Lacing engine for automated footwear platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10531708-B2
Application number	US-201815945797-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2018
Priority date	Mar 15, 2016
Publication date	Jan 14, 2020
Grant date	Jan 14, 2020

Abstract

Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine for automated lace tightening. In an example, a modular footwear apparatus includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a lacing engine for automated lace tightening. The upper portion can include a lace to adjust fit of the upper portion against a foot, the lace adjustable between a first position and a second position based at least in part on manipulation of an effective length of the lace. The lower portion can include a mid-sole and an out-sole, and the lower portion can be coupled to the upper portion at the mid-sole. The lacing engine can include a top-loading lace spool to engage a loop of the lace to enable manipulation of the effective length of the lace through rotation of the lace spool, the lacing engine received within a cavity in the lower portion.

First claim

The claimed invention includes:

1. A modular footwear apparatus comprising:
an upper portion including a lace to adjust fit of the upper portion against a foot;
a lower portion coupled to the upper portion; and
a lacing engine including a top-loading lace spool exposed through a superior surface of the lacing engine to engage a loop of the lace to enable manipulation of the effective length of the lace through rotation of the lace spool, the lacing engine received within a cavity in the lower portion.

2. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the top-loading lace spool includes a lace groove running across a diameter of the spool to receive the loop of the lace.

3. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lacing engine includes a top section with a lace channel running in a medial-lateral direction in alignment with the top-loading lace spool.

4. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the lace channel includes a medial portion on a medial side of the top-loading lace spool and a lateral portion on a lateral side of the top-loading lace spool.

5. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the medial portion and the lateral portion of the lace channel transition into a spool recess.

6. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the top-loading lace spool includes a reduced diameter section below a superior surface adapted to accommodate a portion of the lace as the lace is taken up on the top-loading lace spool.

7. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the top-loading lace spool includes a lace groove bisecting a superior surface of the top-loading lace spool into a reduced diameter spool portion adapted to receive the lace as the top-loading lace spool is rotated in a first direction.

8. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lower portion includes a mid-sole plate to receive the lacing engine, and wherein the mid-sole plate is formed of a more rigid material than a remainder of the lower portion.

9. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the mid-sole plate includes a medial lace guide and a lateral lace guide.

10. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the mid-sole plate includes a medial lid slot, a lateral lid slot, and a lid latch recess to receive and secure a lid.

11. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a lid secured to the mid-sole plate, wherein the lid retains the lacing engine within the cavity in the mid-sole plate.

12. A modular footwear apparatus comprising:
an upper portion including a lace to adjust fit of the upper portion against a foot;
a lower portion coupled to the upper portion; and
a top-loading lacing engine receivable within a cavity in the lower portion, the top-loading lacing engine including a superior surface adapted to guide a continuous loop of the lace into the lacing engine to enable manipulation of an effective length of the lace upon activation of the lacing engine, wherein the continuous loop of the lace runs in a medial-lateral direction across the width of the cavity.

13. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the superior surface of the top-loading lacing engine includes a lace channel to guide the continuous loop into the lacing engine.

14. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the top-loading lacing engine includes a lace spool adapted to engage the continuous loop of the lace and manipulate the effective length upon rotation of the lace spool by the lacing engine.

15. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the lace spool includes a lace groove running across a diameter of the spool to receive the continuous loop of the lace.

16. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the lace groove extends inferiorly through the superior surface and into a reduced diameter portion of the lace spool.

17. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the reduced diameter portion of the lace spool is adapted to receive the lace as the lace spool is rotated in a first direction.

18. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the top-loading lacing engine includes a top-loading lace spool, and wherein the superior surface includes a circular recess to expose a superior surface of the top-loading lace spool, and wherein the superior surface of the top-loading lace spool is bisected into two semicircular portions by a lace groove.

19. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the lace groove bisects the superior surface of the top-loading lace spool into a reduced diameter spool portion that is adapted to receive the lace upon rotation of the top-loading lace spool in a first direction.

20. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the top-loading lacing engine includes a lace spool, and wherein the top-loading lacing engine includes a top section with a lace channel running in a medial-lateral direction in alignment with the lace spool, and wherein the lace channel includes a medial portion on a medial side of the lace spool and a lateral portion on a lateral side of the lace spool.

21. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the medial portion and the lateral portion of the lace channel are each adapted to guide the continuous loop of the lace into the lace spool.

22. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the lower portion includes a mid-sole plate containing the cavity to receive the top-loading lacing engine.

23. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the mid-sole plate is formed of a more rigid material than a remainder of the lower portion.

24. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 22 , further comprising a lid adapted to couple with the mid-sole plate and secure the top-loading lacing engine within the cavity.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Schneider Summer L
• Johnson Daniel A

Classifications

• 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

• 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

• A43C7/08

  Clamps drawn tight by laces · CPC title

• A43B13/14

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title