Reel based closure system
AssigneeBoa Technology Inc.
InventorsGary Hammerslag, Mark Soderberg, Michael T. Mayberry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.
Claims20
A footwear lacing system, comprising:
- a footwear member including first and second opposing sides configured to fit around a foot;
- a lace guided along a path of the footwear and having at least one end coupled with a spool;
- a tightening mechanism attached to the footwear member and operationally coupled to the spool, wherein operation of the tightening mechanism effects winding of the lace about the spool to tension the lace and tighten the footwear member, the tightening mechanism being positionable in an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein:
- in the engaged position, rotation of the tightening mechanism in a first direction effects rotation of the spool in the first direction to wind the lace about the spool;
- and
- in the disengaged position, the spool is freely in a second direction to loosen the lace;
- and
- a guide member attached to the footwear member, the guide member having a channel formed therein with an opening that enables a closed loop of the lace to positioned within the channel without requiring a free end of the lace to be threaded through the channel, the guide member being coupled with the footwear member so that the opening of the channel faces away from a midline of the footwear member so that, under tension, the lace is retained within the channel.
A method for configuring footwear comprising:
- providing a footwear member including first and second opposing sides configured to fit around a foot;
- positioning a lace along a path of the footwear and coupling the lace with a spool;
- attaching a tightening mechanism to the first side of the footwear member, the tightening mechanism being operationally coupled to the spool, wherein the tightening mechanism is configured to effect winding of the lace about the spool to tension the lace and tighten the footwear member, the tightening mechanism being moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein:
- in the engaged position, rotation of the tightening mechanism in a first direction effects rotation of the spool in the first direction to wind the lace about the spool;
- and
- in the disengaged position, the spool is freely rotatable in a second direction to loosen the lace;
- attaching a guide member to the second side of the footwear member, the guide member having a channel within an opening formed therein and the guide member being coupled with the footwear member so that the opening of the channel faces away from a midline of the footwear member;
- and
- positioning a closed loop of the lace within the channel via the opening without threading a free end of the lace through the channel.
A footwear lacing system, comprising:
- a lace coupled with a spool;
- a tightening mechanism attachable to a first side of footwear and operationally coupled to the spool, the tightening mechanism being configured to effect winding of the lace about the spool to tension the lace and tighten the footwear, the tightening mechanism being moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein:
- in the engaged position, rotation of the tightening mechanism in a first direction effects rotation of the spool in the first direction to wind the lace about the spool;
- and
- in the disengaged position, the spool is freely rotatable in a second direction to loosen the lace;
- and
- a guide member attachable to a second side of the footwear, the guide member having a channel with an opening formed therein that enables a closed loop of the lace to positioned within the channel without requiring a free end of the lace to be threaded through the channel, the guide member being positionable about the footwear so that the opening of the channel faces away from a midline of the footwear such that, under tension, the lace is retained within the channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.