ES2954618T3 - Article of footwear provided with an automatic lacing system - Google Patents

Abstract

A lacing system for an article of footwear includes a sole structure, an upper part attached to the sole structure, the upper part comprising a lateral side, a medial side and an instep region, a housing disposed adjacent to the upper region upper, wherein a first lace and a second lace extend through a plurality of eyelets along the upper part and into the housing, a motor disposed within the housing, the motor comprising a motor shaft and a motor gear, and a gear train in communication with the motor gear. When the motor shaft rotates, the first bead and the second bead are drawn into the housing through a wheel gear that is in communication with the gear train. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Article of footwear provided with an automatic lacing system

BACKGROUND

1. Field of invention

The present disclosure relates generally to an article of footwear that includes an automatic lacing system that includes an electronic assembly for automatically tightening or loosening one or more laces.

2. Description of background

Many conventional shoes or articles of footwear generally comprise an upper portion and a sole attached to a lower end of the upper portion. Conventional shoes further include an internal space, that is, a void or cavity, created by the interior surfaces of the upper and sole, that receives a wearer's foot before attaching the shoe to the foot. The sole is attached to a lower surface of the upper and is located between it and the ground. As a result, the sole typically provides stability and cushioning to the wearer when the shoe is worn and/or in use. In some cases, the sole may include multiple components, such as an outsole, a midsole, and an insole. The outsole may provide traction to a bottom surface of the sole, and the midsole may be attached to an inner surface of the outsole, and may provide added cushioning and/or stability to the sole. For example, a sole may include a particular foam material that may increase stability at one or more desired locations along the sole, or a foam material that may reduce stress or impact energy on the foot and/or or leg when a user is running, walking or engaging in another activity.

The upper part generally extends upward from the sole and defines an interior cavity that fully or partially encloses a foot. In most cases, the upper part extends over the instep and toe regions, and along its medial and lateral aspects. Many articles of footwear may also include a tongue that extends across the instep region to bridge a space between the edges of the medial and lateral sides of the upper, which define an opening into the cavity. The tongue may also be located below a lacing system and between the medial and lateral sides of the upper of the shoe. The tongue can also be manipulated by a user to allow the entry and/or exit of a foot from the internal space or cavity. Additionally, the lacing system may allow the user to adjust certain dimensions of the upper and/or sole, thereby allowing the upper to adapt to a wide variety of foot types with different sizes and shapes.

The upper may comprise a wide variety of materials, which may be chosen based on one or more intended uses of the shoe. The upper part may also include portions comprising various materials specific to a particular area of the upper part. For example, greater stability in the front of the upper or in the area adjacent to the heel may be desirable to provide a greater degree of strength or rigidity. Conversely, other portions of the shoe may include a soft fabric that provides stretch resistance, flexibility, air permeability, or moisture-wicking properties.

Furthermore, lacing systems associated with typical shoes have historically included a single lace that is passed through a plurality of eyelets in a criss-cross or parallel fashion. Many shoes have historically included laces that extend from one side of the upper to the other, that is, from the medial side to the lateral side of the upper. The lace of each shoe is tied through the eyelets and the two ends of the lace extend outside the eyelets so that a user can grasp the ends and tie the shoe in any way the user sees fit. Some shoes do not require the wearer to tie the laces, but instead include elastic laces that can stretch when the wearer puts the shoe on and return to their original tension when the wearer takes it off.

Furthermore, some shoes do not include laces, such as slip-on shoes, and some shoes include straps that can be adjusted to vary the fit of the shoe. With respect to shoes that include laces, it may be desirable to use a system that can automatically tie shoe laces, for example, in situations where a user may desire adjustability of laces under different circumstances. It may also be desirable to have an automatic lacing system for users who have difficulty tying their shoes, such as the elderly or infirm. It may also be desirable to include a lacing system in which the laces do not apply forces along an upper portion of the foot; rather, when the laces are tightened, forces are applied along the medial and lateral sides of the foot. Even further, it may be desirable to include a system by which shoes can be tied automatically through a graphical user interface displayed on a portable electronic device.

Therefore, footwear items that have uppers with self-lacing systems may be desired. Examples of lacing systems are disclosed in WO 2017/185160 A1, WO 2016 195957 139 U, WO 2017/059876 A1 and US 2017/0265573 A1.

SUMMARY

The invention relates to an article of footwear as specified in the attached independent claim 1. Other embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

Other aspects of the footwear articles described herein, including the features and advantages thereof, will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon examination of the figures and detailed description herein. Therefore, all these aspects of the footwear articles must be included in the detailed description and in the present summary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic lacing footwear assembly including a pair of shoes comprising an automatic lacing system, a charger for charging one or more batteries within the pair of shoes, a battery cartridge for receiving a battery for charging, and an electronic device, such as a mobile phone, that can be used to send one or more signals to the automatic lacing system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pair of shoes of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of one of the shoes of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the shoe of FIG. 3 with an outer mesh layer removed; FIG. 5 is a left lateral or medial view of the shoe of FIG. 3 with an outer mesh layer removed;

FIG. 6A is a top view of the shoe of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6B is a top plan view of the footwear article of FIG. 3, with the upper part removed and the skeletal structure of the user's foot superimposed;

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the automatic lacing system along the shoe of FIG. 3; FIG. 8 is a right side view of the shoe of FIG. 3 illustrating the layers that make up the upper part of the shoe;

FIG. 9A is a detailed top phantom view of the internal components of the automatic lacing system of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9B is a detailed perspective phantom view of the internal components of the automatic lacing system of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10A is a detailed top phantom view of the internal components of another embodiment of an automatic lacing system;

FIG. 10B is a detailed perspective phantom view of the internal components of the automatic lacing system of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of some components of the automatic lacing system of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is another exploded perspective view of the components of the automatic lacing system of FIG. eleven;

FIG. 13 is an exploded bottom view of the components of the automatic lacing system of FIG. eleven;

FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the components of the automatic lacing system of FIG. eleven; FIG. 15 is an exploded side view of the components of the automatic lacing system of FIG. 11 with a gear housing turned upside down for illustrative purposes;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a flexible printed circuit that is configured to be arranged within the automatic lacing system of FIGS. 11-15;

FIG. 17A is a side view of one of the shoes of FIG. 2 in a loosened configuration;

FIG. 17B is a side view of one of the shoes of FIG. 2 in a tight configuration; FIGS. 18A-18M depict top views of an automatic lacing system control panel/display in various states and showing various responses to one or more input commands or states; FIG. 19 is a side view of the pair of shoes and charger of FIG. 1, placing the pair of shoes on the charger for charging;

FIG. 20 is a top view of the charger of FIG. 1 with the power cord disconnected; FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the battery cartridge of FIG. 1 in an open configuration, with a battery disposed within the battery cartridge;

FIG. 22 is a top view of a sole of the shoe of FIG. 2 and a battery of the automatic lacing system of FIG. 7;

FIGS 23A-C show top, side and perspective views of a battery box of the automatic lacing system;

FIG. 24 is a top view of one of the shoes of FIG. 2 showing a step of removing an insole to access a battery that is arranged within the sole or midsole;

FIG. 25 is a top view of the shoe of FIG. 24 showing a battery extraction step that is arranged within the sole or midsole;

FIG. 26 is a top view of a control printed circuit board (PCB) including one or more controllers, controllers, memory and other electrical components;

FIG. 27 is another electronic diagram depicting various electrical components of the automatic lacing system according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 28 is another electronic diagram showing various electrical components of the automatic lacing system;

FIG. 29 is another electronic diagram showing various electrical components of the automatic lacing system;

FIG. 30 is another electronic diagram showing various electrical components of the automatic lacing system;

FIG. 31 is another electronic diagram showing various electrical components of the automatic lacing system;

FIG. 32 is another electronic diagram showing various electrical components of the automatic lacing system;

FIG. 33 is another electronic diagram showing various electrical components of the automatic lacing system;

FIG. 34 is another electronic diagram showing various electrical components of the automatic lacing system;

FIG. 35 is a block diagram of various electrical components of the automatic lacing system; FIG. 36 is a view of a graphical user interface depicting a first screen that allows a user to control the automatic lacing system of the present disclosure;

FIG. 37 is a view of a graphical user interface depicting a second screen that allows a user to control the automatic lacing system of the present disclosure;

FIG. 38 is a view of a graphical user interface depicting a third screen that allows a user to control the automatic lacing system of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 39 is a view of a graphical user interface depicting a fourth screen that allows a user to control the automatic lacing system of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following discussion and accompanying figures describe various embodiments or configurations of a shoe and an automatic shoe lacing system. Although the embodiments are described with reference to a sports shoe, such as a running shoe, a tennis shoe, a basketball shoe, etc., the concepts associated with the shoe embodiments can be applied to a wide range of footwear and footwear styles, including basketball shoes, cross-training shoes, soccer shoes, golf shoes, hiking shoes, hiking boots, ski and snowboard boots, soccer shoes and cleats, sports shoes walking and athletic cleats, for example. The shoe or automatic lacing system concepts can also be applied to footwear items considered non-sports, such as dress shoes, sandals, loafers, sneakers, and high heels. In addition to footwear, the particular concepts described herein, such as the self-lacing concept, may also be applied and incorporated into other types of articles, including clothing or other athletic equipment, such as helmets, pads or protectors, shin guards and gloves. Furthermore, the particular concepts described herein may be incorporated into cushions, backpacks, suitcases, backpack straps, golf clubs or other consumer or industrial products. Accordingly, the concepts described herein can be used in various products.

The term "swipe" or variations thereof used herein refers to an act or instance of moving fingers across a touch panel or screen to activate a function. A "swipe" involves touching a panel or touch screen, moving your finger along the panel or touch screen in a first direction, and then removing your finger from the panel or touch screen.

The present disclosure is directed to an article of footwear and/or specific components of the article of footwear, such as an upper and/or a sole or sole structure, and an automatic lacing system. The upper part may be made up of a knitted component, a fabric, a non-woven fabric, leather, mesh, suede and/or a combination of one or more of the mentioned materials. The knitted component can be manufactured by weaving yarns, the woven textile by weaving yarns, and the nonwoven textile by manufacturing a unitary nonwoven fabric. Knitted fabrics include fabrics formed by warp, weft, flat, circular and/or other suitable knitting operations. The knitted fabric may have a plain knit structure, a mesh knit structure and/or a rib knit structure, for example. Woven textiles include, but are not limited to, textiles formed by any of numerous forms of weaving, such as plain weave, twill weave, satin weave, dobbin weave, jacquard weave, double weaves and/or or double fabric fabrics, for example. Nonwoven textiles include, for example, those manufactured by air-laid and/or spun-laid processes. The upper part may comprise various materials, such as a first thread, a second thread and/or a third thread, which may have different properties or visual characteristics.

