Reel-based lacing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11297903-B2
Application number	US-201916557695-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2019
Priority date	Oct 13, 2011
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

A lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel that includes a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reel for use in a lacing system, the reel comprising:
a housing having an interior region;
a spool rotatably positioned within the interior region of the housing, the spool having an upper disc and a lower disc with a channel defined there between, the spool being rotatable within the interior region in a first direction to wind a tension member about the channel and being rotatable in a second direction to unwind the tension member from about the channel;
a pawl component that is separate from the spool and that is removably attachable to the spool so that the pawl component is rotatable with the spool in the first direction, the pawl component including four pawl arms that extend from the pawl component, wherein each pawl arm includes a fixed end that is attached to the pawl component and a free end that is positioned opposite the fixed end;
a plurality of teeth that are configured to engage with the free end of each pawl arm, the plurality of teeth and each pawl arm being configured so that as the pawl component and spool are rotated in the first direction, the free end of each pawl arm is deflected radially inward by the teeth and so that as the pawl component and spool are rotated in the second direction, the free end of each pawl arm engages with at least one tooth of the plurality of teeth to prevent the spool from rotating in the second direction;
wherein the pawl component includes a bottom surface that is positioned atop and directly engages the upper disc of the spool when the pawl component is attached to the spool.

2. The reel of claim 1 , further comprising four drive members, wherein each drive member is positioned between the plurality of teeth and a portion of a respective pawl arm of the four pawl arms, wherein each drive member is movable relative to the plurality of teeth and the respective pawl arm and is configured to engage an outer edge of the respective pawl arm to displace the free end of the respective pawl arm radially inward to disengage the free end of the respective pawl arm and the at least one tooth and thereby allow the spool to rotate in the second direction.

3. The reel of claim 2 , wherein the reel is configured so that disengagement of the free end of each pawl arm and the at least one tooth causes the spool to rotate in the second direction by an incremental amount and causes the free end of each pawl arm to reengage a different tooth.

4. The reel of claim 2 , further comprising a knob that is operably coupled with the spool so that a rotation of the knob in the first direction causes the spool to rotate in the first direction and so that a rotation of the knob in the second direction causes each drive member to engage the outer edge of the respective pawl arm and disengage the free end of the respective pawl arm and the at least one tooth.

5. The reel of claim 4 , wherein the four drive members are coupled with the knob, and wherein the four drive members and the pawl component are configured so that as the knob is rotated in the first direction, each drive member engages the pawl component and causes the pawl component and spool to rotate in the first direction.

6. The reel of claim 1 , wherein the free end of each pawl arm engages with a single tooth.

7. The reel of claim 1 , wherein the pawl component includes a centrally located aperture.

8. The reel of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of teeth are coupled to the housing.

9. The reel of claim 1 , wherein the spool includes one or more interface features that are configured to engage with corresponding interface features of the pawl component.

10. The reel of claim 9 , wherein the one or more interface features of the spool extend axially upward from a top surface of the spool.

11. A reel for use in a lacing system, the reel comprising:
a housing having an interior region;
a knob that is rotatably coupled with the housing;
a spool rotatably positioned within the interior region of the housing, the spool being rotatable within the interior region in a first direction to wind a tension member about the spool and being rotatable in a second direction to unwind the tension member from about the spool;
a pawl component that is separate from the spool and from the knob, the pawl component being removably attachable to the spool so that the pawl component is rotatable with the spool in the first direction and in the second direction, the pawl component including at least one pawl arm that extends from the pawl component, the at least one pawl arm including a fixed end that is attached to the pawl component and a free end that is positioned opposite the fixed end;
a plurality of teeth that are configured to engage with the free end of the at least one pawl arm, the plurality of teeth and at least one pawl arm being configured so that as the pawl component and spool are rotated in the first direction, the free end of the at least one pawl arm is deflected radially inward by the teeth and so that as the pawl component and spool are rotated in the second direction, the free end of the at least one pawl arm engages with at least one tooth to prevent the spool from rotating in the second direction; and
at least one drive member positioned between the plurality of teeth and a portion of the at least one pawl arm, wherein the at least one drive member is movable relative to the plurality of teeth and the at least one pawl arm and is configured to engage an outer edge of the at least one pawl arm to displace the free end of the at least one pawl arm radially inward to disengage the free end of the at least one pawl arm and the at least one tooth and thereby allow the spool to rotate in the second direction;
wherein a bottom portion of the pawl component is positioned atop and directly engages an upper portion of the spool.

12. The reel of claim 11 , wherein the reel is configured so that disengagement of the free end of the at least one pawl arm and the at least one tooth causes the spool to rotate in the second direction by an incremental amount and causes the free end of the at least one pawl arm to reengage a different tooth.

13. The reel of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of teeth are coupled to the housing.

14. The reel of claim 11 , wherein the spool includes a plurality of axially extending interface features that are positioned toward a periphery the spool and that engage with corresponding interface features of the pawl component to removably attach the pawl component to the spool.

15. The reel of claim 11 , wherein the pawl component includes four pawl arms, and wherein each pawl arm includes a fixed end that is attached to the pawl component and a free end that is positioned opposite the fixed end.

16. The reel of claim 11 , wherein the pawl component includes a centrally located aperture.

17. The reel of claim 11 , wherein the free end of the at least one pawl arm engages with a single tooth.

18. The reel of claim 11 , wherein the knob is operably coupled with the spool so that a rotation of the knob in the first direction causes the spool to rotate in the first direction and a rotation of the knob in the second direction causes the at least one drive member to engage the outer edge of the at least one pawl arm and disengage the free end of the at least one pawl arm and the at least one tooth.

19. The reel of claim 18 , wherein the at least one drive member is coupled with the knob, and wherein the at least one drive member and the pawl component are configured so that as the knob is rotated in the first direction, the at leas

Assignees

• Boa Tech Inc

Inventors

• Soderberg Mark S
• Nickel Michael J
• Cavanagh Sean

Classifications

• A43C1/06

  tightened by draw-strings · CPC title

• A45C13/00

  Details; Accessories · CPC title

• A43C7/08 Primary

  Clamps drawn tight by laces · CPC title

• Y10T24/2183

  Ski, boot, and shoe fasteners · CPC title

• A43C11/165 Primary

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