US20220330660A1 - Systems and methods for a dial cover for a rotary closure for a shoe - Google Patents
Systems and methods for a dial cover for a rotary closure for a shoe Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20220330660A1 US20220330660A1 US17/719,137 US202217719137A US2022330660A1 US 20220330660 A1 US20220330660 A1 US 20220330660A1 US 202217719137 A US202217719137 A US 202217719137A US 2022330660 A1 US2022330660 A1 US 2022330660A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- dial
- cover
- dial cover
- gripping
- peripheral edge
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
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- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 51
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims description 42
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- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 239000004433 Thermoplastic polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 12
- 229920002725 thermoplastic elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 12
- 229920002803 thermoplastic polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 12
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 7
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 7
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 6
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000004816 latex Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229920000126 latex Polymers 0.000 description 5
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 5
- 150000002825 nitriles Chemical class 0.000 description 5
- 238000003856 thermoforming Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 4
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002829 reductive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 206010003246 arthritis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000000386 athletic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G25/00—Household implements used in connection with wearing apparel; Dress, hat or umbrella holders
- A47G25/90—Devices for domestic use for assisting in putting-on or pulling-off clothing, e.g. stockings or trousers
- A47G25/92—Shoe or collar buttoners; Bodkins; Glove hooks
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43C—FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL
- A43C11/00—Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes
- A43C11/14—Clamp fastenings, e.g. strap fastenings; Clamp-buckle fastenings; Fastenings with toggle levers
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43C—FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL
- A43C11/00—Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes
- A43C11/16—Fastenings secured by wire, bolts, or the like
- A43C11/165—Fastenings secured by wire, bolts, or the like characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43C—FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL
- A43C11/00—Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes
- A43C11/24—Ornamental buckles or other ornaments for shoes, with fastening function
Definitions
- the present disclosure generally relates to lacing systems for sporting shoes, and in particular, to a system and associated method for a dial cover for a rotary closure lacing system.
- FIG. 1 is an illustration showing a perspective view showing a dial cover coupled with a dial of a rotary closure
- FIG. 2 is an illustration showing a perspective view showing the dial and dial cover of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is an illustration showing a cross-sectional side view showing the dial cover and dial taken along line 3 - 3 of FIG. 2 ;
- FIG. 4 is an illustration showing a perspective view showing the dial cover of FIG. 1 without the dial;
- FIG. 5 is an illustration showing a below perspective view showing the dial cover of FIG. 3 ;
- FIG. 6 is an illustration showing a top view showing the dial cover of FIG. 3 ;
- FIG. 7 is an illustration showing a cross-sectional side view showing the dial cover of FIG. 6 taken along line 7 - 7 ;
- FIG. 8 is an illustration showing a perspective view showing the dial of FIG. 1 without the dial cover;
- FIG. 9 is an illustration showing a top view showing the dial of FIG. 7 ;
- FIG. 10 is an illustration showing a bottom perspective view of the dial cover of FIG. 3 engaged with a ridgeless dial
- FIG. 11 is an illustration showing a top perspective view of the ridgeless dial of FIG. 10 ;
- FIG. 12 is an illustration showing a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the dial cover with the dial of FIG. 7 ;
- FIGS. 13A-13C are illustrations respectively showing a top view, cross-sectional side view and cross-sectional top views showing the dial cover of FIG. 12 coupled with the dial of FIGS. 8 and 9 , where cross-sectional side view of FIG. 13B is taken along line 13 B- 13 B of FIG. 13A ;
- FIGS. 14A-14C are illustrations respectively showing a top view, a side perspective view, and a cross-sectional top view showing alternative protrusion shapes of the dial of FIG. 12 coupled with the dial of FIGS. 8 and 9 ;
- FIGS. 15A and 15B are illustrations showing top views of alternative protrusion shapes of the dial of FIG. 12 ;
- FIG. 16 is an illustration showing a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the dial cover engaged with the dial of FIG. 8 and including an additional token;
- FIG. 17 is an illustration showing a top view showing the dial cover and token of FIG. 16 ;
- FIG. 18 is an illustration showing a cross-sectional side view showing the dial cover, token and dial taken along line 18 - 18 of FIG. 16 ;
- FIG. 19A is an illustration showing a top view of an alternate embodiment of the token of FIG. 16 having circular engagement points;
- FIG. 19B is an illustration showing a bottom view of an alternate embodiment of the dial cover configured for engagement with the token of FIG. 19A having circular engagement points;
- FIG. 20A is an illustration showing a top view of an alternate embodiment of the token of FIG. 16 having slotted engagement points;
- FIG. 20B is an illustration showing a bottom view of an alternate embodiment of the dial cover configured for engagement with the token of FIG. 20A having slotted engagement points
- FIGS. 21A and 21B are respective illustrations showing a first and second engagement type of the dial cover and token of FIGS. 19A-20B ;
- FIG. 22 is an illustration showing a top perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the dial cover
- FIG. 23 is an illustration showing a bottom perspective view of the dial cover of FIG. 22 ;
- FIGS. 24A and 24B are illustrations showing a bottom perspective view and a cross-sectional top view of the dial cover of FIG. 22 coupled with the ridgeless dial of FIG. 11 .
- a dial cover for improved gripping of a rotary closure during winding and release are included herein.
- the dial cover is configured to enable improved gripping of a dial of the rotary closure during operation.
- the dial cover is configured to be stretched over or otherwise engaged with the dial to conform to a shape of the dial.
- the dial cover defines an outer convex surface and an inner concave surface with an aperture defined through a center of the outer convex surface.
- the outer convex surface of the dial cover is configured for gripping by a hand of the user, and the inner concave surface is configured to capture an outer surface of the dial.
- the dial cover includes one or more protrusions to further aid the user in gripping the rotary closure.
- the dial cover is configured to capture a token against a top surface of the dial, the token may include a logo or other personalized indicia visible through the aperture of the dial cover.
- FIGS. 1-9 illustrate a first embodiment of a dial cover 100 configured to encapsulate a dial 11 of a rotary closure 10 for improved gripping of the surface of the dial 11 during winding and release of the rotary closure 10 .
- the dial cover 100 is configured for removable engagement with the dial 11 and conforms to a shape of the dial 11 , particularly a top surface 12 and a peripheral edge 13 of the dial 11 .
- the dial cover 100 is configured to encapsulate the peripheral edge 13 of the dial 11 such that a shape of the peripheral edge 13 , including a plurality of gripping recesses 14 and gripping ridges 15 ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ), is assumed by the dial cover 100 . Referring to FIGS.