FIG. 1 depicts a footwear assembly 20 including a pair of shoes 22, each of which includes an automatic lacing system 24; a charger 26 for charging one or more batteries (not shown) that are arranged inside each of the shoes 22, a charging cartridge 28 for receiving a battery (not shown) for charging when the battery has been removed from one of the shoes 22, and an electronic device 30, which may be a mobile phone or a tablet, which may be used to send one or more signals to the automatic lacing system 24 based on one or more inputs from a user. Footwear assembly 20 may include additional components not specifically discussed herein.

As discussed in more detail below, the footwear assembly 20 is intended to allow a user to tighten or loosen the shoelaces 22 by sliding, tapping, pressing or applying pressure to a control panel 32 of the automatic lacing system 24. As non-limiting examples, a user can slide down along the panel 32 of the automatic lacing system 24 to close or tighten the laces of the automatic lacing system 24, slide up to open or loosen the laces, touch one end top of panel 32 to more precisely loosen the laces, or touch a lower end of panel 32 to more precisely tighten the laces. These and other features will be described in more detail below.

Referring to FIG. 2, shoes 22 are shown in greater detail. The shoes 22 comprise a first shoe or left shoe 40 and a second shoe or right shoe 42. The left shoe 40 and the right shoe 42 may be similar in all material aspects, except that the left shoe 40 and the right shoe 42 They are sized and shaped to receive a left foot and a right foot of a user, respectively. In order to facilitate disclosure, reference will be made to a single shoe or article of footwear 44 to describe aspects of the disclosure. In some figures, the article of footwear 44 is represented as a right shoe, and in some figures the article of footwear is represented as a left shoe. The information set forth below with reference to the article of footwear 44 is applicable to both the left shoe 40 and the right shoe 42. In some embodiments, there may be differences between the left shoe 40 and the right shoe 42 other than the left/right configuration. right. For example, in some embodiments, the left shoe 40 may include the automatic lacing system 24, while the right shoe 42 may not include the automatic lacing system 24, or vice versa. Additionally, in some embodiments, the left shoe 40 may include one or more additional elements that the right shoe 42 does not include, or vice versa. As discussed below, the article of footwear 44 need not include the automatic lacing system 24, but rather may be laced manually in accordance with the lacing system described herein.

FIGS. 3-6B depict an exemplary embodiment of footwear article 44 that includes an upper portion 50 and a sole structure 52. As will be seen later, the upper portion 50 is attached to the sole structure 52 and together they define an interior cavity. 54 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) into which a user's foot can be inserted. For reference, footwear article 44 defines a forefoot region 56, a midfoot region 58, and a heel region 60 (see FIGS. 6A and 6B). The forefoot region 56 generally corresponds to portions of the article of footwear 44 that surround portions of the foot that include the toes, the ball of the foot and the joints that connect the metatarsals with the toes or phalanges. The midfoot region 58 is proximal and contiguous to the forefoot region 56, and generally corresponds to portions of the footwear article 44 that envelop the arch of a foot, along with the arch of a foot. The heel region 60 is proximal and adjacent to the midfoot region 58 and generally corresponds to portions of the footwear article 44 that envelop posterior portions of the foot, including the heel bone or calcaneus, the ankle, and/or the tendon. of Achilles.

Many conventional shoe uppers are made up of multiple elements, for example textiles, polymer foam, polymer sheets, leather and/or synthetic leather, which are joined together by means of gluing or sewing in a seam. In some embodiments, the upper portion 50 of the footwear article 44 is formed of a knit structure or knit components. In various embodiments, a knit component may incorporate various types of yarn that may provide different properties to a top. For example, an area of the upper part 50 may be formed by a first type of yarn that imparts a first set of properties, and another area of the upper part 50 may be formed by a second type of yarn that imparts a second set of properties. properties. By using this configuration, the properties of the upper part 50 can be varied throughout the upper part 50 by selecting specific yarns for different areas of the upper part 50. In a preferred embodiment, and with reference to FIG. 8, the footwear article 44 includes a first layer or mesh layer 62 and a second layer or base layer 64. The base layer 64 may include multiple layers, such as an outer surface 66 on which there may be a plurality of eyelets 68. , and an inner surface 70 that engages a foot when a user puts on the footwear article 44. The mesh layer 62 and the base layer 64 may be connected at one or more points along the footwear article 44.

With reference to the material or materials that make up the upper part 50, the specific properties that a particular type of yarn will impart to an area of a knitted component may depend, at least partially, on the materials that make up the various filaments and fibers of the yarn. . For example, cotton can provide a soft feel, biodegradability, or a natural aesthetic to a knitted material. Both elastane and stretch polyester can provide a knit component with the desired stretch and recovery. Rayon can provide a very shiny and moisture-wicking material, wool can provide a material with greater moisture absorption, nylon can be a durable and abrasion-resistant material, and polyester can provide a hydrophobic and durable.

Other aspects of a point component may also be varied to affect the properties of the point component and provide desired attributes. For example, a yarn that forms a knit component may include monofilament yarn or multifilament yarn, or the yarn may include filaments that are each formed from two or more different materials. Furthermore, a knitted component may be formed by using a particular knitting process to impart particular properties to an area of a knitted component. Accordingly, both the yarn-forming materials and other aspects of the yarn can be selected to impart a variety of properties to particular areas of the upper 50.

In some embodiments, the elasticity of a knit structure can be measured by comparing the width or length of the knit structure in a first unstretched state with the width or length of the knit structure in a second stretched state after applying a forces the knit structure in a lateral direction. In other embodiments, the top 50 may also include additional structural elements. For example, in some embodiments, a heel plate or cover (not shown) may be provided in the heel region 60 to provide added support to a user's heel. In some cases, other elements, for example, plastic material, logos, trademarks, etc., can also be applied and attached to an exterior surface through the use of glue or a thermoforming process. In some embodiments, properties associated with the upper part 50, for example, a stitch type, a thread type, or characteristics associated with different stitch types or thread types, such as elasticity, aesthetic appearance, thickness, air permeability air, or resistance to scratches, can be varied.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the footwear article 44 also defines a lateral side 80 and a medial side 82, with the lateral side 80 shown in FIG. 4 and the medial side 82 shown in FIG. 5. When a user is wearing the footwear, the lateral side 80 corresponds to an outer part of the footwear article 44, while the medial side 82 corresponds to an inner part of the footwear article 44. As such, the left shoe 40 and the right shoe 42 have opposite lateral sides 80 and medial sides 82, such that the medial sides 82 are closer to each other when a user is wearing the shoes 22, while the lateral sides 80 are defined as the sides which are further away from each other while shoes 22 are in use. As will be explained in more detail below, the medial side 82 and the lateral side 80 are contiguous at opposite distal ends of the footwear article 44.

With reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the medial side 82 and the lateral side 80 abut each other along a longitudinal central plane or axis 84 of the footwear article 44. As will be seen later, the longitudinal central plane or axis 84 may demarcate an axis central intermediate between the medial side 82 and the lateral side 80 of the footwear article 44. In other words, the longitudinal plane or axis 84 may extend between a rear distal end 86 of the footwear article 44 and a front distal end 88 of the article of footwear 44 and may continuously define a middle of an insole 90, the sole structure 52, and/or the upper part 50 of the article of footwear 44, that is, the longitudinal plane or axis 84 is a straight shaft extending through the rear distal end 86 of the heel region 60 to the front distal end 88 of the forefoot region 56.

Unless otherwise specified, and with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the footwear article 44 may be defined by the forefoot region 56, the midfoot region 58, and the heel region 60. The forefoot region 56 may generally correspond to portions of the footwear article 44 that envelop portions of a foot 92 that include the toes or phalanges 94, the ball of the foot 96, and one or more of the joints 98 that connect the metatarsals 100 of the foot. foot 92 with toes or phalanges 94. Region 58 of the midfoot is close to and abuts region 56 of the forefoot. The midfoot region 58 generally corresponds to portions of the footwear article 44 that surround an arch of a foot 92, along with a foot arch 92. The heel region 60 is proximal to the midfoot region 58 and abuts the region of the midfoot 58. The heel region 60 generally corresponds to portions of the footwear article 44 that envelop posterior portions of the foot 92, including the heel bone or calcaneus 104, the ankle (not shown), and/or the Achilles tendon (not shown).

Still with reference to Figs. 6A and 6B, the forefoot region 56, the midfoot region 58, the heel region 60, the medial side 82, and the lateral side 80 are intended to define boundaries or areas of the footwear article 44. To this end, the Forefoot region 56, midfoot region 58, heel region 60, medial side 82, and lateral side 80 generally characterize sections of footwear article 44. Certain aspects of the disclosure may relate to portions or elements that are coextensive with one or more of the forefoot region 56, the midfoot region 58, the heel region 60, the medial side 82, and/or the lateral side 80. Additionally, both the upper portion 50 and the sole structure 52 may be characterized as having portions within the forefoot region 56, the midfoot region 58, the heel region 60, and/or along the medial side 82 and/or or the lateral side 80. Therefore, the upper part 50 and the sole structure 52, and/or individual portions of the upper part 50 and the sole structure 52, may include portions thereof that are disposed within the forefoot region 56, midfoot region 58, heel region 60, and/or along the medial side 82 and/or the lateral side 80.

Still with reference to Figs. 6A and 6B, the forefoot region 56, the midfoot region 58, the heel region 60, the medial side 82 and the lateral side 80 are shown in detail. The forefoot region 56 extends from one end of the toe box 110. to a wider portion 112 of the footwear article 44. The wider portion 112 is defined or measured along a first line 114 that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 84 extending from a distal portion of the end of the toe cap. 110 to a distal portion of an end of the heel 116, which is opposite to the end of the toe 110. The midfoot region 58 extends from the wider portion 112 to a thinner portion 118 of the footwear article 44. The wider portion Thin section 118 of the footwear article 44 is defined as the thinnest portion of the footwear article 44 measured across a second line 120 that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 84. The heel region 60 extends from the thinnest portion 118. to the end of the heel 116 of the footwear article 44.

