CN108652118B

CN108652118B - Footwear with removable motorized adjustment system

Info

Publication number: CN108652118B
Application number: CN201810450695.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 蒂凡妮·A·比尔斯
Original assignee: Nike Innovate CV USA
Current assignee: Nike Innovate CV USA
Priority date: 2013-09-20
Filing date: 2014-09-18
Publication date: 2022-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 2034-09-18
Also published as: WO2015042216A1; EP3046434B1; CN105722419A; CN108652118A; EP3593662A1; CN105722419B; JP2016530058A; EP4212052A1; JP6581989B2; EP3593662B1; EP3046434A1

Abstract

The present application relates to footwear having a removable motorized adjustment system. The article of footwear may include a motorized tensioning system. The tensioning system may include a tensile member and a motorized tensioning device configured to apply tension into the tensile member to adjust a size of an interior cavity defined by the article of footwear. The tensioning system may further include a power source configured to supply power to the motorized tensioning device. The tensile member, the motorized tensioning device, and the power source may be configured to be removably attached to the article of footwear.

Description

Footwear with removable motorized adjustment system

This application is a divisional application of the application entitled "footwear with removable motorized adjustment System" filed as 2014, 09, 18, application No. 201480062685.0.

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application is a partial continuation of U.S. patent application No. 14/014,555 to Beers et al, entitled "Motorized positioning System with Sensors," filed on 30.8.2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, in accordance with the priority of 35u.s.c. 119(e) for U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/695,953 to Beers et al, filed on 31.8.2012, and entitled "Motorized positioning System with Sensors," the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Background

This embodiment relates generally to an article of footwear and includes a removable motorized adjustment system.

Articles of footwear generally include two primary elements: an upper and a sole structure. The upper is generally formed from various material elements (e.g., textiles, polymer sheet layers, foam layers, leather, synthetic leather) that are stitched or adhesively bonded together to form a void on the interior of the footwear for comfortably and securely receiving a foot. More particularly, the upper forms a structure that extends over instep and toe areas of the foot, along medial and lateral sides of the foot, and around a heel area of the foot. The upper may also incorporate a lacing system to adjust the fit of the footwear, as well as to allow the foot to enter and remove the foot from the void within the upper. Also, some articles of apparel may include various types of closure systems for adjusting the fit of the apparel.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an article of footwear including a motorized tensioning system. The tensioning system may include a tensile member and a motorized tensioning device configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust a size of an interior void defined by the article of footwear. The tensioning system may also include a power source configured to supply power to the motorized tensioning device. The tensile member, the motorized tensioning device, and the power source may be configured to be removably attached to the article of footwear.

The motorized tensioning system also includes a control unit and a housing configured to house the tensile member, the motorized tensioning device, the power source, and the control unit, and wherein the housing is configured to be removably attached to the article of footwear.

The housing is configured to be removably attached to a heel portion of the article of footwear.

The motorized tightening device is disposed in a rearmost portion of the article of footwear when the housing is attached to the heel portion of the article of footwear.

The shell is configured to at least partially surround medial and lateral sides of the heel portion of the article of footwear.

The motorized tightening device is positioned in a medial side or a lateral side of the heel portion of the article of footwear when the housing is attached to the heel portion of the article of footwear.

The tensile member includes a manual release mechanism for manually separating a first portion of the tensile member from a second portion of the tensile member, thereby enabling the tensile member to be removed from the article of footwear.

The manual release mechanism is positioned in an instep region of the article of footwear when the tensile member is laced into the article of footwear.

The tensile member is configured to be laced into the article of footwear in a lacing region in an instep region of the article of footwear.

The tensile member includes a first tensile member portion associated with the motorized tightening device, and a second tensile member portion laced into the article of footwear in a sole structure of the article of footwear.

The motorized tensioning device is configured to be controlled using a remote device.

The article of footwear also includes at least one of a cushioning element and an electronic device in a heel region of a sole structure of the article of footwear.

The article of footwear includes a cushioning element in a heel region of a sole structure of the article of footwear and an electronic device in a midfoot region of the sole structure of the article of footwear.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of changing a lacing system of an article of footwear. The method may include providing an article of footwear including a motorized tensioning system attached to the article of footwear, the motorized tensioning system including a tensile member laced through an eyelet plate in a lacing region of the article of footwear, a motorized tensioning device configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust a size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear, and a power source configured to supply power to the motorized tensioning device. The method may also include removing the tensile member, the motorized tensioning device, and the power source from the article of footwear. Additionally, the method may include lacing the manual lace into an article of footwear.

Lacing a manual lace into the article of footwear includes lacing the manual lace into the eyelet flap, the tensile member being removed from the eyelet flap.

Removing the motorized tightening device includes detaching a housing containing the motorized tightening device from an upper of the article of footwear.

Removing the tensile member from the article of footwear includes disconnecting a manual release mechanism of the tensile member to disconnect a first portion of the tensile member from a second portion of the tensile member.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a motorized footwear lacing system. The lacing system may include an article of footwear and a manual lace. In addition, the lacing system may include a motorized tensioning system including a tensile member and a motorized tensioning device configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust a size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear. The lacing system may also include a container configured to receive the article of footwear, the manual lace, the tensile member, and the motorized tightening device. Also, the tensile member and motorized tightening device may be configured to be removably attached to the article of footwear and replaced with a manual lace.

The system also includes a remote device configured to control the motorized tensioning device.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the embodiments will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description and this summary, be within the scope of the embodiments, and be protected by the following claims.

Brief Description of Drawings

Embodiments may be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a kit including portions of an article of footwear, a motorized tensioning system, and a remote device for controlling the tensioning system;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment of an article of footwear and an attachable motorized tensioning system;

FIG. 3 is a perspective assembly view of an embodiment of an article of footwear and an attachable motorized tensioning system;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of an attachable motorized tensioning system;

FIG. 5 is a top schematic view of a portion of an article of footwear including a removable adjustment device in which the positions of a motorized tensioning apparatus, a control unit, and a battery pack are schematically illustrated;

FIG. 6 is a schematic isometric view of an embodiment of a manual release mechanism for a tensioning system including a motorized tensioning device;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an embodiment of another manual release mechanism for a tensioning system including a motorized tensioning device;

fig. 8 is a schematic isometric view of an embodiment of a motorized tensioning device with the exterior cover of the housing unit removed;

FIG. 9 is a schematic exploded isometric view of an embodiment of some components of a motorized tensioning device;

FIG. 10 is a schematic exploded isometric view of an embodiment of a ratchet assembly;

FIG. 11 is a schematic isometric view showing a portion of a motorized tensioning system of the ratchet assembly clamped to the spool;

FIG. 12 is a schematic isometric view of an embodiment of a shaft and rotational control assembly;

FIG. 13 is a schematic isometric view showing a portion of a motorized tensioning system engaging a rotational control assembly of a spool;

FIG. 14 is another schematic isometric view of a portion of the rotational control assembly of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a schematic isometric view of an embodiment of a spool;

FIG. 16 is a side schematic view of an embodiment of a torque transmission system;

FIG. 17 is a side schematic view of an embodiment of a torque transmission system in a fully released configuration;

FIG. 18 is a side schematic view of an embodiment of a torque transmission system in an incremental take-up configuration;

FIG. 19 is a side schematic view of an embodiment of a torque transmission system in an incremental take-up configuration;

FIG. 20 is a schematic isometric view of a portion of the torque transmission system when the gear contacts the ratchet assembly;

FIG. 21 is a schematic isometric view of the portion of the torque transmission system of FIG. 20 with the gear, ratchet assembly, and spool clamped together and the spool rotated;

FIG. 22 is a side schematic isometric view of the torque transmitting system in an incremental release configuration;

FIG. 23 is a schematic isometric view of the torque transmitting system in a first stage of the incremental release configuration;

FIG. 24 is a schematic isometric view of the torque transmitting system in a second stage of the incremental release configuration;

FIG. 25 is a schematic isometric view of the torque transmitting system at a third stage of the incremental release configuration;

FIG. 26 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a torque transmitting system transitioning to a fully released configuration;

fig. 27 is a schematic isometric view of a secondary winding assembly (secondary winding assembly) that operates when the shoelace is wound on the reel;

FIG. 28 is a schematic isometric view of the secondary winding assembly operating when the shoelace is unwound from the reel due to the tension in the shoelace;

FIG. 29 is a schematic isometric view of the secondary winding assembly operating when the lace has developed some slack near the spool;

FIG. 30 is a schematic isometric view of a motorized tensioning device including an alternative configuration of a secondary winding assembly;

FIG. 31 is a schematic isometric view of an embodiment of an article of footwear with a tensioning system and a remote device for controlling the tensioning system;

figure 32 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a remote device running a pinch control application;

figure 33 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a foot being inserted into an article and a remote device running a lacing control application;

figure 34 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a foot fully inserted into an article and a remote device running a lacing control application;

FIG. 35 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an article being tensioned when a remote device sends incremental tensioning commands to the tensioning system;

FIG. 36 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an article being unwound as the remote device sends incremental unwind commands to the tensioning system;

FIG. 37 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an article that opens to allow the foot to move away after the remote device has sent an open command to the tensioning system;

fig. 38 is a schematic isometric view of an embodiment of an article of footwear including a tensioning system and a remote bracelet configured to control a motorized tensioning device of the tensioning system;

FIG. 39 is an illustrative process for automatically controlling tension in an article to maintain an initial tension;

FIG. 40 is an exemplary process for automatically controlling tension according to a user selected tension mode;

FIG. 41 is a schematic isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a motorized tensioning device;

FIG. 42 is an enlarged isometric view of the load holding mechanism of the motorized tensioning device of FIG. 41;

FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a portion of a motorized tensioning device;

FIG. 44 is an isometric view of another embodiment of a load holding mechanism for a motorized tensioning device;

FIG. 45 is an isometric view of the load holding mechanism of FIG. 44 with the output ring removed;

FIG. 46 is a schematic view of an article of footwear with an attachable tensioning system and showing selected components of a sole structure of the footwear;

FIG. 47 is a schematic view of another embodiment of an article of footwear with an attachable tensioning system;

FIG. 48 is a schematic view of another embodiment of an article of footwear with an attachable tensioning system; and

fig. 49 is a schematic view of another embodiment of an article of footwear with an attachable tensioning system.

Detailed Description

The following discussion and accompanying figures disclose an article of footwear and a motorized lacing system for the footwear. Concepts disclosed herein with respect to footwear may be applied to a variety of athletic footwear types, including running shoes, basketball shoes, soccer shoes, baseball shoes, football shoes, and golf shoes, for example. Accordingly, the concepts disclosed herein are applicable to a variety of footwear types.

To aid and clarify the subsequent description of the various embodiments, various terms are defined herein. The following definitions apply throughout this specification (including the claims) unless otherwise indicated. For consistency and convenience, directional adjectives are used throughout this detailed description corresponding to the illustrated embodiments.

The term "longitudinal" as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to a direction that extends the length of a component. For example, a longitudinal direction of the article of footwear extends from a forefoot region to a heel region of the article of footwear. The term "forward" is used to refer to the general direction in which the toes of the foot point, and the term "rearward" is used to refer to the opposite direction, i.e., the direction in which the heel of the foot faces.

The term "lateral direction" as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to a left-to-right direction that extends the width of a component. In other words, the lateral direction may extend between a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear, where the lateral side of the article of footwear is the surface facing away from the other foot and the medial side is the surface facing the other foot.

The term "side" as used in the present specification and claims refers to any portion of a component that generally faces an outboard direction, inboard direction, forward direction, or rearward direction as opposed to an upward or downward direction.

The term "vertical" as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to a direction that is substantially perpendicular to both the lateral and longitudinal directions. For example, where the sole is laid flat on a ground surface, the vertical direction may extend upwardly from the ground surface. It will be understood that each of these directional adjectives may be applied to various components of the sole. The term "upward" refers to a vertical direction proceeding away from the ground, while the term "downward" refers to a vertical direction proceeding toward the ground. Likewise, the terms "top," "upper," and other similar terms refer to the portion of an object that is generally furthest from the ground in a vertical direction, while the terms "bottom," "lower," and other similar terms refer to the portion of an object that is generally closest to the ground in a vertical direction.

The "interior" of the shoe refers to the space occupied by the wearer's foot when the shoe is worn. The "medial side" of a panel or other footwear element refers to the side of the panel or element that is oriented toward (or will be oriented toward) the interior of the footwear in the finished footwear. The "lateral side" or "exterior" of an element refers to the side of the element that is oriented away from (or will be oriented away from) the interior of the shoe in the finished shoe. In some cases, the medial side of an element may have other elements between the medial side and the interior in the finished shoe. Similarly, the lateral side of an element may have other elements between the lateral side and the space outside the finished shoe. Furthermore, the terms "inwardly" and "inwardly" shall refer to a direction toward the interior of the footwear, while the terms "outwardly" and "outwardly" shall refer to a direction toward the exterior of the footwear.

For the purposes of this disclosure, the above directional terms, as used to refer to an article of footwear when in an upright position with the sole facing the ground, that is, positioned to stand on a generally horizontal surface as the article of footwear is worn by a wearer.

Additionally, for purposes of this disclosure, the term "fixedly attached" shall mean that two components are connected in such a way that the components cannot be easily separated (e.g., without breaking one or both of the components). Exemplary forms of fixed attachment may include attachment using permanent adhesives, rivets, stitching, nails, staples, welding or other thermal bonding or other attachment techniques. Additionally, the two components may be "fixedly attached" by being integrally formed, for example, in a molding process.

For the purposes of this disclosure, the term "removably attached" shall mean that two components are connected in such a way that they are secured together, but can be easily detached from each other. Examples of removable attachment mechanisms may include hook and loop fasteners, friction fit connections, interference fit connections, threaded connectors, cam lock connectors, and other such easily detachable connectors.

