Cord lock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11000097-B2
Application number	US-202016942523-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2020
Priority date	Aug 19, 2015
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

A cord lock includes various components used to slidably adjust a cord length, such as one or more housing components that releasably clamp around the cord. In one aspect, the cord lock includes an arrangement of magnets that bias the cord-lock housing components away from one another, in order to secure the cord between the housing components. The housing components can be pressed towards one another to slidably adjust the cord. In a further aspect, the cord lock may also include a magnetized excess-cord retainer that attaches to a portion of the cord and that releasably attaches to the cord lock in order to help gather excess cord pulled through the cord lock.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cord lock, comprising:
a housing having a first through-channel;
a plunger having a second through-channel that is alignable with the first through-channel, wherein the housing and the plunger are movably coupled to each other and at least partially enclose an interior volume;
a biasing element positioned in the interior volume,
wherein the biasing element is positioned so that it biases the housing and the plunger away from each other to thereby de-align the first through-channel and the second through-channel; and
a cord-retention cap having at least one through-channel positioned about an outer circumference of the cord-retention cap.

2. The cord lock of claim 1 , wherein the cord-retention cap is integrated with the plunger.

3. The cord lock of claim 1 , wherein the cord-retention cap is separate from the plunger and the housing.

4. The cord lock of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first magnet coupled to the cord-retention cap; and
a second magnet coupled to the plunger or to the housing,
wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are oriented to bias towards each other, thereby biasing the cord-retention cap towards the housing or towards the plunger where the second magnet is located.

5. The cord lock of claim 1 , wherein the at least one through-channel formed in the cord-retention cap comprises a pair of circular cord-retention channels.

6. The cord lock of claim 1 , wherein the cord lock is integrated with an article.

7. The cord lock of claim 6 , wherein the article comprises an article of apparel.

8. The cord lock of claim 6 , wherein the article comprises a bag.

9. The cord lock of claim 6 , wherein the article comprises outdoor gear.

10. An article, comprising:
a cord lock, comprising:
a housing having a first through-channel,
a plunger having a second through-channel that is alignable with the first through-channel, wherein the housing and the plunger are movably coupled to each other and at least partially enclose an interior volume,
a biasing element positioned in the interior volume,
wherein the biasing element is positioned so that it biases the housing and the plunger away from each other to thereby de-align the first through-channel and the second through-channel, and
a cord-retention cap having at least one through-channel positioned about an outer circumference of the cord-retention cap; and

an article layer, wherein the cord lock is integrated, at least partially, with the article layer.

11. The article of claim 10 , wherein the cord-retention cap is integrated with the plunger.

12. The article of claim 10 , wherein the cord-retention cap is separate from the plunger and the housing.

13. The article of claim 10 , further comprising:
a first magnet coupled to the cord-retention cap; and
a second magnet coupled to the plunger or to the housing,
wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are oriented to bias towards each other, thereby biasing the cord-retention cap towards the housing or towards the plunger where the second magnet is located.

14. The article of claim 10 , wherein the at least one through-channel formed in the cord-retention cap comprises a pair of circular cord-retention channels.

15. The article of claim 10 , wherein the article comprises an article of apparel.

16. The article of claim 10 , wherein the article comprises a bag.

17. The article of claim 10 , wherein the article comprises outdoor gear.

18. A method of manufacturing an article having a cord lock, the method comprising:
forming a cord lock, comprising:
a housing having a first through-channel,
a plunger having a second through-channel that is alignable with the first through-channel, wherein the housing and the plunger are movably coupled to each other and at least partially enclose an interior volume,
a biasing element positioned in the interior volume,
wherein the biasing element is positioned so that it biases the housing and the plunger away from each other to thereby de-align the first through-channel and the second through-channel, and
a cord-retention cap having at least one through-channel positioned about an outer circumference of the cord-retention cap; and

integrating the cord lock, at least partially, with an article layer.

19. The method of manufacturing of claim 18 , wherein the biasing element comprises a pair of magnets.

20. The method of manufacturing of claim 18 , wherein the article layer forms part of:
an article of apparel;
a bag;
an outdoor gear; or
an article of footwear.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Aihara Yuki
• Sze Kevin C

Classifications

• A43C7/005

  the devices having means to hold the traditional knots or part of it tightened · CPC title

• A43C7/08

  Clamps drawn tight by laces · CPC title

• F16G11/101

  deforming the cable by moving a part of the fastener · CPC title

• A43C7/00 Primary

  Holding-devices for laces · CPC title

• A45C13/1046

  of strings or cords · CPC title