It should be understood that numerous modifications may be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description, and their individual components may be incorporated into numerous articles of footwear. Accordingly, aspects of the footwear article 44 and its components may be described with reference to general areas or portions of the footwear article 44, it being understood that the boundaries of the forefoot region 56, the midfoot region 58, the heel, medial side 82, and/or lateral side 80, as described herein, may vary between articles of footwear.

However, aspects of the footwear article 44 and its individual components may also be described with reference to exact areas or portions of the footwear article 44 and the scope of the claims appended herein may incorporate the limitations associated with these limits of the forefoot region 56, the midfoot region 58, the heel region 60, the medial side 82, and/or the lateral side 80 discussed herein.

Still referring to Figs. 6A and 6B, the medial side 82 begins at the distal end of the toe 88 and bends outwardly along an inner side of the footwear article 44 along the forefoot region 56 toward the midfoot region 58. The medial side 82 reaches the first line 114, at which point the medial side 82 bends inward towards the central longitudinal axis 84. The medial side 82 extends from the first line 114, that is, the widest portion 112, towards the second line 120, that is, the thinnest portion 118, the point at which the medial side 82 enters the mid-foot region 58, that is, crossing the first line 114. Once the second line 120 is reached, The medial face 82 is bent outward, away from the central longitudinal axis 84, at which time the medial face 82 extends to the heel region 60, i.e., crossing the second line 120. The medial face 82 is then bent. outward and then inward towards the end of the heel 86, and ends at a point where the medial side 82 meets the central longitudinal axis 84.

Still with reference to Figs. 6A and 6B, the lateral side 80 also begins at the distal end of the toe box 88 and curves outwardly along an outer side of the footwear article 44 along the forefoot region 56 toward the midfoot region 58. The lateral side 80 reaches the first line 114, at which point the lateral side 80 bends inward towards the central longitudinal axis 84. The lateral side 80 extends from the first line 114, i.e., the widest portion 112. , towards the second line 120, that is, the thinnest portion 118, the point at which the lateral side 80 enters the middle region of the foot 58, that is, when crossing the first line 114. Once the second line 120 is reached , the lateral side 80 bends outward, away from the central longitudinal axis 84, at which time the side Lateral side 80 extends towards the region of the heel 60, that is, crossing the second line 120. The lateral side 80 then bends outward and then inward towards the end of the heel 86, and ends at a point where the lateral side 80 meets the longitudinal, central axis 84.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, the sole structure 52 is connected or attached to the upper part 50 and extends between a foot of a user and the ground when the article of footwear 44 is worn by the user. The sole structure 52 may also include one or more components, which may include an outsole, a midsole, a heel, an upper, and/or an insole. For example, in some embodiments, a sole structure may include an outsole that provides structural integrity to the sole structure, along with providing traction for a user, a midsole that provides a cushioning system, and an insole that provides support for a bow of a user.

With reference to FIGS. 4-6A the sole structure 52 of the present embodiment may be characterized by an outsole or outsole region 130, a midsole region 132, and an insole or insole region 134 (see FIG. 6A). The sole region 130, the midsole region 132, and the insole region 134, and/or any of their components, may include portions within the forefoot region 56, the midfoot region 58, and/or region 60 of the heel. Additionally, the sole region 130, the midsole region 132, and the insole region 134, and/or any of their components, may include portions on the lateral side 80 and/or on the medial side 82.

In other cases, the sole region 130 may be defined as a portion of the sole structure 52 that at least partially contacts an exterior surface, for example, the ground, when the article of footwear 44 is worn. The insole region 134 may be defined as a portion of the sole structure 52 that at least partially contacts a user's foot when the article of footwear is worn. Finally, the midsole region 132 may be defined as at least a portion of the sole structure 52 that extends between and connects the outsole region 130 with the insole region 134.

The top 50, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, extends upward from the sole structure 52 and defines the interior cavity 54 that receives and secures the foot of a user. The upper part 50 may be defined by a foot region 136 and an ankle region 138. Generally, the foot region 136 extends upward from the sole structure 52 and through the forefoot region 56, the region of the midfoot region 58 and the heel region 60. The ankle region 138 is mainly located in the heel region 60; However, in some embodiments, the ankle region 138 may partially extend to the midfoot region 58.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, which depict the footwear article 44 without the outer mesh layer 62, show parts of the lace of the automatic lacing system 24 in greater detail. The automatic lacing system 24 includes a housing 140 that defines the panel 32, and lacing including a lateral or first lacing 142 and a medial or second lacing 144. The automatic lacing system 24 also includes a number of electronic components, which will be discussed later. The first bead 142 extends through a plurality of side eyelets 146 and the second bead 144 extends through a plurality of medial eyelets 148. The side eyelets 146 include a first side eyelet 150, a second side eyelet 152, a third lateral eyelet 154, a fourth lateral eyelet 156, and a fifth lateral eyelet 158. The medial eyelets 148 include a first medial eyelet 160, a second medial eyelet 162, a third medial eyelet 164, a fourth medial eyelet 166, and a fifth eyelet medial 168. Both the first bead 142 and the second bead 144 also extend through a first channel or slit 170 and a second channel or slit 172 that are provided within a strap 174 that extends through the middle region of the foot 58, adjacent to a base of a tongue 176. The lateral eyelets 146 are disposed within the entire forefoot region 56, the midfoot region 58 and the heel region 60, and the medial eyelets 148 are disposed within the entire forefoot region 56, midfoot region 58, and heel region 60.

Additionally, both the first bead 142 and the second bead 144 include portions that are disposed within the housing 140, which allows the automatic lacing system 24 to introduce the bead 142, 144, or release the bead 142, 144, depending on a particular input or desired operation of the user. In a preferred embodiment, the first bead 142 and the second bead 144 are closed loops, and each includes a portion that is disposed within the housing 140, a portion that extends through the strap 174, and portions that extend through eyelets 146, 148. In some embodiments, the first lace 142 and/or the second lace 144 may not comprise a closed loop, and instead may have ends that are securely attached to portions of the footwear article 44.

With reference to FIGS. 4, the first lace 142 extends from a first side opening 180 along the shell 140 downward and slightly toward the forefoot region 56 to the first side eyelet 150. The first lace 142 may be bent or angled slightly as it passes through the first side eyelet 150, however, the first bead 142 remains substantially linear as it passes through the first side eyelet 150. The first bead 142 then extends to the second side eyelet 152, through the which the first bead 142 passes as it extends toward the third side eyelet 154. The first bead 142 forms an angle of about 120 degrees as it passes through the second side eyelet. After passing through the second side eyelet 152, the first lace 142 extends toward the forefoot region 56 and through the third side eyelet 154. The first lace 142 forms an angle of about 80 degrees as it passes through the third side eyelet 154. After passing through the third side eyelet 154, the first cord 142 extends upward and backward towards the strap 174. The first cord 142 then passes through of the first channel 170 in the strap 174 toward the heel region, and extends downward toward the fourth side eyelet 156. As it extends toward the fourth side eyelet 156, the first lace 142 crosses over a portion of the first lace 142. extending between the first side eyelet 150 and the second side eyelet 152. In some embodiments, the first bead 142 crosses beneath a portion of the first bead 142 that extends between the first side eyelet 150 and the second side eyelet 152. The first cord 142 forms an angle of about 155 degrees as it passes through the fourth side eyelet 156.

Still referring to FIG. 4, once the fourth side eyelet 156 is reached, the first bead 142 is slightly angled, and extends to the fifth side eyelet 158. The first bead 142 forms an angle of about 50 degrees as it passes through the fifth side eyelet 158. In the fifth side eyelet 158, the first lace 142 snaps back toward the midfoot region 58 and extends upward to a second side opening 182 of the housing 140. The first lace 142 then passes through the second side opening 182 and is inserted into housing 140, as explained in more detail below. Alternative configurations of the bead structure are contemplated as described above, and may include more or fewer eyelets and/or intersections of the first bead 142 with itself. However, as noted above, in a preferred embodiment the first bead 142 crosses over itself only once. In some embodiments, the first bead 142 may cross over itself two, three, four, five, six, or seven times. However, in the preferred embodiment, the specific orientation of the shell 140, the first eyelets 146, and the strap 174, allows the article of footwear 44 to properly and securely tighten around a user's foot, and the forces applied by the first lace 142 and the second lace 144 are distributed over the foot of a user in an efficient and retentive manner in order to apply reduced forces along the foot of a user while wearing the article of footwear 44. In In that sense, a preferred orientation of the first lace 142 is to extend from the shell 140 downward towards the sole structure 52 through two of the first eyelets 146 and through the remaining eyelets, as indicated above.

With reference to FIGS. 5, the second bead 144 extends from a first medial opening 184 along the shell 140 downward and slightly toward the forefoot region 56 to the first medial eyelet 160. The second bead 144 may be bent or angled slightly as it passes through the first medial eyelet 160, however, the second bead 144 remains substantially linear as it passes through the first medial eyelet 160. The second bead 144 then extends to the second medial eyelet 162, through which the second bead 144 passes. as it extends toward the third medial eyelet 164. The second bead 144 forms an angle of about 120 degrees as it passes through the second medial eyelet. After passing through the second medial eyelet 162, the second lace 144 extends toward the forefoot region 56 and through the third medial eyelet 164. The second lace 144 forms an angle of about 80 degrees as it passes through the third medial eyelet 164. 164. After passing through the third medial eyelet 164, the second bead 144 extends upward and backward towards the strap 174. The second bead 144 then passes through the second channel 172 of the strap 174, towards the heel region 60, and then extends downward towards the fourth medial eyelet 166. As it extends towards the fourth medial eyelet 166, the second bead 144 crosses over a portion of the second bead 144 that extends between the first medial eyelet 160 and the second medial eyelet 162. In some embodiments, the second bead 144 crosses below a portion of the second bead 144 that extends between the first medial eyelet 160 and the second medial eyelet 162. The second bead 144 forms an angle of about 155 degrees as it passes through the fourth medial eyelet 166.

Still referring to FIG. 5, once the fourth medial eyelet 166 is reached, the second bead 144 is slightly angled, and extends to the fifth medial eyelet 168. The second bead 144 forms an angle of about 50 degrees as it passes through the fifth medial eyelet 168. In the fifth medial eyelet 168, the second lace 144 snaps back toward the midfoot region 58 and extends upward to a second medial opening 186 of the shell 140. The second lace 144 then passes through the second medial opening 186. 186 and is inserted into housing 140, as explained in more detail below. Alternative configurations of the bead structure are contemplated as described above, and may include more or fewer eyelets and/or intersections of the second bead 144.

