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US 10,238,180 B2Granted
Position sensing assembly for a tensioning system
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsTiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A position sensing assembly for a tensioning system designed to provide tension to a lace, cord, or other type of strand is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a reel member configured to rotate about a central axis and the position sensing assembly. The position sensing assembly includes a shaft, an indicator tab, and an optical sensing unit. The position sensing assembly assists in controlling the degree to which the strand is tightened and loosened. The position sensing assembly prevents tightening of the strand when the strand is meant to be loosened.
Claims13
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper;
- a sole structure attached to the upper;
- and
- a tensioning system disposed within the sole structure, the tensioning system including:
- a reel member configured to rotate about a central axis, the reel member having a shaft extending from a first end to a second end opposite the first end;
- a lead screw extending from the second end of the shaft and having a first set of threads, wherein the lead screw is configured to rotate about the central axis;
- an indicator tab mounted on the lead screw such that the indicator tab is moveable linearly along the lead screw from a first position on the lead screw to a second position on the lead screw;
- an optical sensing unit disposed adjacent the lead screw;
- and
- wherein the reel member is configured to tighten the tensioning system by winding a lace around the shaft;
- wherein the optical sensing unit comprises a first optical sensor and a second optical sensor;
- wherein the first optical sensor is vertically aligned with the indicator tab such that the first optical sensor can detect the indicator tab when the indicator tab is in the first position;
- wherein the second optical sensor is vertically aligned with the indicator tab such that the second optical sensor can detect the indicator tab when the indicator tab is in the second position.
10 more elements
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper;
- a sole structure attached to the upper;
- and
- a tensioning system disposed within the sole structure, the tensioning system including:
- a reel member configured to rotate about a central axis, the reel member having a shaft extending from a first end to a second end opposite the first end;
- a lead screw having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first set of threads extending from the first end of the lead screw to the second end of the lead screw, wherein the lead screw extends away from the second end of the shaft;
- an indicator tab having a second set of threads and being mounted on the lead screw such that the first set of threads engage with the second set of threads;
- and
- an optical sensing unit positioned adjacent the lead screw;
- wherein the reel member is configured to tighten the tensioning system by winding a lace around the shaft
- wherein the optical sensing unit comprises a first optical sensor vertically aligned with the indicator tab such that the first optical sensor can detect the indicator tab when the indicator tab is in a first position on the lead screw;
- wherein the indicator tab is in the first position when the indicator tab is disposed at a point on the lead screw that is furthest from the second end of the shaft;
- and
- wherein the optical sensing unit comprises:
- a second optical sensor vertically aligned with the indicator tab such that the second optical sensor can detect the indicator tab when the indicator tab is in a second position that is different from the first position.
12 more elements
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper;
- a sole structure attached to the upper;
- and
- a tensioning system disclosed within the sole structure, the tensioning system including:
- a reel member configured to rotate about a central axis, the reel member having a shaft extending from a first end to a second end opposite the first end;
- a lead screw extending away from the second end and having a first set of threads;
- an indicator tab mounted on the lead screw such that the indicator tab has (a) a first position in which the indicator tab is disposed at a first point on the shaft and (b) a second position in which the indicator tab is disposed at a second point on the shaft that is different from the first point;
- an optical sensing unit positioned adjacent the lead screw;
- and
- wherein the reel member is configured to tighten the tensioning system by winding a lace around the shaft;
- wherein the optical sensing unit comprises:
- a first optical sensor vertically aligned with the indicator tab such that the first optical sensor can detect the indicator tab when the indicator tab is in the first position;
- a second optical sensor vertically aligned with the indicator tab such that the second optical sensor can detect the indicator tab when the indicator tab is in the second position;
- wherein the first optical sensor is positioned with respect to the indicator tab such that the indicator tab is out of the first optical sensor's line of sight when the indicator tab is in the second position;
- and
- wherein the second optical sensor is positioned with respect to the indicator tab such that the indicator tab is out of the second optical sensor's line of sight when the indicator tab is in the first position.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.