Automated tensioning system for an article of footwear
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsHolli Pheil, Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings, Ryan Frederick, Austin Palmer, Michael Ciuffo, Steven H. Walker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An article of footwear can include provisions for improving the operation and use of various systems associated with the article. An automated tensioning system can be configured to provide and perform a variety of functions associated with the fastening of the article of footwear. The automated tensioning system may tighten and loosen the article of footwear through the operation of a motor. The automated tensioning system may also be able to store and recall a preset tension level.
Claims19
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper portion including a lace to adjust fit of the upper portion against a foot, the lace adjustable based at least in part on manipulation of an effective length of the lace;
- a lower portion including a mid-sole coupled to the upper portion;
- and
- a motorized tensioning system, including:
- a motor having a first current level associated with operating the motor when the article of footwear is tensioned at a first tension level and a second current level associated with operating the motor when the article of footwear is tensioned at a second tension level;
- and
- an electronic control unit, operatively coupled to the motor and configured to selectively drive the motor in a forward direction and a reverse direction and cause the motor to operate in the forward direction, or in the reverse direction and then in the forward direction, then measure a current level that is associated with operation of the motor in order to determine the tension level of the article of footwear, wherein the current level is measured after the motor is driven in the forward direction.
The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the control device is configured to generate an output based on a touch of the control device by a user. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to transition among a plurality of transitory states to incrementally increase or decrease the effective length of the lace.
A system, comprising:
- an upper portion including a lace to adjust fit of the upper portion against a foot, the lace adjustable based at least in part on manipulation of an effective length of the lace;
- a lower portion including a mid-sole coupled to the upper portion;
- a motorized tensioning system, including:
- a motor having a first current level associated with operating the motor when the article of footwear is tensioned at a first tension level and a second current level associated with operating the motor when the article of footwear is tensioned at a second tension level;
- an electronic control unit, operatively coupled to the motor and configured to selectively drive the motor in a forward direction and a reverse direction and cause the motor to operate in the forward direction, or in the reverse direction and then in the forward direction, then measure a current level that is associated with operation of the motor in order to determine the tension level of the article of footwear, wherein the current level is measured after the motor is driven in the forward direction.
A method, comprising:
- coupling a lower footwear portion including a mid-sole to an upper footwear portion at the mid-sole, the upper footwear portion including a lace to adjust fit of the upper portion against a foot, the lace adjustable based at least in part on manipulation of an effective length of the lace;
- coupling a motorized tensioning system to at least one of the upper footwear portion and the lower footwear portion, the motorized tensioning system including:
- a motor having a first current level associated with operating the motor when the article of footwear is tensioned at a first tension level and a second current level associated with operating the motor when the article of footwear is tensioned at a second tension level;
- and
- an electronic control unit, operatively coupled to the motor and configured to selectively drive the motor in a forward direction and a reverse direction and cause the motor to operate in the forward direction, or in the reverse direction and then in the forward direction, then measure a current level that is associated with operation of the motor in order to determine the tension level of the article of footwear, wherein the current level is measured after the motor is driven in the forward direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.