As indicated above, the second bead 144 crosses over itself only once. In some embodiments, the second bead 144 may cross over itself two, three, four, five, six, or seven times. However, in the preferred embodiment, the specific orientation of the shell 140, the second eyelets 148, and the strap 174, allows the article of footwear 44 to properly and securely tighten around a user's foot, and the forces applied by the first lace 142 and the second lace 144 are distributed over the foot of a user in an efficient and retentive manner in order to apply reduced forces along the foot of a user while wearing the article of footwear 44. In In that sense, a preferred orientation of the second lace 144 is for it to extend from the shell 140 downward towards the sole structure 52 through two of the second eyelets 148 and through the remaining eyelets, as indicated above.

The lacing system 24 described above may allow a user to modify the dimensions of the upper 50, for example, to tighten or loosen portions of the upper 50, about one foot as desired by the user. As will also be explained in more detail herein, the lacing system 24 may allow the user to modify the fit, as desired by the user. In some embodiments, both the first bead 142 and the second bead 144 are tightened or loosened to the same extent when a user enters a command. In some embodiments, only one of the laces 142 or 144 is tightened or loosened when the user enters a command. In some embodiments, the first bead 142 tightens or loosens to a first tightening level, and the second bead 144 tightens or loosens up to a second tightening level, different from the first tightening level. As such, the first bead 142 and the second bead 144 may be tightened to the same tightening level or may be tightened to different levels.

With reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the upper part 50 extends along the lateral side 80 and the medial side 82, and through the forefoot region 56, the midfoot region 58 and the heel region 60 to house and enclose the foot of a user. When fully assembled, the top 50 also includes an interior surface 190 and an exterior surface 192. The interior surface 190 faces inward and generally defines the interior cavity 54, and the exterior surface 192 of the top 50 faces outward and generally defines an outer perimeter or boundary of the top 50. The inner surface 190 and the outer surface 192 may comprise portions of the layers 62, 64 disclosed above. The upper portion 50 also includes an opening 194 that is located at least partially in the heel region 60 of the footwear article 44, which provides access to the interior cavity 54 and through which a foot can be inserted and removed. In some embodiments, the upper portion 50 may also include an instep region 196 that extends from the opening 194 in the heel region 60 over an area corresponding to an instep of a foot to an area adjacent to the forefoot region 56. The instep area 196 may comprise an area similar to where the tongue 176 of the present embodiment is disposed. In some embodiments, the top 50 does not include the tab 176, that is, the top 50 does not have a tab, and the housing 140 is disposed along a portion of the top 50 as discussed above.

With reference to FIGS. 6A, the housing 140, or its components, may be formed by means of additive manufacturing techniques, such as 3D printing. To this end, various 3D printing techniques can be applied to form the shell 140, such as vat photopolymerization, material injection, binder injection, powder bed fusion, material extrusion, directed energy deposition and/or lamination. of sheets. In some embodiments, the shell 140, or components thereof, may be 3D printed directly onto the instep region 196, or along another region of the foot, such as the forefoot region 56, the midfoot region 58, or the heel region 60. In some embodiments, the shell 140, or components thereof, may be 3D printed and then separately attached to a portion of the shoe 44.

With reference to FIGS. 7, the housing 140 of the automatic lacing system 24 is shown in greater detail. The housing 140 is arranged centrally along the tongue 176, which is located between the lateral side 80 of the upper part 50 and the medial side 82 of the upper part 50. The strap 174 is located at the base of the tongue 176, the strap 174 includes the channels 170, 172 through which the first and second laces 142, 144 can move when the laces are being tightened or loosened . Panel 32 along housing 140 is clearly shown in FIG. 7. Also shown are the first and second lateral openings 180, 182 and the first and second medial openings 184, 186, through which the first cord 142 and the second cord 144 extend. A design element 200 is also provided along the tongue 176, which, in some embodiments, may include an LED or sensor disposed along it, which may receive or provide feedback from a user. The tongue 176 of the footwear article 44 may be connected to the upper part 50 at various connection points, or along the sides and base thereof. Tab 176 may also include additional aspects that are not specifically mentioned herein.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a partially exploded view of the lamination of the footwear article 44 is shown. As shown in the exploded view, the first layer or mesh layer 62 and the second layer or base layer 64 are shown separate from the footwear article 44. The mesh layer 62 is shown with a net-shaped structure with a plurality of openings 202 along the net-shaped structure. The base layer 64 is a generally homogeneous layer without openings or holes throughout it. Additionally, the base layer 64 comprises the plurality of eyelets 68. Portions of the base layer 64 and portions of the mesh layer 62, in combination, form the outer surface 192 of the upper 50. The base layer 64 is also arranged under the mesh layer 62 when the footwear article 44 is completely assembled. There may be additional layers between the mesh layer 62 and the base layer 64, for example, in some embodiments, one or more additional layers are provided between the base layer 64 and the mesh layer 62. In some embodiments, additional layers above or below the mesh layer 62 or the base layer 64, respectively.

The first layer 62 and the second layer 64 may include variable characteristics, for example, a stitch type, a thread type, or characteristics associated with different stitch types or thread types, such as elasticity, aesthetic appearance, thickness, permeability air resistance, or scuff resistance, may vary between the first layer 62 and the second layer 64, and/or or other portions of the upper 50. For example, the upper 50, and its individual components, for example, the mesh layer 62 and base layer 64, can be individually formed by using a variety of elements, textiles, polymers (including foam polymers and polymer sheets), leather, synthetic leather, etc. Furthermore, the upper part 50, and the individual components thereof, may be joined by gluing, sewing, or by a seam to create the upper part 50.

With reference to FIGS. 9A-15, the lacing system 24 will now be described in greater detail. With reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B, phantom views of some internal components of the automatic lacing system 24 illustrate a wheel gear 210, a helical gear 212, a gear train 214 comprising additional gears, and a motor 216. A reel (not shown) is formed by a lower portion of the wheel gear 210, and is operable to wind the first bead 142 and the second bead 144. Portions of the housing 140 have been removed for clarity. The specific gear configuration will be discussed later, but the 216 motor is operable to rotate the worm gear 212 through the gear train 214. The worm gear 212 is configured to drive the wheel gear 210, which allows the first socket 142 and the second socket 144 to rotate about a wheel gear axis 218. As the wheel gear 210 rotates and drags the first cord 142 and the second cord 144 around the shaft 218, which coincides with an axis of the reel, the cords 142, 144 are tightened or loosened, depending on one direction. of rotation of the wheel gear 210 (and by extension, the helical gear 212, the gear train gears 214 and the motor 216). As described below, the motor 216 may be a brushless DC motor.

With specific reference to FIG. 9A, the wheel gear 210 includes a first opening 220 and a second opening 222 on a lateral or right side 224 thereof, and a third opening 226 and a fourth opening 228 on a medial or left side 230 thereof. The first and second openings 220, 222 are arranged adjacent to each other, and the third and fourth openings 226, 228 are arranged adjacent to each other. In a preferred embodiment, the first bead 142 passes into the housing 140, is threaded upward through the first opening 220, and returns downward through the second opening 222. In a preferred embodiment, the second bead 144 passes into the housing 140, it is threaded upward through the third opening 226, and again downward through the fourth opening 228. This orientation allows the first bead 142 and the second bead 144 to be drawn into the interior. , around the gear axis 218 in a direction of arrows A or B, depending on whether the automatic lacing system 24 is being used to tighten or loosen the laces 142, 144. As can be deduced from the orientation of the first lacing 142 and of the second bead 144 along the wheel gear 210, the first bead 142 and the second bead 144 are tightened or loosened at the same time in this orientation and to the same degree.

In a preferred embodiment, from an initial or loose configuration (shown in FIG. 9A), rotating the wheel gear 210 by about 90 degrees results in a first level of tightening, rotating the wheel gear 210 by about 180 degrees. degrees results in a second level of tightening, rotating the wheel gear by about 270 degrees results in a third level of tightening, etc. In some embodiments, rotating the wheel gear 210 in increments of about 60 degrees results in a first tightening level, a second tightening level, a third tightening level, etc. In some embodiments, rotating the wheel gear 210 in approximately 45 degree increments results in a first tightening level, a second tightening level, a third tightening level, etc. In some embodiments, rotating the wheel gear 210 in increments of about 30 degrees results in a first tightening level, a second tightening level, a third tightening level, etc. In some embodiments, rotating the wheel gear 210 in increments of about 15 degrees results in a first tightening level, a second tightening level, a third tightening level, etc.

Still referring to FIG. 9A, the helical gear 212 defines a helical gear axis 238, along which a first gear 240 is arranged, which is one of the gears of the gear train 214. Referring to FIG. 9B, a motor housing 242 (see FIGS. 11 and 12) of the housing 140, while a gear base 244 of the housing 140 is shown with the wheel gear 210 coupled thereto. In FIG. 9B, the first gear 240 is visible, along with the wheel gear 210 and the worm gear 212, however, the remaining gears of the gear train 214 are hidden by a gear train housing 246. The gear train housing 246 is provided to retain the gear train 214 in a compact and protected configuration. As indicated in FIGS. 9B and 10B, the gear train 214 and the gear train housing 246 are arranged along a lateral side of the housing track 140. Furthermore, the motor 216 is arranged at a heel end of the housing track. the housing 140, while the wheel gear 210 is provided at one half-foot end of the tread of the housing 140.

Referring now to FIGS. 10A and 10B, phantom views of some internal components of the automatic lacing system 24 illustrate the wheel gear 210, the worm gear 212, the gear train 214, and the motor 216. Referring specifically to FIG. 10A, the wheel gear 210 includes the first opening 220 and the second opening 222 on the right side 224 thereof, and the third opening 226 and the fourth opening 228 on the left side 230 thereof. The first and second openings 220, 222 are arranged adjacent to each other, and the third and fourth openings 226, 228 are arranged adjacent to each other. In the alternative embodiment represented in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the first bead 142 passes into the housing 140, is threaded upward through the first opening 220, and returns downward through the third opening 226. In the same embodiment, the second bead 144 is passed into the housing 140, it is threaded upward through the second opening 222, and threaded again downward through the fourth opening 228. This orientation allows the first bead 142 and the second bead 144 to be drawn toward the interior, around the gear shaft 218 in a direction of arrows A or B, depending on whether the automatic lacing system 24 is being used to tighten or loosen the laces 142, 144. As can be deduced from the orientation of the first bead 142 and the second bead 144 along the wheel gear 210, the first bead 142 and the second bead 144 are simultaneously tightened or loosened in this orientation to the same degree.