The motorized footwear lacing system can include an article of footwear, a manual lace, and a motorized tensioning system. The motorized tensioning system may include a tensile member and a motorized tightening device that may be removable and interchangeable with a manual lace. In some embodiments, the lacing system can be provided as a kit of parts that includes a container in which a pair of footwear, a pair of motorized tensioning systems, and a pair of manual laces can be disposed. In some embodiments, the motorized tightening device may be removably attached to a heel portion of the article of footwear. The tensile member may comprise a string or other lace-like member attached to a motorized tensioning device. In some embodiments, the string may be laced through an eyelet patch in a lacing region of the article of footwear. Thus, when the motorized tightening device and tensile member are removed from the footwear, the manual lace may be laced into the same eyepieces in which the tensile member is used.

Motorized tensioning systems are capable of relatively quickly tightening footwear. Additionally, in some embodiments, the tensioning system may provide incremental tensioning (incemental tensioning). Such incremental tightening may enable the user to achieve a predictable tightness per wear. In some embodiments, a sensor may be included to monitor tightness. In such embodiments, the user may also achieve predictable tightness.

In some cases, the use of motorized tensioning devices may remove flexible issues that may occur with other tensioning techniques (pull straps, velcro, and other such manual closure systems). Such a design may improve the use of footwear by physically handicapped or injured people who may otherwise have difficulty wearing their footwear and adjusting their footwear. Using the design presented herein, the footwear may be tightened through a button or remote interface.

In some embodiments, the tensioning system may be controlled remotely, for example, through a bracelet or handheld device. In such embodiments, adjustments may be made without the wearer having to stop their ongoing movement. For example, a runner may adjust the tightness of their footwear without interrupting their sports or athletic activities.

Further, the tensioning system may also be configured to be automatically adjusted. For example, using a tightness sensor, the system may be configured to maintain tightness during wear by adjusting the tightness according to changes in fit. For example, the tensioning system may release tension on the tensile member to maintain an initially selected tightness when feeling inflated during wear.

Further, the tensioning system may be configured to adjust tightness during use to improve performance. For example, when the wearer places a load on the footwear during athletic activities, the system may tighten or loosen the tensile members to achieve desired performance characteristics. For example, as the runner progresses around a curve, the tensioning system may tighten the footwear to provide additional stability and maintain the foot in a centered position within the footwear. As another example, when a runner is running downhill, the tensioning system may loosen the footwear to limit additional force exerted on the foot as the foot tends to slide toward the front of the footwear during downhill running. A wide variety of other automatic adjustments may be used for performance. Such automatic adjustment may vary for each movement. Further, the type and amount of such adjustments may be preselected by the user. For example, using the above example, the user may select whether to tighten or loosen the footwear as it progresses around the curve. Further, in some cases, the user may select whether to utilize automatic adjustment. For example, the user may choose to implement the adjustment when progressing around a curve, but may choose not to utilize the adjustment when running downhill.

Providing a motorized tensioning system that is removable from the article of footwear may enable the footwear to be used routinely. In addition, the removability of the tensioning system may enable components of the tensioning system to be repaired or replaced independently of the footwear. In addition, the removability of the tensioning system enables the footwear to be repaired or replaced independently of the tensioning system.

Figure 1 illustrates an automotive footwear lacing system 1100. As shown in fig. 1, system 1100 may be a kit of parts. The kit of parts may include a container 1105 configured to store the components of the motorized footwear lacing system 1100. System 1100 may include a first article of footwear 1100. System 1100 may also include a first manual lace 1116 configured to be laced into footwear 1110 in a conventional manner. Lace 1116 may be utilized to modify the dimensions of interior cavity 1165, thereby securing the wearer's foot within interior cavity 1165 and facilitating entry and removal of the foot from interior cavity 1165.

The system 1100 may include a first motorized tensioning system 1120, and the first motorized tensioning system 1120 may include a first tensile member and a first motorized tensioning device 1125 configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of the internal cavity defined by the footwear 1110. The term "tensile member" as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to any component having a generally elongated shape and high tensile strength. In some cases, the tensile member may also have a generally low elasticity. Examples of different tensile members include, but are not limited to: shoelaces, cords, bands, and strings. In some cases, tensile members may be used to secure and/or tension an article of footwear. In other cases, tensile members may be used to apply tension at predetermined locations for the purpose of actuating some component or system.

In some embodiments, the tensile members may be provided in segments. For example, a tensile member may include a first tensile member portion 1130 that may be associated with tensioning device 1125. For example, as shown in fig. 1, the first tensile member portion 1130 may extend through a motorized tensioning device 1125. Further, the tensile member may include a second tensile member portion 1135 that may be releasably attached to the first tensile member portion 1130. Likewise, the tensile member may include a third tensile member portion 1136 that may be attachable to the first tensile member portion 1130. Second tensile member portion 1135 and third tensile member portion 1136 may be laced into footwear 1110, and thus replace manual lace 1116. Once second tensile member portion 1135 and third tensile member portion 1136 are laced into footwear 1110, second tensile member portion 1135 may be releasably secured to third tensile member portion 1136.

Motorized tensioning device 1125 and tensile member may be removably attached to footwear 1110. Further, manual lace 1116 may be interchangeable with tension members and motorized tensioning device 1125.

In some embodiments, system 1100 may include a pair of footwear and, thus, may include a second article of footwear 1111. Moreover, because system 1100 may include a pair of footwear, other components of system 1100 may also be provided in pairs. For example, system 1100 may include second manual lace 1115. Additionally, system 1100 can include a second motorized tensioning system 1121. Second motorized tensioning system 1121 can include a second motorized tensioning device 1126. The second motorized tensioning system 1121 can also comprise a second tensile member comprising a fourth tensile member portion 1131, a fifth tensile member portion 1140, and a sixth tensile member portion 1141. For purposes of description, only one of each pair of components will be discussed in detail below.

As further shown in fig. 1, the motorized footwear lacing system 1100 can include a remote device 1145 configured to control a motorized tightening device 1125. As shown in fig. 1, in some embodiments, remote device 1145 may be provided in the form of a bracelet. For example, remote device 1145 may implement the functionality of a watch. In some embodiments, remote device 1145 may be a handheld device. For example, remote device 1145 may embody the functionality of a mobile telephone or other mobile device.

The container 1105 may be configured to house a pair of footwear, a pair of manual laces, and a pair of motorized tensioning systems including a tensile member and a pair of motorized tensioning devices. As shown in fig. 1, in some embodiments, the container 1105 may be a box, such as a shoe box.

Fig. 2 illustrates the communication between tensioning system 1120 and footwear 1110. For reference purposes, footwear 1110 may be divided into three general regions: forefoot region 10, midfoot region 12, and heel region 14. Forefoot region 10 generally includes portions of footwear 1110 corresponding with the toes and the joints connecting the metatarsals with the phalanges. Midfoot region 12 generally includes portions of footwear 1110 that correspond with the arch area of the foot. Heel region 14 generally corresponds with rear portions of the foot, including the calcaneus bone. Forefoot region 10, midfoot region 12, and heel region 14 are not intended to demarcate precise areas of footwear 1110. Rather, forefoot region 10, midfoot region 12, and heel region 14 are intended to represent generally opposite areas of footwear 1110 to aid in the following discussion. Because various features of footwear 1110 extend beyond an area of footwear 1110, the terms forefoot region 10, midfoot region 12, and heel region 14 apply to not only footwear 1110, but also to various features of footwear 1110.

Footwear 1110 may include a sole structure 1150 and an upper 1155 secured to sole structure 1150. As shown in fig. 2, upper 1155 may include one or more material elements (e.g., mesh, textiles, foam, leather, and synthetic leather) that may be joined to define an interior cavity 1165 configured to receive a foot of a wearer. The material elements may be selected and arranged to selectively impart properties such as light weight, durability, breathability, abrasion resistance, flexibility, and comfort. Upper 1155 may define a throat opening 1160 through which a user's foot may be received into void 1165.

Sole structure 1150 may be fixedly attached to upper 1155 (e.g., using adhesives, stitching, welding, or other suitable techniques), and may have a configuration that extends between upper 1155 and the ground. Sole structure 1150 may include provisions for attenuating ground reaction forces (i.e., cushioning and stabilizing the foot during vertical and horizontal loading). In addition, sole structure 1150 may be configured to provide traction, impart stability, and control or limit various foot motions, such as pronation, supination, or other motions.

The configuration of sole structure 1150 may vary significantly depending on the type or types of ground on which sole structure 1155 may be used. For example, the disclosed concepts may be applied to footwear configured for use on any of a variety of surfaces, including indoor surfaces or outdoor surfaces. The configuration of sole structure 11150 may vary based on the properties and conditions of the surface on which footwear 1110 is intended to be used. For example, sole structure 1150 may vary depending on whether the surface is harder or softer. In addition, sole structure 1150 may be customized for use in wet or dry conditions.

In some embodiments, sole structure 1150 may be configured for specific specialized surfaces or conditions. For example, in some embodiments, footwear 1110 is illustrated in the figures as a running shoe, and accordingly, sole structure 1150 is shown as being configured to provide cushioning, stability, and traction on hard, smooth surfaces, such as a road surface. However, the proposed footwear upper configuration may be applicable to any type of footwear, such as basketball, soccer, football, and other athletic activities. Accordingly, in some embodiments, sole structure 1150 may be configured to provide traction and stability on a hard indoor surface (e.g., hardwood), a soft natural turf surface, or on a hard artificial turf surface. In some embodiments, sole structure 1150 may be configured for use on a plurality of different surfaces.

In some embodiments, sole structure 1150 may include multiple components that individually or collectively may provide footwear 1110 with several attributes, such as support, rigidity, flexibility, stability, cushioning, comfort, reduced weight, or other attributes. As shown in fig. 2, in some embodiments, sole structure 1150 may include an insole/sockliner (see fig. 46), a midsole 1151, and a ground-contacting outer sole member 1152, and ground-contacting outer sole member 1152 may have an exposed ground-contacting lower surface 1153. However, in some cases, one or more of these components may be omitted.

The insole may be disposed within a cavity 1165 defined by upper 1155. An insole may extend through each of forefoot region 10, midfoot region 12, and heel region 14 and between lateral and medial sides of footwear 1100. The insole may be formed of a deformable (e.g., compressible) material, such as polyurethane foam or other polymer foam material. Thus, the insole may provide cushioning due to its compressibility and may also conform to the foot to provide comfort, support, and stability.

Midsole 1151 may be fixedly attached to a lower region of upper 1155 (e.g., by stitching, adhesive bonding, thermal bonding (such as welding), or other techniques) or may be integral with upper 1155. Midsole 1151 may extend through each of forefoot region 10, midfoot region 12, and heel region 14 and between the lateral side and medial side of footwear 100. In some embodiments, portions of midsole 1151 may be exposed around the perimeter of footwear 1110, as shown in fig. 2. In other embodiments, midsole 1151 may be completely covered by other elements, such as a layer of material from upper 1155. Midsole 1151 may be formed from any suitable material having the properties described above, depending on the activity for which footwear 1110 is intended. In some embodiments, midsole 160 may include a foamed polymer material, such as Polyurethane (PU), Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA), or any other suitable material that acts to attenuate ground reaction forces as sole structure 1150 contacts the ground during walking, running, or other athletic activities.

As shown in fig. 2, footwear 1110 may include a tongue 2270 that may be disposed in a tightening region 1175. As shown in fig. 2, in some embodiments, lacing region 1175 may be disposed in an instep region of footwear 1110. However, in other embodiments, the lacing area may be provided in other portions of the article of footwear. (see FIGS. 48 and 49.)

As shown in fig. 2, footwear 1110 may include a plurality of eyelets configured to receive a lace in lacing region 1175. For example, footwear 1110 may include first eyelet piece 1181, second eyelet piece 1182, third eyelet piece 1183, and fourth eyelet piece 1184 on a first side of lacing area 1175. In addition, footwear 1110 may include fifth, sixth, seventh, and

eighth eyelet pieces

1185, 1186, 1187, 1188 on a second side of lacing area 1175. The eyestay is schematically shown in fig. 2, and may have any suitable configuration that would accommodate a conventional lace and tension member of tensioning system 1120.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the position of motorized tensioning system 1120 when removably attached to footwear 1110. As shown by dashed outline 1137, tensioning system 1120 may be removably attached to heel region 14 of footwear 1110. The motorized tensioning device 1125 may be disposed in a housing 1190, which housing 1190 may have a shape that conforms to the heel counter of the footwear 1110.

As shown in fig. 2, housing 1190 may have a first surface 1127 configured to mate with a second surface 1128 on upper 1155 of footwear 1110. In some embodiments, the first surface 1127 and the second surface 1128 may be removably attached with a hook and loop fastener material 1129. In other embodiments, the first surface 1127 and the second surface 1128 may be removably attached using a tongue and groove configuration comprising a tongue 2300 and a groove 2305. For illustrative purposes, tongue 2300 and groove 2305 are shown oriented in a substantially horizontal position. As implemented, tongue 2300 and groove 2305 may be vertically oriented. In such a vertical orientation, the housing 1190 may slide vertically into position. In other embodiments, the first surface 1127 and the second surface 1128 may be removably attached using an interference fit or a friction fit. For example, the first protrusion 2310 may extend into a recess 2315 in the interference fit. Such friction fit attached components may have any suitable orientation.

It should be noted that these connected components may be placed on the first surface 1127 or the second surface 1128. For example, the hook component of the hook-and-loop fastener 1129 may be located on the first surface 1127 or the second surface 1128. The loop components of the hook-and-loop fastener 1129 may be placed on opposite surfaces of the hook component. Similarly, tongue 2300 may be located on either first surface 1127 or second surface 1128, and groove 2305 may be located on the surface opposite tongue 2300. In addition, the protrusion 2310 may be on the first surface 1127 or the second surface 1128, and the recess 2315 may be on a surface opposite to the protrusion 2310. These disclosed removable connections are intended to be exemplary only. Alternative types of removable connections are also possible, including, for example, threaded fasteners, cam-lock fasteners, spring-clip type fasteners, and other removable connection mechanisms.