- the dial cover 100 includes a body 101 that defines an outer convex surface 103 that provides a gripping surface to a user, and an inner concave surface 107 defined interior to the outer convex surface 103 that encapsulates the dial 11 .
- the body 101 further includes an aperture 104 defined through a center of the dial cover 100 .
- the inner concave surface 107 defines an inner lip 106 along a bottom of the sidewall portion 130 that extends inward towards a center of the dial cover 100 to secure the dial cover 100 underneath the peripheral edge 13 ( FIG. 3 ) of the dial 11 .
- the dial cover 100 defines a topside portion 120 and a sidewall portion 130 , where the sidewall portion 130 is configured to conform to the peripheral edge 13 of the dial 11 .
- the dial cover 100 can be made of a flexible material such as rubber, silicon, a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE), a thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU) or another suitable material with a suitable friction coefficient for gripping. Engagement of the dial cover 100 with an alternative dial 21 is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 .
- FIGS. 12-15B illustrate a second embodiment of the dial cover 200 that includes one or more protrusions 209 that provide a surface to aid the user in gripping and rotation of the dial 11 when the dial cover 200 is coupled with the dial 11 , with sub-variations of protrusions 209 being respectively illustrated as 209 A, 209 B and 209 C in FIGS. 13A-13C, 14A-14C and 15A and 15B .
- FIGS. 16-21B illustrate a third embodiment of the dial cover 300 that accommodates a token 318 , where the token 318 can include a logo or other personalized indicia visible through an aperture 304 of the dial cover 300 .
- FIGS. 22-24B illustrate a fourth embodiment of the dial cover 400 that is a rigid piece rather than a flexible material and configured for coupling with the alternate embodiment of the dial 21 (from FIG. 11 ) in a snap-fit engagement.
- the dial cover 100 is stretched over or otherwise snapped onto the dial 11 (or 21 ) such that the inner concave surface 107 of the dial cover 100 encapsulates the peripheral edge 13 and at least part of the top surface 12 of the dial 11 .
- the inner lip 106 of the dial cover 100 couples underneath the peripheral edge 13 of the dial 11 .
- the sidewall portion 130 of the dial cover 100 engages the peripheral edge 13 of the dial 11 through friction.
- the dial cover 400 engages an underside of the ridgeless peripheral edge 23 of the dial 21 by a plurality of tangs 406 of the dial cover 400 that couple with the dial 21 in a snap-fit engagement.
- the inner concave surface 107 of the dial cover 100 conforms to the peripheral edge 13 of the dial 11 and provides a gripping surface not only for the inner concave surface 107 of the dial cover 100 to grip the dial 11 for rotation, but to allow a user to better grip the outer convex surface 103 of the dial cover 100 and rotate the dial 11 in a clockwise or counterclockwise rotational direction.
- the dial cover 100 includes a flexible material and couples with the peripheral edge 13 of the dial 11 such that the dial cover 100 conforms to a plurality of recesses 14 and ridges 15 of the peripheral edge 13 of the dial 11 .
- the dial 21 features a ridgeless peripheral edge 24 that the dial cover 100 conforms to.
- An assembled view of a rotary closure 10 including the dial cover 100 engaged with the dial 11 is illustrated in FIG. 1 .
- FIGS. 5-7 illustrate the first embodiment of the dial cover 100 without the dial 11 ( FIG. 8 ).
- the first embodiment of the dial cover 100 includes the body 101 defining an outer convex surface 103 and an inner concave surface 107 .
- the body 101 further defines the topside portion 120 and the sidewall portion 130 extending below the topside portion 120 .
- the sidewall portion 130 defines the inner lip 106 for engagement underneath the peripheral edge 13 of the dial 11 ( FIG. 3 ).
- the dial cover 100 can engage the dial 11 or 21 such that the sidewall portion 130 conforms to the shape of the peripheral edge 13 or 23 of the dial 11 or 21 .
- the sidewall portion 130 of the dial cover 100 conforms to the shapes of the recesses 14 and ridges 15 of the peripheral edge 13 of the dial 11 to form corresponding cover recesses 134 and cover ridges 135 .
- the dial 21 of FIGS. 10 and 11 includes a ridgeless peripheral edge 23 ; as a result the sidewall portion 130 remains ridgeless when coupled to the ridgeless peripheral edge 23 .
- the body 101 of the dial cover 100 can be made of any suitable flexible material such as latex, nitrile, rubber, silicon, a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE), a thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU) or another suitable material with a suitable friction coefficient for gripping that is able to be stretched over the dial 11 or 21 and assume a shape of its corresponding peripheral edge 13 or 23 .
- the dial cover 100 can be manufactured by thermoforming, injection molding, or another suitable method, depending on the selected material.
- the dial cover 100 can be outfitted with raised designs or grooves along the outer convex surface 103 or inner concave surface 107 to improve gripping of the dial 11 .
- the dial cover 100 can include at least one of a variety of different colors of varying opacity, and in some embodiments can include decorative elements suspended within the material such as glitter. In some embodiments, the dial cover 100 is washable. As such, the dial cover 100 provides additional accessibility, customizability and interchangeability to the rotary closure 10 .
- a second embodiment of a dial cover 200 includes a body 201 defining an outer convex surface 203 and an inner concave surface 207 ( FIG. 13B ) defined interior to the outer convex surface 203 , and further including one or more protrusions 209 along the outer convex surface 203 that extend away from a center of the dial cover 200 .
- the dial cover 200 is configured to encapsulate the peripheral edge 13 of the dial 11 (of FIG. 8 ) or the peripheral edge 23 of the dial 21 (of FIG. 1 ).
- the outer convex surface 203 provides a gripping surface to a user, and the inner concave surface 207 encapsulates the dial 11 .
- the dial cover 200 defines an aperture 204 through a center of the dial cover 200 .
- the inner concave surface 207 defines an inner lip 206 that extends inward towards a center of the dial cover 200 to secure the dial cover 200 underneath the peripheral edge 13 of the dial 11 .
- the outer convex surface 203 includes a topside portion 220 and a sidewall portion 230 that conforms to the peripheral edge 13 of the dial 11 .
- the sidewall portion 230 conforms to the shapes of the recesses 14 and ridges 15 ( FIG. 8 ) of the peripheral edge 13 to form cover recesses 234 and cover ridges 235 .
- the protrusions 209 can each include a solid core (denoted herein as 290 A, 290 B and 290 C for respective embodiments of FIGS. 12-13C, 14A-14C, and 15A and 15B ) that provides a solid structure for each protrusion 209 .