FIGS. 11-15 depict elements of the automatic lacing system 24 in an exploded configuration. With specific reference to FIG. 11, an exploded perspective view of some components of the automatic lacing system 24 is shown. The components include a top cover 250, gear base 244, motor housing 242, gear train housing 246, gear wheel 210, worm gear 212 and gear train 214. Helical gear 212 is provided about a first axis 252, and the first gear 240 is disposed at one end of the first shaft 252. The helical gear 212, the first shaft 252, and the first gear 240 comprise a first gear assembly 254. A second gear assembly 256 includes a second gear 258 and a third gear 260 (see FIG. 13) arranged along a second axis 262. The second gear 258 and the third gear 260 are fixedly coupled to each other, so, when the second gear 258 rotates, the third 260 gear also rotates. A third gear assembly 264 is also provided, the third gear assembly 264 includes a fourth gear 266 and a fifth gear 268 (see FIG. 13). The fourth gear 266 and the fifth gear 268 are fixedly coupled to each other and are arranged along a third axis 270. Also shown is a motor gear 272 extending from the motor 216, the motor gear 272 being arranged to along a motor shaft 274 (see FIG. 15).

The first gear 240, the second gear 258, the third gear 260, the fourth gear 266 and the fifth gear 268 may be spur or spur gears. Spur gears include a cylinder or disc with radially protruding teeth. Although the teeth are not straight-sided, the edge of each tooth is straight and aligned parallel to the axis of rotation. When two of the gears mesh, for example, the first gear 240 and the third gear 260, if one gear is larger than the other (the first gear 240 has a larger diameter than the third gear 260), a mechanical advantage occurs, with the rotation speeds and torques of the two gears differing in proportion to their diameters. Since the larger sprocket rotates less rapidly, its torque is proportionally greater, and in the present example, the torque of the third sprocket 260 is proportionally greater than the torque of the first sprocket 240.

Still referring to Figs. 11-15, the first gear assembly 254 includes the helical gear 212, which is in communication with the wheel gear 210. A helical gear is a kind of helical gear, but its helical angle is usually somewhat large (close to 90 degrees) and its body is usually quite long in the axial direction. As one skilled in the art would appreciate, the use of helical gear 212 results in a simple and compact way of achieving a high torque, low speed gear ratio between helical gear 212 and wheel gear 210. In the present embodiment, helical gear 212 can always drive wheel gear 210, but the reverse is not always true. The combination of the helical gear 212 and the wheel gear 210 results in an automatic locking system, thereby achieving an advantage, that is, when a certain level of tightening is desired, the helical gear 212 can easily be used to maintain that position. The helical gear 212 can be right or left. For purposes of the present disclosure, a helical gear assembly 276 includes the wheel gear 210, the helical gear 212, the first shaft 252, and the first gear 240. The helical gear 212, the first shaft 252, and the first gear 240 , they may comprise a single material, or they may comprise different materials.

The helical gear assembly 276 is in communication with the second gear assembly 256, which is in communication with the third gear assembly 264, which is in communication with the motor gear 272. As a result, when the motor shaft 274 is rotated by the motor 216, the motor gear 272 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on whether the wheel gear 210 is intended to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise, that is, to tighten or loosen the first bead 142 and the second bead 144. The driving gear 272 is in communication with the fifth gear 268, the rotation of which rotates the third shaft 270 and the fourth gear 266. The fourth gear 266 is in communication with the second gear 258, which is fixedly coupled with the third gear 260. As noted above, the second gear 258, the third gear 260, and the second shaft 262 comprise the second gear assembly 256.

Still referring to Figs. 11-15, the second gear set 256 is thereby caused to rotate when the third gear set 264 is caused to rotate by the motor gear 272. The third gear 260 of the second gear set 256 is in communication with the first gear 240, so the rotation of the third gear 260 causes the rotation of the first gear 240. When the first gear 240 is rotated by the second gear assembly 256, the first gear 240 rotates the first shaft 252, and the First shaft 252 is fixedly coupled with helical gear 212. Helical gear 212 is rotated when first gear 240 is rotated. Since the wheel gear 210 is in communication with the helical gear 212, the wheel gear 210 is also rotated when the first gear assembly 254 is rotated. When the wheel gear 210 rotates, the first bead 142 and the second bead 144 are drawn into the housing, around the axis of the wheel gear 218 or reel. As indicated above, the first gear assembly 254 includes the first gear 240, the first shaft 252 and the helical gear 212. The helical gear assembly 276 includes the first gear assembly 254 and the wheel gear 210. Thus, when the driving gear 272 rotates, the third gear 264 rotates, which causes the second gear 256 to rotate, which causes the helical gear 276 to rotate.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, the motor housing 242, the base 244, the gear housing 140 and the top cover 250 of the housing 140 are shown in detail. The motor housing 242 includes socket openings 280 on the left and right sides ( or medial and lateral) thereof, and a gear train opening 282 along the right (or lateral) side thereof. The socket openings 280 allow the first socket 142 and the second socket 144 to enter the motor housing 242 without impediment. The motor housing 242 further includes an outer platform 284 that encloses a motor compartment 286. The motor compartment 286 houses all of the gear assemblies 256, 264, 276, and the motor 216. The gear housing 140 includes a plurality of shaft retaining holes 288 (see FIG. 15), which retain shafts 252, 262, 270 of the gear sets 256, 264, 276. The motor compartment 286 generally defines a profile of the housing 140, and the top cover 250 is formed to sit on the motor housing 242 and the gear housing 140.

Referring to FIG. 15, the gear housing 140 is shown in greater detail. Gear housing 140 includes shaft retaining holes 288, which are positioned to allow shafts 252, 262, 270 to rotate securely in place. A spool 290 is shown downwardly dependent on the wheel gear 210, the spool 290 comprises a cylindrical spool 292 and a lower flange 294, which are both centered about a spool shaft 296. The cylindrical spool 292 may have the size and the shape necessary to retain the first cord 142 and the second cord 144 when the cords are wound around the reel 290 during operation of the cord system 24. The reel 292 can have various diameters, but in a preferred embodiment, the reel 292 has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the wheel gear 210. In some embodiments, the spool 290 need not include the lower flange 294, so the spool may simply comprise a cylindrical structure on which the cords are wound. By rotating the gear 210, the first bead 142 and the second bead 144 are wound around the spool 292 and are thus introduced into the housing 140. The spool 290 can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on whether the cords 142, 144 are being tightened or loosened. The spool shaft 296 may be disposed on or in rotary communication with the gear base 244.

Referring to FIG. 13, the top cover 250 is shown, the top cover 250 being securable with the outer platform 284 of the motor housing 242 via press fit. Fixing holes 302 are arranged along a bottom face 304 of the top cover 250, the holes 302 align with screw holes 306 along the motor housing 242. Fasteners, such as bolts or screws , can be inserted through the screw holes 306 and into the fastener holes 302 along the top cover 250 to further secure the top cover 250 to the motor housing 242. The top cover 250 can also be secured to the motor housing 242 by means of other coupling procedures.

Still referring to FIG. 13, the socket openings 180, 182, 184, 186 are arranged along the sides of the top cover 250. The socket openings 180, 182, 184, 186 are sized to allow the first socket 142 and the second socket 144 extend inside the housing 140 and outside it. Therefore, the cords 142, 144 extend into the cord openings 180, 182, 184, 186 through the cord holes 280 of the motor housing 242, and engage the openings 220, 222, 226. , 228 of the wheel gear 210, as discussed above. Referring again to FIG. 12, the gear base 244 is shown. The gear base 244 includes a wheel gear compartment 310, sized and shaped to receive the wheel gear 210. The wheel gear 210 can be coupled with the gear base 244 by of a shaft, or the wheel gear 210 may sit on a projection or shaft extending from the base 244. The wheel gear 210 is arranged within the wheel gear compartment 310 to rotate freely when rotated through of gear train 214.

Referring to FIG. 14, the top cover 250 includes the panel 32, a lateral side 312, a front side 314 and a medial side 316. The panel 32 and the sides 312, 314, 316 of the top cover 250 of the housing 140 are intended to cover completely the electronics and sensors of the automatic lacing system 24. As will be discussed in more detail below, one or more LEDs are arranged under the lateral side 312, the front side 314, and the medial side 316 of the top cover 250. While the top cover 250 can be any color, including black, in a preferred embodiment, light can be seen through the top cover 250 when one or more light sources are activated within the housing 140. Specific activation of light sources is discussed with respect to FIGS. 18A-18M.

A sensor system 320 is shown in FIG. 16, the sensor system 320 being configured to be disposed between the top cover 250 and the motor housing 242 of the housing 140. The sensor system 320 comprises a flexible circuit 322, including a plurality of slip sensors 324 arranged along along it. The slip sensors 324 are in the shape of repeating chevrons or the letter "M"; however, the slip sensors 324 may have alternative shapes, such as ovals, squares, rectangles, circles, triangles, or other polygonal shapes. The slide sensors 324 respond to touch interaction with the panel 32 of the housing 140 by a user. The sensor system 320 includes a plurality of layers, which may comprise various circuits, sensors, LEDs, etc. The sensor system 320 also includes a first controller or microcontroller 326, which is shown arranged along a medial or left side 328 of the sensor system 320. A plurality of resistors 330 are arranged along the flexible circuit 322. Additionally , a plurality of light-emitting diodes, or LEDs 332, are provided along a periphery of the flexible circuit 322. The plurality of LEDs 332 are arranged along the flexible circuit 322 such that the LEDs 332 are aligned with the lateral side 312, the front side 314, and the medial side 316 of the top cover 250 when fully assembled.

