and a second position wherein the rotatable cylinder cannot be rotated.

19. The system ofclaim 12, wherein the closure line includes a cable.

20. The system ofclaim 12, wherein the system is disposed on a boot shell.

21. The system ofclaim 12, wherein the system is disposed on a boot liner.

22. The system ofclaim 12, wherein the system further comprises at least one additional zone, the system comprising:

at least one additional curving point disposed between an additional zone and an adjacent zone including one of the first zone and the second zone of the article of footwear; and

at least one additional rotatable closure line lock configured to move into an additional locking position wherein the additional rotatable closure line lock frictionably engages the closure line to generally prevent the closure line from moving through the additional curving point to allow an additional tension in the closure line in the additional zone to remain different from an adjacent tension in the adjacent zone.

23. A footwear system having a zonal locking system having a first zone corresponding with a first part of the wearer's lower extremity and a second zone corresponding with a second part of the wearer's lower extremity, the system comprising:

a sole;

an upper mounted on the sole and configured to receiver a lower extremity of the wearer, the upper including:

a closure line;

a plurality of securing points to receive the closure line throughout a first zone and a second zone of the system, the securing points being configured to close the system when tension is applied to the closure line; and

a locking device disposed at a junction between the first zone and the second zone, the locking device including:

a curving point disposed between the first zone and the second zone, the curving point being configured so that the closure line winds around the curving point to turn a direction of travel of the closure line without bending the closure line at an acute angle; and

a rotatable lock configured to frictionably engage the closure line to prevent the closure line from moving through the curving point to allow a first tension in the closure line in the first zone to remain different than a second tension in the closure line in the second zone.

24. The system ofclaim 23, wherein system includes at least two curving points disposed on opposing sides of a body-receiving opening in the article of footwear, each of the curving points including:

a closure line guide opening configured to receive at least one closure line lock; and

a locking base configured to frictionably engage the closure line when the closure line lock is rotated into the locking position.

25. The system ofclaim 24, wherein the closure line lock includes:

a hinge fixably mounted adjacent the closure line opening and having an axis generally parallel with the closure line as the closure line passes through the closure line guide opening; and

a cam lever rotatably mounted on the hinge and having a radially expanding lobe configured so that when the cam lever is rotated into a locked position, a surface of the radially expanding lobe frictionably secures the closure line against the locking base.

26. The system ofclaim 23, wherein the curving point includes a rotatable cylinder mounted between the first zone and the second zone, the rotatable cylinder having an outer surface configured to windably receive the closure line and frictionably engage the closure line so that the closure line generally cannot be moved without rotating the rotatable cylinder.

27. The system ofclaim 26, wherein the rotatable cylinder includes a control grip allowing the wearer to adjust at least one of the first tension in the closure line and the second tension in the closure line.

28. The system ofclaim 26, wherein the closure line lock includes a cylinder lock configured to selectively prevent the rotatable cylinder from rotating.

29. The system ofclaim 26, wherein the closure line lock includes a slidable cylinder mount allowing the rotatable cylinder to move along an axis of rotation having a first position wherein the rotatable cylinder can be rotated and a second position wherein the rotatable cylinder cannot be rotated.

30. The system ofclaim 23, wherein the closure line includes a cable.

31. The system ofclaim 23, wherein the upper includes a boot shell.

32. The system ofclaim 23, wherein the upper includes a boot liner.

33. The system ofclaim 23, wherein the system further comprises at least one additional zone, the system comprising:

at least one additional curving point disposed between an additional zone and an adjacent zone including one of the first zone and the second zone of the article of footwear; and

at least one additional closure line lock configured to rotate into an additional locking position wherein the additional closure line lock frictionably engages the closure line to generally prevent the closure line from moving through the additional curving point to allow an additional tension in the closure line in the additional zone to remain different from an adjacent tension in the adjacent zone.

