Motorized tensioning system with sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10046942-B2
Application number	US-201615171500-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2016
Priority date	Aug 31, 2012
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a tensioning member that is tightened or loosened using a motorized tensioning device for winding and unwinding the tensioning member on a spool. The tensioning system may be used with various sensors to determine how the motorized tensioning device should be controlled.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A footwear tension control system, comprising:
an article of footwear including a tensioning member:
a motorized tensioning device for adjusting tension in the tensioning member;
a user control system in communication with the motorized tensioning device, wherein the user control system includes inputs that provide commands to the motorized tensioning device;
wherein the user control system includes a footwear selection input, the footwear selection input allowing the user to select between sending commands to a left article of footwear or a right article of footwear;
wherein the user control system includes a tighten input; and
wherein the user control system includes a loosen input.

2. The footwear tension control system according to claim 1 , wherein the user control system includes a tension storing input.

3. The footwear tension control system according to claim 1 , wherein the user control system includes a tension recall input.

4. The footwear tension control system according to claim 1 , wherein the user control system comprises a software application configured to run on a control device.

5. The footwear tension control system according to claim 4 , wherein the software application provides information related to one or more inputs that can be displayed as an indicia on a display of the control device.

6. The footwear tension control system according to claim 5 , wherein the software application includes a left foot indicia and a right foot indicia associated with the footwear selection input.

7. The footwear tension control system according to claim 1 , wherein the user control system includes an input for fully releasing tension of the tensioning member.

8. The footwear tension control system according to claim 1 , wherein the tensioning member is configured to pass through lacing guides along a throat opening of the article of footwear.

9. The footwear tension control system according to claim 1 , wherein the control device can be a remote device.

10. A footwear tension control system, comprising:
an article of footwear including a tensioning member;
wherein the tensioning member is disposed adjacent a throat opening of the article of footwear;
a motorized tensioning device for adjusting tension in the tensioning member;
a user control system in communication with the motorized tensioning device, wherein the user control system includes inputs that provide commands to the motorized tensioning device;
wherein the user control system includes a footwear selection input, the footwear selection input allowing the user to select between sending commands to a left article of footwear or a right article of footwear;
wherein the user control system includes a tighten input; and
wherein the user control system includes a loosen input.

11. The footwear tension control system according to claim 10 , wherein the motorized tensioning device tightens the tensioning member and constricts the throat opening.

12. The footwear tension control system according to claim 10 , wherein the motorized tensioning device loosens the tensioning member and expands the throat opening.

13. The footwear tension control system according to claim 10 , wherein the motorized tensioning device incrementally adjusts tension in the tensioning member.

14. A footwear tension control system, comprising:
an article of footwear including a tensioning member;
a motorized tensioning device for adjusting tension in the tensioning member;
a user control system in communication with the motorized tensioning device, wherein the user control system includes inputs that provide commands to the motorized tensioning device;
wherein the user control system includes a footwear selection input;
wherein the user control system includes an incremental tighten input;
wherein the user control system includes an incremental loosen input; and
wherein the user control system includes a fully loosen input.

15. The footwear tension control system according to claim 14 , wherein the user control system includes a store tension input.

16. The footwear tension control system according to claim 15 , wherein the user control system includes a return to stored tension input.

17. The footwear tension control system according to claim 15 , wherein the store tension input can store two or more tension settings.

18. The footwear tension control system according to claim 17 , wherein the two or more tension settings correspond to at least two different tension preferences of the tensioning member.

19. The footwear tension control system according to claim 14 , wherein the motorized tensioning device adjusts tension in the tensioning member in a continuous manner.

20. The footwear tension control system according to claim 14 , wherein the motorized tensioning device adjusts tension in the tensioning member in discrete steps.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Beers Tiffany A
• Owings Andrew A
• Henderson Cody Collier
• Capra James Alan
• Soderberg Mark Stanley
• Hipwood Daniel

Classifications

• B65H59/00

  Adjusting or controlling tension in filamentary material, e.g. for preventing snarling; Applications of tension indicators · CPC title

• A43C11/165 Primary

  characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation · CPC title

• A43C11/00

  Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes (dress fastenings in general A44B) · CPC title

• B65H69/00

  Methods of, or devices for, interconnecting successive lengths of material; Knot-tying devices {;Control of the correct working of the interconnecting device} · CPC title

• A61F5/028

  Braces for providing support to the lower back, e.g. lumbo sacral supports · CPC title