Cyclist's shoe and the like with separately adjustable diagonal and transverse straps for independent instep and forefoot fit control

Claim 2

A cyclist shoe comprising a sole, an upper having a vamp with a variable throat located between outside and inside side panels; adjustable inner strap means secured at opposite ends respectively to the side panels and extending in a diagonal direction across the throat in the instep portion of the shoe and effective when tightened to apply a sqeezing force to the vamp along said diagonal direction for primarily fitting the shoe to a cyclist's instep; and separate adjustable outer strap means overlying and independent of the inner strap means and comprising a relatively large, flexible panel covering a substantial portion of the vamp around the throat, said outer strap means being secured at opposite ends respectively to the side panels and extending in a transverse direction across the vamp substantially at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the shoe and having a forward part at the forefoot portion of the shoe substantially ahead of the instep portion of the shoe and effective when tightened to apply a supplemental squeezing force to the vamp in said transverse direction at the forefoot portion of the shoe for primarily fitting the shoe to the cyclist's forefoot; whereby the inner strap means is effective to tighten the instep portion of the shoe independently of the outer strap means; and whereby further the outer strap means is effective to tighten the forefoot portion of the shoe independently of the inner strap means.

Claim 3

A cyclist shoe comprising a sole, an upper having a vamp with a variable throat located between outside and inside side panels; separately adjustable inner and outer strap means; said inner strap means extending in a diagonal direction, overlying the throat in the instep portion of the shoe, and comprising a fastener strap and an anchor strap; said fastener strap comprising an elongated hook and pile retention member extending in said diagonal direction relative to the throat and being secured to one of the side panels with a free end extending toward the other side panel; said anchor strap comprising a flexible member overlying the throat and secured to the other side panel and having a free end extending in said diagonal direction toward the fastener strap and having a loop at the free end engagable with the free end of the fastener strap; said outer strap means overlying and independent of the inner strap means and comprising a relatively large, flexible panel covering a substantial portion of the vamp in the forefoot portion surrounding the throat, said outer strap means being secured at one end to one of the side panels and having a free end portion contiguous with an attachment area on the other side panel, and hook and pile retention means on said free end portion and on said attachment area; said outer strap means extending in a transverse direction substantially at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the shoe and having a forward part at the forefoot portion of the shoe substantially ahead of the instep portion; whereby the inner strap means is effective to tighten the instep portion of the shoe and to pre-tighten the forefoot portion independently of the outer strap means; and whereby further the outer strap means is effective to tighten the forefoot portion of the shoe independently of the inner strap means.

Claim 4

A cyclist shoe comprising a sole, an upper having a vamp with a variable throat located between outside and inside side panels; separately adjustable inner and outer strap means; said inner strap means extending in a diagonal direction, overlying the throat in the instep portion of the shoe, and comprising a fastener strap and an anchor strap; said fastener strap comprising an elongated hook and pile retention member extending in said diagonal direction relative to the throat and being secured to one of the side panels with a free end extending toward the other side panel; said anchor strap comprising a flexible member overlying the throat and secured to the other side panel and having a free end extending in said diagonal direction toward the fastener strap and having a loop at the free end engagable with the free end of the fastener strap; said outer strap means overlying and independent of the inner strap means and comprising a relatively large, flexible panel covering a substantial portion of the vamp in the forefoot portion surrounding the throat, said outer strap means being secured at one end to one of the side panels and having a free end portion contiguous with an attachment area on the other side panel, and hook and pile retention means on said free end portion and on said attachment area; said outer strap means extending in a transverse direction substantially at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the shoe and having a forward part at the forefoot portion of the shoe substantially ahead of the instep portion; whereby the inner strap means is effective to tighten the instep portion of the shoe and to pre-tighten the forefoot portion independently of the outer strap means; and whereby further the outer strap means is effective to tighten the forefoot portion of the shoe independently of the inner strap means.

Claim 5

A cyclist shoe according to claim 2 in which said free end portion of the outer strap means has a window exposing said free end of the fastener strap whereby the fastener strap may readily be grasped to re-adjust the tension of the inner strap means independently of the outer strap means.

Claim 6

A cyclist shoe according to claim 2 in which the anchor strap and the outer strap means are hingedly secured to the same side panel.