Automated footwear lacing systems, devices, and techniques
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsRobert A. Riccomini, Hardy Shen, Stan Reyes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The specification discusses various lacing engine configurations for use in an automated footwear platform. For example, lacing engines with mechanisms to detect lace cable position and/or lace cable tensions are discussed. In an example, the lacing engine can include a housing, a lace spool and a detection mechanism. The lace spool can be at least partially disposed within the housing, and be adapted to collect a portion of the lace cable in response to rotation in a first direction during tightening of the footwear platform. The detection mechanism can detect a state of the lace cable manipulated by the lacing engine.
Claims16
A lacing engine for an automated footwear platform, the lacing engine comprising:
- a housing;
- a lace spool at least partially disposed within the housing, the lace spool adapted to collect a portion of a lace cable in response to rotation in a first direction during tightening of the footwear platform;
- a motor contained within the housing and coupled to the lace spool to drive rotation of the lace spool;
- and
- a detection mechanism including a spring-loaded lever including a free end adapted to follow a contour of the lace spool and a cut-off switch to control the motor,
- wherein the lace spool includes a divot adapted to receive at least a portion of the free end of the lever when the lace cable runs off the lace spool, and
- wherein the detection mechanism includes a sensor being configured to detect when the free end of the lever is received within the divot.
A lacing engine for an automated footwear platform, the lacing engine comprising:
- a housing;
- a lace spool at least partially disposed within the housing, the lace spool adapted to collect a portion of a lace cable in response to rotation in a first direction during tightening of the footwear platform;
- and
- a detection mechanism including a sensor to measure a characteristic of the lace cable while the lace cable is manipulated by the lacing engine,
- wherein the detection mechanism includes a cut-off switch and a split portion of the lace spool.
A lacing engine for an automated footwear platform, the lacing engine comprising:
- a housing;
- a lace spool at least partially disposed within the housing, the lace spool adapted to collect a portion of a lace cable in response to rotation in a first direction during tightening of the footwear platform;
- a motor contained within the housing and coupled to the lace spool to drive rotation of the lace spool;
- and
- a detection mechanism including a sensor to measure a characteristic of the lace cable while the lace cable is manipulated by the lacing engine;
- wherein the sensor is an optical sensor adapted to sense different sections of the lace cable.
A lacing engine for an automated footwear platform, the lacing engine comprising:
- a housing;
- a lace spool at least partially disposed within the housing, the lace spool adapted to collect a portion of a lace cable in response to rotation in a first direction during tightening of the footwear platform;
- a motor contained within the housing and coupled to the lace spool to drive rotation of the lace spool;
- and
- a detection mechanism including a sensor to measure a characteristic of the lace cable while the lace cable is manipulated by the lacing engine;
- wherein the sensor is a force sensor to detect tension on the lace cable via sensing a force on a pin or a pulley receiving a portion of the lace cable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.