Tightening mechanisms and applications including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12042018-B2
Application number	US-202318316838-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2023
Priority date	Apr 30, 2010
Publication date	Jul 23, 2024
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024

Abstract

This disclosure relates to articles that include a tightening mechanism, such as reel-based lace tightening mechanism, configured to tighten the article by rotation of a knob. The articles can include a concealing portion that is configured to conceal or protect at least a portion of the tightening mechanism, such as the knob. The concealing portion can be configured to prevent unintentional actuation of the tightening mechanism, such as during contact sports. The concealing portion can be configured to hide the tightening mechanism from view to improve the visual appearance of the article. The concealing portion can be collapsible such that a user can press the concealing portion down to expose the knob of the tightening mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reel based closure device for tightening an article comprising:
a housing having an interior region;
a spool rotatably positioned within the interior region of the housing, the spool being configured so that a tension member is windable about the spool to tighten the article;
a rotation control component operably coupled with the spool to allow the spool to rotate in a first direction within the housing's interior region while preventing rotation of the spool in a second direction;
a knob rotatably coupled with the housing and operably coupled with the spool such that a rotation of the knob causes the spool to rotate within the housing's interior region in the first direction to wind the tension member about the spool; and
a boss or bushing positioned within the interior region of the housing and axially aligned with an axis of the spool, the boss or bushing including a radially outward extending feature that is operably coupled with the rotation control component to support the rotation control component in an axially raised position to enable the spool to rotate in the second direction.

2. The reel based closure device of claim 1 , wherein the radially outward extending feature of the boss or bushing also supports the rotation control component in an axially lowered position in which rotation of the spool in the second direction is prevented.

3. The reel based closure device of claim 1 , wherein the radially outward extending feature of the boss or bushing is cylindrical in shape.

4. The reel based closure device of claim 2 , wherein the radially outward extending feature includes a tapered upper surface and a tapered lower surface such that the radially outward extending feature generally has a rhombus shape.

5. The reel based closure device of claim 2 , wherein a top portion of the radially outward extending feature is wider than a bottom portion of the radially outward extending feature.

6. The reel based closure device of claim 1 , wherein the boss or bushing includes a central aperture through which a fastener is insertable.

7. The reel based closure device of claim 1 , wherein the boss or bushing engages a spring component to support the rotation control component in the axially raised position.

8. The reel based closure device of claim 7 , wherein the radially outward extending feature of the boss or bushing defines an annular projection having a diameter that is greater than an opening of the spring component.

9. The reel based closure device of claim 7 , wherein the spring component is a component of the rotation control component.

10. The reel based closure device of claim 1 , wherein the boss or bushing is made of a resiliently compressible material.

11. A reel based closure device comprising:
a housing;
a spool rotatably positioned within the housing;
a tightening member rotatably coupled with the housing and operably coupled with the spool such that an operation of the tightening member causes the spool to rotate within the housing in a first direction to wind a tension member about the spool; and
a boss or bushing positioned within the housing, the boss or bushing including a radially outward extending feature that is operably coupled with the tightening member to support the tightening member in an axially raised position and thereby enable the spool to rotate in a second direction to unwind the tension member from about the spool.

12. The reel based closure device of claim 11 , wherein the boss or bushing is made of a resiliently compressible material.

13. The reel based closure device of claim 11 , wherein the radially outward extending feature includes a tapered upper surface and a tapered lower surface such that the radially outward extending feature generally has a rhombus shape.

14. The reel based closure device of claim 13 , wherein a top portion of the radially outward extending feature is wider than a bottom portion of the radially outward extending feature.

15. The reel based closure device of claim 11 , wherein the boss or bushing includes a central aperture through which a fastener is insertable.

16. The reel based closure device of claim 11 , wherein the reel based closure device further comprises a rotation control component that is operably coupled with the spool to allow the spool to rotate in the first direction and to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction.

17. The reel based closure device of claim 16 , wherein the boss or bushing engages with the rotation control component to support the rotation control component in an axially raised position.

18. The reel based closure device of claim 17 , wherein the rotation control component is axially moveable about the boss or bushing between the axially raised position and an axially lowered position.

19. The reel based closure device of claim 17 , wherein the boss or bushing engages a spring component of the rotation control component to support the rotation control component in the axially raised position.

20. A reel based closure device comprising:
a housing;
a spool rotatably positioned within the housing;
a tightening member rotatably coupled with the housing and operably coupled with the spool such that an operation of the tightening member causes the spool to rotate within the housing in a first direction to wind a tension member about the spool; and
a boss or bushing positioned within the housing, the boss or bushing including a radially outward extending feature that is operably coupled with the tightening member to support the reel based closure device in an engaged position in which the spool is prevented from rotating in a second direction to unwind the tension member from about the spool and to support the reel based closure device in a disengaged position in which the spool is able to rotate in the second direction to unwind the tension member from about the spool.

21. The reel based closure device of claim 20 , wherein the reel based closure device further comprises a pawl component that is operably coupled with the spool to allow the spool to rotate in the first direction and prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the reel based closure device is in the engaged position.

22. An article of footwear comprising:
a sole;
an upper coupled with the sole;
a tension member that is tensionable to tighten the footwear about a wearer's foot;
one or more guides that are positioned along the footwear, the one or more guides being arranged to guide or direct the tension member about a path along the footwear; and
a reel based closure device comprising:
a housing;
a spool rotatably positioned within the housing;
a tightening member rotatably coupled with the housing and operably coupled with the spool such that an operation of the tightening member causes the spool to rotate within the housing in a first direction to wind the tension member about the spool and thereby tension the tension member; and
a boss or bushing positioned within the housing, the boss or bushing including a radially outward extending feature that is operably coupled with the tightening member to support the tightening member in an axially raised position and thereby enable the spool to rotate in a second direction to unwind the tension member from about the spool.

Assignees

• Boa Tech Inc

Inventors

• Burns Robert E
• Hammerslag Gary R
• Irwin Eric C
• Lovett Kristopher C
• Nickel Michael J
• Soderberg Mark S

Classifications

• A61F5/0118

  for the arms, hands or fingers · CPC title

• A43B13/14

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• A43C11/20

  Fastenings with tightening devices mounted on the tongue · CPC title

• A43C1/04

  with rings or loops · CPC title

• A43C11/165 Primary

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