Modular spool for automated footwear platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11241065-B2
Application number	US-202016860520-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2020
Priority date	Mar 15, 2016
Publication date	Feb 8, 2022
Grant date	Feb 8, 2022

Abstract

A footwear lacing apparatus can comprise a housing structure, a modular spool and a drive mechanism. The housing structure can comprising a first inlet, a second inlet, and a lacing channel extending between the first and second inlets. The modular spool can be disposed in the lacing channel and can comprise a lower plate including a shaft extending from the lower plate, and an upper plate including a drum portion. The upper plate can be releasably connected to the lower plate at a connection interface. The drive mechanism can couple with the modular spool and can be adapted to rotate the modular spool to wind or unwind a lace cable extending through the lacing channel and between the upper and lower plates of the modular spool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular spool for a footwear lacing apparatus, the modular spool comprising:
a lower plate including a shaft extending from the lower plate, wherein the shaft extends from the lower plate away from a drum portion, and the shaft includes a gear located at a distal end of the shaft; and
an upper plate including the drum portion;
wherein the upper plate is releasably connected to the lower plate at a connection interface.

2. The modular spool of claim 1 , wherein the connection interface comprises a threaded fastener.

3. The modular spool of claim 2 , wherein the threaded fastener comprises a head and a shaft extending from the head, wherein the shaft of the threaded fastener extends into the upper plate, through the drum portion and into the lower plate such that the head engages the upper plate.

4. The modular spool of claim 2 , wherein the connection interface comprises a pair of threaded fasteners.

5. The modular spool of claim 2 , wherein the upper plate further comprises a winding channel extending through the drum portion.

6. The modular spool of claim 5 , wherein:
the upper plate comprises:
a first disk portion; and
a second disk portion; and

the drum portion comprises:
a first drum wall extending from the first disk portion;
a second drum wall extending from the second disk portion; and
a bridge coupling the first and second drum walls such that the first and second drum walls form the winding channel.

7. The modular spool of claim 6 , wherein the upper plate further comprises a pair of threaded passages extending through the drum on either side of the winding channel.

8. The modular spool of claim 1 , wherein the lower plate is positioned adjacent the drum portion such that a lower flange is disposed at least partially around the drum portion.

9. The modular spool of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pair of pegs extending from the upper plate within the drum portion; and
a plurality of ports extending into the lower plate around the shaft;
wherein the pair of pegs can extend into a pair of ports from the plurality of ports to rotationally lock the upper plate and the lower plate.

10. The modular spool of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of ports includes at least four ports configured to receive the pair of pegs in at least two positions.

11. The modular spool of claim 1 , wherein the lower plate has a smaller diameter than the upper plate.

12. A lace winding spool comprising:
a lower component comprising:
a lower plate;
a shaft extending from the lower plate; and
a gear positioned at a distal end of the shaft;

an upper component comprising:
an upper plate;
a drum extending from the upper plate; and
a winding channel extending across the drum,
wherein the drum of the upper component comprises: first and second arcuate segments disposed on opposite sides of the winding channel; and

a connection interface between the upper component and the lower component to hold the lower plate adjacent the drum.

13. The lace winding spool of claim 12 , wherein the connection interface comprises: at least one fastener coupling the upper plate to the lower plate.

14. The lace winding spool of claim 12 , wherein the lower component further comprises: a pair of fastener bores in the lower plate located on opposite sides of the shaft.

15. The lace winding spool of claim 12 , wherein the lower component further comprises: a plurality of timing ports extending into the lower plate.

16. The lace winding spool of claim 12 , wherein the upper component further comprises: a pair of fastener bores in the upper plate between the first and second arcuate segments on opposite sides of the winding channel.

17. The lace winding spool of claim 16 , wherein the upper component further comprises: first and second pegs extending from the upper plate between the first and second arcuate segments on opposite sides of the winding channel.

18. The lace winding spool of claim 17 , wherein:
the pair of fastener bores are aligned along a first axis extending perpendicular to the winding channel; and
the first and second pegs are aligned along a second axis oblique to the first axis and the winding channel.

19. A lace winding spool system for a footwear lacing apparatus, the lace winding spool system comprising:
a lower spool component comprising:
a lower plate;
one or more fastener bores extending through the lower plate; and
a shaft extending from the lower plate;

a first upper spool component comprising:
a first drum portion having a first capacity;
one or more fastener bores extending through the first drum portion; and
a first upper plate connected to the first drum portion; and

a second upper spool component comprising:
a second drum portion having a second capacity different than the first capacity;
one or more fastener bores extending through the second drum portion; and
a second upper plate connected to the second drum portion;

wherein the one or more fastener bores extending through each of the first upper spool component and the second upper spool component are configured to align with the one or more fastener bores in the lower spool component.

20. The lace winding spool system of claim 19 , wherein the first and second capacities are based on diameters of the first drum portion and the second drum portion.

21. The lace winding spool system of claim 19 , wherein the first and second capacities are based on heights of the first drum portion and the second drum portion.

22. The lace winding spool system of claim 19 , further comprising a modular gear configured to be attached to the shaft.

23. The lace winding spool system of claim 19 , further comprising an alignment feature located on each of the first upper spool component and the second upper spool component that are configured to interact with a complimentary alignment feature on the lower spool component when the one or more fastener bores of either the first upper spool component or the second upper spool component align with the corresponding one or more fastener bores in the lower spool component.

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