- Each solid core forms the shape of each protrusion 209 .
- the solid core is formed from a hardened plastic or other suitable rigid material and coated with rubber or another suitable material with a suitable friction coefficient for gripping that forms the remainder of the dial cover 200 .
- Each solid core can be formed by thermomolding, injection molding, additive manufacturing, reductive manufacturing or another method.
- Protrusions 209 of dial cover 200 enable improved control of rotation of the dial 11 , which can be beneficial for children and people with mobility issues such as arthritis or other problems that might make it difficult to rotate the dial 11 to tighten or loosen lacing elements of the shoe.
- protrusions 209 can be made entirely of the flexible material such as latex, nitrile, rubber, silicon, a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE), a thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU) or another suitable material with a suitable friction coefficient for gripping through thermomolding, injection molding, or another suitable method.
- TPE thermoplastic elastomer material
- TPU thermoplastic polyurethane material
- the one or more protrusions 209 can embody multiple different shapes.
- one or more protrusions 209 A can have a “fin”-like shape including a concave edge 241 and an opposite convex edge 242 .
- the concave edge 241 and opposite convex edge 242 of each protrusion 209 A can each include one or more raised grooves or ridges to further aid in gripping and rotating the dial 11 by the dial cover 200 .
- FIG. 13C illustrates a cross-sectional top view showing solid cores 290 A of the protrusions 209 A of the embodiment of FIGS. 13A and 13B .
- one or more protrusions 209 B are embodied as a plurality of small ridges 243 circumferentially defined around the body 201 of the dial cover 200 .
- FIG. 14C illustrates a cross-sectional top view showing solid cores 290 B of the protrusions 209 B of the embodiment of FIGS. 14A and 14B .
- the protrusions 209 C are embodied as a plurality of knobs 244 circumferentially defined around the sidewall portion 230 of the dial cover 200 .
- FIG. 15B illustrates a cross-sectional view showing solid cores 290 C of the protrusions 209 C of the embodiment of FIG. 15A .
- body 201 of the dial cover 200 can be made of a flexible material that is able to be stretched across the dial 11 (or 21 ) and assume its shape such as latex, nitrile, rubber, silicon, a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE), a thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU) or another suitable material with a suitable friction coefficient for gripping.
- the dial cover 200 can be manufactured by thermoforming, injection molding, or another suitable method, depending on the selected material.
- the dial cover 200 can be outfitted with raised designs or grooves along the outer convex surface 203 or inner concave surface 207 of the body 201 to improve gripping of the dial 11 .
- the dial cover 200 can include at least one of a variety of different colors of varying opacity, and in some embodiments can include decorative elements suspended within the material such as glitter.
- dial cover 200 is washable.
- the dial cover 300 is configured to encapsulate the dial 11 (or 21 ) of the rotary closure 10 for improved gripping of the surface of the dial 11 during winding and release of the rotary closure 10 .
- the dial cover 300 is configured for removable engagement with the dial 11 and conforms to a shape of the dial 11 , particularly the top surface 12 and the peripheral edge 13 of the dial 11 .
- the dial cover 300 is also configured to encapsulate the peripheral edge 13 of the dial 11 such that the shapes of the plurality of gripping recesses 14 and gripping ridges 15 of the dial 11 are assumed by the dial cover 300 upon engagement with the dial 11 .
- the dial cover 300 includes a body 301 that defines an outer convex surface 303 that provides a gripping surface to a user, and an inner concave surface 307 defined interior to the outer convex surface 303 that contacts and encapsulates the dial 11 and the token 318 with the additional function of securing the token 318 against the top surface 12 of the dial 11 .
- the dial cover 300 further defines an aperture 304 through the center of the dial cover 300 that exposes the token 318 . As shown in FIG.
- the inner concave surface 307 of the dial cover 300 circumferentially defines an inner lip 306 along the bottom of the inner concave surface 307 that extends inward towards the center of the dial cover 300 to secure the dial cover 300 underneath the peripheral edge 13 of the dial 11 .
- the inner concave surface 307 circumferentially defines a recessed portion 309 along the top of the inner concave surface 307 to accommodate the height of the token 318 and secure the token 318 against the dial 11 .
- the dial 11 can optionally include a recessed portion (not shown) to accommodate the token 318 .
- the outer convex surface 303 includes a topside portion 320 and a sidewall portion 330 .
- the sidewall portion 330 conforms to the peripheral edge 13 of the dial 11 .
- the sidewall portion 330 assumes the shapes of the recesses 14 and ridges 15 ( FIG. 8 ) of the peripheral edge 13 to form cover recesses 334 and cover ridges 335 .
- the dial 21 of FIG. 10 includes a ridgeless peripheral edge 23 and the sidewall portion 330 remains ridgeless when coupled to the ridgeless peripheral edge 23 .
- the token 318 is visible through the aperture 304 of the dial cover 300 when the token 318 is positioned against the top surface 12 of the dial 11 and secured in place by the dial cover 300 .
- the token 318 can be small and generally disc-shaped and can include an ornamental design or logo such as team or event logos, player numbers, and can in some embodiments include novelty, licensed logos or personalized names or phrases.
- the token 318 can be manufactured from plastic or another suitable material and can include a variety of colors.
- the dial cover 300 can be made of any flexible material that is able to be stretched across the dial 11 and assume its shape such as latex, nitrile, rubber, silicon, a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE), a thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU) or another suitable material with a suitable friction coefficient for gripping.
- the dial cover 300 can be manufactured by thermoforming, injection molding, or another suitable method, depending on the selected material.
- the dial cover 300 can be outfitted with raised designs or grooves defined along the outer convex surface 303 or inner concave surface 307 to improve grip.
- the dial cover 300 can include at least one of a variety of different colors of varying opacity, and in some embodiments can include decorative elements suspended within the material such as glitter.
- dial cover 300 is washable.
- the dial cover 300 is configured to engage the token 318 in an interlocking arrangement.
- the token 318 can optionally include one or more cover engagement points 350 defined on a surface 319 of the token 318 .
- the dial cover 300 can include one or more token engagement points 340 for respective engagement with the one or more cover engagement points 350 of the token 318 .
- the cover engagement points 350 of the token 318 and the token engagement points 340 of the dial cover 300 can define various shapes for improved coupling between the token 318 and the dial cover 300 .
- the cover engagement points 350 of the token 318 and the token engagement points 340 of the dial cover 300 are circular.
