Assembly process for automated footwear platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10517355-B2
Application number	US-201715610074-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2017
Priority date	Mar 15, 2016
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

Assembly methods related to an automated footwear platform including a lacing engine drive apparatus are discussed. In an example, an assembly method can include operations such as inserting a mid-sole plate, attaching a laced upper portion, and inserting a lacing engine. The inserting a mid-sole plate operation can include inserting the mid-sole plate into a mid-sole of the footwear platform. The attaching a laced upper portion operation can include attaching a laced upper portion to the mid-sole and positioning a lace loop in the mid-sole plate. Finally, the inserting a lacing engine operation can include inserting a lacing engine into a cavity in the mid-sole plate, wherein the lacing engine includes a lace spool exposed along a superior surface to receive the lace loop.

First claim

The claimed invention includes:

1. A method of assembling a footwear platform with a lacing engine, the method comprising:
preparing an upper portion of the footwear platform to produce a laced upper portion, the preparing including:
positioning the upper portion on a fixture,
routing a first portion of a lace cable through lace guides on a first half of the upper portion,
routing a free end of the lace cable under the fixture and the upper portion to generate a lace loop running from the first half of the upper portion to a second half of the upper portion,
routing a second portion of the lace cable through lace guides on the second half of the upper portion, the routing operations resulting in a continuous portion of the lace cable routed along the first half, under the upper portion to form the lace loop, and along the second half, and
securing free ends of the lace cable on the upper portion;
inserting a mid-sole plate into a mid-sole of the footwear platform;
attaching the laced upper portion to the mid-sole including positioning the lace loop running under the laced upper portion in the mid-sole plate; and
inserting a lacing engine into a cavity in the mid-sole plate under the lace loop, wherein the lacing engine includes a lace spool with an exposed superior surface to receive the lace loop.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting the lacing engine includes positioning the lace loop into the lace spool of the lacing engine.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein positioning the lace loop into the lace spool includes placing at least a portion of the lace loop into a lace groove in the exposed superior surface of the lace spool.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting the lacing engine includes attaching a lid to the mid-sole plate after the lacing engine is positioned within the cavity in the mid-sole plate, wherein the lid secures the lacing engine in position.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein attaching the lid includes inserting clips located on medial and lateral sides of the lid into slots on medial and lateral sides of the mid-sole plate.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein attaching the lid includes rotating the lid about clips on medial and lateral sides of the lid, and securing a lid latch into a lid latch recess in the mid-sole plate.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein attaching the lid includes positioning the lace loop to align with lid lace guides on an inferior surface of the lid, wherein the lid lace guides assist in maintaining the lace loop in position relative to the lace spool.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inserting an actuator into an actuator cut-out in the mid-sole plate prior to inserting the lacing engine.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein inserting the lacing engine includes aligning the actuator with one or more buttons on an exterior surface of the lacing engine.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein securing the free ends of the lace includes securing a first free end of the lace cable to a first location on the first half of the upper portion.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein securing the free ends of the lace includes securing a second free end of the lace cable to a second location on the second half of the upper portion.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein preparing the upper portion includes removing the laced upper portion from the fixture.

13. A method of assembling an automated footwear platform including a lacing engine, the method comprising:
selecting a completely assembled footwear platform, the completely assembled footwear platform including:
a laced upper portion with a lace cable routed through a first plurality of lace guides on a lateral side, the lace cable extending inferiorly under the laced upper portion from the lateral side to a medial side to form a continuous lace loop extending under a middle section of the laced upper portion, the lace cable routed through a second plurality of lace guides on the medial side, and free ends of the lace cable secured to the upper portion,
a mid-sole plate with a lacing engine cavity, wherein the lace loop runs from a lateral side to a medial side of the mid-sole plate across the lacing engine cavity,
a mid-sole receiving the mid-sole plate and laced upper portion, and
an out-sole portion connected to an inferior portion of the mid-sole;
selecting a lacing engine from a plurality of available lacing engines; and
installing the lacing engine into a cavity in the mid-sole plate of the footwear platform including attaching a lid to the mid-sole plate after the lacing engine is positioned within the cavity and positioning the lace loop to align with lid guides on an inferior surface of the lid.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein installing the lacing engine includes positioning the lace loop into a lace spool of the lacing engine.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein positioning the lace loop into the lace spool includes placing at least a portion of the lace loop into a lace groove in the superior surface of the lace spool.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein attaching the lid includes inserting clips located on medial and lateral sides of the lid into slots on medial and lateral sides of the mid-sole plate.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein attaching the lid includes rotating the lid about clips on medial and lateral sides of the lid, and securing a lid latch into a lid latch recess in the mid-sole plate.

18. A method of assembling a footwear platform including automated lace tightening using a lacing engine, the method comprising:
inserting a mid-sole plate into a mid-sole of the footwear platform, the mid-sole plate including a lacing engine cavity;
attaching a laced upper portion to the mid-sole, the laced upper portion including a continuous lace loop running under the laced upper portion from a laced section of a medial side to a laced section of a lateral side, wherein free ends of the lace are secured to the laced upper portion, the attaching including positioning the lace loop in the lacing engine cavity of the mid-sole plate;
inserting a lacing engine into the lacing engine cavity in the mid-sole plate under the lace loop, wherein the lacing engine includes a lace spool exposed along a superior surface and the lace loop is positioned to engage the lace spool;
attaching a lid to the mid-sole plate after the lacing engine is positioned within the cavity in the mid-sole plate, the lid; and
securing the lid over the lacing engine to retain the lacing engine and maintain engagement of the lace loop with the lace spool.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Schneider Summer L

Classifications

• A43C11/008

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

• A43C1/00

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

• A43C11/165 Primary

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

• A43B3/0031

  provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card · CPC title

• A43C11/14

  Clamp fastenings {, e.g. strap fastenings}; Clamp-buckle fastenings; Fastenings with toggle levers · CPC title