Mechanical control systems and methods for adaptive apparel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12059042-B2
Application number	US-202217726211-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2022
Priority date	Apr 23, 2021
Publication date	Aug 13, 2024
Grant date	Aug 13, 2024

Abstract

A control system for controlling tension applied to a lace cable coupled to a support structure of an adaptive support garment is discussed herein. The control system can include a lace spool, a damper mechanism, and a locking ring. The lace spool can include a lace groove to receive the lace cable and a rotary bias member to apply rotational tension to resist extension of the lace cable out of a housing holding the control system. The damper mechanism is engagable with the lace spool to generate an additional rotational tension resisting extension of the lace cable out of the housing. The locking ring is frictionally coupled to the lace spool, and the locking ring can include a lock wedge adapted to disengage the damper mechanism upon rotation into a pre-determined rotational position relative to the damper mechanism.

First claim

The claimed invention is:

1. An analog control system for use within an adaptive support garment, the control system comprising:
a lace spool configured to manipulate an effective length of a lace cable to provide adaptive support within the adaptive support garment, the lace spool including a rotary bias member to apply a first tension on the lace cable;
a damper mechanism selectively engagable with the lace spool to apply a second tension on the lace cable; and
a locking ring disposed within a lock ring groove around the lace spool, the locking ring including a lock wedge that operates to disengage the damper mechanism at a pre-defined rotational position.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the lace spool includes a spool gear including a plurality of gear teeth engageable with a drive gear within the damper mechanism.

3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the damper mechanism is pivotably secured within a housing of the control system.

4. The control system of claim 3 , wherein the damper mechanism includes a damper bias member that operates to bias a drive gear of the damper mechanism into engagement with a spool gear on the lace spool.

5. The control system of claim 4 , wherein the lock wedge operates to pivot the damper mechanism away from the lace spool to disengage the drive gear from the spool gear.

6. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the damper mechanism operates to increase drag on extension of the lace cable out of the lace spool by impeding rotation of the lace spool in a first rotational direction.

7. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the locking ring includes a locking tension member to generate a friction fit between the lock ring groove and the locking ring to enable the locking ring to rotate with the lace spool.

8. The control system of claim 7 , wherein the locking ring further includes a lock release tab configured to interact with a structure on a housing of the control system to release the locking tension member and reduce or eliminate the friction fit between the lock ring groove and the locking ring allowing the lace spool to move free of the locking ring.

9. A control system for controlling tension applied to a lace cable coupled to a support structure of an adaptive support garment, the control system comprising:
a lace spool including a lace groove to receive the lace cable and a rotary bias member to apply rotational tension to resist extension of the lace cable out of a housing holding the control system;
a damper mechanism engagable with the lace spool to generate an additional rotational tension resisting extension of the lace cable out of the housing; and
a locking ring frictionally coupled to the lace spool, the locking ring including a lock wedge adapted to disengage the damper mechanism upon rotation into a pre-determined rotational position relative to the damper mechanism.

10. The control system of claim 9 , wherein the control system operates in a first state that applies a first tension to resist extension of the lace cable with the damper mechanism disengaged from the lace spool.

11. The control system of claim 10 , wherein in the first state the locking ring is in a first rotational position wherein the lock wedge pivots the damper mechanism away from the lace spool disengaging the damper mechanism.

12. The control system of claim 10 , wherein upon application of a second tension greater than the first tension, the lace spool reverses direction, and the lace cable extends out of the housing.

13. The control system of claim 12 , wherein upon the lace spool reversing direction, the locking ring rotates away from the pre-determined rotational position and allows engagement of the damper mechanism.

14. The control system of claim 13 , wherein upon engagement of a drive gear of the damper mechanism with a spool gear coupled to the lace spool a third tension is applied to resist extension of the lace spool out of the housing.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Hopkins Timothy P
• Gault Joe
• Legaye Bobby
• Bruce Mark
• Williams Peter
• Orand Austin J

Classifications

• A41D2300/33

  using straps or ties · CPC title

• A41F1/008

  Adjustable fasteners comprising a track and a slide member (expansible or adjustable belts or girdles A41F9/02) · CPC title

• B65H23/24

  by fluid action, e.g. to retard the running web · CPC title

• A41C3/0057

  for sport activities · CPC title

• A41D2400/82

  with the body of the user · CPC title