- the cover engagement points 350 of the token 318 and the token engagement points 340 of the dial cover 300 can define a rail-and-slot shape as shown.
- FIGS. 21A and 21B two types of engagements are shown.
- the token engagement points 340 of the dial cover 300 are configured to receive a respective cover engagement point 350 of the token 318 .
- the cover engagement points 350 of the token 318 are configured to receive a respective token engagement point 340 of the dial cover 300 .
- the token 318 is integral to the dial cover 300 and can be chemically bonded to one another.
- the token 318 is formed from a mold, and then the dial cover 300 is molded around the token 318 . In one example, such a process is performed using injection molding.
- a fourth embodiment of a dial cover 400 is illustrated that is made of a rigid material and couples to the dial 21 (or 11 ) in a snap-fit engagement.
- the dial cover 400 encapsulates the dial 21 of the rotary closure 10 for improved grip of the surface of the dial 21 during winding and release of the rotary closure 10 .
- the dial cover 400 is configured for removable engagement with the dial 21 and encapsulates the dial 21 when coupled, particularly the top surface 112 and the peripheral edge 23 of the dial 21 .
- the dial cover 400 includes a body 401 defining an outer convex surface 403 that provides a gripping surface to a user, and an inner concave surface 407 defined interior to the outer convex surface 403 that encapsulates the dial 21 .
- the outer convex surface 403 includes a topside portion 420 and a sidewall portion 430 .
- the sidewall portion 430 is configured to encapsulate the peripheral edge 23 of the dial 21 . As further shown in FIGS.
- the bottom of the inner concave surface 407 of the dial cover 400 circumferentially defines a plurality of tangs 406 that extend inward towards the center of the dial cover 400 to secure the dial cover 400 underneath a peripheral edge 23 of the dial 21 in a snap-fit engagement.
- the dial cover 400 can be manufactured from a rigid material such as plastic by thermoforming, injection molding, additive manufacturing, reductive manufacturing, or another suitable method, depending on the selected material.
- the rigid material can have a suitable friction coefficient for gripping, or can be coated with latex, nitrile, rubber, silicon, a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE), a thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU) or another suitable material with a suitable friction coefficient for gripping.
- TPE thermoplastic elastomer material
- TPU thermoplastic polyurethane material
- the dial cover 400 can be outfitted with raised designs or grooves defined along the outer convex surface 403 or inner concave surface 407 to improve gripping of the dial 21 . For instance, as shown in the cross-sectional top view FIG.
- the inner concave surface 407 can include a plurality of friction-fit ribs 490 for a friction engagement with the dial 21 .
- the dial cover 400 is configured to provide a larger surface area than the dial 20 .
- the dial cover 400 can include at least one of a variety of different colors of varying opacity, and in some embodiments can include decorative elements such as glitter.
Abstract
Various embodiments of a system for an improved rotary closure including a dial cover for ease of gripping and customizability are described herein.
Description
- This is a non-provisional application that claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/175,353 filed 15 Apr. 2021, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
- The present disclosure generally relates to lacing systems for sporting shoes, and in particular, to a system and associated method for a dial cover for a rotary closure lacing system.
- Among athletic shoe lacing systems, especially rotary closures, many users report having trouble gripping and turning the dial of the rotary closure to tighten the lacing or unlock the tightened lacing. Previous examples have introduced grippable materials onto the surface of the dial; however, many users still find the small size of the dial and stickiness of permanent gripping structures to be cumbersome and difficult to keep clean. Further, some level of customizability and interchangeability is often demanded from users due to sports and other organizational affiliations.
- It is with these observations in mind, among others, that various aspects of the present disclosure were conceived and developed.
-
FIG. 1 is an illustration showing a perspective view showing a dial cover coupled with a dial of a rotary closure; -
FIG. 2 is an illustration showing a perspective view showing the dial and dial cover ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is an illustration showing a cross-sectional side view showing the dial cover and dial taken along line 3-3 ofFIG. 2 ; -
FIG. 4 is an illustration showing a perspective view showing the dial cover ofFIG. 1 without the dial; -
FIG. 5 is an illustration showing a below perspective view showing the dial cover ofFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 6 is an illustration showing a top view showing the dial cover ofFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 7 is an illustration showing a cross-sectional side view showing the dial cover ofFIG. 6 taken along line 7-7; -
FIG. 8 is an illustration showing a perspective view showing the dial ofFIG. 1 without the dial cover; -
FIG. 9 is an illustration showing a top view showing the dial ofFIG. 7 ; -
FIG. 10 is an illustration showing a bottom perspective view of the dial cover ofFIG. 3 engaged with a ridgeless dial; -
FIG. 11 is an illustration showing a top perspective view of the ridgeless dial ofFIG. 10 ; -
FIG. 12 is an illustration showing a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the dial cover with the dial ofFIG. 7 ; -
FIGS. 13A-13C are illustrations respectively showing a top view, cross-sectional side view and cross-sectional top views showing the dial cover ofFIG. 12 coupled with the dial ofFIGS. 8 and 9 , where cross-sectional side view ofFIG. 13B is taken alongline 13B-13B ofFIG. 13A ; -
FIGS. 14A-14C are illustrations respectively showing a top view, a side perspective view, and a cross-sectional top view showing alternative protrusion shapes of the dial ofFIG. 12 coupled with the dial ofFIGS. 8 and 9 ; -
FIGS. 15A and 15B are illustrations showing top views of alternative protrusion shapes of the dial ofFIG. 12 ; -
FIG. 16 is an illustration showing a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the dial cover engaged with the dial ofFIG. 8 and including an additional token; -
FIG. 17 is an illustration showing a top view showing the dial cover and token ofFIG. 16 ; -
FIG. 18 is an illustration showing a cross-sectional side view showing the dial cover, token and dial taken along line 18-18 ofFIG. 16 ; -
FIG. 19A is an illustration showing a top view of an alternate embodiment of the token ofFIG. 16 having circular engagement points; -
FIG. 19B is an illustration showing a bottom view of an alternate embodiment of the dial cover configured for engagement with the token ofFIG. 19A having circular engagement points; -
FIG. 20A is an illustration showing a top view of an alternate embodiment of the token ofFIG. 16 having slotted engagement points; -
FIG. 20B is an illustration showing a bottom view of an alternate embodiment of the dial cover configured for engagement with the token ofFIG. 20A having slotted engagement points -
FIGS. 21A and 21B are respective illustrations showing a first and second engagement type of the dial cover and token ofFIGS. 19A-20B ; -
FIG. 22 is an illustration showing a top perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the dial cover; -
FIG. 23 is an illustration showing a bottom perspective view of the dial cover ofFIG. 22 ; and -
FIGS. 24A and 24B are illustrations showing a bottom perspective view and a cross-sectional top view of the dial cover ofFIG. 22 coupled with the ridgeless dial ofFIG. 11 . - Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding elements among the view of the drawings. The headings used in the figures do not limit the scope of the claims.
