# US 11,439,202 B2 · Lacing apparatus 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 11,439,202 B2 - Document ID: US11439202B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/112,116 - Filed: 2020-12-04 - Published: 2021-05-27 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-15 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Summer L. Schneider - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439202B2 ## CPC - A43C 11/165: {characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation} - A43B 3/0031: {provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card} - A43B 3/34: with electrical or electronic arrangements - A43B 3/36: with light sources - A43B 11/00: Footwear with arrangements to facilitate putting-on or removing, e.g. with straps - A43C 1/00: Shoe lacing fastenings (garment fastening devices A41F) - A43C 7/00: Holding-devices for laces - A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract Systems and apparatus related to automated tightening of a footwear platform including a footwear lacing apparatus are discussed. In an example, a footwear lacing apparatus can include a housing structure, a spool, and a drive mechanism. The housing structure can include a top section and a bottom section. The spool can include a superior surface, a lace spool under the superior surface and a spool shaft with a keyed connection pin. The spool can also be integrated into the top section of the housing structure. The drive mechanism can couple with the spool via the keyed connection pin on the spool shaft. The drive mechanism can be adapted to rotate the spool to tighten or loosen a lace cable integrated into the footwear. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular footwear apparatus comprising: an upper portion including a lace cable to adjust fit of the upper portion against a foot, the lace cable adjustable between a first position and a second position based at least in part on manipulation of an effective length of the lace cable; a lower portion coupled to the upper portion; a lacing engine, including: a lace spool to engage the lace cable to enable manipulation of the effective length of the lace cable through rotation of the lace spool; a motor operatively coupled to the lace spool, wherein the motor is configured to turn the lace spool in a forward direction; a controller, operatively coupled to the lacing engine, configured to cause the lacing engine to rotate the lace spool to adjust between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the lacing engine further includes a worm gear operatively coupled between the motor and the lace spool. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the lacing engine further comprises a worm drive, engaged with the worm gear and operatively coupled to the motor, wherein the motor is configured to drive the worm drive. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the lacing engine is configured to switch among the plurality of preset tension settings based on interaction with a user interface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the lacing engine is further configured to transition among a plurality of transitory states to incrementally increase or decrease the effective length of the lace. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein a decrease of the effective length of the lace corresponds to a tightening of the lace and an increase of the effective length of the lace corresponds to a loosening of the lace. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein the preset tightened state corresponds to a state including a shortest effective lace length and the preset loosened state corresponds to a state including a longest effective lace length. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein the user interface is configured to increase the increase the tension on the lace based on touching the user interface in a first location and decrease the tension on the lace based on touching the user interface in a second location. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The article of footwear of claim 8, wherein the user interface comprises a molded covering. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The article of footwear of claim 9, further comprising a wiring portion, wherein the wiring portion further operatively couples the user interface to a battery. ### Claim 11 A method of making an article of footwear, comprising: an upper portion including a lace cable to adjust fit of the upper portion against a foot, the lace cable adjustable between a first position and a second position based at least in part on manipulation of an effective length of the lace cable; a lower portion coupled to the upper portion; a lacing engine, including: a lace spool to engage the lace cable to enable manipulation of the effective length of the lace cable through rotation of the lace spool; a clutch configured to engage and disengage from the gear to permit the lace spool to spin in a backward direction; a motor operatively coupled to the lace spool, wherein the motor is configured to turn the lace spool in a forward direction; a controller, operatively coupled to the lacing engine, configured to cause the lacing engine to rotate the lace spool to adjust between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the lacing engine includes a worm gear operatively coupled between the motor and the lace spool. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the lacing engine further comprises a worm drive, engaged with the worm gear and operatively coupled to the motor, wherein the motor is configured to drive the worm drive. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the lacing engine is configured to switch among the plurality of preset tension settings based on interaction with a user interface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the lacing engine is further configured to transition among a plurality of transitory states to incrementally increase or decrease the effective length of the lace. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein a decrease of the effective length of the lace corresponds to a tightening of the lace and an increase of the effective length of the lace corresponds to a loosening of the lace. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the preset tightened state corresponds to a state including a shortest effective lace length and the preset loosened state corresponds to a state including a longest effective lace length. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the user interface is configured to increase the increase the tension on the lace based on touching the user interface in a first location and decrease the tension on the lace based on touching the user interface in a second location. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the user interface comprises a molded covering. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising a wiring portion, wherein the wiring portion further operatively couples the user interface to a battery.