Lace coupling for reel based closure device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12256808-B2
Application number	US-202117185214-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2021
Priority date	Sep 13, 2013
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

A reel for tightening an article includes a housing and a spool positioned within the housing. A knob is coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing and thereby wind a tension member about a central post of the spool. A load holding mechanism is coupled with the spool and the housing and includes a first friction element and a second friction element that are frictionally engageable to prevent rotation of the spool in a second direction to prevent unwinding of the tension member from the spool's central post. Rotation of the knob in a first direction reduces frictional engagement of the friction elements to enable rotation of the spool in the first direction and tension in the tension member biases the spool toward rotation in the second direction which increases the frictional engagement of the friction elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reel based closure device that is configured to tension a tension member upon operation of the reel based closure device, the reel based closure device being configured so that when the reel based closure device is assembled, the tension member may be coupled with the reel based closure device, the reel based closure device comprising:
a housing having:
an interior region; and
an aperture through which the tension member is insertable; and

a component that includes:
a first channel; and
a second channel;
wherein the first channel is alignable with the aperture of the housing so that while the reel based closure device is assembled, a distal end of the tension member is insertable through the aperture of the housing, through the first channel, and through the second channel so the distal end of the tension member is positioned externally of the housing while a portion of the tension member is disposed within the reel based closure device and within the component; and
wherein the second channel is narrowed to engage the distal end of the tension member within the second channel as the tension member is retracted through the second channel, thereby preventing further retraction of the tension member through the second channel such that the tension member is coupled with the reel based closure device and a distal tip of the tension member is positioned within the reel based closure device.

2. The reel based closure device of claim 1 , wherein the second channel includes a tapered region that is configured to engage with a knot tied in the distal end of the tension member as the tension member is retracted through the second channel.

3. The reel based closure device of claim 2 , wherein a narrow portion of the second channel's tapered region prevents the tension member from fully retracting through the second channel.

4. The reel based closure device of claim 1 , wherein the component includes an opening and wherein the first channel and the second channel are positioned on different sides of the opening so that the tension member is insertable through the first channel, through the opening, and through the second channel.

5. The reel based closure device of claim 1 , wherein an axis of the first channel is angled relative to an axis of the second channel.

6. The reel based closure device of claim 1 , wherein the first channel and the second channel are configured to guide the tension member along a non-parallel or non-straight path through the component.

7. The reel based closure device of claim 1 , wherein the component is a knob of the reel based closure device.

8. The reel based closure device of claim 1 , wherein the first channel is angled vertically so that the tension member exits the reel based closure device vertically angled with respect to the reel based closure device.

9. A reel based closure device comprising:
a housing having:
an interior region; and
an aperture through which a tension member is insertable; and

a component that includes a lumen that is alignable with the aperture of the housing so that while the reel based closure device is assembled, the tension member is insertable through the aperture of the housing and through the lumen of the component to enable coupling of the tension member with the reel based closure device without requiring disassembly of the reel based closure device;
wherein the lumen of the component is configured to engage the tension member to prevent retraction of the tension member through the lumen and couple the tension member with the reel based closure device; and
wherein when coupled with the reel based closure device, a distal tip of the tension member is positioned within the reel based closure device.

10. The reel based closure device of claim 9 , wherein the lumen of the component includes a first channel and a second channel, and wherein the tension member is insertable through the first channel and through the second channel so a distal end of the tension member is positioned externally of the housing while a portion of the tension member is disposed within the reel based closure device.

11. The reel based closure device of claim 10 , wherein the second channel includes a tapered region that is configured to engage with a knot tied in the distal end of the tension member as the tension member is retracted through the second channel.

12. The reel based closure device of claim 10 , wherein an axis of the first channel is angled relative to an axis of the second channel.

13. The reel based closure device of claim 9 , wherein the lumen is configured so that the tension member exits the reel based closure device vertically angled with respect to the reel based closure device.

14. The reel based closure device of claim 9 , wherein the reel based closure device further comprises a spool that is rotatably positioned within the interior region of the housing, the spool being coupleable with the tension member so that the tension member is windable about the spool upon operation of the reel based closure device.

15. The reel based closure device of claim 9 , wherein the component is a knob of the reel based closure device.

16. A method of coupling a tension member with a reel based closure device, the method comprising:
providing a reel based closure device that includes:
a housing having an interior region and an aperture; and
a component that includes a lumen;

aligning the lumen of the component with the aperture of the housing;
inserting a tension member through the aperture of the housing and through the lumen of the component while the reel based closure device is assembled; and
retracting the tension member to cause the tension member to engage the lumen of the component and thereby prevent retraction of the tension member through the lumen to couple the tension member with the reel based closure device;
wherein, when coupled with the reel based closure device, a distal tip of the tension member is positioned within the reel based closure device.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
tying a knot in a distal end of the tension member; and
retracting the tension member through the lumen of the component to engage the knot in the distal end of the tension member with the lumen of the component and thereby prevent the tension member from being retraced through the lumen.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the lumen comprises a tapered region that engages with the knot in the distal end of the tension member.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the lumen is configured so that the tension member exits the reel based closure device vertically angled with respect to the reel based closure device.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the lumen of the component includes a first channel and a second channel, and wherein the tension member is insertable through the first channel and through the second channel so a distal end of the tension member is positioned externally of the housing while a portion of the tension member is disposed within the reel based closure device.

Assignees

• Boa Tech Inc

Inventors

• Trudel Thomas
• Irwin Eric Craig
• Whewell Eric

Classifications

• F16G11/12

  Connections or attachments, e.g. turnbuckles, adapted for straining of cables, ropes, or wire (straining wire in general B21F9/00) · CPC title

• A43C11/165 Primary

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

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• B65H75/4471

  Housing enclosing the reel · CPC title

• B65H75/4431

  Manual stop or release button · CPC title