- Various embodiments of a dial cover for improved gripping of a rotary closure during winding and release are included herein. In particular, the dial cover is configured to enable improved gripping of a dial of the rotary closure during operation. In some embodiments, the dial cover is configured to be stretched over or otherwise engaged with the dial to conform to a shape of the dial. In some embodiments, the dial cover defines an outer convex surface and an inner concave surface with an aperture defined through a center of the outer convex surface. In one aspect, the outer convex surface of the dial cover is configured for gripping by a hand of the user, and the inner concave surface is configured to capture an outer surface of the dial. In one embodiment, the dial cover includes one or more protrusions to further aid the user in gripping the rotary closure. In a further embodiment, the dial cover is configured to capture a token against a top surface of the dial, the token may include a logo or other personalized indicia visible through the aperture of the dial cover. Referring to the drawings, embodiments of a dial cover configured for engagement with the dial of a rotary closure are illustrated and generally indicated as 100, 200, 300 and 400 in
FIGS. 1-24B . -
FIGS. 1-9 illustrate a first embodiment of adial cover 100 configured to encapsulate adial 11 of arotary closure 10 for improved gripping of the surface of thedial 11 during winding and release of therotary closure 10. In particular, as shown inFIGS. 1-3 , thedial cover 100 is configured for removable engagement with thedial 11 and conforms to a shape of thedial 11, particularly atop surface 12 and aperipheral edge 13 of thedial 11. In one embodiment, thedial cover 100 is configured to encapsulate theperipheral edge 13 of thedial 11 such that a shape of theperipheral edge 13, including a plurality ofgripping recesses 14 and gripping ridges 15 (FIGS. 8 and 9 ), is assumed by thedial cover 100. Referring toFIGS. 4-7 , thedial cover 100 includes abody 101 that defines an outerconvex surface 103 that provides a gripping surface to a user, and an innerconcave surface 107 defined interior to the outerconvex surface 103 that encapsulates thedial 11. In some embodiments, thebody 101 further includes anaperture 104 defined through a center of thedial cover 100. In some embodiments, the innerconcave surface 107 defines aninner lip 106 along a bottom of thesidewall portion 130 that extends inward towards a center of thedial cover 100 to secure thedial cover 100 underneath the peripheral edge 13 (FIG. 3 ) of thedial 11. Thedial cover 100 defines atopside portion 120 and asidewall portion 130, where thesidewall portion 130 is configured to conform to theperipheral edge 13 of thedial 11. In a primary embodiment, thedial cover 100 can be made of a flexible material such as rubber, silicon, a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE), a thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU) or another suitable material with a suitable friction coefficient for gripping. Engagement of thedial cover 100 with analternative dial 21 is illustrated inFIGS. 10 and 11 . -
FIGS. 12-15B illustrate a second embodiment of thedial cover 200 that includes one ormore protrusions 209 that provide a surface to aid the user in gripping and rotation of thedial 11 when thedial cover 200 is coupled with thedial 11, with sub-variations ofprotrusions 209 being respectively illustrated as 209A, 209B and 209C inFIGS. 13A-13C, 14A-14C and 15A and 15B .FIGS. 16-21B illustrate a third embodiment of thedial cover 300 that accommodates a token 318, where the token 318 can include a logo or other personalized indicia visible through anaperture 304 of thedial cover 300.FIGS. 22-24B illustrate a fourth embodiment of thedial cover 400 that is a rigid piece rather than a flexible material and configured for coupling with the alternate embodiment of the dial 21 (fromFIG. 11 ) in a snap-fit engagement. - In one method of assembly of the dial cover 100 (or 200, 300 or 400), the
dial cover 100 is stretched over or otherwise snapped onto the dial 11 (or 21) such that the innerconcave surface 107 of thedial cover 100 encapsulates theperipheral edge 13 and at least part of thetop surface 12 of thedial 11. In some embodiments, theinner lip 106 of thedial cover 100 couples underneath theperipheral edge 13 of thedial 11. In another aspect, thesidewall portion 130 of thedial cover 100 engages theperipheral edge 13 of thedial 11 through friction. In another embodiment shown inFIGS. 24A and 24B , thedial cover 400 engages an underside of the ridgelessperipheral edge 23 of thedial 21 by a plurality oftangs 406 of thedial cover 400 that couple with thedial 21 in a snap-fit engagement. - Once assembled, the inner
concave surface 107 of thedial cover 100 conforms to theperipheral edge 13 of thedial 11 and provides a gripping surface not only for the innerconcave surface 107 of thedial cover 100 to grip thedial 11 for rotation, but to allow a user to better grip the outerconvex surface 103 of thedial cover 100 and rotate thedial 11 in a clockwise or counterclockwise rotational direction. In the embodiments of the dial cover 100 (and 200 and 300) ofFIGS. 2, 12 and 16 , thedial cover 100 includes a flexible material and couples with theperipheral edge 13 of thedial 11 such that thedial cover 100 conforms to a plurality ofrecesses 14 andridges 15 of theperipheral edge 13 of thedial 11. In contrast, in the embodiment of thedial cover 100 with thedial 21 ofFIGS. 10 and 11 , thedial 21 features a ridgeless peripheral edge 24 that thedial cover 100 conforms to. An assembled view of arotary closure 10 including thedial cover 100 engaged with thedial 11 is illustrated inFIG. 1 . -
FIGS. 5-7 illustrate the first embodiment of thedial cover 100 without the dial 11 (FIG. 8 ). As discussed, the first embodiment of thedial cover 100 includes thebody 101 defining an outerconvex surface 103 and an innerconcave surface 107. Thebody 101 further defines thetopside portion 120 and thesidewall portion 130 extending below thetopside portion 120. In the embodiment ofFIG. 7 , thesidewall portion 130 defines theinner lip 106 for engagement underneath theperipheral edge 13 of the dial 11 (FIG. 3 ). As further shown inFIGS. 2 and 10 , thedial cover 100 can engage thedial sidewall portion 130 conforms to the shape of theperipheral edge dial dial 11 ofFIG. 2 , thesidewall portion 130 of thedial cover 100 conforms to the shapes of therecesses 14 andridges 15 of theperipheral edge 13 of thedial 11 to form corresponding cover recesses 134 and cover ridges 135. In contrast, thedial 21 ofFIGS. 10 and 11 includes a ridgelessperipheral edge 23; as a result thesidewall portion 130 remains ridgeless when coupled to the ridgelessperipheral edge 23. - In some embodiments, the