As shown by dashed line 1137 in fig. 2, the tensile member may be laced through the eyelets in lacing area 1175 in the same or similar manner as a manual lace. For example, second tensile member portion 1135 may pass through fifth eyelet plate 1185, second eyelet plate 1182, seventh eyelet plate 1187, and fourth eyelet plate 1184. Similarly, third tensile member portion 1136 may pass through first eyelet flap 1181, sixth eyelet flap 1186, third eyelet flap 1183, and eighth eyelet flap 1188. Because the second tensile member portion 1135 and the third tensile member portion 1136 may be detachable from the first tensile member portion 1130, the second tensile member portion 1135 and the third tensile member portion 1136 may be laced through the eyelets from either end. It should be noted that the mechanical connectors that connect the portions of the tensile member together are schematically illustrated and shown enlarged for illustrative purposes. For example, the couplers 1235 at the distal ends of the second and third

tensile member portions

1135, 1136 may include first and

second connector portions

1240, 1245. The first connector portion 1240 and the second connector portion 1245 may be sized and configured to be laced through the eyelets in the lacing area 1175.

A method of changing a lacing system of footwear 1110 may include removing a tensile member, a motorized tensioning device 1125, and a power source from an article of footwear and lacing a manual lace into footwear 1110. In some embodiments, lacing the manual lace to the article of footwear includes lacing the manual lace into an eyelet panel from which a tensile member of system 1120 is removed. The step of removing the motorized tensioning device 1125 from the footwear 1110 may include disassembling the housing 1190 from the upper 1155 of the footwear 1110.

Fig. 3 is a rear perspective view of an article of footwear 1110 having a removably mounted tensioning system 1120. As shown in fig. 3, housing 1190 is removably attached to a heel portion of footwear 1110. In addition, second tensile member portion 1135 and third tensile member portion 1136 are laced into an eyelet plate that includes first eyelet plate 1181, second eyelet plate 1182, fifth eyelet plate 1185, and sixth eyelet plate 1186. For illustrative purposes, in fig. 3, the remainder of the lacing area has been truncated.

As shown in fig. 3, the tensioning system 1120 may include a motorized tensioning device 1125 configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of a cavity 1165 defined by the footwear 1110. The tensioning device may be disposed within the housing 1190.

As also shown in fig. 3, the system 1120 can include a power source 1205 configured to supply power to the motorized tensioning device 1125. The housing 1190 may be configured to house the motorized tensioning device 1125 and the power source 1205 as well as the first tensile member portion 1130.

In some embodiments, the power supply 1205 can include one or more batteries. The power source 1205 is intended merely as a schematic representation of one or more types of battery technology that may be used to supply power to the motorized tensioning device 1125. One possible battery technology that may be used is a lithium polymer battery. The battery(s) may be a rechargeable or replaceable unit packaged in a flat, cylindrical, or coin shape. Further, the battery may be a single cell or a plurality of cells in series or parallel.

The rechargeable battery may be recharged in place or removed from the article for recharging. In some embodiments, the charging circuit may be built in and on a board. In other embodiments, the charging circuit may be located in a remote charger. In another embodiment, inductive charging may be used to charge one or more batteries. For example, the charging antenna may be placed in a sole structure of the article, and the article may then be placed on the charging pad to recharge the battery.

Additional devices may be incorporated to maximize battery power and/or otherwise improve use. For example, it is also contemplated that batteries may be used in conjunction with ultracapacitors to handle peak current requirements. In other embodiments, energy harvesting techniques may be incorporated that utilize the weight and each step of the runner to generate power for charging the battery.

Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of motorized tensioning system 1120. Fig. 4 includes a cross-sectional view of a housing 1190 exposing components of the system 1120 located within the housing 1190. For example, fig. 4 shows a motorized tensioning device 1125. Fig. 4 shows the outer housing of the tensioning device 1125. The internal winding mechanism of the tensioning device 1125 is discussed in more detail below. As shown in fig. 4, tensioning device 1125 may be configured to apply tension to a tensile member by pulling first tensile member portion 1130 into tensioning device 1125, as illustrated by first arrow 1225 and second arrow 1230. It should be noted that the routing of first tensile member portion 1130 is merely illustrative and that more complex arrangements for such routing are possible.

The power supply 1205 and control unit 1215 are also exposed in fig. 4. The control unit 1215 may include various circuit components. In addition, the control unit 1215 may include a processor configured to control the motorized tensioning device 1125. As shown in fig. 4, the tensioning system 1120 can include a first cable 1210 extending between the power source 1205 and the motorized tensioning device 1125. Additionally, a second cable 1220 may extend between the control unit 1215 and the tensioning device 1125. The first cable 1210 and the second cable 1220 may be configured to carry electrical power and electrical communication signals between the power source 1205, the tensioning device 1125, and the control unit 1215.

The control unit 1215 is intended merely as a schematic representation of one or more control techniques that may be used with the motor tensioning device 1125. For example, there are various motor control methods that can be used to allow speed and direction control. For some embodiments, a microcontroller unit may be used. The microcontroller may use an internal interrupt that generates timing pulses to generate a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) output. The PWM output is fed to an H-bridge that allows high current PWM pulses to drive the motor with speed control both clockwise and counterclockwise. However, any other method of motor control known in the art may also be used.

Figure 5 is a schematic top view of tensioning system 1120 installed on footwear 1110. As shown in fig. 5, housing 1190 may be configured to be removably attached to a heel portion of footwear 1110. Moreover, the tensioning device 1125, the power supply 1205, and the control unit 1215 may be housed within a housing 1190, which housing 1190 may be used to house and protect these components. As shown in fig. 5, in some embodiments, motorized tensioning device 1125 may be placed in the rearmost portion of footwear 1110 when housing 1190 is attached to the heel portion of footwear 1110. Such positioning may facilitate applying tension to the tensile members on both medial side 1260 and lateral side 1265 of footwear 1110.

However, in other embodiments, any of these components may be placed in any other portion of the article, including the upper and/or the sole structure. In some cases, some components may be placed in one portion of an article, and other components may be placed in a different portion. In another embodiment, motorized tensioning device 1125 may be placed at the heel of the upper, while power source 1205 and/or control unit 1215 may be placed with the sole structure of footwear 1110. For example, in one embodiment, the power and control unit may be placed under the midfoot region 12 of the article 1110 having a cable connection (or simple electrical contact connection) to the motorized tensioning device 1125, which may be placed in the heel region 14. In still other embodiments, the power supply and control unit may be integrated into the motorized tensioning device. For example, in some embodiments, both the battery and the control unit may be disposed within an outer housing of motorized tensioning device 1125.

Moreover, in some embodiments, housing 1190 may be configured to at least partially surround medial side 1260 and lateral side 1265 of a heel portion of footwear 1110, as also shown in fig. 5. In fig. 5, control unit 1215 is shown on medial side 1260 in heel region 14 of footwear 1110. Power source 1205 is shown on lateral side 1265 in heel region 14 of footwear 1110. In some embodiments, the positions of the control unit 1215 and the power supply 1205 may be reversed. However, it may be advantageous to have thinner components located on medial side 1260 of footwear 1110. This may enable shell 1190 to have a lower profile on medial side 1260 (as shown in fig. 5) than on lateral side 1265, which may minimize the amount shell 1190 that extends inward and may interfere with the footwear on the other foot of the wearer.

Figure 6 is a partial view of a lacing region 1175 of footwear 1110 having a tensile member of an installed tensioning system. As shown in fig. 6, second tensile member portion 1135 is laced through seventh eyelet tab 1187 and fourth eyelet tab 1184. In addition, third tensile member portion 1136 is laced through third eyelet panel 1183 and eighth eyelet panel 1188. As shown in fig. 6, the tensile member may include a manual release mechanism for manually separating the second tensile member portion 1135 from the third tensile member portion 1136. For example, the coupler 1235 may include a first connector portion 1240 at the distal end of the second tensile member portion 1135 and a second connector portion 1245 at the distal end of the third tensile member portion 1136. As shown in fig. 6, in some embodiments, a manual release mechanism, such as coupler 1235, may be located in an instep region of footwear 1110.

To enable the tensile member to be removed from the article of footwear, coupler 1235 may be easily separated manually. Such a manual release may facilitate removal of the motorized tensioning system from footwear 1110. The manual release mechanism may also enable the tension in the tensile member to be released in the event of a failure or low battery power. Exemplary manual release mechanisms may include any suitable connector type. In some embodiments, a threaded connection may be used. For example, the first connector portion 1240 may include a male threaded portion and the second connector portion 1245 may include a female threaded portion. To disconnect the coupling 1235, the first connector portion 1240 and the second connector portion 1245 may be twisted, for example, in the direction of the first arrow 1250 and the second arrow 1255. Although fig. 6 illustrates a threaded coupling, in other embodiments, the tensile member may utilize any other fastening means including snap-fit connectors, hook and receptacle type connectors, or any other type of manual fastener known in the art.

Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment of an exemplary manual release system for a tensile member. Referring to fig. 7, article 1000 may be similar to previous embodiments and may include tensioning system 1002 having lace 1004 and motorized tensioning device 1006. In this embodiment, a portion of lace 1004 is fitted with a manual release mechanism 1010. In the embodiment shown herein, the manual release mechanism 1010 includes a respective fastener 1012 that can be manually broken to relieve lace tension. As shown in fig. 7, in some cases, the fastener 1012 comprises a threaded coupling. However, other embodiments may utilize any other fastening means including snap-fit connectors, hook and receptacle type connectors, or any other type of fastener known in the art.

Fig. 8 and 9 show an isometric view and an isometric exploded view, respectively, of an embodiment of the internal components of motorized tensioning device 160. Referring first to fig. 8, the components are shown within a portion of the housing unit 212. The housing unit 212 may also include an inner housing portion 216 and an outer housing portion 218. Outer housing portion 218 may include base panel 210 and outer cover 214, and generally provides a protective outer cover for the components of motorized tensioning device 160. The inner housing portion 216 may be shaped to support components of the motorized tensioning device 160. As discussed in detail below, in some cases, portions of the inner housing portion 216 are used to limit the mobility of some components.

Referring now to fig. 8 and 9, in some embodiments, motorized tensioning system 160 may include a motor 220 (shown schematically in fig. 9). In some embodiments, the motor 220 may be an electric motor. However, in other embodiments, the motor 220 may comprise any type of non-electric motor known in the art. Examples of different motors that may be used include, but are not limited to: DC motors (e.g., permanent magnet motors, brushed DC motors, brushless DC motors, switched reluctance motors, etc.), AC motors (e.g., motors with sliding rotors, synchronous electric motors, asynchronous electric motors, induction motors, etc.), universal motors, stepper motors, piezoelectric motors, and any other type of motor known in the art. The motor 220 may also include a motor crankshaft 222 that may be used to drive one or more components of the motorized tensioning system 160. Means for supplying power to the motor 220, including various kinds of batteries, are discussed in detail below.

In some embodiments, motorized tensioning system 160 may include a means for reducing the output speed of motor 220 and increasing the torque generated by motor 220. In some embodiments, motorized tensioning system 160 may include one or more gear reduction assemblies and/or gear reduction systems. In some embodiments, motorized tensioning system 160 may include a single gear reduction assembly. In other embodiments, motorized tensioning system 160 may include two or more gear reduction assemblies. In one embodiment, the motorized tensioning system 160 includes a first gear reduction assembly 230 and a second gear reduction assembly 232, which may be collectively referred to as gear reduction system 228. The first gear reduction assembly 230 may be a coaxial spur gear reduction assembly generally aligned with the motor 220 and/or the crankshaft 222. Conversely, the second gear reduction assembly 232 may provide additional gear reduction extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the orientation of the crankshaft 222. With respect to the housing unit 212, the first gear reduction assembly 230 may extend in a longitudinal direction of the housing unit 212, while the second gear reduction assembly 232 may extend in a lateral (or horizontal) direction of the housing unit 212. By using a combination of coaxial gears and horizontally spaced gears, the motor 220 may be arranged parallel to the spools and the axes of the respective spools, relative to the orientation of the crankshaft 222 (as discussed in more detail below). This arrangement may reduce the longitudinal space required to fit all of the components of motorized tensioning device 160 within housing unit 212.

Each gear reduction assembly may include one or more gears. In an exemplary embodiment, the first gear reduction assembly 230 includes one or more coaxial spur gears. Also, the first gear reduction assembly 230 may be driven by the crankshaft 222 and itself drive the first gear 234 of the second gear reduction assembly 232.

In one embodiment, the second gear reduction assembly 232 may be configured with a 4-stage spur gear including a first gear 234, a second gear 235, a third gear 236, and a fourth gear 237. In this embodiment, as described in more detail below, fourth gear 237 acts as a clamping gear for rotating additional components of motorized tensioning device 160. The present embodiment of the second gear reduction assembly 232 includes four gears. However, other embodiments may use any other number of gears. Also, the number of gears comprising the first gear reduction assembly 230 may vary in different embodiments. Additionally, the type of gears used in the first gear reduction assembly 230 and/or the second gear assembly 232 may vary in different embodiments. In some cases, spur gears may be used. Other examples of gears that may be used include, but are not limited to: helical gears, external gears, internal gears, bevel gears, crown gears, worm gears, non-circular gears, rack and pinion gears, epicyclic gears, planetary gears, harmonic drive gears, cage gears, magnet gears, and any other type of gears and/or any combination of gears of various kinds. The number, type, and arrangement of gears used for the gear reduction system 228 may be selected to achieve a desired compromise between size, torque, and speed of the motorized tensioning system 160.

