Lacing architecture for automated footwear platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12256806-B2
Application number	US-202318100907-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2023
Priority date	Oct 20, 2017
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

Systems and apparatus related to an automated footwear platform including an actuator assembly for controlling a footwear lacing apparatus are discussed. In an example, an Lacing architectures for automated footwear assemblies are discussed. In an example, a footwear assembly can include a floating tongue within an upper assembly. The lacing architecture can include a first plurality or lace guides forming a first lacing zone and a second plurality of lace guides forming a second lacing zone. The lacing architecture can also include a tongue lace guide assembly secure to a proximal portion of the floating tongue.

First claim

The claimed invention includes:

1. An apparatus comprising a floating tongue configured to be disposed within a footwear assembly; and
a tongue lace guide assembly secured to a proximal portion of the floating tongue, the tongue lace guide assembly including a single structure with a rigid connection between two spaced apart opposing lace guides, the two spaced apart opposing lace guides including a first medial facing U-shaped lace guide channel adapted to receive a medial portion of a lace cable from a medial side of the footwear assembly and route the medial portion back along the medial side and a second lateral facing U-shaped lace guide channel adapted to receive a lateral portion of the lace cable from a lateral side of the footwear assembly and route the lateral portion back along the lateral side,
wherein the first medial facing U-shaped lace guide channel and the second lateral facing U-shaped lace guide channel include open lace channels.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tongue lace guide assembly is adhered fused to a reinforcement material that is affixed to the floating tongue.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tongue lace guide assembly is coupled to a tongue lace guide reinforcement.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the tongue lace guide reinforcement is coupled to the floating tongue by one or more of an adhesive and stitching.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the tongue lace guide reinforcement is adapted to distribute forces applied on the tongue lace guide assembly.

6. A footwear assembly including:
a lace cable routed through lace guides on a footwear upper;
a floating tongue disposed within a throat portion of the footwear upper; and
a tongue lace guide assembly secured to a proximal portion of the floating tongue, the tongue lace guide assembly including a single structure with a rigid connection between two discrete, spaced apart, and opposing lace guides affixed to the single structure, the opposing lace guides include a first medial facing U-shaped lace guide channel adapted to receive a medial portion of the lace cable from a medial side of the footwear upper and route the medial portion back along the medial side of the footwear upper and a second lateral facing U-shaped lace guide channel adapted to receive a lateral portion of the lace cable from a lateral side of the footwear upper and route the lateral portion back along the lateral side of the footwear upper,
wherein the first medial facing U-shaped lace guide channel and the second lateral facing U-shaped lace guide channel include open channels configured to receive a portion of the lace cable.

7. The footwear assembly of claim 6 , wherein the tongue lace guide assembly is adhered to a reinforcement material that is affixed to the floating tongue.

8. The footwear assembly of claim 6 , wherein the tongue lace guide assembly is coupled to a tongue lace guide reinforcement.

9. The footwear assembly of claim 8 , wherein the tongue lace guide reinforcement is coupled to the floating tongue by one or more of an adhesive and stitching.

10. The footwear assembly of claim 8 , wherein the tongue lace guide reinforcement is adapted to distribute forces applied on the tongue lace guide assembly.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Avar Eric P
• Ho Fanny Yung
• Johnson Daniel A
• Savage Peter R
• Schneider Summer L

Classifications

• A43B13/14

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• A43B23/0265

  having different properties in different directions · CPC title

• A43B23/26

  Tongues for shoes · CPC title

• A43C11/165 Primary

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

• A43C11/12

  Slide or glide fastenings · CPC title