body 101 of thedial cover 100 can be made of any suitable flexible material such as latex, nitrile, rubber, silicon, a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE), a thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU) or another suitable material with a suitable friction coefficient for gripping that is able to be stretched over thedial peripheral edge dial cover 100 can be manufactured by thermoforming, injection molding, or another suitable method, depending on the selected material. In some embodiments, thedial cover 100 can be outfitted with raised designs or grooves along the outerconvex surface 103 or innerconcave surface 107 to improve gripping of thedial 11. In another embodiment, thedial cover 100 can include at least one of a variety of different colors of varying opacity, and in some embodiments can include decorative elements suspended within the material such as glitter. In some embodiments, thedial cover 100 is washable. As such, thedial cover 100 provides additional accessibility, customizability and interchangeability to therotary closure 10. - Referring to
FIGS. 12-15B , a second embodiment of adial cover 200 includes abody 201 defining an outerconvex surface 203 and an inner concave surface 207 (FIG. 13B ) defined interior to the outerconvex surface 203, and further including one ormore protrusions 209 along the outerconvex surface 203 that extend away from a center of thedial cover 200. Thedial cover 200 is configured to encapsulate theperipheral edge 13 of the dial 11 (ofFIG. 8 ) or theperipheral edge 23 of the dial 21 (ofFIG. 1 ). The outerconvex surface 203 provides a gripping surface to a user, and the innerconcave surface 207 encapsulates thedial 11. In some embodiments, thedial cover 200 defines anaperture 204 through a center of thedial cover 200. In some embodiments the innerconcave surface 207 defines aninner lip 206 that extends inward towards a center of thedial cover 200 to secure thedial cover 200 underneath theperipheral edge 13 of thedial 11. The outerconvex surface 203 includes atopside portion 220 and asidewall portion 230 that conforms to theperipheral edge 13 of thedial 11. In the case of thedial 11, thesidewall portion 230 conforms to the shapes of therecesses 14 and ridges 15 (FIG. 8 ) of theperipheral edge 13 to form cover recesses 234 and coverridges 235. - In some embodiments, the
protrusions 209 can each include a solid core (denoted herein as 290A, 290B and 290C for respective embodiments ofFIGS. 12-13C, 14A-14C, and 15A and 15B ) that provides a solid structure for eachprotrusion 209. Each solid core forms the shape of eachprotrusion 209. In some embodiments, the solid core is formed from a hardened plastic or other suitable rigid material and coated with rubber or another suitable material with a suitable friction coefficient for gripping that forms the remainder of thedial cover 200. Each solid core can be formed by thermomolding, injection molding, additive manufacturing, reductive manufacturing or another method.Protrusions 209 ofdial cover 200 enable improved control of rotation of thedial 11, which can be beneficial for children and people with mobility issues such as arthritis or other problems that might make it difficult to rotate thedial 11 to tighten or loosen lacing elements of the shoe. In another embodiment,protrusions 209 can be made entirely of the flexible material such as latex, nitrile, rubber, silicon, a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE), a thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU) or another suitable material with a suitable friction coefficient for gripping through thermomolding, injection molding, or another suitable method. - Referring to
FIGS. 13A-15B , the one ormore protrusions 209 can embody multiple different shapes. For the example shown inFIGS. 12-13C , in some embodiments one ormore protrusions 209A can have a “fin”-like shape including aconcave edge 241 and an oppositeconvex edge 242. In some embodiments, theconcave edge 241 and oppositeconvex edge 242 of eachprotrusion 209A can each include one or more raised grooves or ridges to further aid in gripping and rotating thedial 11 by thedial cover 200.FIG. 13C illustrates a cross-sectional top view showingsolid cores 290A of theprotrusions 209A of the embodiment ofFIGS. 13A and 13B . In the embodiment ofFIGS. 14A-14C , one ormore protrusions 209B are embodied as a plurality ofsmall ridges 243 circumferentially defined around thebody 201 of thedial cover 200.FIG. 14C illustrates a cross-sectional top view showingsolid cores 290B of theprotrusions 209B of the embodiment ofFIGS. 14A and 14B . In the embodiment ofFIGS. 15A and 15B , theprotrusions 209C are embodied as a plurality ofknobs 244 circumferentially defined around thesidewall portion 230 of thedial cover 200.FIG. 15B illustrates a cross-sectional view showingsolid cores 290C of theprotrusions 209C of the embodiment ofFIG. 15A . - Similar to that of
dial cover 100 discussed above,body 201 of thedial cover 200 can be made of a flexible material that is able to be stretched across the dial 11 (or 21) and assume its shape such as latex, nitrile, rubber, silicon, a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE), a thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU) or another suitable material with a suitable friction coefficient for gripping. In addition, thedial cover 200 can be manufactured by thermoforming, injection molding, or another suitable method, depending on the selected material. In some embodiments, thedial cover 200 can be outfitted with raised designs or grooves along the outerconvex surface 203 or innerconcave surface 207 of thebody 201 to improve gripping of thedial 11. In another embodiment, thedial cover 200 can include at least one of a variety of different colors of varying opacity, and in some embodiments can include decorative elements suspended within the material such as glitter. In some embodiments,dial cover 200 is washable. - Referring to
FIGS. 16-21B , a third embodiment of adial cover 300 having the token 318 is illustrated. Thedial cover 300 is configured to encapsulate the dial 11 (or 21) of therotary closure 10 for improved gripping of the surface of thedial 11 during winding and release of therotary closure 10. In particular, thedial cover 300 is configured for removable engagement with thedial 11 and conforms to a shape of thedial 11, particularly thetop surface 12 and theperipheral edge 13 of thedial 11. Thedial cover 300 is also configured to encapsulate theperipheral edge 13 of thedial 11 such that the shapes of the plurality ofgripping recesses 14 and grippingridges 15 of thedial 11 are assumed by thedial cover 300 upon engagement with thedial 11. As shown, thedial cover 300 includes abody 301 that defines an outerconvex surface 303 that provides a gripping surface to a user, and an innerconcave surface 307 defined interior to the outerconvex surface 303 that contacts and encapsulates thedial 11 and the token 318 with the additional function of securing the token 318 against thetop surface 12 of thedial 11. Thedial cover 300 further defines anaperture 304 through the center of thedial cover 300 that exposes the token 318. As shown inFIG. 18 , the innerconcave surface 307 of thedial cover 300 circumferentially defines aninner lip 306 along the bottom of the innerconcave surface 307 that extends inward towards the center of thedial cover 300 to secure thedial cover 300 underneath theperipheral edge 13 of thedial 11. The innerconcave surface 307 circumferentially defines a recessedportion 309 along the top of the innerconcave surface 307 to accommodate the height of the token 318 and secure the token 318 against thedial 11. In some embodiments, thedial 11 can optionally include a recessed portion (not shown) to accommodate the token 318. Referring specifically toFIG. 18 , the outerconvex surface 303 includes atopside portion 320 and asidewall portion 330. Thesidewall portion 330 conforms to theperipheral edge 13 of thedial 11. In the case of thedial 11, thesidewall portion 330 assumes the shapes of therecesses 14 and ridges 15 (FIG. 8 ) of theperipheral edge 13 to form cover recesses 334 and coverridges 335. In contrast, thedial 21 ofFIG. 10 includes a ridgelessperipheral edge 23 and thesidewall portion 330 remains ridgeless when coupled to the ridgelessperipheral edge 23. - In some embodiments, the token 318 is visible through the
