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.
Claims20
(canceled)
A reel based closure device comprising:
- a housing having an interior region and a channel that extends at least partially through the housing;
- a spool that is rotatably positioned within the interior region of the housing, the spool being configured so that a tension member is windable about the spool;
- 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 about the spool;
- wherein the channel is configured so that the tension member is routed from the housing through the channel.
A reel based closure device for tightening an article, the reel based closure device comprising:
- a housing having an interior region;
- a spool that is rotatably positioned within the interior region of the housing;
- a tension member that is coupled with the spool so that the tension member is windable about 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 about the spool;
- wherein the reel based closure device is configured so that a portion of the tension member is routed through the housing when the reel based closure device is coupled with the article.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.