# US 11,076,658 B2 · Box lacing channel for automated footwear platform > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,076,658 B2 - Document ID: US11076658B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/793,068 - Filed: 2020-02-18 - Published: 2020-08-13 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-15 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Summer L. Schneider; Narissa Chang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076658B2 ## CPC - A43C 11/165: {characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation} - A43B 13/14: characterised by the constructive form - A43C 7/00: Holding-devices for laces - A43C 11/16: Fastenings secured by wire, bolts, or the like - B65H 59/00: Adjusting or controlling tension in filamentary material, e.g. for preventing snarling; Applications of tension indicators - B65H 69/00: Methods of, or devices for, interconnecting successive lengths of material; Knot-tying devices {;Control of the correct working of the interconnecting device} - B65H 75/14: with two end flanges - B65H 75/148: {with at least one frustoconical end flange} - A43B 3/34: with electrical or electronic arrangements - B65H 75/141: {covers therefor} - B65H 75/30: Arrangements to facilitate driving or braking - A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract A footwear lacing apparatus can comprise a housing structure, a spool and a drive mechanism. The housing structure can comprise a first inlet, a second inlet, and a lacing channel extending between the first and second inlets. The lacing channel can comprise a spool receptacle located between the first and second inlets, a first relief area located between the spool receptacle and the first inlet, and a second relief area located between the spool receptacle and the second inlet. The first and second relief areas can be linearly tapered between the spool receptacle and the first and second inlets, respectively. The spool can be disposed in the spool receptacle of the lacing channel. The drive mechanism can be coupled with the spool and adapted to rotate the spool to wind or unwind a lace cable extending through the lacing channel and through the spool. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A housing structure for a footwear lacing apparatus, the housing structure comprising: a first inlet defined by a first pair of opposing channel walls of the housing structure; a second inlet defined by a second pair of opposing channel walls of the housing structure; and a lacing channel extending between the first and second inlets, the lacing channel comprising: a spool receptacle defined by a counterbore in a floor of the housing structure located between the first and second inlets; a first relief area defined by a pair of angled channel transition walls of the housing structure extending from the spool receptacle to the first inlet; and a second relief area defined by a pair of angled channel transition walls of the housing structure extending from the spool receptacle to the second inlet; wherein the first and second relief areas are linearly tapered between the spool receptacle and the first and second inlets, respectively. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The housing structure of claim 1, wherein the pairs of angled channel transition walls of the first and second relief areas comprise planar sidewalls extending from the spool receptacle to form passageways that taper from the spool receptacle to the first and second inlets, respectively. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The housing structure of claim 2, wherein the planar sidewalls are tangent to the spool receptacle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The housing structure of claim 2, wherein the pairs of angled channel transition walk of the first and second relief areas form trapezoidal shaped passageways between the spool receptacle and the first and second inlets, respectively. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The housing structure of claim 1, wherein the spool receptacle further comprises a pair of opposing arcuate sidewalls. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The housing structure of claim 5, wherein the spool receptacle further comprises: a shaft socket surrounded by the counterbore. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The housing structure of claim 5, wherein the spool receptacle further comprises: a pair of opposing arcuate flanges extending above the spool receptacle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The housing structure of claim 1, wherein the first and second pairs of opposing channel walls of the first and second inlets comprise rectangular openings in the housing structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The housing structure of claim 8, wherein the first and second pairs of opposing channel walls of the first and second inlets comprise planar sidewalls forming rectangular passageways, respectively. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The housing structure of claim 1, wherein the first and second relief areas further comprise curved lips at junctures with the spool receptacle. ### Claim 11 A housing structure for a footwear lacing apparatus, the housing structure comprising: a body comprising: a top surface defined by an upper component; a bottom surface defined by a lower component; a first sidewall defined by the upper component connecting the top surface and the bottom surface; and a second sidewall defined by the upper component connecting the top surface and the bottom surface; an internal compartment between the top and bottom surfaces and the first and second sidewalls; and a lacing channel extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall, the lacing channel comprising: a first inlet in the first sidewall defined by a first pair of opposing channel walls of the upper component; a second inlet in the second sidewall defined by a second pair of opposing channel wall of the upper component; a spool receptacle defined by a floor of the upper component located between the first and second inlets; a first relief area defined by a pair of angled channel transition wall of the upper component located between the spool receptacle and the first inlet; and a second relief area defined by a pair of angled channel transition walls of the upper component located between the spool receptacle and the second inlet; wherein the first and second relief areas are linearly tapered between the spool receptacle and the first and second inlets, respectively. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The housing structure of claim 11, wherein the pairs of angled channel transition walls of the first and second relief areas comprise planar sidewalls extending from the spool receptacle to form passageways that taper from the spool receptacle to the first and second inlets, respectively. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The housing structure of claim 12, wherein the spool receptacle further comprises a pair of opposing arcuate sidewalls. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The housing structure of claim 13, wherein the planar sidewalk are tangent to the arcuate sidewalls of the spool receptacle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The housing structure of claim 13, wherein the pairs of angled channel transition walls of the first and second relief areas form trapezoidal shaped passageways between the spool receptacle and the first and second inlets, respectively. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The housing structure of claim 13, wherein the spool receptacle further comprises: a pair of opposing arcuate flanges extending above the spool receptacle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The housing structure of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second pairs of opposing channel walls of the first and second inlets comprises: a rectangular opening in the body; and planar sidewalk forming a rectangular passageway. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The housing structure of claim 11, wherein the upper component and the lower component are coupled together to form the housing body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The housing structure assembly of claim 11, wherein the lacing channel penetrates through the top surface of the body. ### Claim 20 A housing for a footwear lacing apparatus, the housing comprising: a housing structure comprising: a top surface defined by the housing structure; a first sidewall defined by the housing structure and extending from the top surface; and a second sidewall, defined by the housing structure and extending from the top surface; and a lacing channel extending through the top surface, the lacing channel comprising: a channel floor comprising: a first portion defined by the housing structure and extending from the first sidewall; and a second portion defined by the housing structure and extending from the second sidewall; and a spool floor located between the first portion and the second portion of the channel floor; wherein the spool floor is located a first distance below the top surface and the channel floor is located a second distance below the top surface, the first distance being greater than the second distance. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The housing of claim 20, further comprising a pair of opposing arcuate flanges extending from the top surface proximate the spool floor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The housing of claim 20, further comprising a counterbore in the spool floor, wherein the counterbore is located a third distance below the top surface greater than the first distance. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The housing of claim 20, further comprising a channel lip connecting each of the first and second portions of the channel floor and the spool floor.