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US 12,440,001 B2Granted
Micro-adjustable rotary closure
AssigneePride Manufacturing Company, LLC
InventorsJohn Robert Burt, Lee Paul Shuttleworth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments of a system and associated methods for an improved rotary closure for tensioning a tensioned lacing element are disclosed herein. In particular, the improved rotary closure includes an adjuster component in association with a tensioning component to incrementally counter-rotate the tensioning component and a tensioned cylindrical device, enabling micro-adjustment of the rotary closure without complete de-tensioning of the tensioned cylindrical device.
Claims18
A rotary closure, comprising:
- an adjuster component defining an adjuster block having an angled edge;
- a tensioned cylindrical device disposed within a housing, the tensioned cylindrical device configured for receipt of a tensioned lacing element;
- and
- a tensioning component in operative association with the tensioned cylindrical device and the adjuster component that applies a contrary rotational force to the tensioned cylindrical device along a first rotational direction, the tensioning component including:
- a catch spring configured to engage the housing and prevent rotation of the tensioning component in a second rotational direction when the catch spring is engaged with the housing;
- wherein rotation of the adjuster component in the second rotational direction causes the angled edge to contact the catch spring and cause the catch spring to disengage from the housing such that the tensioning component is allowed to rotate in the second rotational direction, and
- wherein the adjuster component further includes an outer tab that extends beyond the housing.
4 more elements
A device for incremental adjustment of a rotational position of a tensioned cylindrical device within a housing, comprising:
- a tensioned cylindrical device positioned within a housing that, when rotated in a first rotational direction, generates a rotational force along a second rotational direction;
- a tensioning component positioned within the housing configured to apply a contrary rotational force along the first rotational direction to prevent rotation of the tensioned cylindrical device in the second rotational direction, the tensioning component including a catch spring that engages the housing and applies an outward lateral force against the housing, and a pawl member configured to engage the tensioned cylindrical device and apply the contrary rotational force to the tensioned cylindrical device along the first rotational direction to prevent rotation of the tensioned cylindrical device in the second rotational direction;
- wherein the pawl member is operable to disengage the tensioned cylindrical device upon rotation of a dial in the second rotational direction;
- and
- an adjuster component configured for temporarily disengaging the catch spring from the housing to enable incremental rotation of the tensioning component in the second rotational direction.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- providing a tensioned cylindrical device for positioning within a housing that, when rotated in a first rotational direction, generates a rotational force along a second rotational direction;
- providing a tensioning component for positioning within the housing and configured to apply a contrary rotational force to the tensioned cylindrical device along the first rotational direction to prevent rotation of the tensioned cylindrical device in the second rotational direction, the tensioning component including a catch spring that engages the housing and applies an outward lateral force against the housing and a pawl member configured to engage the tensioned cylindrical device and apply the contrary rotational force to the tensioned cylindrical device along the first rotational direction to prevent rotation of the tensioned cylindrical device in the second rotational direction,
- wherein the pawl member is operable to disengage the tensioned cylindrical device upon rotation of a dial in the second rotational direction;
- and
- providing an adjuster component for engaging the tensioning component and configured for temporarily disengaging the catch spring from the housing to enable incremental rotation of the tensioning component in the second rotational direction.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.