Lacing architecture for automated footwear platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10537155-B2
Application number	US-201715458816-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2017
Priority date	Oct 26, 2016
Publication date	Jan 21, 2020
Grant date	Jan 21, 2020

Abstract

Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine are discussed. In this example, the footwear assembly can include a footwear upper and a lace cable running through a plurality of lace guides. The plurality of lace guides can be distributed along the medial side and the lateral side, and each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides can be adapted to receive a length of the lace cable. The lace cable can extend through each of the plurality of lace guides to form a pattern along each of the medial side and lateral side of the footwear upper. The footwear assembly can also include a medial proximal lace guide routing the lace cable into a lacing engine disposed within a mid-sole portion. Finally, the footwear assembly includes a lateral proximal lace guide to route the lace cable out of the lacing engine.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A footwear assembly comprising:
a footwear upper including a toe box portion, an open central portion, a medial side, a lateral side, and a heel portion, the medial side and the lateral side each extending proximally from the toe box portion to a heel portion on either side of the open central portion;
a lace cable with a first end anchored along a distal outside portion of the medial side and a second end anchored along a distal outside portion of the lateral side;
a plurality of lace guides distributed along the medial side and the lateral side, each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides adapted to receive a length of the lace cable, wherein the lace cable extends through each of the plurality of lace guides to form a pattern along each of the medial side and lateral side of the footwear upper;
a reinforcement fabric coupling at least one medial side lace guide with a corresponding lateral side lace guide across the open central portion;
a medial proximal lace guide routing the lace cable from the pattern formed by a medial portion of the plurality of lace guides into a position allowing the lace cable to engage a lacing engine disposed within a mid-sole portion; and
a lateral proximal lace guide to route the lace cable out of the position allowing the lace cable to engage the lacing engine into the pattern formed by a lateral portion of the plurality of lace guides.

2. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides forms a u-shaped channel to retain the lace cable.

3. The footwear assembly of claim 2 , wherein the u-shaped channel in each lace guide is an open channel allowing a lace loop to be pulled into the lace guide.

4. The footwear assembly of claim 2 , wherein the u-shaped channel in each lace guide is formed with a tubular structure bent or formed in a u-shape with the lace cable threaded through the tubular structure.

5. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pattern is shaped to flatten a force or torque verses lace displacement curve during tightening of the lace cable.

6. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides is secured to the footwear upper with an overlay including heat-activated adhesive compressed over each lace guide.

7. The footwear assembly of claim 6 , wherein the overlay is a fabric impregnated with the heat-activated adhesive.

8. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides is at least initially secured to the footwear upper by stitching.

9. The footwear assembly of claim 8 , wherein each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides is further secured to the footwear upper with an overlay including heat-activated adhesive compressed over each lace guide.

10. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pattern includes three upper lace guides proximate the centerline of the footwear upper on each of the medial side and the lateral side.

11. The footwear assembly of claim 10 , wherein each of the three upper lace guides on each of the medial side and the lateral side are spaced a different distance from the centerline.

12. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the footwear upper includes an elastic centerline portion extending from at least the toe box portion proximally to a foot opening.

13. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein pairs of lace guides are connected across a centerline portion of the footwear upper by elastic members.

14. The footwear assembly of claim 13 , wherein the elastic members function to smooth out a torque versus lace displacement curve during tightening of the lace cable.

15. The footwear assembly of claim 13 , wherein the elastic members are interchangeable with different elastic members providing varying modulus of elasticity to change fit characteristics of the footwear upper.

16. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the footwear upper includes a zipper extending from the toe box portion to a foot opening between a medial portion of the plurality of lace guides and a lateral portion of the plurality of lace guides.

17. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pattern prevents the lace cable from crossing over a central portion of the footwear upper between the medial side and the lateral side.

18. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the open central portion includes an opening separating at least a portion of the medial side from the lateral side.

19. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement fabric couples a plurality of medial lace guides with a plurality of lateral lace guides across the open central portion.

20. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement fabric comprises a flexible or elastic material.

21. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement fabric comprises a material with less flexibility than the underlying footwear upper.

22. A lacing architecture for an automated footwear platform, the lacing architecture comprising:
a lace cable with a first end anchored along a distal outside portion of a medial side of an upper portion of a footwear assembly and a second end anchored along a distal outside portion of a lateral side of the upper portion;
a plurality of lace guides distributed in a first pattern along the medial side and in a second pattern along the lateral side, each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides including an open lace channel to receive a length of the lace cable, wherein at least a portion of the medial side is separated from at least a portion of the lateral side by an open central portion;
a reinforcement fabric coupling at least one medial side lace guide with a corresponding lateral side lace guide across the open central portion;
a medial proximal lace guide routing the lace cable from the first pattern formed by a medial portion of the plurality of lace guides into a position allowing the lace cable to engage a lacing engine disposed within a mid-sole portion; and
a lateral proximal lace guide to route the lace cable out of the position allowing the lace cable to engage the lacing engine into the second pattern formed by a lateral portion of the plurality of lace guides.

23. The lacing architecture of claim 22 , wherein each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides includes a lace retention member extending into the open lace channel to assist in retaining the lace cable within the lace guide.

24. The lacing architecture of claim 23 , wherein each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides includes a lace access opening opposite the lace retention member, the lace access opening providing clearance to route the cable around the lace retention member.

25. The lacing architecture of claim 22 , wherein each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides includes a stitch opening along a superior portion of the lace guide, the stitch opening enabling the lace guide to be at least partially secure to the upper portion by stitching.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Schneider Summer L
• Chang Narissa
• Johnson Daniel A
• Savage Peter R
• Berrian Travis J
• Ho Fanny Yung
• Avar Eric P
• Kilgore Elizabeth A
• Bruce Katelyn

Classifications

• A43C1/06

  tightened by draw-strings · CPC title

• A43C1/00

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

• A43C11/12

  Slide or glide fastenings · CPC title

• A43B13/14

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• A43B23/0245

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title