Lockout feature for a control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10595582-B2
Application number	US-201816000236-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2018
Priority date	May 28, 2015
Publication date	Mar 24, 2020
Grant date	Mar 24, 2020

Abstract

An article of footwear can include provisions for improving the operation and use of various systems associated with the article. A control device included in the article can be configured to allow manual control of a system by a user. A lockout feature that can disable manual control may be included. During periods of competitive activity, the manual controls may be disabled to allow a user wearing the article to engage in different activities without inadvertent activation of a system. In some cases, the control device and lockout feature can be used in conjunction with a motorized tensioning system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control device-implemented method of disabling manual controls in the control device associated with an article of footwear, comprising:
receiving, from a sensor of the article of footwear, a signal indicative of a competitive activity;
determining if a user wearing the article of footwear is engaging in competitive activity based on the signal as received;
operating in an operating mode, in which manual control of the control device is enabled if the user is determined not to be engaged in the competitive activity; and
operating in a lockout mode in which the manual control of the control device is disabled if the user is determined to be engaged in the competitive activity.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining if the user is engaging in competitive activity comprises determining if the user has begun to engage in the competitive activity and operating in the lockout mode upon determining that the user has begun to engage in the competitive activity.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising, following determining that the user has begun to engage in the competitive activity, determining if the user has stopped competing if it is determined that the user has begun to engage in the competitive activity, wherein the controller is configured to operate in the operating mode upon determining the user has stopped engaging in the competitive activity.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to remain in the lockout mode until the controller determines that the user has stopped engaging in the competitive activity.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising determining, based on the sensor signal, if the user is engaging in an intermediate intensity activity, wherein the controller determines that the user is not engaged in the competitive activity if the user is engaged in the intermediate intensity activity.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising determining, based on the sensor signal, if the user is engaging in a high intensity activity, wherein the controller determines that the user is engaged in the competitive activity if the user is engaged in the high intensity activity.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium which, when implemented by a control device associated with an article of footwear, causes the control device to implement operations comprising:
receiving, from a sensor of the article of footwear, a signal indicative of a competitive activity;
determining if a user wearing the article of footwear is engaging in competitive activity based on the signal as received;
operating in an operating mode, in which manual control of the control device is enabled if the user is determined not to be engaged in the competitive activity; and
operating in a lockout mode in which the manual control of the control device is disabled if the user is determined to be engaged in the competitive activity.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein determining if the user is engaging in competitive activity comprises determining if the user has begun to engage in the competitive activity and operating in the lockout mode upon determining that the user has begun to engage in the competitive activity.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8 , further comprising, following determining that the user has begun to engage in the competitive activity, determining if the user has stopped competing if it is determined that the user has begun to engage in the competitive activity, wherein the controller is configured to operate in the operating mode upon determining the user has stopped engaging in the competitive activity.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to remain in the lockout mode until the controller determines that the user has stopped engaging in the competitive activity.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9 , further comprising determining, based on the sensor signal, if the user is engaging in an intermediate intensity activity, wherein the controller determines that the user is not engaged in the competitive activity if the user is engaged in the intermediate intensity activity.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8 , further comprising determining, based on the sensor signal, if the user is engaging in a high intensity activity, wherein the controller determines that the user is engaged in the competitive activity if the user is engaged in the high intensity activity.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Beers Tiffany A
• Owings Andrew A

Classifications

• A63B2071/0081

  Stopping the operation of the apparatus · CPC title

• A43C11/16

  Fastenings secured by wire, bolts, or the like · CPC title

• A63B2220/801

  Contact switches · CPC title

• A63B71/141

  in the form of gloves · CPC title

• A41F1/00

  Fastening devices specially adapted for garments {(for pairing socks A41B11/002; for fur garments A41D5/006)} · CPC title