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US005564203A
United States Patent [19] [ii] Patent Number: 5,564,203
Morris [45] Date of Patent: Oct. 15,1996
[54] INSTEP LACING COMPONENT SYSTEM
[75] Inventor: E. Scott Morris, East Providence, R.I.
[73] Assignee: Reebok International Ltd., Stoughton, Mass.
[21] Appl. No.: 570,377
[22] Filed: Dec. 11,1995
Related U.S. Application Data
[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 288,351, Aug. 10, 1994, abandoned.
[51] Int. CI.6 A43C 11/00
[52] U.S. CI 36/50.1; 36/72 R; 36/136
[58] Field of Search 36/96, 100, 133,
36/132, 50.1, 54, 72 R, 136, 58.5, 58.6, 51, 114, 71, 1.5; 24/712.1, 713.6, 714.1
[56] References Cited
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5,184,378 2/1993 Batra 36/50.1 X
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FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
2293884 8/1976 France 36/133
2375841 7/1978 France.
4403044 8/1994 Germany 36/136
0303645 12/1954 Switzerland 36/54
121573 12/1918 United Kingdom .
667259 2/1952 United Kingdom .
9409662 5/1994 WIPO 36/50.1
OTHER PUBLICATIONS Avia Spring 1993 Catalog, Shoe Model #2075.
Primary Examiner—-Ted Kavanaugh
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox
P.L.L.C.
[57] ABSTRACT
The invention provides a removable instep piece for a shoe. The removable instep piece is disposed in the instep region of the upper such that it is selectively removable from the shoe separately from the tongue of the shoe. The removable instep piece includes a unitary central portion and straps extending outwardly therefrom. The straps extend one each through strap openings in the upper of the shoe. Shoe laces may be passed through eyelets in the distal end of the straps of the instep piece.
19 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
