Closure devices including incremental release mechanisms and methods therefor

A closure system for tightening an article comprising:

• a housing having an interior region;
• a tensioning mechanism that is configured to tension a tension member and thereby tighten the article;
• a first mechanism that is transitionable between an engaged state and a disengaged state, wherein:
• in the engaged state, the first mechanism allows the tension member to be incrementally tensioned via a first operation of the tensioning mechanism while preventing loosening of the tension member's tension, and
• in the disengaged state, the first mechanism allows the tension member's tension to be incrementally loosened via a second operation of the tensioning mechanism;
• and
• a second mechanism that is transitionable between an engaged state and a disengaged state, wherein:
• in the disengaged state, the second mechanism allows the tension member's tension to be incrementally tensioned via the first operation of the tensioning mechanism and to be incrementally loosened via the second operation of the tensioning mechanism;
• and
• in the engaged state, the second mechanism prevents the tension member's tension from being incrementally loosened via the second operation of the tensioning mechanism, the second mechanism being transitionable from the disengaged state to the engaged state in response to the tension member's tension being reduced to a tension threshold or beyond the tension threshold and the second mechanism remaining in the disengaged state while the tension member's tension is greater than the tension threshold.

A method for configuring a reel for use with a lacing system for tightening an article, the method comprising:

• providing a housing having an interior region;
• positioning a spool within the interior region of the housing so that the spool is rotatable relative to the housing;
• operably coupling a knob with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the interior region of the housing upon rotation of the knob, the knob being rotatable relative to the housing;
• wherein:
• incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the interior region of the housing that winds or gathers a tension member about the spool;
• and
• incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally releases the tension member from about the spool;
• and
• configuring the reel with a stop mechanism that is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction in response to a tension of the lace being reduced to a tension threshold or beyond the tension threshold, the stop mechanism being further configured so that the knob is rotatable in the second direction while rotation of the spool in the second direction is prevented.