As noted above, the flexible circuit 322 may be disposed between the top liner 250 and the motor housing 242. The flexible circuit 322 includes the plurality of slip sensors 324 which, in some embodiments, may also be flashed or illuminated. in response to a signal sent by one or more controllers, including the microcontroller 326. In some embodiments, additional LEDs are provided along the panel 32, or along another portion of the housing 140. The flexible circuit 322 may be arranged in a reverse configuration, as noted above, in light of the differences between the left shoe 40 and the right shoe 42. When the automatic lacing system 24 is mounted, the slip sensors 324 of the flexible circuit 322 are arranged under the panel 32 of the top cover 250 of the housing 140. As a result, the plurality of LEDs 332 are arranged along and adjacent to the sides of the top cover 250. The top cover 250 may have portions that are transparent or translucent to allow so that the light emitted by the LEDs 332 shines through it.

Still referring to FIG. 16, in the present embodiment, the flexible circuit 322 includes 16 of the LEDs 332, which are positioned around a periphery of the engine compartment 286 and under the top cover 250 when the lacing system 24 is mounted. LEDs 332 provide light information to the user. In particular, the LEDs 332 provide visual signals indicating a voltage level of the cords 142, 144 and/or a power level of a battery 340 (see FIGS. 20, 22 and 24), for example, a low warning. power, as well as visual cues indicating when the battery 340 is charging. For example, none of the LEDs 332 may be illuminated when the cords 142, 144 are in an open configuration, four of the LEDs 332 are illuminated when the automatic system lacing system 24 is in a first state, nine of the LEDs 332 are illuminated when the automatic lacing system 24 is in a second state (which is tighter than the first state), and/or sixteen of the LEDs 332 are illuminated when The automatic lacing system 24 is in a third state (which is tighter than the first state and the second state). As noted above, the LEDs 332 are located under the top cover 250 of the housing 140. The LEDs may also be arranged to illuminate a variety of symbols along or within the top cover 250, such as stars, battery charging information, etc., when the battery is in a low power mode, or a lightning bolt symbol when the battery is charging, for example.

Referring now to FIGS. 17A and 17B, side views of shoe 44 are shown in a loosened configuration, and a tight configuration, respectively. With specific reference to FIG. 17A, in the loosened configuration, the first lace 142 and the second lace 144 are not taught, but are instead tied through all of the first eyelets 146 and the second eyelets 148, respectively. In some embodiments, the first lace 142 and the second lace 144 have a slight amount of pretension to ensure a more comfortable upper if the shoe is in a non-tight mode. To this end, the shoe 44, as shown in FIG. 17A achieves a more comfortable position of the instep, which can be used by a user in certain circumstances when wearing the shoe 44. Referring again to FIG. 9A, in the loosened configuration, the first bead 142 and the second bead 144 may be arranged as shown in this detailed view, in which the wheel gear 210 does not rotate in a manner that causes the first bead 142 or the second bead 144 are tightened. While the wheel gear 210 can be arranged in alternative configurations in the loosened state, the wheel gear 210 is preferably arranged in a similar manner as shown in FIG. 9A in the loosened configuration. In a preferred embodiment, a line drawn between the first opening 220 and the third opening 226 of the wheel gear 210 is parallel to an axis of the first shaft 252 in the loosened configuration.

Referring now to FIG. 17B, when the automatic lacing system 24 is commanded to tighten the first bead 142 and the second bead 144, the tongue 176 and therefore the casing 140 are dragged downward in the direction of arrow C, thereby way to get a tight first setup. There may be any number of tightening settings, based on the tightening levels that can be achieved based on user input or the preset settings of the automatic lacing system 24. The first adjusted setting may have a first tightening level, and a second adjusted configuration may have a second tightening level greater than the first tightening level. Referring again to FIG. 9A, the first tightening level can be achieved when the wheel gear 210 is rotated approximately 15 degrees, or approximately 30 degrees, or approximately 45 degrees, or approximately 60 degrees, or approximately 90 degrees. Each subsequent level of tightening can be achieved by turning the wheel gear 210 another amount, which may be approximately 15 degrees, or approximately 30 degrees, or approximately 45 degrees, or approximately 60 degrees, or approximately 90 degrees.

Once the shoe 44 has reached the first tight configuration, the shoe 44 can return to the loosened configuration by rotating the wheel gear 210 in a reverse direction, that is, if the wheel gear 210 is tightened by rotating in the direction of the arrow A (see FIG. 9A), then the wheel gear 210 is loosened by rotating in the direction of arrow B. To do this, the shoe 44 shown in FIG. 17A, shown in a loosened configuration, can be adjusted into the tight configuration as shown in FIG. 17B, and can subsequently be returned to the original, loosened configuration shown in FIG. 17A. The laces 142, 144 of the shoe 44 may be tightened or loosened any number of times and in any number of increments. Certain tightening/loosening sequences are described in the present application; however, the present disclosure is not intended to be limiting.

Referring now to FIGS. 18A-18M, and as noted above, the automatic lacing system 24 can be manipulated by a user through the use of two procedures: (1) physical contact with the panel 32 of the housing 140, i.e., user interaction with the slip sensors 324; and (2) use of the wireless device 30. The first manipulation procedure, that is, physical adjustment, will be discussed with reference to FIGS. 18A-18M. To this end, the automatic lacing system 24 may have predetermined tightness levels, including an open configuration, in which the laces 142, 144 are loosened to a predetermined tightness, and a closed configuration, in which the beads 142, 144 are tightened to a predetermined tightness. In practice, a user may be able to slide down the panel 32 to tighten the laces 142, 144 to the predetermined tightness of the closed configuration, or slide up the panel 32 to loosen the laces 142, 144 to the predetermined procedure. of the open state. Additionally, a user can adjust the predetermined tension of the cords of the open and closed states by touching the upper end of the panel 32 to decrease the tension of the closed configuration or the open configuration, or touching the lower end of the panel 32 to increase the tension. voltage of the closed configuration or the open configuration. Additionally, a user can reset the aforementioned predetermined levels by applying pressure to the panel 32 for a predetermined amount of time, for example, 10 seconds, the user can "wake up" or activate the automatic lacing system 24 by touching the panel 32, or the user may connect/pair the wireless device 30 by applying pressure to the top surface for a second predetermined amount of time, e.g., 1-2 seconds, as explained in more detail below.

FIGS. 18A-18M show schematic illustrations of sliding commands along the control panel/display 32 in various states and showing various responses to one or more input commands. The plurality of LEDs 332 are shown illuminated in various configurations based on the state of the automatic lacing system 24. For example, when the article of footwear 44 is in a loose configuration, none of the LEDs 332 are activated. When the article of footwear 44 is in a first level of tightness configuration, a lower row of LEDs 332 illuminates. When the article of footwear 44 is in a second level of tightness configuration, the lower row of LEDs 332 and The side columns of 332 LEDs light up. In the figures, a first circle 342 indicates a point of contact along the panel 32 by a user, and an arrow 344 indicates a sliding direction to a second circle 346, which indicates another point of contact along the panel 32. .

The different sliding commands will be described below. With specific reference to FIG. 18A, a first slide or close command 350 is shown. In order to perform the slide close command 350, a user touches the panel 32 in the first circle 342 and slides down in the direction of the arrow 344 toward the second circle 346. The closing command 350 can completely tighten the shoes 22. Referring to FIG. 18B, a second slide open command 352 is shown. In order to perform the slide open command 352, a user touches the panel 32 in the first circle 342 and slides up in the direction of the arrow 344 towards the second circle 346. The sliding opening command 352 can completely loosen the shoes 22. Referring to FIG. 18C, a tighten/loosen command 354 is shown. In order to effect the tighten/loosen command 354, a user touches the panel 32 in the first circle 342. The tighten/loosen command 354 progressively loosens the laces of the automatic system. of cords 24. Referring to FIG.

18D, a tightening/tightening command 356 is shown. In order to carry out the tightening/tightening command 356, a user touches the panel 32 in the first circle 342. The tightening/tightening command 356 incrementally tightens the cords of the automatic system. of laces 24.

Referring now to FIG. 18E, a reset command 358 is shown. In order to perform the reset command 358, a user touches or presses the panel 32 for 10 seconds in the first circle 342. The reset command 358 can return the automatic lacing system 24 to factory settings, or other type of null setting. Referring to FIG. 18F, a connect/pair command 360 is shown. In order to carry out the connect/pair command 360, a user presses the panel 32 in the first circle 342 for one or two seconds. The 360 connection/pairing command can be used to connect or pair the shoes 22 with the electronic device 30 via Bluetooth®. Referring to FIG. 18G, a wake-up command 362 is displayed. In order to effect the wake-up command 362, a user touches the panel 32 in the first circle 342. The activation command 362 may turn on the automatic lacing system 24.

Referring now to FIGS. 18H-18K, various lighting configurations of the LEDs 332 are shown, the lighting configurations represent an open configuration 364, a first closed configuration 366, a second closed configuration 368, and a third closed configuration 370, respectively. In the open configuration 364, none of the LEDs 332 are illuminated. In the first closed configuration 366, four of the LEDs 332 along the bottom row of LEDs 332 are illuminated. In the second closed configuration 368, four of the LEDs 332 along the bottom row and six of the LEDs 332 along each of the side columns of panel 32 are illuminated. In the third closed configuration 370, all LEDs 332 are illuminated. As can be seen, the open configuration 364 may indicate that the automatic lacing system 24 is in a completely open state, while the third closed configuration 370 may indicate that the automatic lacing system 24 is in a completely closed state. The first closed configuration 366 and the second closed configuration 368 may be intermediate closing states between the fully open state and the fully closed state.

Referring to FIG. 18L, a low battery state 372 is displayed. In the low battery state 372, all LEDs 332 may flash to indicate to the user that the automatic lacing system 24 is running out of battery. In some embodiments, the automatic lacing system 24 may enter the low battery state 372 when the battery has been depleted to approximately 5% charge. In some embodiments, if the battery is below 3% charge, the automatic lacing system 24 will loosen the laces 142, 144 to the open configuration 364 to allow the user to remove the shoes 22. Referring now to FIG. 18M, a charging state 374 is displayed. In the charging state 374, all LEDs 332 are illuminated, and can display a different color than the color of the open/closed states 364, 366, 368, 370. Although the above configurations and states have been described with respect to variable lighting configurations of the LEDs 332, alternative variations are contemplated. For example, in some configurations or states, the LEDs 332 may flash, change color, flicker, or blink one at a time to indicate alternative states or configurations.

