Box lacing channel for automated footwear platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11076658-B2
Application number	US-202016793068-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 18, 2020
Priority date	Mar 15, 2016
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

A footwear lacing apparatus can comprise a housing structure, a spool and a drive mechanism. The housing structure can comprise a first inlet, a second inlet, and a lacing channel extending between the first and second inlets. The lacing channel can comprise a spool receptacle located between the first and second inlets, a first relief area located between the spool receptacle and the first inlet, and a second relief area located between the spool receptacle and the second inlet. The first and second relief areas can be linearly tapered between the spool receptacle and the first and second inlets, respectively. The spool can be disposed in the spool receptacle of the lacing channel. The drive mechanism can be coupled with the spool and adapted to rotate the spool to wind or unwind a lace cable extending through the lacing channel and through the spool.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A housing structure for a footwear lacing apparatus, the housing structure comprising:
a first inlet defined by a first pair of opposing channel walls of the housing structure;
a second inlet defined by a second pair of opposing channel walls of the housing structure; and
a lacing channel extending between the first and second inlets, the lacing channel comprising:
a spool receptacle defined by a counterbore in a floor of the housing structure located between the first and second inlets;
a first relief area defined by a pair of angled channel transition walls of the housing structure extending from the spool receptacle to the first inlet; and
a second relief area defined by a pair of angled channel transition walls of the housing structure extending from the spool receptacle to the second inlet;

wherein the first and second relief areas are linearly tapered between the spool receptacle and the first and second inlets, respectively.

2. The housing structure of claim 1 , wherein the pairs of angled channel transition walls of the first and second relief areas comprise planar sidewalls extending from the spool receptacle to form passageways that taper from the spool receptacle to the first and second inlets, respectively.

3. The housing structure of claim 2 , wherein the planar sidewalls are tangent to the spool receptacle.

4. The housing structure of claim 2 , wherein the pairs of angled channel transition walk of the first and second relief areas form trapezoidal shaped passageways between the spool receptacle and the first and second inlets, respectively.

5. The housing structure of claim 1 , wherein the spool receptacle further comprises a pair of opposing arcuate sidewalls.

6. The housing structure of claim 5 , wherein the spool receptacle further comprises:
a shaft socket surrounded by the counterbore.

7. The housing structure of claim 5 , wherein the spool receptacle further comprises:
a pair of opposing arcuate flanges extending above the spool receptacle.

8. The housing structure of claim 1 , wherein the first and second pairs of opposing channel walls of the first and second inlets comprise rectangular openings in the housing structure.

9. The housing structure of claim 8 , wherein the first and second pairs of opposing channel walls of the first and second inlets comprise planar sidewalls forming rectangular passageways, respectively.

10. The housing structure of claim 1 , wherein the first and second relief areas further comprise curved lips at junctures with the spool receptacle.

11. A housing structure for a footwear lacing apparatus, the housing structure comprising:
a body comprising:
a top surface defined by an upper component;
a bottom surface defined by a lower component;
a first sidewall defined by the upper component connecting the top surface and the bottom surface; and
a second sidewall defined by the upper component connecting the top surface and the bottom surface;

an internal compartment between the top and bottom surfaces and the first and second sidewalls; and
a lacing channel extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall, the lacing channel comprising:
a first inlet in the first sidewall defined by a first pair of opposing channel walls of the upper component;
a second inlet in the second sidewall defined by a second pair of opposing channel wall of the upper component;
a spool receptacle defined by a floor of the upper component located between the first and second inlets;
a first relief area defined by a pair of angled channel transition wall of the upper component located between the spool receptacle and the first inlet; and
a second relief area defined by a pair of angled channel transition walls of the upper component located between the spool receptacle and the second inlet;
wherein the first and second relief areas are linearly tapered between the spool receptacle and the first and second inlets, respectively.

12. The housing structure of claim 11 , wherein the pairs of angled channel transition walls of the first and second relief areas comprise planar sidewalls extending from the spool receptacle to form passageways that taper from the spool receptacle to the first and second inlets, respectively.

13. The housing structure of claim 12 , wherein the spool receptacle further comprises a pair of opposing arcuate sidewalls.

14. The housing structure of claim 13 , wherein the planar sidewalk are tangent to the arcuate sidewalls of the spool receptacle.

15. The housing structure of claim 13 , wherein the pairs of angled channel transition walls of the first and second relief areas form trapezoidal shaped passageways between the spool receptacle and the first and second inlets, respectively.

16. The housing structure of claim 13 , wherein the spool receptacle further comprises: a pair of opposing arcuate flanges extending above the spool receptacle.

17. The housing structure of claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second pairs of opposing channel walls of the first and second inlets comprises:
a rectangular opening in the body; and
planar sidewalk forming a rectangular passageway.

18. The housing structure of claim 11 , wherein the upper component and the lower component are coupled together to form the housing body.

19. The housing structure assembly of claim 11 , wherein the lacing channel penetrates through the top surface of the body.

20. A housing for a footwear lacing apparatus, the housing comprising:
a housing structure comprising:
a top surface defined by the housing structure;
a first sidewall defined by the housing structure and extending from the top surface; and
a second sidewall, defined by the housing structure and extending from the top surface; and

a lacing channel extending through the top surface, the lacing channel comprising:
a channel floor comprising:
a first portion defined by the housing structure and extending from the first sidewall; and
a second portion defined by the housing structure and extending from the second sidewall; and

a spool floor located between the first portion and the second portion of the channel floor;
wherein the spool floor is located a first distance below the top surface and the channel floor is located a second distance below the top surface, the first distance being greater than the second distance.

21. The housing of claim 20 , further comprising a pair of opposing arcuate flanges extending from the top surface proximate the spool floor.

22. The housing of claim 20 , further comprising a counterbore in the spool floor, wherein the counterbore is located a third distance below the top surface greater than the first distance.

23. The housing of claim 20 , further comprising a channel lip connecting each of the first and second portions of the channel floor and the spool floor.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Schneider Summer L
• Chang Narissa

Classifications

• A43C11/165 Primary

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

• A43C11/14

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

• A43C11/008

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

• B65H75/30

  Arrangements to facilitate driving or braking · CPC title

• A43C1/00

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