aperture 304 of thedial cover 300 when the token 318 is positioned against thetop surface 12 of thedial 11 and secured in place by thedial cover 300. In addition, in some embodiments the token 318 can be small and generally disc-shaped and can include an ornamental design or logo such as team or event logos, player numbers, and can in some embodiments include novelty, licensed logos or personalized names or phrases. In some embodiments, the token 318 can be manufactured from plastic or another suitable material and can include a variety of colors. Thedial cover 300 can be made of any flexible material that is able to be stretched across thedial 11 and assume its shape such as latex, nitrile, rubber, silicon, a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE), a thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU) or another suitable material with a suitable friction coefficient for gripping. In some embodiments, thedial cover 300 can be manufactured by thermoforming, injection molding, or another suitable method, depending on the selected material. In some embodiments, thedial cover 300 can be outfitted with raised designs or grooves defined along the outerconvex surface 303 or innerconcave surface 307 to improve grip. In another embodiment, thedial cover 300 can include at least one of a variety of different colors of varying opacity, and in some embodiments can include decorative elements suspended within the material such as glitter. In some embodiments,dial cover 300 is washable. - Referring to
FIGS. 19A-21B , in some embodiments thedial cover 300 is configured to engage the token 318 in an interlocking arrangement. In particular, in one embodiment the token 318 can optionally include one or more cover engagement points 350 defined on asurface 319 of the token 318. To accommodate, thedial cover 300 can include one or more token engagement points 340 for respective engagement with the one or more cover engagement points 350 of the token 318. The cover engagement points 350 of the token 318 and the token engagement points 340 of thedial cover 300 can define various shapes for improved coupling between the token 318 and thedial cover 300. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 19A and 19B , the cover engagement points 350 of the token 318 and the token engagement points 340 of thedial cover 300 are circular. Similarly, in the embodiment ofFIGS. 20A and 20B , the cover engagement points 350 of the token 318 and the token engagement points 340 of thedial cover 300 can define a rail-and-slot shape as shown. InFIGS. 21A and 21B , two types of engagements are shown. InFIG. 21A the token engagement points 340 of thedial cover 300 are configured to receive a respectivecover engagement point 350 of the token 318. Conversely, inFIG. 21B , the cover engagement points 350 of the token 318 are configured to receive a respectivetoken engagement point 340 of thedial cover 300. - In some embodiments, the token 318 is integral to the
dial cover 300 and can be chemically bonded to one another. In one method of manufacture, the token 318 is formed from a mold, and then thedial cover 300 is molded around thetoken 318. In one example, such a process is performed using injection molding. - Referring to
FIGS. 22-24B , a fourth embodiment of adial cover 400 is illustrated that is made of a rigid material and couples to the dial 21 (or 11) in a snap-fit engagement. Thedial cover 400 encapsulates thedial 21 of therotary closure 10 for improved grip of the surface of thedial 21 during winding and release of therotary closure 10. In particular, thedial cover 400 is configured for removable engagement with thedial 21 and encapsulates thedial 21 when coupled, particularly the top surface 112 and theperipheral edge 23 of thedial 21. As shown, thedial cover 400 includes abody 401 defining an outerconvex surface 403 that provides a gripping surface to a user, and an innerconcave surface 407 defined interior to the outerconvex surface 403 that encapsulates thedial 21. Referring specifically toFIG. 22 , the outerconvex surface 403 includes atopside portion 420 and asidewall portion 430. Thesidewall portion 430 is configured to encapsulate theperipheral edge 23 of thedial 21. As further shown inFIGS. 23 and 24A , the bottom of the innerconcave surface 407 of thedial cover 400 circumferentially defines a plurality oftangs 406 that extend inward towards the center of thedial cover 400 to secure thedial cover 400 underneath aperipheral edge 23 of thedial 21 in a snap-fit engagement. - In some embodiments, the
dial cover 400 can be manufactured from a rigid material such as plastic by thermoforming, injection molding, additive manufacturing, reductive manufacturing, or another suitable method, depending on the selected material. In a preferred embodiment, the rigid material can have a suitable friction coefficient for gripping, or can be coated with latex, nitrile, rubber, silicon, a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE), a thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU) or another suitable material with a suitable friction coefficient for gripping. In some embodiments, thedial cover 400 can be outfitted with raised designs or grooves defined along the outerconvex surface 403 or innerconcave surface 407 to improve gripping of thedial 21. For instance, as shown in the cross-sectional top viewFIG. 24B , the innerconcave surface 407 can include a plurality of friction-fit ribs 490 for a friction engagement with thedial 21. In some embodiments, thedial cover 400 is configured to provide a larger surface area than the dial 20. In another aspect, thedial cover 400 can include at least one of a variety of different colors of varying opacity, and in some embodiments can include decorative elements such as glitter. - It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particular embodiments have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teachings of this invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.
Claims (22)
1. A dial cover for a rotary closure, the dial cover comprising:
a body defining an outer convex surface and an inner concave surface defined interior to the outer convex surface, a sidewall portion and a topside portion;
wherein the dial cover is configured to encapsulate a peripheral edge of a dial of a rotary closure.
2. The dial cover of claim 1 , further comprising an aperture defined through a center of the topside portion of the outer convex surface.