In some embodiments, motorized tensioning system 160 may include a means for winding and unwinding a lace portion. In some embodiments, motorized tensioning system 160 may include a reel 240. In some cases, the reel 240 may further include a first receiving portion 242 and a second receiving portion 244 for receiving a portion of the lace and the spring, respectively. Also, in some cases, first receiving portion 242 may include first lace-winding region 246 and second lace-winding region 248, which may be used to separately wind both ends of a lace in some cases. Since torque output decreases as lace diameter increases, using separate winding areas for each lace end may help to reduce the diameter of the wound lace on spool 240 and thus minimize the reduction in torque output. In some cases, first lace wound region 246 and second lace wound region 248 may be separated by a dividing section 249, which dividing section 249 may include a lace receiving channel 247 for permanently retaining a portion of a lace on reel 240. However, in other cases, first receiving portion 242 may include a single lace winding region.

The motorized tightening system 160 may include a means for transmitting torque between the final drive gear of the second gear reduction assembly 232 and the spool 240. In some embodiments, motorized lacing system 160 may include means for transmitting torque from second gear reduction assembly 232 (or more generally, from gear reduction system 228) to reel 240 in a manner that allows for incremental tightening, incremental loosening, and complete loosening of the lace. In one embodiment, the motorized tightening system 160 can be configured with a torque transmission system 250 that facilitates the transmission of torque from the fourth gear 237 of the second gear reduction assembly 232 to the reel 240.

The torque transmission system 250 may also include various components and parts. In some embodiments, torque transmission system 250 may include a ratchet assembly 252, a shaft 254, and a rotational control assembly 256. As discussed in more detail below, the components of the torque transfer system 250 facilitate the transfer of torque from the fourth gear 237 of the second gear reduction assembly 232 to the spool 240. More specifically, these components operate in a manner that allows for incremental take-up (spool winding), incremental unwind (spool unwinding), and full tension release (during which time substantially no torque is transmitted from the fourth gear 237 to the spool 240).

In some embodiments, motorized tensioning device 160 may also include secondary winding assembly 260. In some embodiments, the secondary winding assembly 260 may be configured to apply torque to the spool 240 independent of any torque applied by the motor 220. In some embodiments, for example, secondary winding assembly 260 includes a spring member 262 and a rotatable spring bearing 264. The spring member 262 may extend between the second receiving portion 244 of the spool 240 and the spring bearing 264. In particular, a first end portion 263 of the spring member 262 may be associated with the spool 240, while a second end portion 265 of the spring member 262 may be associated with the spring bearing 264. In operation, spring member 262 may be configured to apply a biasing torque in the lace winding direction that may tend to rotate spool 240 in the absence of other forces or torques (e.g., when lace slack is present). The spring member 262 may be a wrap spring, a constant force spring, a constant torque spring, a clock spring, and any other type of spring.

Some embodiments may also include a fixed bearing 266, which fixed bearing 266 may be associated with an end of the shaft 254. In some embodiments, the fixed bearing 266 may be received within a recess 268 of the inner housing portion 216. In some embodiments, the end of the shaft 254 may be placed within the opening 269 of the fixed bearing 266, and the end of the shaft 254 may be configured such that the shaft 254 may slide through the opening 269 to provide some axial movement to the shaft 254.

In some embodiments, motorized tensioning device 160 may include means for adjusting the operation of motor 220 according to one or more feedback signals. In some embodiments, for example, motorized tensioning device 160 may include limit switch assembly 258. In general, the limit switch assembly 258 may sense current through portions of the rotational control assembly 256 and vary the operation of the motor 220 based on the sensed current. Additional details regarding the operation of the limit switch assembly 258 are discussed in more detail below.

For reference purposes, the following detailed description uses the terms "first rotational direction" and "second rotational direction" in describing the rotational direction of one or more components about an axis. For convenience, the first and second rotational directions refer to rotational directions about a longitudinal axis 284 (see fig. 12) of the shaft 254, and are generally opposite rotational directions. The first rotational direction may refer to clockwise rotation of the component about the longitudinal axis 284 when the component is viewed from the vantage point of the first end portion 620 of the shaft 254. The first end portion 620 of the shaft 254 may be the end portion associated with the fourth gear 237. The second direction of rotation may be characterized by a counterclockwise rotation of the component about the longitudinal axis 284 when the component is viewed from the same vantage point.

A brief overview of the operation of motorized tensioning device 160 is described herein. A detailed description of the operation is given below. In the incremental take-up mode, the motor 220 may begin operating to rotate the crankshaft 222. The crankshaft 222 may rotate the input gear of the first gear reduction assembly 230 such that the output gear of the first gear reduction assembly 230 drives the first gear 234 of the second gear reduction assembly 232. Both the intermediate second gear 235 and the third gear 236 rotate, which drives the fourth gear 237 in the first rotational direction. As the fourth gear 237 rotates, the fourth gear 237 may engage and drive the torque transmission system 250 such that the spool 240 may eventually begin to rotate in the first rotational direction. This causes lace 152 to be wound around first receiving portion 242 of reel 240.

In the incremental release mode, motor 220 may be operated to rotate crankshaft 222. In the unclamp mode, the motor 220 and crankshaft 222 rotate in a direction opposite to that associated with take-up. The gear reduction system 228 is then driven such that the fourth gear 237 of the second gear reduction assembly 232 rotates in the second rotational direction. In contrast to the incremental take-up mode, in the incremental release mode, the fourth gear 237 does not directly drive portions of the torque transmission system 250 and the spool 240. Conversely, movement of the fourth gear 237 in a second rotational direction causes the torque transmission system 250 to briefly release the spool 240 to allow the spool 240 to unwind a predetermined amount, after which unwinding, the torque transmission system 250 reengages the spool 240 and prevents further unwinding. This sequence of releasing and capturing the spool 240 occurs repeatedly as long as the fourth gear 237 rotates in the second rotational direction. Additional details of the method of achieving this incremental loosening are described in detail below.

Finally, in the open or fully unwound mode, the torque transfer system 250 operates such that substantially no torque is transferred from any component of the torque transfer system 250 to the spool 240. In this mode, the spool 240 may be more easily rotated about the shaft 254 in the unwinding direction (e.g., when the wearer manually loosens the lace 152 to remove the article 100). When slack is formed along the lace, secondary winding assembly 260 may apply a small amount of torque to second receiving portion 244 of spool 240, which acts to tighten the slack in lace 152.

Fig. 10-14 show various schematic diagrams of components comprising a torque transmission system 250. For purposes of clarity, these components are shown isolated from the rest of the motorized tensioning device 160. Additionally, some components are not shown or may be shown in phantom in some views to reveal internal components.

Referring first to fig. 10 and 11, the ratchet assembly 252 may include several components including the fourth gear 237, the pawl member 600, and the ratchet housing 602 (the ratchet housing 602 is not shown in fig. 11 to better illustrate the relative positions of the fourth gear 237, the pawl member 600, and the spool 240). The fourth gear 237 may include an extended raised portion 604. In some embodiments, the extended raised portion 604 further includes a friction surface 606 that contacts the pawl member 600. The fourth gear 237 may also include an internally threaded cavity 608 that may engage threads on the shaft 254. For convenience purposes, the fourth gear 237 is characterized as part of both the ratchet assembly 252 and the second gear reduction assembly 232 when the fourth gear serves as an element that faces the pawl member 600 and directly drives the pawl member 600, and also serves as a final drive gear for the second gear reduction assembly 232. In particular, it should be understood that characterizing the fourth gear 237 as part of one assembly does not preclude it from being associated with a different assembly.

In some embodiments, the pawl member 600 is configured to couple with the ratchet housing 602. In particular, teeth 610 extending from the pawl arm 611 may engage corresponding teeth 612 on the ratchet housing 602. In some cases, the geometry of the pawl arm 611 and the teeth 610 provide an arrangement in which the pawl member 600 can rotate within the ratchet housing 602 in a first rotational direction, but the pawl member 600 is prevented from rotating within the ratchet housing 602 in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.

In some embodiments, the pawl member 600 includes a projection that engages the friction surface 606 of the fourth gear 237 and can engage the friction surface 606 of the fourth gear 237. The fourth gear 237 may drive the pawl member 600 when the friction surface 606 of the fourth gear 237 contacts a projection that engages a surface 614 of the pawl member 600. Moreover, the one-way ratchet design of the ratchet assembly 252 ensures that the fourth gear 237 can only drive the pawl member 600 in the first rotational direction.

The pawl member 600 may include a spool engagement surface 616 (see also fig. 16), the spool engagement surface 616 facing the first end 670 of the spool 240. When the spool engagement surface 616 is pressed against the spool 240 with sufficient friction, the pawl member 600 can be used to drive the spool 240 in the first rotational direction. Thus, in the arrangement shown in fig. 11, the fourth gear 237 may be used to drive the pawl member 600 and thus the spool 240 by clamping together all of the fourth gear 237, the pawl member 600 and the spool 240 with sufficient frictional force.

Ratchet assembly 252 is intended only to be an example of a one-way torque-transmitting mechanism that may be used to transmit torque to a spool. Other embodiments are not limited to ratchet-like mechanisms and may include other one-way mechanisms. Examples of other one-way mechanisms that may be used include, but are not limited to: ball bearings, overrunning clutches, ratchets and pawls, and other mechanisms.

Fig. 12-14 show various views of additional components of the torque transmission system 250, the torque transmission system 250 including a shaft 254 and a rotational control assembly 256. In particular, fig. 12 shows an exploded view of the shaft 254 and the rotational control assembly 256 separated, while fig. 13-14 show assembled views of some portions of these components at different angles.

The shaft 254 may include a first end portion 620. In some embodiments, the first end portion 620 may include threads 624. In some cases, the threads 624 can engage the internally threaded cavity 608 of the fourth gear 237 (see fig. 10), which can facilitate relative axial movement of the fourth gear 237 along the shaft 254. The shaft 254 may also include a second end portion 622 that engages an opening 269 of the stationary bearing 266. In some embodiments, the intermediate portion 626 of the shaft 254 may be disposed between the first end portion 620 and the second end portion 622.

Various portions of the shaft 254 are configured to house components of the torque transmission system 250 and the spool 240. First end portion 620 and second end portion 622 may be associated with ratchet assembly 252 and rotational control assembly 256, respectively. The intermediate portion 626 may be inserted into a central cavity 690 of the spool 240 (see fig. 15) such that the spool 240 may rotate about the intermediate portion 262.

In some embodiments, the intermediate portion 626 of the shaft 254 further includes a flange portion 628 that extends radially outward from the shaft 254. The flange portion 628 may include a spool that engages a surface 630 of the contact spool 240. An opposing surface (not shown) of the flange portion 628 may face the rotation control assembly 256. In some embodiments, the flange portion 628 may include one or more slots 632.

In some embodiments, the rotation control assembly 256 may include an engagement plate 640 and a compression spring 642. In some embodiments, the engagement plate 640 further includes a pin 644 that extends toward the engagement plate 640 and the spool 240. In some embodiments, the pin 644 may be inserted through the slot 632 of the flange portion 628. Also, in some cases, the pin 644 may be inserted into an alignment hole 650 of the spool 240 (see fig. 15), which may prevent the shaft 254 and the spool 240 from rotating independently of each other.

As shown in fig. 12-14, the components of the rotational control assembly 256 are disposed along a second end portion 622 of the shaft 254. In some embodiments, a compression spring 642 may be disposed between the engagement plate 640 and the stationary bearing 266 such that the compression spring 642 may be used to bias the engagement plate 640 in an axial direction toward the flange portion 628 and the spool 240.

In other embodiments, alternative methods may be used to releasably couple the shaft and the spool. Examples include other kinds of physical interlocking features or include friction increasing features. As one example, an axially compatible friction coupling may be implemented using a wave washer or a belleville washer.

Fig. 15 shows an isometric view of an embodiment in which the spool 240 is in isolated form. As previously described, the spool 240 includes means for receiving the pin 644 of the engagement plate 640. In this case, four alignment holes 650 are substantially evenly spaced about the second end face 673. Additionally, this particular view of the spool 240 clearly shows the groove 675 that may be used to retain the end of the spring member 262.

Referring now to FIG. 16, the components of the torque transmission system 250 are shown in their assembled configuration along the shaft 254. For reference purposes, the spool 240 is shown in phantom on an axis 254. In addition, a cross-sectional portion of the inner housing portion 216 is shown for reference. As also shown in FIG. 8, when installed within the inner housing portion 216, some components of the torque transmission system 250 are restricted from any axial movement. For example, the spool 240 and ratchet housing 602 are constrained to move in an axial direction (or in a longitudinal direction along the shaft 254). Conversely, the fourth gear 237, which is threaded along the first end portion 620 of the shaft 254, can rotate about the shaft 254 and translate axially along the shaft 254 (due to the threaded engagement). In some embodiments, the wall portion 652 of the inner housing portion 216 limits axial movement of the fourth gear 237 in a direction away from the ratchet assembly 252.

The arrangement of the torque transmission system 250 shown here also allows for both rotation and axial translation of the shaft 254. In particular, the second end portion 622 of the shaft 254 may slide through the fixed bearing 266 while the first end portion 620 of the shaft 254 is disposed in the passage 660 of the inner housing portion 216 (see fig. 8) that also allows some axial movement of the shaft 254. In some embodiments, the amount of axial translation may be limited by features including contact between the flange portion 628 and the spool 240, and possibly other features.

