Reel based closure system
AssigneeBoa Technology Inc.
InventorsGary R. Hammerslag, Mike Mayberry, Mark Soderberg
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.
Claims14
A footwear lacing system configured for use with a footwear member including first and second opposing sides configured to fit around a foot, comprising:
- at least a first and second opposing lace guide members configured to be coupled to the opposing first and second sides;
- a lace guided by the lace guide members and rotationally linked to a spool;
- and
- a tightening mechanism configured to be attached to the footwear member and including a rigid housing wherein the spool is substantially contained within the housing, the tightening mechanism including a knob for manually winding a length of the lace around the spool to tighten the footwear member, wherein the housing further includes a plurality of engagement teeth and said knob further includes at least one pawl integrally formed with the knob on an inner surface thereof to selectively engage said teeth of said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.