34. A zonal locking system for an article of footwear having a first zone and a second zone, the system comprising:

a locking base disposed between a first zone and a second zone of the article of footwear, the locking base being configured to receive a closure line passing between the first zone and the second zone; and

a cam lock including:

a hinge having an axis generally parallel with the closure line;

a cam lever rotatably mounted on the hinge having a radially expanding lobe configured so that when the cam lever is rotated into a locked position, a surface of the radially expanding lobe frictionably secures the closure line against the locking base to allow a first tension in the closure line in the first zone to remain different than a second tension in the closure line in the second zone.

35. The system ofclaim 34, wherein the closure line includes a cable.

36. The system ofclaim 34, wherein the system is disposed on a boot shell.

37. The system ofclaim 34, wherein the system is disposed on a boot liner.

38. A zonal locking system for an article of footwear having a first zone and a second zone, the system comprising:

a cylinder mount disposed between a first zone and a second zone of the article of footwear; and

a rotatable cylinder configured to rotatably engage the cylinder mount and rotating about an axis generally perpendicular to a surface of the cylinder mount, the rotatable cylinder including:

an outer surface configured to receive a closure line wrapped around the outer surface and frictionably engage the closure line so that the closure line generally cannot be moved without rotating the rotatable cylinder about the axis; and

a cylinder lock configured to selectively prevent the rotatable cylinder from rotating to allow a first tension in the closure line in the first zone to remain different than a second tension in the closure line in the second zone.

39. The system ofclaim 38, wherein the curving point includes a rotatable cylinder mounted between the first zone and the second zone, the rotatable cylinder having an outer surface configured to windably receive the closure line and frictionably engage the closure line so that the closure line generally cannot be moved without rotating the rotatable cylinder.

40. The system ofclaim 39, wherein the rotatable cylinder includes a control grip allowing the wearer to adjust at least one of the first tension in the closure line and the second tension in the closure line.

41. The system ofclaim 39, wherein the closure line lock includes a cylinder lock configured to selectively prevent the rotatable cylinder from rotating.

42. The system ofclaim 41, wherein the closure line lock includes a slidable cylinder mount allowing the rotatable cylinder to move along an axis of rotation having a first position wherein the rotatable cylinder can be rotated and a second position wherein the rotatable cylinder cannot be rotated.

43. The system ofclaim 38, wherein the closure line includes a cable.

44. The system ofclaim 38, wherein the system is disposed on-a boot shell.

45. The system ofclaim 38, wherein the system is disposed on a boot liner

46. A method for providing zonal locking of a closure line used to close an article of footwear, the method comprising:

looping a closure line around a curving point between a first zone and a second zone so that the closure line winds around the curving point to turn a direction of travel of the closure line without bending the closure line at an acute angle; and

moving a rotating locking member into a locked position so that the rotating locking member frictionably engages the closure line at the curving point preventing the closure line from moving through the curving point to allow the first tension in the closure line to remain different than the second tension in the closure line.

47. The method ofclaim 46, further comprising providing at least one additional zone, the method comprising:

looping a closure line around at least one additional curving point disposed between an additional zone and an adjacent zone including one of the first zone and the second zone of the article of footwear; and

moving at least one additional rotating locking member into a locked position so that the additional rotating locking member frictionably engages the closure line to generally prevent the closure line from moving through the additional curving point to allow an additional tension in the closure line in the additional zone to remain different from an adjacent tension in the adjacent zone.

48. A method for providing zonal locking of a closure line used to close an article of footwear, the method comprising:

passing a closure line through a pair of locking guides mounted between a first zone and a second zone so that the closure line winds around the curving point to turn a direction of travel of the closure line without bending the closure line at an acute angle; and

rotating a locking member into a locked position so that the rotating locking member frictionably engages the closure line at the curving point preventing the closure line from moving through the curving point to allow the first tension in the closure line to remain different than the second tension in the closure line.

49. The method ofclaim 48, further comprising providing at least one additional zone, the method comprising:

looping a closure line around at least one additional curving point disposed between an additional zone and an adjacent zone including one of the first zone and the second zone of the article of footwear; and

rotating at least one additional rotating locking member into a locked position so that the additional rotating locking member frictionably engages the closure line to generally prevent the closure line from moving through the additional curving point to allow an additional tension in the closure line in the additional zone to remain different from an adjacent tension in the adjacent zone.

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