To illustrate the operation of the torque transmission system 250 during incremental take-up, incremental take-off, and full take-off, fig. 17-26 show schematic views of the torque transmission system 250 and the spool 240. Referring first to FIG. 17, the torque transmission system 250 is in a fully shoelace-loosened configuration. More specifically, the configuration is one in which no torque is transmitted from the torque transmission system 250 to the spool 240. In this configuration, the fourth gear 237 may be spaced apart from the pawl member 600 (disposed within the ratchet housing 602) such that no torque is transmitted from the fourth gear 237 to the pawl member 600. Moreover, without using fourth gear 237 to provide any clamping pressure against pawl member 600 and spool 240, spool 240 can rotate without any substantial resistance from pawl member 600 at first end portion 670. Also, in this configuration, the engagement plate 640 and the flange portion 628 are spaced from the second end 672 of the spool 640 such that the spool 240 also does not experience any rotational resistance at the second end 672. Although the features of the inner housing portion 612 prevent any axial movement of the spool 240, in this configuration, the spool 240 may rotate in either the first rotational direction or the second rotational direction. As previously described, the winding shaft 240 may be biased to rotate in a first rotational direction (i.e., a lace winding direction) by a secondary winding assembly 260 (not shown), which applies a biasing torque to the winding shaft at the second receiving portion 244. However, this biasing force may be just large enough to pull in the relaxed state and may be overcome relatively simply by the wearer pulling on the lace to unwind it from the spool 240. Thus, although spool 240 would be biased to wind when slack without the tension applied to spool 240 by the lace, spool 240 may rotate relatively freely in this configuration.

As also shown in fig. 17, in this fully released configuration, the contact 259 of the limit switch assembly 258 is pressed against the engagement plate 640. This contact with the engagement plate 640 provides continuity to the switch so that current can flow between the contacts 259.

Fig. 18 illustrates the operation of the torque transmission system 250 when the motor 220 (not shown) begins to rotate. Initially, the motor 220 drives the gear reduction system 228 such that the fourth gear 237 rotates in a first rotational direction (schematically represented by arrow 700). When the fourth gear 237 rotates in the first rotational direction, the fourth gear 237 translates axially (represented by arrow 702) toward the pawl member 600 due to the threaded interface between the fourth gear 237 and the shaft 254. The fourth gear 237 continues to rotate and axially translate until the friction surfaces 606 of the raised portions 604 contact and press against the raised engagement surfaces 614 of the pawl member 600. At this point, the preload from the compression spring 642 may provide some resistance on the engagement plate 640 and the flange portion 628 (which are coupled) to prevent the shaft 254 from rotating while the fourth gear 237 translates axially along the shaft 254. Without this resistance, or another source of friction or resistance, the shaft 254 may tend to rotate with the fourth gear 237 such that the fourth gear 237 cannot translate axially.

FIG. 19 illustrates the operation of torque transmission system 250 in a configuration in which reel 240 may begin to reel in the lace (i.e., torque transmission system 250 is in an incremental tensioning mode). In this case, although contact with the pawl member 600 prevents any further axial translation of the fourth gear 237 along the shaft 254, the motor 220 continues to drive the fourth gear 237 in the first rotational direction (indicated schematically by arrow 700). Thus, as the fourth gear 237 continues to rotate, the shaft 254 is axially translated (as schematically indicated by arrow 706) such that the first end portion 620 is further translated from the spool 240. As the shaft 254 translates axially, the flange portion 628 compresses against the second end 672 of the spool 240, allowing the pin 644 to engage the aligned aperture of the spool 254 (see fig. 15). This locks the shaft 254 and spool 240 together and prevents relative rotation of the two components. Contact between the flange portion 628 and the spool 240 prevents any further axial translation of the shaft 254. In this regard, additional driving of the fourth gear 237 is used to rotate the spool 240 in a first rotational direction (indicated schematically by arrow 708) by the ratchet assembly 252 being clamped against the first end portion 670 of the spool 240. As long as motor 240 continues to drive fourth gear 237, the shoelace can be wound on reel 240.

It can also be seen from fig. 19 that the limit switch assembly 258 disengages from the engagement plate 640 as the flange 628 moves toward the spool 240 and the engagement plate 640 follows under the force of the compression spring 642. This breaks the continuity of the current between the contacts 259.

Fig. 20 and 21 show close-up schematic views of some components. For illustrative purposes, an exemplary lace 720 is shown with spool 240. Referring to fig. 20 and 21, the ratchet assembly 252 ensures that torque can only be transmitted from the fourth gear 237 to the pawl member 600 and the spool 240, and not vice versa. In particular, the unidirectional operation of the ratchet assembly 252 prevents the torque generated by the spool 240 from rotating the pawl member 600, the fourth gear 237, and ultimately the motor 220. In other words, as previously described, the ratchet assembly 252 acts as a load retention mechanism that prevents the spool 240 from inadvertently rotating in the second rotational direction (i.e., the unwinding direction). This arrangement can help prevent spool 240 from rewinding motor 220 in the event that motor 220 is stopped or the torque applied to spool 240 by the lace exceeds the torque applied to the spool by fourth gear 237.

22-25 illustrate operation of the torque transmission system 250 in the incremental release mode. In some embodiments, incremental loosening may occur in several stages. During the first stage, as shown in fig. 22 and 23, the motor 220 is operated to drive the fourth gear 237 in a second rotational direction (indicated schematically by arrow 730). This causes the fourth gear 237 to translate axially away from the pawl member 600 and the spool 240 in the direction schematically indicated by arrow 732. As the fourth gear 237 translates away from the pawl member 600, the clamping force between the fourth gear 237, the pawl member 600, and the first end 670 of the spool 240 is released. During the second stage, as shown in FIG. 24, the tension in the lace then causes the spool 240 to rotate in a second rotational direction (schematically indicated by arrow 734). Since the spool 240 and the shaft 254 are physically locked together at this stage, the shaft 254 and the spool 240 rotate together in a second rotational direction (schematically indicated by arrow 736). As the shaft 254 rotates, the threaded engagement between the shaft 254 and the fourth gear 237 (and the rotational resistance of the fourth gear 237 provided by the gear reduction system 228 and the motor 220) causes the fourth gear 237 to translate axially toward the pawl member 600. In the final stage, as shown in fig. 25, the fourth gear 237, the pawl member 600 and the spool 240 are clamped together, which prevents further rotation of the spool 240 in the second rotational direction. These three stages may be sequentially repeated to incrementally unwind the lace from the spool 240.

Fig. 26 illustrates operation of the torque transmission system 250 in a fully released mode (or fully released mode). Referring to fig. 26, the motor 220 may drive the rotation of the fourth gear 237 in a second rotational direction (schematically indicated by arrow 740) until the lace tension is low enough that the reel 240 is no longer unwound. In some embodiments, the fourth gear 237 may continue to rotate until the fourth gear 237 encounters a hard stop provided by the wall portion 652 of the inner housing portion 216. Since the fourth gear 237 is not able to translate further, continued driving of the fourth gear 237 by the motor 220 causes the shaft 254 to translate axially in the direction schematically indicated by arrow 742 until the engagement plate 628 is no longer locked with the spool 240 (i.e., until the pin 644 is disengaged from the alignment hole 650 of the spool 240). At this point, the engagement plate 640 contacts the contact 259 of the limit switch assembly 258, thereby completing the continuity of the limit switch, which further causes the motor 220 to stop. This leaves the spool 240 in a fully unwound state and relatively free to rotate despite the presence of some bias provided by the secondary winding assembly 260 in the first rotational direction.

The secondary winding assembly may be configured to operate substantially independently of the torque transmission system. This may allow the winding assembly to drag slack during various stages of operation of the torque transmission system. In particular, the secondary winding assembly may be configured to pull slack in the tensile member (e.g., a lace), which may occur during the tightening, loosening, and complete loosening of the tensile member.

Fig. 27-29 show schematic isometric views of portions of a motorized tensioning device 160. More specifically, fig. 27-29 are intended to illustrate the general operation of secondary winding assembly 260 during different modes of operation of the system. Fig. 27 shows the configuration of the motor tensioning device 160 operating in the tensioning mode. In this mode, fourth gear 237 cooperates with torque-transmitting system 250 to drive spool 240 in a first rotational direction and thereby wrap lace 800 around spool 240. In this mode, when the spool 240 is driven by the motor, the spring member 262 may be wound from the spool 240 to the spring bearing 264.

Referring next to fig. 28, when motorized tightening device 160 operates in the fully loosened mode, the tension of lace 800 rotates spool 240 in the second winding direction and unwinds lace 800 from spool 240. When the spool 240 is wound in the second rotational direction, the spring member 262 may be unwound from the spring bearing 264 and onto the second receiving portion 244 of the spool 240. This allows the spring member 262 to return to a default configuration in which the secondary winding assembly 260 tends to bias the spool 240 in the winding direction to pull slack.

Referring next to fig. 29, the motorized tightening device 160 operates in a mode in which no torque is supplied to the spool 240 by the motor. In addition, slack develops in lace 800 such that lace 800 does not apply a large torque to spool 240. In this case, when the spring member 262 is unwound from the second receiving portion 244 of the spool 240 and onto the spring bearing 264, the secondary winding assembly 260 provides a biasing force to wind the spool 240 in the first rotational direction.

The secondary winding assembly 260 may improve the usability of the tensioning system 150 by ensuring that slack is wound up quickly when the motor 220 is disengaged. This is desirable so that the user can quickly put on or take off the footwear without having to wait for the motor to wind loose. In the illustrated embodiment, this rapid loosening winding is accomplished using a constant force spring that is stored on the idler spool and unwound onto one end of the lace spool. However, in other embodiments, a plurality of different elements or systems may be used for the rapid relaxation winding. For example, in another embodiment, a second small motor with no reduction or with a light gear reduction may be used for slack winding. In still other embodiments, other spring elements may be used. For example, in another embodiment, a resilient torsion spring may be used. In yet another embodiment, a gear clock spring may be used. Also, in other embodiments, the spring member may be wound around other components of the tensioning system. For example, in the alternative embodiment shown in fig. 30, the spring member 820 is configured to wrap around the spool 240 at one end and around the motor 220 at the other end. This alternative arrangement may provide a somewhat more compact configuration for the motorized tensioning system. In addition to improving the speed of completely winding and unwinding the shoelace, the battery life of the system for completely winding and unwinding the shoelace using the motor can be greatly improved.

The position of the motorized tensioning device can vary from one embodiment to another. The illustrated embodiment shows a motorized tensioning device placed on the heel of the upper. However, other embodiments may include the motorized tensioning device in any other location of the article of footwear, including the forefoot and midfoot portions of the upper. In still other embodiments, the motorized tensioning device may be disposed in a sole structure of an article. The position of the motorized tensioning device may be selected according to various factors including, but not limited to: size limitations, manufacturing limitations, aesthetic preferences, optimal lacing location, ease of removal, and possibly other factors.

In embodiments where motorized tensioning device 160 is externally positioned on upper 102, the wearer may access the components by removing a portion of housing unit 212 (see fig. 1). For example, in some cases, the reel 240 may be replaceable in the event of a laceration.

Some embodiments may include means for incorporating a motorized tensioning device into a removable component of footwear. In one embodiment, the motorized tensioning device may be incorporated into an external heel counter. In some cases, the external heel counter may be used as a harness for mounting the motorized tensioning device to an article. In such embodiments, the external heel counter may be particularly suitable for housing a motorized tensioning device. An example of a heel counter configured for use with a lace-tensioning Device is disclosed in U.S. patent application publication No. 2013/0312293 to Gerber (now U.S. patent application No. 13/481,132, filed on 25/5/2012 and entitled "Article of Footwear with Protective Member for a Control Device"), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Fig. 31 shows a schematic isometric view of an embodiment of an article of footwear 100 configured with a tensioning system 150. In the present embodiment, article of footwear 100, also referred to hereinafter simply as article 100, is shown in the form of athletic footwear, such as running shoes. However, in other embodiments, tensioning system 150 may be used with any other type of footwear, including but not limited to: hiking boots, soccer shoes, football shoes, sneakers, running shoes, cross-training shoes, soccer shoes, basketball shoes, baseball shoes, and other types of shoes. Moreover, in some embodiments, article 100 may be configured for use with various types of non-athletic related footwear, including, but not limited to: slippers, sandals, high-heeled footwear, flat-heeled shoes, and any other type of footwear. As discussed in more detail below, the tensioning system is not limited to footwear, and in other embodiments, the tensioning system may be used with a variety of apparel, including work suits, sports equipment, athletic equipment, and other types of apparel. In still other embodiments, the tensioning system may be used with a stent, such as a medical stent.

Article 100 may include upper 102 and sole structure 104. In general, upper 102 may be any type of upper. In particular, upper 102 may have any design, shape, size, and/or color. For example, in embodiments where article 100 is a basketball shoe, upper 102 may be a high top upper that is shaped to provide high support at the ankle. In embodiments where article 100 is a running shoe, upper 102 may be a low-top upper.

In some embodiments, sole structure 104 may be configured to provide traction for article 100. In addition to providing traction, sole structure 104 may attenuate ground reaction forces when compressed between the foot and the ground during walking, running, or other ambulatory activities. The configuration of sole structure 104 may vary significantly in different embodiments to include a variety of conventional or non-conventional structures. In some cases, the configuration of sole structure 104 may be configured according to one or more types of ground surfaces on which sole structure 104 may be used. Examples of ground surfaces include, but are not limited to: natural turf, synthetic turf, mud, and other surfaces.

In different embodiments, sole structure 104 may include different components. For example, sole structure 104 may include an outsole, a midsole, and/or an insole. Further, in some cases, sole structure 104 may include one or more cleat members or traction elements configured to increase traction with a ground surface.

In some embodiments, sole structure 104 may be joined with upper 102. In some cases, upper 102 is configured to wrap around the foot and secure sole structure 104 to the foot. In some cases, upper 102 may include an opening 130 that provides access to an interior cavity of article 100.

Tensioning system 150 may include various components and systems for adjusting the size of opening 130 and thereby tightening (or loosening) upper 102 around a wearer's foot. In some embodiments, tensioning system 150 may include lace 152 and motorized tensioning device 160. Lace 152 may be configured to pass through a variety of different lace guides 154, lace guides 154 may further be associated with edges of throat opening 132. In some cases, lace guides 154 may provide a function similar to conventional eyelets on shoe uppers. In particular, when lace 152 is pulled or tensioned, throat opening 132 may generally contract such that upper 102 is drawn tight around the foot.