FIG. 19 is a side view of the pair of shoes and charger of FIG. 1, placing the pair of shoes on the charger 26 to initiate charging or enter the charging state 374. As shown in the figure, a user can place the heel regions 60 of the shoes 22 on the receiving bases of the heel 380 of the charger 26. The heel receiving springs 380 may be circular, or otherwise elliptical in shape, and may be generally formed to receive the heel regions 60 of the shoes 22. The charger 26 also includes a detachable power cord. 382 that can be plugged into a charging source, such as an electrical outlet on a wall (not shown). As discussed in more detail below, the charger 26 includes inductive coils (not shown), which provide electrical charge to the shoe coils 384 (see FIGS. 23A-C) which are disposed within the shoes 22. The charger coils shoe 384 are electrically coupled to batteries 340 that are disposed within the sole structures 52 of the shoes 22. As also indicated herein, the battery 340 of the footwear article 44 can be charged wirelessly or by removing the battery 340 of the footwear article 44 and connecting the battery 340 directly to a power source. In some embodiments, the user's act of placing the shoes 22 along the charger 26 activates a power source to transmit inductive energy to coils placed within the sole structures 52 of the shoes 22 and, therefore, provide power to the battery.

FIG. 20 is a top view of the charger 26 without the power cable 382 attached thereto. As shown in FIG. 20, the magazine 26 includes two of the heel receiving bases 380, which are generally circular and include recessed portions 390 that are capable of receiving and retaining the heel regions 60 of the shoes 22. FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the battery cartridge 28 of FIG. 1 shown in an open configuration and retaining the battery 340. The battery cartridge 28 is shown connected to the power cable 382, which may be the same power cable as shown in FIG. 19, or it may be a different power cord. The power cable 382 may be fixedly coupled to the battery cartridge 28, or the power cable 382 may be removably coupled to the battery cartridge 28. The battery cartridge 28 includes a base 392 and a cap 394 that is pivotally connected to the base 392. When the battery 340 is inserted into the base 392, the lid 394 can be closed over the battery 340 to completely secure the battery 340 within the battery cartridge 28.

Referring now to FIG. 22, the structure of the sole 52 of the shoe 44 is shown with the upper part 50 removed. A battery case 400 is shown arranged within a battery cavity 402 that is defined within the sole structure 52. The battery cavity 402 may be shaped to receive the battery case 400, and is generally arranged centrally between the lateral side 80 and the medial side 82 of the sole structure 52. The battery cavity 402 does not extend completely through the sole structure 52. The battery case 400 is shown, which includes the battery 340, a coil housing 140, enclosing the charging coil 384 (see FIGS. 23A-23C), a control PCB or second controller 410 (see FIG. 26) and a charging PCB or third controller 412 (see diagram in FIG. 33). Referring to FIG. 22, the battery box 400 is electrically coupled to the housing 140 via at least one motor cable 414, which is/are electrically coupled to the motor 216, and a control cable 416, which is electrically coupled to the circuit flexible 322 arranged within the housing 140. As will be described in more detail below, the motor cables 414 couple the control printed circuit board 410 with the motor 216, and the control cable 416 (which may comprise several cables) couples the control printed circuit board 410 with the flexible circuit 322, including the electrical components arranged thereon.

FIGS. 23A-23C show the battery case 400 without the coil housing 140. In some embodiments, the coil housing 140 is not included. With specific reference to FIG. 23A, shoe coil 384 is shown in greater detail. Coil 384 is electrically coupled to battery 340 via a charging cable 420. During charging, coil 384 aligns with the coil (not shown) within charger 26, and is capable of charging battery 340 via wireless or inductive charging. The battery 340 is shown arranged within the battery case 400, the battery 340 being removable by means of a battery removal strap 422 provided at one end of the battery 340. The battery case 400 further includes a housing of the controller 424, which is disposed at an opposite end of the battery box 400. The controller housing 140 may provide access to the control PCB 410 and/or the charging PCB 412. The battery box 400 may have alternative ways to be efficiently and securely retained within the structure of the sole 52 of the shoe 44.

FIGS. 24 and 25 show illustrative views of the steps of removing the battery 340 from the sole structure 52. Referring to FIG. 24, a user 426 is shown removing the insole 90 from the interior cavity 54 of the shoe 44. The insole 90 may be secured within the shoe 44 as is known to those skilled in the art. Once template 90 is removed, and with specific reference to FIG. 25, user 426 can access removal strap 422 from battery 340. User 426 can then grasp strap 422 and remove battery 340 from case 400. User 426 can then place battery 340 into the cartridge. of battery 28, as mentioned above. In addition to the steps described herein, other extraction and/or loading steps may be included. In some embodiments, strap 422 is not included, and a finger slot is provided (not shown) inside the battery case 400 to allow a user to grab the battery 340 and pull it manually.

Referring now to FIG. 26, the control PCB 410 is shown. The control PCB 410 includes a plurality of components arranged thereon, including a wireless communication device 430, which may be a module that supports wireless communication, a first regulator 432, which may be a switching regulator, a motor controller 434, which may be a DC motor controller, and a second regulator 436, which may be a voltage regulator. A plurality of resistors, capacitors and other electrical components are also arranged along the control PCB 410, but are not specifically referenced herein. The wireless communication device 430 supports Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) wireless communication. In a preferred embodiment, the wireless communication device 430 includes integrated crystal oscillators, chip antenna, and passive components. The wireless communication device 430 can support a number of peripheral functions, e.g., ADCs, timers, counters, PWM, and serial communication protocols, e.g., I2C, UART, SPI, through its programmable architecture. The wireless communication device 430 may include a processor, flash memory, a timer, and additional components not specifically mentioned herein.

Still referring to FIG. 26, the motor driver 434 is also provided along the control PCB 410. The motor driver 434 may be a dual brush DC motor driver operating with logic levels from 3 V to 5 V, supporting ultrasonic PWM ( up to 20 kHz) and has current feedback, undervoltage protection, overcurrent protection and overtemperature protection. Motor driver 434 can supply up to or above 3 Amperes of direct current per channel to motor 216, and supports ultrasonic (up to 20 kHz) pulse width modulation (PWM) of a motor output voltage, which Helps reduce audible switching sounds caused by PWM speed control.

Still with reference to Figs. 26, linear regulator 436 may also be provided. Linear regulator 436 may comprise a fixed output voltage, low dropout linear regulator. The linear regulator 436 may include an integrated output current limiter. Switching regulator 432 is also included on control printed circuit board 410. Switching regulator 432 may be a non-synchronous monolithic switching regulator with integrated 5-A, 24-V power switch. The switching regulator 432 regulates the output voltage with ^p W ^m control in current mode, and has an internal oscillator. The PWM switching frequency can be adjusted by means of an external resistor or by synchronizing to an external clock signal. The switching regulator 432 may include an internal 5 A 24 V low-side MOSFET switch, an input voltage range of 2.9 V to 16 V, a fixed frequency and current mode PWM control, and a HAT Adjustable frequency from 100 kHz to 1.2 MHz approximately.

Referring again to FIG. 16, microcontroller 326 is shown arranged along flexible circuit 322. Microcontroller 326 enables and controls a capacitive touch user interface along panel 32 of housing 140. Microcontroller 326 may be capable of supporting up to 16 inputs. of capacitive sensing, and allows capacitive buttons, sliders, and/or proximity sensors to be electrically coupled thereto, some or all of which may be incorporated throughout the flexible circuit 322. The microcontroller 326 may include an analog sensing channel. and offers a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) greater than 100:1 to ensure touch accuracy even in noisy environments. The microcontroller 326 can be programmed to dynamically monitor and maintain optimal sensor performance under all environmental conditions. Advanced features such as LED brightness control, proximity detection, and system diagnostics can be programmable. The microcontroller 326 may be operable to enable liquid-tolerant designs by eliminating false touches due to fog, water droplets, or running water.

Still referring to FIG. 16, a Hall effect IC or sensor 440 (shown arranged along the flexible circuit 322) may be provided, which may be operable to detect a change in a magnetic field adjacent to the motor 216 from N to S or vice versa and keep its detection result in the output until the next change. The output is low for S pole fields and high for N pole fields. The Hall effect sensor 440 may be operable to provide feedback regarding a direction of the motor 216. Additional sensors may be provided, and different types of sensors may be provided. along the flexible circuit 322 or along portions of the shoe 44. Therefore, the Hall effect sensor 440 may function to detect rotation, position, open/close configuration, current detection, and/or various other aspects of the motor 216. The Hall effect sensor 440 is electrically coupled to the microcontroller 326.

Referring now to FIGS. 27-34, the electrical diagrams of the electrical components described above are shown in greater detail. Referring to FIG. 27, a schematic of the Hall effect sensor 440 is shown in greater detail. As noted above, the sensor 440 is intended to maintain a record of the number and/or direction of rotations of the motor 216. Referring to FIG. 28, a schematic of the microcontroller 326 is shown in detail. As indicated above, the microcontroller 326 is connected to the LEDs 332, the slide sensors 324 and the Hall effect sensor 440. The microcontroller 326 is also coupled with other components electrical devices that are arranged along the control PCB 410. FIG. 29 is an electrical diagram of the wireless communication module 430. FIG. 30 is an electrical diagram of the motor controller 434. FIG. 31 is an electrical diagram of the switching regulator 432. FIG. 32 is an electrical diagram of the regulator 436.

Referring now to FIGS. 33 and 34, an electrical schematic of the charge 450 and a charging module 452 is shown. The charge controller 450 may be provided along the charging PCB 412, which may be housed within the battery case 400. The charging module 452 comprises a variety of capacitors, diodes, and rectifiers, and may have a number of alternative configurations. The charging module 452 is configured to allow charging of the battery 340 when a user wishes to charge the battery 340.

A block diagram 460 is illustrated in FIG. 35, the block diagram 460 including the various electrical components described above within the automatic lacing system 24. The automatic lacing system 24 includes, broadly speaking, the control PCB 410, the motor 216, the flexible circuit 320, the battery 340 and the charging PCB 412. The plurality of LEDs 332, the microcontroller 326, and the Hall effect sensor 440 are provided along the flexible circuit 322. The control PCB 410 includes the wireless communication module 430 , the regulator 436, the switching regulator 432 and the motor controller 434. The motor 216 is in electrical communication with the control PCB 410. The flexible circuit 322 is also in electrical communication with the control PCB 410. The battery 340 is in electrical communication with all electrical components, however, battery 340 may be directly coupled to control PCB 410. Additional electrical components not specifically discussed herein may also be included along one of the circuit boards. control board 410 or flexible circuit 322.