3. The dial cover of claim 2 , wherein the sidewall portion of the dial cover assumes a shape of a peripheral edge of the dial such that the sidewall portion of the dial cover conforms to a plurality of recesses and ridges of the peripheral edge of the dial.
4. The dial cover of claim 1 , further comprising:
an inner lip extending inward towards a center of the dial cover that extends underneath the peripheral edge of the dial when the dial cover is coupled with the dial.
5. The dial cover of claim 1 , wherein the body of the dial cover further comprises:
at least one protrusion extending away from a center of the dial cover.
6. The dial cover of claim 5 , wherein the at least one protrusion includes a concave edge and an opposite convex edge.
7. The dial cover of claim 1 , further comprising:
a token configured for engagement by the dial cover.
8. The dial cover of claim 7 , further comprising:
a recessed portion circumferentially defined at a top of the inner concave surface, the recessed portion configured to engage the token and secure the token against a top surface of the dial.
9. The dial cover of claim 7 , wherein the token is chemically bonded to the dial cover.
10. The dial cover of claim 7 , wherein the token is coupled to the dial cover by a plurality of cover engagement points defined on a surface of the token.
11. The dial cover of claim 1 , wherein the dial cover comprises a flexible material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping.
12. The dial cover of claim 1 , further comprising an inner lip defined along a bottom of the sidewall portion that extends inward towards a center of the dial cover.
13. The dial cover of claim 1 , wherein the dial cover comprises a rigid material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping or otherwise being coated with a material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping.
14. The dial cover of claim 1 , wherein the dial cover includes a plurality of tangs that couple with the dial in a snap fit engagement.
15. The dial cover of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall portion of the body is frictionally engaged to the peripheral edge of the dial.
16. The dial cover of claim 15 , wherein the sidewall portion includes a plurality of friction-fit ribs that engage the peripheral edge of the dial.
17. A method, comprising:
forming a dial cover, the dial cover including:
a body defining an outer convex surface, an inner concave surface defined interior to the outer convex surface, and a sidewall portion.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
coupling the dial cover to a dial of a rotary closure such that the inner concave surface contacts the dial and the sidewall portion encapsulates a peripheral edge of the dial.
19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
forming one or more protrusions along the outer convex surface.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
forming a solid core comprising a rigid material for each protrusion of the one or more protrusions; and
coating the solid core with a material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping.
21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the dial cover comprises at least one of:
a flexible material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping; and/or
a rigid material, the rigid material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping or otherwise being coated with a material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping.
22. A rotary closure, comprising:
a dial defining a peripheral edge and configured for rotation in a clockwise or counterclockwise rotational direction; and
a dial cover that defines an outer convex surface, an inner concave surface defined interior to the outer convex surface, and a sidewall portion that encapsulates the dial against the inner concave surface, wherein the dial cover includes at least one of:
a flexible material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping; and/or
a rigid material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping or otherwise being coated with a material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US17/719,137 US20220330660A1 (en) | 2021-04-15 | 2022-04-12 | Systems and methods for a dial cover for a rotary closure for a shoe |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
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US202163175353P | 2021-04-15 | 2021-04-15 | |
US17/719,137 US20220330660A1 (en) | 2021-04-15 | 2022-04-12 | Systems and methods for a dial cover for a rotary closure for a shoe |
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US20220330660A1 true US20220330660A1 (en) | 2022-10-20 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US17/719,137 Pending US20220330660A1 (en) | 2021-04-15 | 2022-04-12 | Systems and methods for a dial cover for a rotary closure for a shoe |
Country Status (6)
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US (1) | US20220330660A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN115211709A (en) |
AU (1) | AU2022256972A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE112022002149T5 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2620353A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2022221312A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20230172317A1 (en) * | 2016-12-09 | 2023-06-08 | Boa Technology, Inc. | Reel based closure system |
US11730238B2 (en) | 2020-02-14 | 2023-08-22 | Shift Holding, LLC | Shift reel and related methods |
USD1000934S1 (en) * | 2021-07-21 | 2023-10-10 | Fidlock Gmbh | Winch |
USD1014695S1 (en) * | 2021-03-24 | 2024-02-13 | Shift Holding, LLC | Shift reel |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR100890216B1 (en) * | 2008-09-10 | 2009-03-25 | 주식회사 트렉스타 | Quick binding structure of single lace for shoe |
KR101249420B1 (en) * | 2012-12-17 | 2013-04-03 | 주식회사 신경 | Apparatus for fastening wire |
KR101782151B1 (en) * | 2015-06-12 | 2017-10-13 | 김석환 | Apparatus for tightening string |
JP6882827B2 (en) * | 2016-08-10 | 2021-06-02 | 株式会社アルペン | Winding device |
CN206187398U (en) * | 2016-11-11 | 2017-05-24 | 陈金柱 | Fastening device |
DE102018201019A1 (en) * | 2017-02-28 | 2018-08-30 | Fidlock Gmbh | Closure device with a winding element |
-
2022
- 2022-04-12 GB GB2316860.2A patent/GB2620353A/en active Pending
- 2022-04-12 US US17/719,137 patent/US20220330660A1/en active Pending
- 2022-04-12 WO PCT/US2022/024468 patent/WO2022221312A1/en active Application Filing
- 2022-04-12 DE DE112022002149.7T patent/DE112022002149T5/en active Pending
- 2022-04-12 AU AU2022256972A patent/AU2022256972A1/en active Pending
- 2022-04-15 CN CN202210395758.4A patent/CN115211709A/en active Pending
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20230172317A1 (en) * | 2016-12-09 | 2023-06-08 | Boa Technology, Inc. | Reel based closure system |
US11903451B2 (en) * | 2016-12-09 | 2024-02-20 | Boa Technology, Inc. | Reel based closure system |
US11730238B2 (en) | 2020-02-14 | 2023-08-22 | Shift Holding, LLC | Shift reel and related methods |
USD1014695S1 (en) * | 2021-03-24 | 2024-02-13 | Shift Holding, LLC | Shift reel |
USD1000934S1 (en) * | 2021-07-21 | 2023-10-10 | Fidlock Gmbh | Winch |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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AU2022256972A1 (en) | 2023-11-09 |
CN115211709A (en) | 2022-10-21 |
WO2022221312A1 (en) | 2022-10-20 |
GB2620353A (en) | 2024-01-03 |
DE112022002149T5 (en) | 2024-01-25 |
GB202316860D0 (en) | 2023-12-20 |
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