The arrangement of lace guides 154 in this embodiment is intended to be exemplary only, and it should be understood that other embodiments are not limited to a particular configuration for lace guides 154. Moreover, the particular type of lace guides 154 shown in the embodiments are also exemplary, and other embodiments may incorporate any other type of lace guides or similar lacing devices. For example, in some other embodiments, lace 154 may be inserted through conventional eyelets. Some example Lace guides that may be incorporated into embodiments are disclosed in U.S. patent application publication No. 2012/0000091 to Cotterman et al, published on 5/1/2012 and entitled "Lace Guide," the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. A further example is disclosed in U.S. patent application publication No. 2011/0266384 to Goodman et al, published on 3/11/2011 and entitled "Reel Based Lacing System" ("Reel Based Lacing application"), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Yet another example of a lace guide is disclosed in U.S. patent application publication No. 2011/0225843 to Kerns et al, published 2011 at 9/22 and entitled Guides For Lacing Systems, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Lace 152 may include any type of lace material known in the art. Examples of laces that may be used include lacesA cable or fiber having a low modulus of elasticity and a high tensile strength. The lace may include a single strand of material, or may include multiple strands of material. An exemplary material for the lace is SPECTRA, although other types of extended chain, high modulus polyethylene fiber materials may also be used as the lace ^TM Manufactured by Honeywell of Morris Township NJ. Still additional exemplary characteristics of the lace can be found in the reel-based lace application mentioned above.

In some embodiments, lace 152 may pass through lace guides 154, and after entering channel openings 156 above lace guides 154, lace 152 may pass through an interior channel (not shown) within upper 102. In some embodiments, the interior channels extend around the sides of upper 102 and guide the lace toward a motorized tensioning device 160 that may be mounted on heel portion 14 of upper 102. In some cases, motorized tensioning device 160 may include means for receiving portions of lace 152. In some cases, the end portions of lace 152 exit the interior channels of upper 102 and pass through apertures in housing unit 212 of motorized tensioning device 160.

Motorized tensioning device 160 may be configured to automatically apply tension to lace 152 for the purpose of tightening and loosening upper 102. As described in greater detail below, motorized tensioning device 160 may include means for winding lace 152 onto an internal reel of motorized tensioning device 160 and unwinding lace 152 from an internal reel of motorized tensioning device 160. Also, the device may include an electric motor that automatically winds and unwinds the spool in response to various inputs or controls.

The means for mounting motorized tensioning device 160 to upper 102 may be different in different embodiments. In some cases, motorized tensioning device 160 may be removably attached such that motorized tensioning system 160 may be simply removed and modified by the user (e.g., when the lace must be changed). Examples of means for removably attaching motorized tensioning system 160 to upper 102 are discussed in detail below. In other examples, motorized tensioning device 160 may be permanently attached to upper 102. For example, in one embodiment, an external harness (not shown) may be used to mount motorized tensioning system 160 to upper 102 at heel portion 14.

In some embodiments, motorized tensioning device 160 may be in communication with remote device 170. In some examples, motorized tensioning device 160 may receive operating instructions from remote device 170. For example, motorized tensioning device 160 may receive instructions to apply increased tension to lace 152 by winding the reel. In some examples, remote device 170 may be capable of receiving information from motorized tensioning device 160. For example, remote device 170 may receive information related to the current tension in lace 152 and/or other sensed information. As discussed below with reference to fig. 32, remote device 170 may be used as a remote control that may be used by a wearer to operate tensioning system 150.

In one embodiment, remote device 170 comprises a mobile phone (e.g., an iPhone manufactured by apple Inc.). In other embodiments, any other kind of mobile phone including a smartphone may also be used. In other embodiments, any portable electronic device may be used, including but not limited to: personal digital assistants, digital music players, tablet computers, laptop computers, supercomputers, and any other type of portable electronic device. In still other embodiments, any other type of remote device may be used, including remote devices specifically designed for controlling motorized tensioning device 160. In another embodiment discussed in detail below, remote device 170 may include a bracelet, wristband, and/or armband worn by the user and specifically designed to communicate with motorized tensioning device 160. The type of remote device may be selected based on software and hardware requirements, ease of movement, manufacturing costs, and possibly other factors.

In some embodiments, motorized tightening device 160 can communicate with a plurality of remote devices. For example, a user may identify and set a preferred tension setting value using a mobile device (e.g., an iPhone) at home, and another remote device (e.g., with a bracelet, wristband, and/or armband, with a more basic controller) may then be used to issue a command to motorized tightening device 160, such as when performing a sporting activity. For example, the bracelet may allow the user to recall a set tension and adjust that tension, but not set a new tension for later recall.

As already mentioned, the remote device 170 can communicate with the motorized tightening device 160 (or indirectly with the motorized tightening device 160 through a secondary device such as a separate control unit). Examples of different communication methods include, but are not limited to: such as a personal area network (e.g.,

) Wireless and local area networks (e.g., Wi-Fi) and any kind of RF-based method known in the art. In some embodiments, infrared light may be used for wireless communication. Although the illustrated embodiment details remote device 170 in wireless communication with motorized tensioning system 160, in other embodiments, remote device 170 and motorized tensioning system 160 may be physically connected and communicate through one or more wires.

For purposes of clarity, a single article of footwear is shown in the embodiments. However, it should be understood that remote device 170 may be configured to operate a respective article of footwear that also includes a similar tensioning system (e.g., a pair of footwear each having a tensioning system). As described below, the remote devices 170 may each be used to operate a tensioning system for each article independent of each other.

Fig. 32 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a remote device 170 that includes a schematic representation of an exemplary user interface for controlling the tensioning system 150. In some embodiments, remote device 170 may be capable of running lace control software application 180, hereinafter referred to simply as application 180. In embodiments where remote device 170 is a mobile phone (or similar digital device) capable of running mobile software applications, application 180 may be downloaded by a user from a third party online store or website. Such a mobile phone (or similar digital device) may include a touch screen LCD device that may be used by application 180 for input and output interaction with a user. In some embodiments, an LCD or a non-touch screen LCD is used only for output display.

Application 180 may display and respond to user interactions with a plurality of control buttons 182 and initial control commands in response to such interactions. Exemplary control commands may include, but are not limited to: left/right shoe selection, incremental tightening, incremental loosening, open/full loosening, tension storage, and tension recall/storage. In the exemplary embodiment of fig. 32, these control buttons include a first button 191 and a second button 192 for selecting the shoe (left or right) to receive and respond to control commands, respectively. In some embodiments, either the first button 191 or the second button 192 may be selected, but both cannot be selected at the same time. In other examples, it may be possible to select both the first button 191 and the second button 192 simultaneously, to allow the user to tighten, loosen, or open both shoes simultaneously. In addition, the application 180 may include a third button 193 for initiating an "incremental pull" command, a fourth button 194 for initiating an "incremental release" command, and a fifth button 195 for initiating an "open" (or fully release) command. Optionally, some embodiments may include a "full tension" command that will tighten the footwear until a predetermined threshold (e.g., a threshold pressure, wrap distance, etc.) is reached.

In some embodiments, a shoe, article, or other item can include more than one motorized tightening device 160. In such embodiments, each motorized tightening device 160 can include wireless communication hardware for independently communicating with remote device 170, or a single wireless communication device can provide common use through multiple motorized tightening devices 160. For such embodiments, the remote device 170 may be configured, for example by the application 180, to provide additional buttons or other controls to individually adjust multiple motorized tightening devices 160 on a single article. For example, the button 191 shown in FIG. 32 may be subdivided into a top region and a lower region that are responsive to user interaction, respectively. By using these areas, one of the two motorized tightening devices 160 can be selected for tension adjustment by the

buttons

193, 194, and 195. In another example, additional buttons, such as

buttons

193 and 194, may be displayed simultaneously by the application 180 to allow for more rapid adjustment of multiple motorized tightening devices 160.

The application 180 may also include means for storing and using preferred tension settings. For example, the sixth button 196 and the seventh button 197 may be used to initiate a "store current tension" command and a "return stored tension" command, respectively. In some cases, the tension value may be stored on a remote device, while in other examples, the tension value may be stored in an internal memory of a control board of motorized tensioning device 160. Still other embodiments may include means for storing a plurality of tension settings. For example, a user may prefer a tighter fit for performing athletic activities and a looser fit for leisure activities. In such an example, remote device 170 may allow the user to store two or more tension settings corresponding to at least two different lace tension preferences. In some embodiments, the sixth button 196 may cause tension settings for a single, currently selected motorized tensioning device 160 to be stored, and in some embodiments, the sixth button 196 may cause tension settings for multiple motorized tensioning devices 160 to be stored in a single action. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that storing or recalling tension for a plurality of motorized tightening devices 160, whether part of a single project or multiple projects such as a pair of shoes, may be performed by a single command issued by remote device 170, or by a series of control commands (e.g., by issuing a separate control command to each motorized tightening device 160).

In some embodiments, the application 180 and/or the remote device 170 may be configured to selectively control individual items or groups of items, such as a pair of shoes, from a plurality of items or groups of items within communication range of the remote device 170. For example, the application 180 may be configured to list items by a unique identifier assigned to each item, display the listed items to the user, and receive input selecting an item. At the other endIn an example, application 180 may pass through

Paired with a particular item or group of items. In another example, a remote device without an LCD display may include a control button that may be pressed to select a desired item, repeatedly, if desired, and the item may include an LED that is illuminated when the item is in wireless communication with the remote device.

Embodiments are not limited to a particular user interface or application for remotely operating motorized tensioning device 160. The embodiments herein are intended to be exemplary, and other embodiments may incorporate any additional control buttons, interface designs, and software applications. As one example, some embodiments may not include means for selecting a shoe to be controlled, and instead, two sets of control buttons may be utilized, where each set corresponds to either a left shoe or a right shoe. The control buttons used to initiate the various operating commands may be selected based on various factors including: ease of use, aesthetic preferences of the designer, software design costs, operating characteristics of motorized tensioning device 160, and possibly other factors.

Throughout the detailed description and in the claims, various operating modes or configurations of the tensioning system are described. These modes of operation may refer to the state of the tensioning system itself, as well as to the modes of operation of the individual subsystems and/or components of the tensioning system. Exemplary modes include an "incremental take-up mode", an "incremental release mode", and a "full release" mode. The latter two modes may also be referred to as "incremental release mode" and "full release mode". In the incremental tightening mode, the motorized tightening device 160 may be operated in a manner to incrementally (or stepwise) tighten or increase the tension of the lace 152. In the incremental loosening mode, the motorized tightening device 160 may be operated in a manner to incrementally (or gradually) loosen or release the tension in the lace 152. As discussed further below, the incremental tightening mode and the incremental loosening mode may tighten and loosen the lace in discrete steps or continuously. In the full release mode, motorized tightening device 160 may be operated in a manner such that the tension applied to the lace by the system is substantially reduced to a level at which a user may easily remove his or her foot from the article. This is in contrast to the incremental release mode, in which the system operates to achieve a lower tension for the lace relative to the current tension, but without necessarily completely removing the tension from the lace. Also, while the full release mode may be used to quickly release lace tension so a user may remove an item, the incremental release mode may be used to fine tune lace tension when a user seeks a desired amount of tension. Although the embodiments describe three possible modes of operation (and associated control commands), other modes of operation are possible. For example, some embodiments may incorporate a fully tensioned mode of operation in which motorized tightening device 160 continues to tighten lace 152 until a predetermined tension has been achieved.

Fig. 33-37 show schematic views of embodiments of article 100 being tightened and loosened during different modes of operation of tensioning system 150. Each figure also shows a schematic view of the remote device 170, which includes specific control buttons for initiating each mode of operation.

Fig. 33 shows article 100 in a fully open state just prior to entry of foot 200. In this state, lace 152 may be sufficiently slack to allow a user to insert his or her foot into opening 130. Referring next to fig. 34, foot 200 is inserted into article 100, which is held in a fully open state. Referring next to fig. 35, an incremental take-up command has been sent to motorized tensioning device 160 by pressing third button 193 of remote device 170. This command causes motorized tensioning device 160 to enter an incremental tensioning mode. At this point, the tension in lace 152 is increased to tighten upper 102 around foot 200. In particular, lace 152 is pulled into motorized tensioning device 160, which pulls on the portion of lace 152 that is disposed adjacent to throat opening 132, and thus restricts throat opening 132. In some examples, this incremental tightening may occur in discrete steps such that lace 152 is tightened a predetermined amount each time the wearer presses third button 193 (e.g., by rotating a spool within motorized tensioning device 160 through a predetermined angle). In other examples, this incremental tightening may occur in a continuous manner as long as the wearer is continuously contacting third button 193. In some instances, the speed of tensioning may be set such that the system does not overshoot a preferred level of tension (i.e., the system does not move too quickly between under-tensioning and over-tensioning), while also being sufficiently high to avoid excessive time to fully tension the article 100.

Figures 36 and 37 show schematic views of two different modes of operation in which the lace 152 may be loosened. Referring first to fig. 36, the user can press the fourth button 194 to initiate an incremental loosen command in the tensioning system 150. Upon receiving the incremental release command, motorized tensioning device 160 may operate in an incremental release mode in which lace 152 is released from motorized tensioning device 160 (i.e., the segments of lace 152 exit motorized tensioning device 160). This relaxes some of the tension in lace 152 and allows throat opening 132 to partially expand. In some examples, this incremental loosening may occur in discrete steps such that upper 152 is paid out a predetermined amount (e.g., by rotating a spool within motorized tensioning device 160 through a predetermined angle) each time the user presses fourth button 194. In other examples, the incremental release may occur in a continuous manner as long as the wearer is continuously contacting the fourth button 194. In some instances, the speed of release may be set such that the system does not overshoot the preferred level of tightness (i.e., the system does not move too quickly between over-tightened and under-tightened), while the speed of tightening is still great enough to avoid excessive time to fully release the article 100. With this arrangement, the wearer may continue to increase and decrease the tension in lace 152 (using the incremental tightening and incremental loosening modes) until a preferred level of tightness of upper 102 is achieved.

