Automated footwear lacing systems, devices, and techniques
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsSteve Gaynes, David Mellinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Lacing engine systems, apparatus, and methods of operation are discussed. In an example, a lacing engine apparatus can include a housing, a drivetrain, and a lace take-up mechanism for retracting a length of lace cable upon activation. The drivetrain can include various reduction gears to reduce rotational speed out of the motor and power the lace take-up mechanism. The lace take-up mechanism can include structures such as a double-yoke, a radial pulley including an outer rotating disc and an inner stationary disc, a variable take-up spool, or a zip-strip mechanism.
Claims20
A lacing engine apparatus for an automated footwear platform, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing including a lace channel for receiving a portion of a lace cable;
- a drivetrain disposed within the housing, the drivetrain including a motor delivering rotational input to a worm drive;
- and
- a lace take-up mechanism for accumulating a length of lace cable upon activation, the lace take-up mechanism including a variable lace spool, the variable lace spool including a spiral lace groove divided into a lateral lace groove and a medial lace groove by a central lace channel running across a major diameter of the variable lace spool, the central lace channel adapted to receive the lace cable,
- wherein upon rotation of the variable lace spool, the lace cable is progressively received along increasing lengths of the lateral lace groove and the medial lace groove.
A footwear assembly comprising:
- a footwear upper portion;
- a footwear lower portion affixed to the footwear upper portion and including an interior recess;
- a lacing engine disposable within the interior recess and configured to adjust a lace cable routed into the interior recess from the footwear upper portion, the lacing engine comprising:
- a lace take-up mechanism for accumulating a length of lace cable upon activation, the lace take-up mechanism including a variable lace spool, the variable lace spool including a spiral lace groove divided into a lateral lace groove and a medial lace groove by a central lace channel running across a major diameter of the variable lace spool, the central lace channel adapted to receive the lace cable.
A lacing engine for adjusting a lace cable within an automated footwear assembly, the lacing engine comprising:
- a lace take-up mechanism for accumulating a length of the lace cable upon activation, the lace take-up mechanism including a variable lace spool, the variable lace spool including a spiral lace groove divided into a lateral lace groove and a medial lace groove by a central lace channel running across a major diameter of the variable lace spool, the central lace channel adapted to receive the lace cable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.