Lacing engine for automated footwear platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9861165-B2
Application number	US-201715610151-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2017
Priority date	Mar 15, 2016
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine for automated lace tightening. In an example, a modular footwear apparatus includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a lacing engine for automated lace tightening. The upper portion can include a lace to adjust fit of the upper portion against a foot, the lace adjustable between a first position and a second position based at least in part on manipulation of an effective length of the lace. The lower portion can include a mid-sole and an out-sole, and the lower portion can be coupled to the upper portion at the mid-sole. The lacing engine can include a top-loading lace spool to engage a loop of the lace to enable manipulation of the effective length of the lace through rotation of the lace spool, the lacing engine received within a cavity in the lower portion.

First claim

The claimed invention includes:

1. A modular footwear apparatus comprising:
an upper portion including a lace to adjust a fit of the upper portion against a foot, the lace adjustable between a first position and a second position based at least in part on manipulation of an effective length of the lace, the manipulation occurring at least in part along a middle loop portion of the lace;
a lower portion including a mid-sole and an out-sole, the lower portion coupled to the upper portion at the mid-sole;
a mid-sole plate secured within the mid-sole and including a lacing engine cavity, the lacing engine cavity including a medial lace guide and a lateral lace guide engaging portions of the middle loop portion of the lace; and
a lacing engine removably receivable within the lacing engine cavity and including a top-loading lace spool to engage the middle loop portion of the lace within the mid-sole plate to enable manipulation of the effective length of the lace through rotation of the top-loading lace spool, the middle loop portion of the lace guided into the top-loading lace spool by the medial lace guide and the lateral lace guide.

2. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the top-loading spool includes a lace groove running across a diameter of the top-loading lace spool to receive the middle loop portion of the lace.

3. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lacing engine includes a top section with a lace channel running in a medial-lateral direction in alignment with the top-loading lace spool.

4. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the medial lace guide and the lateral lace guide interface with the lace channel to guide the lace into the top-loading lace spool.

5. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the lace channel includes a medial portion on a medial side of the top-loading lace spool and a lateral portion on a lateral side of the top-loading lace spool.

6. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the medial portion and the lateral portion of the lace channel transition into a spool recess.

7. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the spool recess includes opposing semi-circular sections corresponding to portions of an outer diameter of a superior surface of the top-loading lace spool.

8. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the top-loading lace spool includes a reduced diameter section below the superior surface that works in conjunction with the spool recess to create a lace recess to accommodate a portion of the lace as the lace is taken up on the top-loading lace spool.

9. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lacing engine includes a top surface with a circular recess to expose a superior surface of the top-loading lace spool, the superior surface of the top-loading lace spool is bisected into two semicircular portions by a lace groove.

10. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the lace groove bisecting the superior surface of the top-loading spool into a reduced diameter spool portion is adapted to receive the lace upon rotation of the top-loading spool in a first direction.

11. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a lid adapted to couple with the mid-sole plate and secure the lacing engine;
wherein the mid-sole plate includes a medial lid slot, a lateral lid slot, and a lid latch recess to receive and secure the lid.

12. The modular footwear apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the lid once secured to the mid-sole plate retains the lacing engine within the cavity in the mid-sole plate and maintains alignment of the middle loop portion of the lace with the top-loading lace spool.

13. A footwear assembly comprising:
a out-sole portion;
a mid-sole secured within the out-sole portion;
a mid-sole plate disposed within the mid-sole and forming a lacing engine cavity, the lacing engine cavity including a medial lace guide and a lateral lace guide; and
a modular lacing engine removably received within the lacing engine cavity, the modular lacing engine comprising:
a housing including a superior section and an inferior section, the superior section including a lace channel and a spool recess;
a lace spool disposed within the spool recess in the superior section of the housing, the lace spool including:
a lace groove in a superior surface of the lace spool to receive a lace cable, and
a spool shaft extending inferiorly from the lace spool into the housing;

drive system; and
a worm gear coupled to an inferior end of the spool shaft, the worm gear configured to receive input from the drive system within the housing to rotate the lace spool to take up the lace cable on the lace spool as the lace spool rotates in a first direction.

14. The footwear assembly of claim 13 , wherein the drive system includes:
a worm drive to engage the worm gear; and
a gear motor coupled to the worm drive.

15. The footwear assembly of claim 14 , wherein the gear motor is coupled to the worm drive via a gear box.

16. The footwear assembly of claim 14 , wherein the worm drive is positioned relative to the worm gear to transfer loads generated by tension on the lace cable and transmitted to the worm drive by the worm gear away from the gear motor.

17. The footwear assembly of claim 16 , wherein the worm drive is coupled opposite the gear motor to a bushing to absorb the loads generated by tension on the lace cable.

18. The footwear assembly of claim 13 , wherein the spool recess includes opposing semi-circular sections corresponding to portions of an outer diameter of the superior surface of the lace spool, and wherein the lace spool includes a reduced diameter section below the superior surface that works in conjunction with the spool recess to create a lace recess to accommodate a portion of the lace as the lace is taken up on the lace spool.

19. The footwear assembly of claim 13 , wherein the lace spool, the lace groove, and the spool shaft are collectively formed from a single piece of material.

20. The footwear assembly of claim 13 , wherein the lace shaft is coupled to the worm gear through a clutch system that allows the lace spool to rotate freely when the clutch system is deactivated.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Schneider Summer L
• Johnson Daniel A

Classifications

• B65H69/00

  Methods of, or devices for, interconnecting successive lengths of material; Knot-tying devices {;Control of the correct working of the interconnecting device} · CPC title

• B65H59/00

  Adjusting or controlling tension in filamentary material, e.g. for preventing snarling; Applications of tension indicators · CPC title

• A43C11/165 Primary

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

• A43C11/14

  Clamp fastenings {, e.g. strap fastenings}; Clamp-buckle fastenings; Fastenings with toggle levers · CPC title

• A43C7/00

  Holding-devices for laces · CPC title