Referring next to fig. 37, the wearer can press a fifth button 195 to initiate an open in the tensioning system 150, or a full release command. Unlike incremental release commands, an open command may be used to quickly release all (or most) of the tension in lace 152 so that a user may quickly remove article 100. Thus, when an open command is received, motorized tensioning device 160 operates in a fully undamped mode. In this mode, the motorized tensioning device operates to pay out sufficient lace 152 such that substantially all of the tension is removed from lace 152. In some examples, this may be accomplished by continuously monitoring the tension in lace 152 (e.g., using a sensor), and paying out lace 152 until the level of tension is below a threshold tension. In other examples, this may be accomplished by paying out a predetermined length of lace 152, which is known to correspond approximately to the amount needed to achieve a fully loosened state of tensioning system 150. As seen in fig. 37, tensioning system 150 is in an open state, and foot 200 can be easily and comfortably removed from footwear 100.

In various embodiments, control of the motorized tightening device can be achieved using various methods and devices. Referring now to fig. 38, some embodiments may utilize various kinds of remote devices including an RF-based control bracelet 390. Control bracelet 390 may incorporate one or more buttons for sending commands to the motorized tensioning device. In some examples, the control bracelet 390 may include buttons for initiating incremental pull-up and incremental release commands. In still other examples, additional buttons may be included for initiating any other commands including an open command (or a fully released command), a store tension command, and a return to a stored tension command. Still other examples may incorporate any other buttons for issuing any other kind of command.

In some other embodiments, buttons for tightening, loosening, and/or performing other functions may be located directly on the article. As an example, some embodiments may incorporate one or more buttons located on or adjacent to the housing of the motorized tensioning device. In still other embodiments, the motorized tensioning device may be controlled using voice commands. These commands may be transmitted by a remote device or to a device capable of receiving voice commands that are incorporated into the article and in communication with the motorized tensioning device.

Embodiments may incorporate various sensors for providing information to a control unit of a motorized tensioning system. As described above, in some embodiments, an H-bridge mechanism is used to measure the current. This measured current is provided as an input to the control unit 302 (see fig. 5). In some examples, the predetermined current may be known to correspond to a certain lace tension. By checking the measured current with a predetermined current, the motorized tensioning system may adjust the tension of the lace until the predetermined current is measured, which indicates that the desired lace tension has been achieved.

By using the current as feedback, various digital control strategies can be used. For example, only proportional control may be used. Alternatively, PI control or full PID may be used. In some examples, simple averaging or other filtering techniques including fuzzy logic and bandpass may be used to reduce noise.

Still other embodiments may include additional types of sensors. In some examples, a pressure sensor may be used under the shoe of an article to indicate when a user is standing. The motorized tensioning system may be programmed to automatically release tension in the lace when the user moves from a standing position to a sitting position. Such a configuration may be useful for the elderly, who need low tension to promote blood circulation when seated, but need high tension for safety when standing.

Still other embodiments may include additional tension sensing elements. In one embodiment, a three-point bend indicator may be used in a shoelace to more accurately monitor the status of a tensioning system that includes the shoelace. In other embodiments, various devices for measuring deflection, such as capacitive or inductive devices, may be used. In some other embodiments, strain gauges may be used to measure tension-induced strain in one or more components of a tensioning system.

In some embodiments, a sensor, such as a gyroscope or accelerometer, may be incorporated into the tension system. In some embodiments, accelerometers and/or gyroscopes may be used to detect instantaneous moment and/or positional information that may be used as feedback to adjust lace tension. These sensors may also enable control of sleep/wake periods to extend battery life. In some examples, information from these sensors may be used to reduce tension in the system when the user is inactive, and to increase tension when the user is in a more active period, for example.

Some embodiments may use memory (e.g., on-board memory associated with the control unit) to store sensed data over a period of time. This data may be stored for later upload and analysis. For example, one embodiment of an article of footwear may sense and store tension information over a period of time, which may be later evaluated to observe a trend in tightening.

It is also contemplated that some embodiments may incorporate pressure sensors to detect areas of high pressure that may develop during tensioning. In some instances, the tension of the lace may be automatically reduced to avoid such high pressure areas. Additionally, in some examples, the system may prompt the user to change their high pressure regions and suggest ways to avoid them (by changing the use or suitability of the item).

It is contemplated that in some embodiments, the user may be provided feedback through motor pulses that produce tactile feedback to the user in the form of vibrations/sounds. Such means may directly facilitate operation of the tensioning system, or provide tactile feedback for other systems in communication with the motorized tensioning device.

Various methods of automatically operating the motorized tensioning device in response to various inputs may be used. For example, after initially tensioning the shoe, it is common for the lace tension to drop rapidly in the first few minutes of use. Some embodiments of the tensioning system may include means for readjusting the lace tension to the initial tension setting by the user. In some embodiments, the control unit may be configured to monitor the tension over those first minutes to then readjust the tension to match the original tension.

FIG. 39 is a schematic view of an exemplary process for automatically readjusting lace tension to maintain a user desired tension over a period of time. In some embodiments, some of the following steps may be implemented by a control unit 302 (see fig. 5) associated with motorized tensioning device 160. In other embodiments, some of the following steps may be implemented by other components of the tensioning system. It is understood that in other embodiments, one or more of the following steps may be optional.

In step 502, the control unit 302 may determine whether the user has finished tightening the item. In some examples, if no control command (e.g., an incremental pull command) is received after a predetermined amount of time, control unit 302 may determine that the user has completed pulling the lace. If the control unit 302 determines that the user has finished tightening the item, the control unit 302 proceeds to step 504. Otherwise, the control unit 302 may wait until it has determined that the user has finished tightening the item.

In step 504, the control unit 302 may monitor the tension of the tensioning system (e.g., the tension of the lace) for a predetermined time interval to determine an initial tension. The method for monitoring tension (including current sensors and other sensors) has been previously discussed above. In some examples, the control unit 302 may set the average measured tension over a predetermined time interval as the initial tension.

Next, in step 506, the control unit 302 may determine whether the tension of the tensioning system has decreased. If not, the control unit 302 may wait and then re-evaluate whether the tension has decreased. Once it has determined that the tension has decreased, the control unit 302 may proceed to step 508. In step 508, the control unit 302 may automatically increase the tension of the tensioning system until the initial tension has been achieved. In some embodiments, after step 508, the control unit may wait and automatically evaluate the tension at step 506 again. In some embodiments, the control unit 302 may additionally be configured to automatically detect excessive tension, and automatically respond to reducing the tension of the tensioning system until this initial tension has been achieved. In some embodiments, control unit 302 may be configured to perform cyclical changes in tension, for example to enhance blood circulation.

In some embodiments, rather than just waiting for a certain period of time, as shown in fig. 39 and described above, the reevaluation of step 506 may be triggered by sensor information. In one example, sensor-based triggering may replace waiting, and sensor information causes a reevaluation of tension to occur. In another example, a wait may be performed as shown in fig. 39, but sensor information may cause the wait to terminate and trigger a reevaluation of tension. Sensors that provide such information to the control unit 302 may include, but are not limited to: pressure sensors, bending indicators, strain gauges, gyroscopes, and accelerometers in the insole of a shoe to detect rate of standing and/or movement. In some embodiments, this sensor information may be used to establish a new target tension instead of or in addition to maintaining the initial tension. For example, a pressure sensor may be used to measure the contact pressure of the upper of the article of footwear against the wearer's foot, and automatically adjust to achieve the desired pressure. In some embodiments, the control unit 302 may be configured to store sensor information obtained over a period of time to identify a triggering event. Additionally, the control unit 302 may be configured to upload or otherwise provide stored sensor information to a remote device. For purposes including, but not limited to: monitoring the footwear for a correlation between tightness and athletic performance, the uploaded sensor information may be examined and analyzed.

Some embodiments may be configured to operate in two or more different modes. For example, some embodiments may operate in a "normal mode" and a "gaming mode" (or similarly, an "athletic mode" or an "active mode"). In normal mode, the electric motor may be turned off after tensioning in order to conserve battery life. Conversely, when the gaming mode is selected by the user, the tension of the system may be continuously monitored and adjusted for maximum performance, even at the expense of battery life. By enabling the user to change between these two modes, the user can choose to optimize battery life or optimize performance as the situation requires. In some embodiments, multiple target tensions may be stored and returned to either of the "normal mode" or the "play mode," e.g., configuring the target tensions for sports and configuring substantially different tensions for leisure. In some embodiments, the control unit 302 may be configured to monitor and adjust the tension frequently, but not continuously, to further extend battery life while achieving some of the benefits of continuously monitoring the "play mode".

FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary process for operating a tensioning system in two different modes. In some embodiments, some of the following steps may be implemented by a control unit 302 (see fig. 5) associated with motorized tensioning device 160. In other embodiments, some of the following steps may be implemented by other components of the tensioning system. It is understood that in other embodiments, one or more of the following steps may be optional.

In step 510, the control unit 302 may receive a mode selected by a user. This may be determined by receiving a signal from the remote device that may prompt the user to select either "normal mode" or "gaming mode". Next, in step 512, the control unit 302 may determine whether the user has finished tightening the item. If not, the control unit 302 waits until the user has finished tightening the item. When the user has finished tightening the article, the control unit 302 proceeds to step 514. In step 514, the control unit 302 determines from the information received during step 510 which mode has been selected. If the user has selected the normal mode, the control unit proceeds to step 516, where the motor is turned off, and the system waits for further instructions from the user (or other system/sensor) to conserve battery power, step 516. However, if the user has selected the game mode in step 514, the control unit 302 proceeds to step 518. During step 518, the control unit 302 may actively monitor the tension of the article and may automatically adjust the tension to achieve maximum performance.

As another example of a process of automatically controlling the tensioning system, GPS feedback from a remote device may be used to determine whether a runner is on a flat ground, climbing, or descending. The system may automatically adjust the tension of the lace in the footwear, for example, by automatically increasing the tension in the lace during descent.

In some embodiments, a method of digitally tracking tension data measured by one or more sensors may be used. The average tension of the device can also be tracked. The tension data may be used to measure performance parameters such as the load on the foot during athletic activities. In some embodiments, such tension monitoring may be used to measure inflation. In addition, in some examples, the number of times the footwear is put on and taken off may be tracked. In addition, usage time may also be tracked. Data collection may be facilitated by various technologies including USB devices, data lines, and bluetooth communication technologies. Moreover, the collected data may be transmitted to any central database for evaluation by various techniques.

Although the exemplary methods described above and shown in fig. 39 and 40 relate to footwear, it should be understood that similar methods may be used for automated operation of other types of articles including tensioning systems. In particular, these methods may be used with any type of garment.

Fig. 41 shows a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of a motorized tensioning device 900. For purposes of describing some of the internal components, fig. 43 shows a cross-sectional view of some of the components of motorized tensioning device 900. Motorized tensioning device 900 may include some similar means as the previous embodiments, for example, a motor 902 and a gear reduction system 904 driven by the motor 902. The gear reduction system 904 shown here includes 5-stage spur gears. Other gear reductions that may be used include: cycloidal, harmonic, and planetary. In some embodiments, the motor 902 and gear reduction system 904 combination can be sized to maximize the trade-off between current requirements, size, torque, and speed. In the illustrated embodiment, the gear reduction is about 600: 1, output RPM of 30, peak current of 1.2 amps.

The output of the gear reduction system 904 may enter an incremental releasable load holding mechanism 906 shown in fig. 42. The load holding mechanism 906 comprises a ratchet-type mechanism that helps to hold any load applied to the spool 908 without potentially back driving the motor 902 and/or the gear reduction system 904. The objective is to maintain this load independent of the motor/gearbox so that it does not back drive. The load retention mechanism 906 may retain a load on the spool 908 even while the motor 902 is de-energized. When a small amount of lace tension is desired to be released, the motor 902 unwinds and the sweeper element cleans the internal teeth 912 of the pawl element 910 to allow the output to unwind one tooth. This can be repeated as necessary to accurately unwind the spool and correspondingly relax the lace tension. It is important to allow the user to get accurate suitability. An exemplary load retention mechanism that may be used is disclosed in U.S. patent application publication No. 2010/0139057 to Soderberg et al, published on 10.6.2010 and entitled "heel Based lubricating System," the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Referring to fig. 41 and 43, the output of the load retention mechanism 906 in this embodiment is a square driver 914. The driver element may be any number of sides or may be an external spline. The square drive mates with a female element 916 with sufficient clearance and having a material for low friction sliding along the shaft 912 (see fig. 43). The female element 916 is driven by a male square driver 914. The opposite end of the female element 916 includes a face drive element 920. In the embodiment shown, this is a large number of triangular teeth that can engage or disengage with mating teeth on one flange of the spool 908. The teeth may range from as few as one to more than eight. To facilitate engagement, the teeth may be skewed 5 to 60 degrees. In some embodiments, the teeth may be angled at about 45 degrees.

The female element 916 has threads (not shown) in the center that can engage the threaded portion of the shaft 912. When the motor 902 is driven in one direction, the element 916 moves axially due to the internal threads and engages the face teeth between the element 916 itself and the corresponding teeth on the spool 908. The generally stationary shaft 912 has a friction element 922 to resist rotation during axial advancement and engagement. When engagement is complete and the face teeth are fully engaged, the external threads of the shaft 912 will experience torque. Beyond a certain torque level, the motor 902 and gear reduction system 904 will overcome the torsional friction element 922 and the shaft 912 will rotate. In the illustrated embodiment, friction element 922 is an O-ring on shaft 912, which is received in a housing. The O-ring pressure may be adjusted by a screw that may be clamped onto the O-ring. In other embodiments, the torsional friction may be achieved by a plurality of means. For example, in another embodiment, torsional friction may be accomplished when a coulomb friction device such as an adjustable face clutch is adjustable, for example using steel or brass to nylon or other brake pad material and adjustable by an axial spring tensioner. In other embodiments, the torsional friction may also be accomplished electrically through a particle clutch or hydraulically through a rotary damper. In some embodiments, the number of turns to reach disengagement can be coordinated, from full lacing tension to no tension, if desired. In this manner, incremental release may be accomplished anywhere in the confines of the tensioned lace.

