Methods and devices for retrofitting footwear to include a reel based closure system
AssigneeBoa Technology Inc.
InventorsKristopher C. Lovett, Christopher H. Converse, Clark Morgan, Michael J. Nickel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to one embodiment, a removable tightening device is described. The tensioning mechanism is removably coupleable with an article without damaging the article so that upon removal, the coupling of the tensioning mechanism with the article is unrecognizable or not readily detectable. The tensioning mechanism is operable with a tension member to maintain a tension of the tension member and thereby maintain a tightness of the article. The tension member is guided along a path about the article, via one or more guide members, and is tensionable, via the tensioning mechanism, to tighten the article.
Claims16
A reel based closure device comprising:
- a housing having an interior region and a housing channel that is defined or formed on a bottom surface of the housing;
- a spool that is rotatably positioned within the interior region of the housing, the spool having a channel formed therein around which a tension member is wound;
- and
- a tightening component rotatably coupled with the housing and operably coupled with the spool so that an operation of the tightening component causes the spool to rotate within the interior region of the housing to wind the tension member around the channel of the spool;
- wherein the housing channel includes a first opening positioned on a first side of the housing, a second opening positioned on a second side of the housing opposite the first side, and a main body that extends along the bottom surface of the housing directly below the interior region of the housing between the first opening and the second opening;
- and
- wherein the housing channel is configured so that the tension member is routed from the housing and through the housing channel.
A reel based closure device for tightening an article, the reel based closure device comprising:
- a housing having an interior region and a channel;
- a spool that is rotatably positioned within the interior region of the housing;
- a tension member that is coupled with the spool so that a first portion of the tension member is wound around a central portion of the spool;
- and
- a tightening component operably coupled with the spool so that an operation of the tightening component causes the spool to rotate within the interior region of the housing to wind the tension member around the central portion of the spool;
- wherein the channel of the housing is arranged so that a second portion of the tension member is routed away from the housing to one or more guide members that are separate from the reel based closure device and routed therefrom through a first opening of the channel that is positioned on a first side of the housing, through a second opening of the channel that is positioned on a second side of the housing opposite the first side, and through a main body of the channel that extends along a bottom surface of the housing directly below the interior region of the housing between the first opening and the second opening;
- and
- wherein the second portion of the tension member that is routed through the channel is not windable around the central portion of the spool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.