Lace fixation assembly and system
AssigneeBoa Technology Inc.
InventorRoger T. Neiley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lace closure system may include a low friction guide that defines the turning radius and direction of a lace which, though tension, pulls two or more panels toward each other. The lace closure system may include a fixator that defines a slot into which the lace is led, containing multiple engagement surfaces that, when the lace is wrapped into the slot, serve to engage the lace preventing unwanted loosening. The lace closure system may include a ring onto which the lace is attached, to assist in applying manual tension to the lace. The ring may be shaped and sized to removably attach to an outer perimeter of the fixator after excess lace has been wrapped into the slot.
Claims20
A lacing system for tightening an article, comprising:
- a fixation member coupled to the article, the fixation member having at least one entry aperture and an exit aperture with a lumen extending therebetween, the fixation member also having a spool with a fixation post;
- a tension member having an intermediate portion slidably disposed within the lumen of the fixation member such that a proximal portion of the tension member is positioned on a proximal side of the fixation member and a distal portion of the tension member is positioned on a distal side of the fixation member and such that a length of the proximal portion and a length of the distal portion is adjustable via sliding of the tension member within the lumen;
- a plurality of guide members coupled to the article on the proximal side of the fixation member to guide the proximal portion of the tension member along the article to the fixation member;
- and
- a tensioning component coupled to the distal portion of the tension member to effect sliding of the tension member within the lumen and thereby tighten the article by adjusting the length of the proximal portion of the tension member, and to maintain a tightness of the article by winding of the tension member about the fixation post, wherein the tensioning component is securable to the spool of the fixation member.
A lacing system for tightening an article, comprising:
- a first plate coupleable to a first panel of the article and defining at least one lacing entry aperture, a lacing exit aperture, and a keyed protrusion that is positioned to a complementary recess of a second plate of the lacing system to form a groove with a lacing fixation post;
- and
- a lacing tensioner coupleable to lacing protruding from the lacing exit aperture and to a periphery of the groove so that the lacing tensioner is securable to the groove when lacing protruding from the lacing exit aperture is wound to the lacing fixation post for tightening the article by pulling together a second panel and a third panel of the article.
A method for tightening an article, comprising:
- for a lacing system having:
- a fixation member coupled to the article, the fixation member having at least one entry aperture and an exit aperture with a lumen extending therebetween, and also having a spool with a fixation post;
- a tension member having an intermediate portion slidably disposed within the lumen of the fixation member so that a proximal portion of the tension member is positioned on a proximal side of the fixation member and a distal portion of the tension member is positioned on a distal side of the fixation member;
- a plurality of guide members coupled to the article on the proximal side of the fixation member to guide the proximal portion of the tension member about the article to the fixation member;
- and
- a tensioning component coupled to the distal portion of the tension member;
- tensioning the tension member via the tensioning component to effect sliding of the tension member within the lumen and thereby tighten the article by shortening the length of the proximal portion of the tension member, and
- winding the tension member about the fixation post via the tensioning component to maintain a tightness of the article, wherein the tensioning component is securable to the spool of the fixation member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.