In the illustrated embodiment, the rapid slack winding can be accomplished by a constant force spring (not shown) stored on a freely rotating spool 930 and unwound onto one end 930 of spool 908.

In some embodiments, the lace may exit and tend to pass through rounded eyelets in the housing to prevent lace wear and increase lace fatigue life. In some embodiments, these outlets may be located at least 1/2 away from the spool diameter of the spool to help the lace to wind more or less horizontally onto the spool to maximize its capacity.

In some embodiments, the user-activated manual release element also provides that the user should each time find themselves in a tight shoe without remaining battery life. A number of methods may be used to manually decouple the spool from the load holding mechanism and the motor/gearbox mechanism. For example, a tapered blade (not shown) may be inserted between the teeth on spool 908 and element 916 to separate them by a spring element that allows axial movement of spool 908 in a separation direction.

Fig. 44 and 45 show schematic views of an alternative tensioning and release mechanism that may be used with a motorized tensioning system. For reference purposes, the mechanism is shown in isolation from other components of the tensioning device. The mechanism may be used to achieve tensioning, load retention, incremental release, and full release.

In this design, a cam system and latches are used. Referring to fig. 44 and 45, the load holding mechanism 938 includes a final output gear 940 of a gear reduction system (not shown), the gear 940 being connected to a cylindrical plate 942 having a single drive pawl 944 near its center. In the direction of pull, the motor is continuously driven and the pawl 944 is driven by a pawl in an output ring 946 attached to the spool. The output ring 946 has an inner pawl 948 driven by the plate 942 and an outer female tooth 950 that engages an outer load holding pawl 954. The external load holding pawl 954 resists the spool torque when the motor is stopped. It can be seen that the plate 942 not only has an inner drive pawl 944 but also has a cam member 945 on the outer periphery of the plate 942 that periodically disengages the outer load holding pawl 954. When the load is stopped and maintained, the outer pawl 954 is engaged. The cylindrical plate 942 then begins to support for incremental release. First, the output is not released. One of the cam elements 945 on the plate 942 then releases the outer load holding pawl 954. When this occurs, the output ring 946 catches the pawl 954 and then the load holding pawl 954 engages and the mechanism stops in the incremental load holding position. In this way an incremental release is achieved. For this operation, a limit switch is used to monitor the plate 942 and stops in each incremental release position. In the embodiment shown, there are six stop positions or every 60 degrees of rotation. This number may vary based on space requirements and the desired incremental lace release turns. For example, as few as 1 stop and as many as 12 may be used per revolution.

For a full release, the mechanism 938 must stop so that both the inner and outer jaws are released simultaneously. More than one release pawl 960 is required to complete the process. In the figure, the pawl 960 has three positions. Fully retracted, actuator extended, and release cam extended. After tensioning, the jaws 960 are fully retracted. When the incremental release is actuated, the inner jaw 944 will likely pass the outer jaw 960 and place the outer jaw 960 into the fully released position. So when full release is required, the inner jaw 944 will move into a position in which both the inner and outer jaws are raised and the user is free to withdraw the lace and remove the item while encountering only the minimum resistance provided by the slack take-off mechanism (slack take-up mechanism).

Fig. 46 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an article of footwear 3010 that includes an upper 3155 and a sole structure 3150 secured to the upper 3155. In some embodiments, sole structure 3150 may include a midsole 3151 and an insole 3054. The insole 3054 may be removably inserted into the footwear 3010, as illustrated by arrow 3055.

Fig. 46 also illustrates a motorized tensioning system 3020 that may be removably attached to the footwear 3010. The footwear 3010 and tensioning system 3020 may have the same or similar attributes as the footwear and tensioning system discussed above. For example, the tensioning system may include a tensioning device, a power source, and other component parts in housing 3025 that may be removably attached to upper 3155, e.g., to a heel portion of footwear 3010.

In addition, footwear 3010 may include various additional components that are positioned in sole structure 3150. For example, in some embodiments, footwear 3010 may include cushioning elements 3080 in the heel portion of sole structure 3150. Cushioning element 3080 may be incorporated into midsole 3151. In some embodiments, cushioning element 3080 may include a chamber containing a pressurized fluid. In some embodiments, cushioning element 3080 may comprise a foam cushioning material.

In some embodiments, footwear 3010 may include removable electronic devices 3065 in the heel portions of sole structure 3150. As indicated by arrow 3070, the electronic device 3065 may be removably inserted into a recess 3060 in the midsole 3151 beneath the insole 3054. The electronic device 3065 can include a data acquisition component 3075 configured to collect performance data. In some embodiments, footwear 3010 may include both cushioning elements 3080 and electronic devices 3065. For example, as shown in fig. 46, cushioning elements 3080 may be located in the heel region of midsole 3151 and electronic device 3060 may be located in the midfoot region of midsole 3151.

Because the forefoot region of midsole 3151 may have a relatively minimal height, the location of cushioning elements 3080 and electronic packages 3060 in midsole 3151 may leave less room for additional components in sole structure 3150. Thus, the attachment of housing 3025 of tensioning system 3020 to the outer heel portion of upper 3155 may enable use of motorized tensioning in footwear that includes element portions incorporated into midsole 3151.

In some embodiments, the motorized tensioning system may be incorporated into different arrangements of components. For example, as shown in fig. 47, a motorized tensioning system 4125 may be removably attachable to an article of footwear 4010. The components and operation of tensioning system 4125 may be similar to the other tensioning systems discussed above. For example, the tensioning system 4125 may include a housing 4126 that is removably attachable to a heel portion of the footwear 4010. Further, housing 4126 may house motorized tensioning device 4200, power supply 4205, and control unit 4210. However, in some embodiments, as shown in fig. 47, when tensioning system 4125 is installed on footwear 4010, tensioning device 4200 may be placed on the medial or lateral side of footwear 4010. Further, in some embodiments, as shown in fig. 47, when the tensioning system 4125 is installed on footwear 4125, the power source 4205 may be placed in the rearmost portion of the heel portion of footwear 4010. In some instances, this arrangement may be advantageous, for example, when the tensioning device 4200 has a lower profile than the power supply 4205. It is desirable to maintain a minimum width of the tensioning system 4125, and therefore, it may be preferable to accommodate larger sized batteries on the rearmost portion of the heel portion.

This arrangement may also advantageously operate an alternative lacing arrangement. For example, as shown in figure 48, in some embodiments, an article of footwear 5010 can include a lacing area 5175 located on a medial side or a lateral side of the footwear 5010. Such a lacing arrangement may provide improved fit and may be capable of conforming tautness without placing excessive pressure on various portions of the foot, such as the instep area. Moreover, locating lacing region 5175 away from the instep region may enable a relatively smooth surface of footwear 5010 to be presented in the instep region. This smooth surface may be desirable for soccer balls to improve the accuracy of kicking the ball and to prevent uneven material from affecting the foot.

The motorized tensioning system 5125 may be removably attachable to the footwear 5010, and may include components similar to the tensioning systems discussed above. For example, the tensioning system 5125 can include a motorized tensioning device, a power source, and a control unit housed within the housing 5126. The tensioning system 5125 may also include a tensile member. The tensile member may comprise a plurality of portions connectable with a manual coupling, such as connector 5035. For example, tensile member may include a first tensile member portion 5130 associated with housing 5126. In addition, the tensile member may include second tensile member portion 5135 and third tensile member portion 5136 that may be laced via lacing area 5175. Since both ends of first tensile member portion 5130 may enter housing 5126 on the same side of footwear 5010, it may be desirable to locate the tensioning device on the side of footwear 5010 closest to the entry location of first tensile member portion 5130.

Heel mounted motorized tensioning systems may enable other lacing configurations to be used. For example, because lace tension in heel-mounted tensioning systems is applied from the heel area, and because tensioning is automatic, the lacing area need not be exposed. Thus, a blind lacing system may be used. For example, in some embodiments, a lacing system is designed wherein the lacing area is under the foot in the sole structure of the shoe.

Fig. 49 shows an article of footwear 6010. Footwear 6010 may include a sole structure 6150 and an upper 6155 secured to sole structure 6150. Further, fig. 49 shows a motorized tensioning system 6125. Tensioning system 6125 may be removably attachable to footwear 6010, and may include components similar to the tensioning systems discussed above. For example, tensioning system 6125 may include a motorized tensioning device, a power source, and a control unit housed within housing 6126. Tensioning system 6125 may also include a tensile member. The tensile member may include a plurality of portions connectable with a manual coupling. For example, a tensile member may include a first tensile member portion 6130 associated with outer shell 6126. Further, the tensile member may include a second tensile member portion 6136 that may be laced into lacing region 6175. Second tensile member portion 6136 may be removably attached to first tensile member portion 6130 via manual coupler 6140. Thus, due to the removability of the shell 6126 from the upper 6155 and the manual connector 6140, the shell 6126 and its contents, as well as the first tensile member, may be replaced.

As shown in fig. 49, tightening region 6175 may be built-in, for example, in footbed 6005 of sole structure 6150. Second tensile member portion 6136 may enter sole structure 6150 adjacent first peripheral edge 6025 and second peripheral edge 6030 of footbed 6005. Additionally, second tensile member portion 6136 may be placed in slot 6020 in footbed 6005. A second tensile member portion 6136 may extend between anchor members positioned adjacent the first peripheral edge 6025 and second peripheral edge 6030 of the footbed 6005. For example, first anchor member 6011, second anchor member 6012, and third anchor member 6013 may be positioned adjacent to first peripheral edge 6025. Further, fourth anchor member 6014, fifth anchor member 6015, and third anchor member 6016 may be positioned adjacent to second peripheral edge 6030. These anchor members may be secured to upper 6155. As tensioning system 6125 applies tension to the tensile member, second tensile member portion 6136 may draw the anchor members closer to each other, thus tightening upper 6155 around the foot. Additional details of an exemplary footbed lacing System are provided in U.S. patent No. 8,387,282 to Baker et al, entitled "Cable lighting System for an Article of Footwear", entitled 3/5 in 2013, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, the description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the embodiments. Accordingly, the embodiments are not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. Further, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A tensioning system for an article of footwear, comprising:

a motorized tensioning device configured to apply tension in a tensile member to adjust a size of an interior cavity defined by the article of footwear,

a housing configured to house the motorized tensioning device and attached to a heel portion of the article of footwear, the housing having a shape conforming to a heel counter of the article of footwear and being configured to at least partially surround medial and lateral sides of the heel portion,

wherein the motorized tensioning device comprises:

a spool member configured to rotate about a central axis, the spool member including a shaft and at least one flange disposed along the shaft;

wherein the at least one flange includes a hole extending through the flange;

wherein the aperture is configured to receive a lace;

wherein the reel member is configured to tension the tensioning system by winding the lace around portions of the shaft disposed on both sides of the at least one flange;

wherein a power source and a control unit are integrated into the motorized tightening device and disposed in the housing, the power source being located on one of a medial side and a lateral side of the heel portion, the control unit being located on the other of the medial side and the lateral side of the heel portion.

2. The tensioning system according to claim 1, wherein the reel member rotates about the central axis in a first rotational direction to wrap the lace to tighten the tensioning system.

3. The tensioning system according to claim 2, wherein the reel member rotates about the central axis in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction to unwind the lace to loosen the tensioning system.

4. The tensioning system of claim 3, wherein rotation in at least one of the first and second rotational directions is performed using a motor associated with the tensioning system.

5. The tensioning system according to claim 3, wherein rotation in the second rotational direction is performed by applying tension to the lace when the tensioning system is in an untightened state.

6. The tensioning system of claim 1, wherein the flange extends radially outward from the shaft; and is provided with

Wherein the bore is spaced from the shaft.

7. The tensioning system of claim 1, wherein the aperture is positioned adjacent a peripheral edge of the flange.

8. A tensioning system for an article of footwear, comprising:

wherein the motorized tensioning device comprises:

a motor;

a spool member in communication with the motor, the spool member including a shaft and at least three flanges disposed along the shaft; the tensioning system further comprises:

a lace, wherein a portion of the lace extends through an aperture in a central flange to interconnect the lace with the spool member;

wherein the lace is configured to wrap around portions of the shaft disposed on opposite sides of the central flange when the tensioning system is in a tensioned state;

9. The tensioning system of claim 8, wherein the at least three flanges include a first end flange, the center flange, and a second end flange; and is provided with

Wherein the central flange is located on the shaft between the first end flange and the second end flange.

10. A tensioning system for an article of footwear, comprising:

wherein the motorized tensioning device comprises:

a spool member, the spool member comprising:

a shaft; and

at least one flange extending radially outward from the shaft;

wherein the at least one flange includes a hole extending through the flange;

11. The tensioning system of claim 10, wherein the spool member further comprises at least three flanges; and is

Wherein the central flange includes the aperture.

12. The tensioning system as in claim 10, wherein the spool member further comprises first and second ends disposed at opposite ends along a central axis of the spool member; and is

Wherein the spool member includes a screw disposed at the second end.

13. The tensioning system of claim 12, wherein the screw is configured to receive a gear in communication with a motor of the tensioning system to rotate the spool member about the central axis.

14. The tensioning system according to claim 12, wherein the reel member is configured to receive a lace threaded through the aperture; and is

Wherein rotation of the reel member about the central axis in a first rotational direction is configured to wind portions of the lace on opposite sides of the at least one flange.