Continual comfort adjusting fastener for a footwear article

Abstract

The present invention relates to a continual comfort adjusting fastener for a footwear article and provides an alternative to fasteners that necessitate periodic attention by the wearer in order to maintain a proper combination of support, fit and comfort by utilizing spring mechanisms to induce a predetermined amount of tension between opposing eye flaps of the footwear article. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the spring mechanism portion of the spring assembly that provides constant tension between eye flaps may be one of a tension spring, compression spring and torsion spring. The spring assembly is comprised substantially of a spring mechanism and may be fastened directly to eyelets in the footwear article. In accordance with other exemplary embodiments, the spring assembly is further comprised of locking eyelets which themselves are attached to the eye flap of the footwear article via rivets, thus replacing the eyelets. With respect to embodiments that make use of eyelets in the footwear eye flap, the attachment means for the spring mechanism is a simple “J” hook and thereby may be hooked into existing eyelets, alternatively the J hook attachment might be fastened to the aforementioned locking eyelets. The J hook attachment is open ended, thereby allowing the spring mechanism to be easily disconnected from the corresponding eyelet at any time for ease of entry into the footwear article and further, the J hook attachment configuration is compatible with all types of spring mechanisms.