In reference to FIGS. 36-39, the automatic lacing system 24 can also be controlled through the use of the wireless device 30, which can be paired or connected to the lacing system 24 via Bluetooth® or another wireless signal. The figures provide exemplary screenshots of a display screen 462 of the wireless device 30, which has been paired, via Bluetooth®, with the automatic lacing system 24. First, and with reference to FIG. 36, screen 462 prompts the user to pair their wireless device 30 with a particular pair of shoes 22 to fit them through the electronic device. After pairing, the user accesses a screen like the one shown in FIG. 37. The user is provided information 464 about the shoe, which in the present case, is a power level of the batteries 340 within the left shoe 40 and the right shoe 42. The shoe information 464 is transmitted on the screen in form of batteries with a certain level of charge. The shoe information may include other information, such as a fit level, a temperature of the shoe(s), a configuration of the shoe(s), etc. Shoe information may also include additional aspects not specifically addressed herein.

FIG. 38 illustrates the screen 462 just before both shoes 22 have been paired with the wireless device 30. After selecting the pair of shoes 22, the wireless device 30 activates the LEDs 332 along the left shoe 40 or the right shoe 42 and may prompt the user to indicate whether the LEDs 332 have illuminated on both shoes 22. In some embodiments, the display screen may request information relating to the left shoe 40 or the right shoe 42, such as whether the LEDs 332 have illuminated. in both shoes 22. In addition to the LED indicators 332 along the actual pair of shoes 22, the wireless device 30 also provides level indicators 466 that are proximate to the shoes shown on the display screen 462, which indicate a level of tightening or tightening status of each of the shoes 22. Once the shoes 22 are paired or connected to the wireless device 30, the user can name or register the selected shoe, select the shoes 22 for manipulation of one or more settings of the shoes 22, or select another entry along the display screen 462.

Once the shoes 22 are paired with the electronic device 30, which is depicted in FIG. 39, the user can loosen or tighten the shoes 22 as a pair by sliding up or down the left shoe 40, the right shoe 42, or the pair of shoes 22 shown on the screen 462. In order to tighten or loosen the shoes 22 A user first pushes or taps the left shoe 40, the right shoe 42, or the pair of shoes 22. Next, a user slides up or down the left shoe 40, the right shoe 42, or the pair of shoes 22. on screen 462 to loosen or tighten the shoes 22. Similar to how a user would interact with the upper surface of the panel 32 as discussed above, a user can also hit a certain region of the selected shoe 44.

All commands as discussed above with respect to the first manipulation procedure, that is, physical adjustment, can also be implemented through interaction with the display screen 462 of the electronic device 30. For this, the automatic lacing system 24 may have predetermined levels of tightness, including a preset open configuration, in which the cords 142, 144 are loosened to a predetermined tightness, and a preset closed configuration, in which the cords 142, 144 are tightened to a predetermined tightness. In practice, a user may be able to slide down on the pair of shoes 22 along the display screen 462 to tighten the laces 142, 144 to the predetermined tension of the preset closed configuration, or slide up on the display screen 462 to loosen the cords 142, 144 to the predetermined tension of the preset open state. Additionally, a user can adjust the predetermined tension of the laces from the preset open and closed states by touching one end of the toe of the pair of shoes 22 along the display screen 462 to decrease the tension from the preset closed configuration or from the preset open setting, or by touching one end of the heel of the pair of shoes 22 along the display screen 462 to increase the voltage of the preset closed configuration or the preset open configuration.

The sliding commands of FIGS. 18A-18M are also applicable to display screen 462, and will now be discussed in that context. With reference to FIGS. 18A-M and 39, to perform the close slide command 350, a user touches the screen 462 and slides the finger down. The swipe open command 352 can be performed by touching the screen 462 and swiping up. The slide open command 352 can completely loosen the shoes 22. The tighten/loosen command 354 can be performed by a user by touching the display screen 462 at one end of the heel of the shoes 22 on the display screen 462. The tightening/loosening command 354 incrementally loosens the laces 142, 144 of the automatic lacing system 24. Tightening/tightening command 356 can be effected by touching the display screen 462 at one end of the toe of the shoes 22 on the display screen 462. Adjustment/tightening command 356 incrementally tightens the laces of the automatic lacing system 24.

The reset command 358 can be performed by a user by touching or pressing the screen 462 for 10 seconds. The reset command 358 may return the automatic lacing system 24 to factory settings, or another type of null setting. The connect/pair command 360 can be carried out by pressing the screen 462 for one or two seconds. The 360 connection/pairing command can be used to connect or pair the shoes 22 with the electronic device 30 via Bluetooth®. The wake-up command 362 can be performed by a user by touching the display screen 462 along the pair of shoes 22. The activation command 362 can turn on the automatic lacing system 24.

The various lighting configurations of the LEDs 332 can also be manipulated through the electronic device 30. A user can provide one or more inputs to the electronic device 30 to allow the shoes 22 to enter the open configuration 364, the first closed configuration 366 , the second closed configuration 368, and/or the third closed configuration 370, respectively. Additionally, settings and states may be displayed to a user through display screen 462. For example, low battery status 372 or charging status 374 may be displayed on electronic device 30. Although the above settings and states have been described with respect to variable lighting configurations of the LEDs 332, alternative variations are contemplated along the display screen 462 of the electronic device 30. For example, in some configurations or states, the LEDs 332 may flash, change colors. color, flash, or flash one at a time to indicate alternative states or settings.

In some embodiments, additional controls are provided along the display screen 462, such as one or more buttons that allow the user to fully tighten the selected shoes, fully loosen the selected shoes, incrementally tighten the selected shoes, incrementally loosen the shoes. , select a particular color that will be displayed by the LEDs 332, and/or select a desired or preferred tightening of the selected shoe. In some embodiments, the user may be able to set one or more timers along the display screen 462 that can automatically loosen or tighten the selected shoe to a desired degree at a given time.

Any of the embodiments described herein may be modified to include any of the structures or methods disclosed in connection with different embodiments. Furthermore, the present disclosure is not limited to footwear articles of the type specifically shown. Furthermore, aspects of the footwear articles of any of the embodiments disclosed herein can be modified to function with any type of footwear, clothing or other sports equipment.

As noted above, those skilled in the art will appreciate that, while the disclosure has been described above in connection with particular embodiments and examples, the disclosure is not necessarily so limited, and that numerous other embodiments, examples, uses, modifications and Deviations from the embodiments, examples and uses are intended to be covered by the claims appended hereto. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Numerous modifications of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description should be construed as illustrative only and is presented in order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and to teach how best to carry it out. Exclusive rights are reserved for all modifications that fall within the scope of the attached claims.

Claims (15)

1. An article of footwear with a lacing system (24), comprising: a sole structure (52); an upper part (50) joined to the sole structure (52), the upper part (50) comprising an instep region (196); and a casing (140) disposed adjacent to the instep region (196), wherein a wheel gear (210), a gear train (214) and a motor (216) are arranged within the housing (140), and wherein at least one cord (142) is coupled with the wheel gear (210), which is adapted to drag the at least one cord (142) into the housing (140), characterized because The wheel gear (210) includes a first opening (220), a second opening (222) and a spool (290) that depends downwardly on the wheel gear (210), in which the first and second openings (220, 222) are arranged next to each other, and in which the at least one cord (142) passes into the interior of the housing (140), is threaded upwardly through the first opening (220) of the wheel gear (210), and back down through the second opening (222) of the wheel gear (210) such that the at least one bead (142) is drawn downward. the interior of the housing (140) along the spool (290) around a wheel gear shaft (218). 2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the gear train (214) includes a first set of gears (254), a second set of gears (256), and a third set of gears (264), wherein the motor (216) is operable to drive the third set of gears (264), which drives the second set of gears (256), which drives the first set of gears (254), which drives the wheel gear ( 210). 3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the first set of gears (254) includes a helical gear (212) and a first gear (240), the second set of gears (256) includes a second gear ( 258) and a third gear (260), and the third set of gears (264) includes a fourth gear (266) and a fifth gear (268). 4. The footwear article of claim 3, wherein the fifth gear (268) is in communication with a driving gear (272), the fourth gear (266) is in communication with the second gear (258), and the The first gear (240) is in communication with the third gear (260). 5. The footwear article of one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first lace (142) is a closed loop lace. 6. The footwear article of one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one lace (142, 144) is passed through a plurality of eyelets (146, 148) that are arranged along the top (50). 7. The article of footwear of one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least one lace includes a first lace (142) and a second lace (144), and wherein the first lace (142) is passed through a plurality of lateral eyelets (146) and the second cord (144) is passed through a plurality of medial eyelets (148). 8. The footwear article of one of claims 1 to 7 further comprising a Hall effect sensor (440) disposed adjacent the motor (216) for measuring a characteristic of the motor (216). 9. The footwear article of one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the housing (140) further includes a flexible circuit (322) disposed beneath an upper liner (250) thereof, and wherein a plurality of LEDs (332) are provided along the flexible circuit (322). 10. The article of footwear of one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the motor (216) is coupled with a control printed circuit board (PCB, 410), wherein the control PCB (410) includes a wireless communication module (430), at least one regulator (432), and a motor controller (434), and wherein the control PCB (410) is in electrical communication with the flexible circuit (322) arranged to along the housing (140), the flexible circuit (322) comprising a microcontroller (326) and the plurality of LEDs (332). 11. The footwear article of one of claims 7, or of claims 8 to 10 when dependent on claim 7, 10, wherein the first lace (142) and the second lace (144) are closed loops. 12. The footwear article of one of claims 7, or of claims 8 to 11 when dependent on claim 7, wherein the wheel gear (210) includes, together with the first opening (220) and the second opening (222), a third opening (226) and a fourth opening (228), and in which the first cord (142) passes through the first opening (220) and the second opening (222), and the second cord (144) passes through the third opening (226) and the fourth opening (228). 13. The footwear article of claim 12, wherein the first lace (142) and the second lace (144) are introduced into the housing (140) along the spool (290) of the wheel gear (210). around the axis of the wheel gear (218). 14. The footwear article of one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the housing (140) includes a motor housing (242), the flexible circuit (322) and the upper liner (250), and wherein The flexible circuit (322) is arranged between the motor casing (242) and the top liner (250). 15. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the motor (216) is disposed within a motor compartment (286) of the motor housing (242), and the gear train (214) is fixedly coupled with a gear train housing (246).