Homing mechanism for automated footwear platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10463109-B2
Application number	US-201715459754-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2017
Priority date	Mar 15, 2016
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus related to a homing mechanism within a drive mechanism of a lacing engine for an automated footwear platform are described. In an example, the homing apparatus can include an indexing wheel, a plurality of Geneva teeth and a stop tooth. The plurality of Geneva teeth can be distributed around a portion of a perimeter of the indexing wheel. Each Geneva tooth of the plurality of Geneva teeth can include side profiles conforming to a first side profile that generates a first force when engaged by an index tooth on a portion of the drive mechanism. The stop tooth can be located along the perimeter of the indexing wheel between two Geneva teeth. Additionally, the stop tooth can include side profiles conforming to a second side profile that generates a second force when engaged by the index tooth.

First claim

The claimed invention includes:

1. A homing apparatus within a drive mechanism of a lacing engine for an automated footwear platform, the homing apparatus comprising:
an indexing wheel
an index tooth coupled to a shaft within the drive mechanism that rotates in coordination with rotation of a lace spool portion of the lacing engine;
a plurality of Geneva teeth distributed around a portion of a perimeter of the indexing wheel, each Geneva tooth of the plurality of Geneva teeth including side profiles conforming to a first side profile that generates a first force when engaged by the index tooth; and
a stop tooth located along the perimeter of the indexing wheel between two Geneva teeth, the stop tooth includes side profiles conforming to a second side profile that generates a second force when engaged by the index tooth.

2. The homing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second force is larger than the first force.

3. The homing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second force is large enough to stall the drive mechanism to provide indication of reaching a home position.

4. The homing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first side profile includes a curve.

5. The homing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each Geneva tooth of the plurality of Geneva teeth includes a first side and a second side, where the first side is shaped according to the first side profile and the second side is a mirror image of the first side.

6. The homing apparatus of any one of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the drive mechanism including the index tooth is an offset circular portion of a gear, wherein a superior surface of the offset circular portion forms a circle with a flat portion including the index tooth.

7. The homing apparatus of claim 6 , wherein each Geneva tooth of the plurality of Geneva teeth includes a radiused outer edge having a radius conforming to the circular portion of the offset circular portion of the drive mechanism.

8. The horning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of Geneva teeth consist of four Geneva teeth, and the homing apparatus allows for four complete revolutions of the portion of the drive mechanism including the index tooth between home locations.

9. The homing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the generation of the second force includes a force profile with a steep slope, wherein the force profile is indicative of the rate of the change in force.

10. The homing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the lacing engine includes a processor circuit, and the processor circuit is configured to detect the force profile created by the generation of the second force.

11. The homing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor circuit is further configured to distinguish the force profile created by the generation of the second force from a second force profile created by the generation of a third force.

12. The horning apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the third force is transmitted to the lacing engine from the footwear platform through a lace cable.

13. A lacing engine for an automated footwear platform, the lacing engine comprising:
a spool for receiving a portion of a lace for securing the footwear platform to a user's foot; and
a drive mechanism for rotating the spool about a first axis, the drive mechanism including,
a worm gear including an index tooth; and
a homing mechanism including a indexing wheel adapted to engage the index tooth and stall the drive mechanism at least one rotational position;
wherein the indexing wheel includes a plurality of Geneva teeth and a stop tooth;
wherein the plurality of Geneva teeth are distributed around a portion of a perimeter of the indexing wheel; and
wherein the stop tooth is located along the perimeter of the indexing wheel between two Geneva teeth, the stop tooth adapted to stall the drive mechanism.

14. The lacing engine of claim 13 , wherein each Geneva tooth of the plurality of Geneva teeth including side profiles conforming to a first side profile that generates a first force when engaged by an index tooth on a portion of the drive mechanism.

15. The lacing engine of claim 14 , wherein the stop tooth includes side profiles conforming to a second side profile that generates a second force when engaged by the index tooth.

16. The lacing engine of claim 15 , further comprising a processor circuit configured to determine whether a detected force is a first force generated by a Geneva tooth or a second force generated by a stop tooth.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Schneider Summer L
• Kelso Jamie
• Chang Narissa

Classifications

• A43C11/008

  Combined fastenings, e.g. to accelerate undoing or fastening · CPC title

• A43C11/165 Primary

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

• A43B13/14

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• A43C1/00

  Shoe lacing fastenings (garment fastening devices A41F) · CPC title

• B65H2403/542

  Geneva mechanisms · CPC title