Lockout feature for a control device

• US 10,595,582 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2018
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Beers, Tiffany A., Owings, Andrew A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierce, Damon J
• Application Number:
  US16/000,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20180279713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 19/0024 with accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2400/44 Donning facilities
• CPC Class Codes: A41F 1/00 Fastening devices specially adapted for garments for pairing socks A41B11/002; for fur garments A41D5/006
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 11/00 Footwear with arrangements to facilitate putting-on or removing, e.g. with straps
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/00 Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes dress fastenings in general A44B
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/16 Fastenings secured by wire, bolts, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/165 characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0081 Stopping the operation of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/141 in the form of gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

An article of footwear can include provisions for improving the operation and use of various systems associated with the article. A control device included in the article can be configured to allow manual control of a system by a user. A lockout feature that can disable manual control may be included. During periods of competitive activity, the manual controls may be disabled to allow a user wearing the article to engage in different activities without inadvertent activation of a system. In some cases, the control device and lockout feature can be used in conjunction with a motorized tensioning system.

Claims

1. A control device-implemented method of disabling manual controls in the control device associated with an article of footwear, comprising:

receiving, from a sensor of the article of footwear, a signal indicative of a competitive activity;

determining if a user wearing the article of footwear is engaging in competitive activity based on the signal as received;

operating in an operating mode, in which manual control of the control device is enabled if the user is determined not to be engaged in the competitive activity; and

operating in a lockout mode in which the manual control of the control device is disabled if the user is determined to be engaged in the competitive activity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if the user is engaging in competitive activity comprises determining if the user has begun to engage in the competitive activity and operating in the lockout mode upon determining that the user has begun to engage in the competitive activity.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, following determining that the user has begun to engage in the competitive activity, determining if the user has stopped competing if it is determined that the user has begun to engage in the competitive activity, wherein the controller is configured to operate in the operating mode upon determining the user has stopped engaging in the competitive activity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to remain in the lockout mode until the controller determines that the user has stopped engaging in the competitive activity.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining, based on the sensor signal, if the user is engaging in an intermediate intensity activity, wherein the controller determines that the user is not engaged in the competitive activity if the user is engaged in the intermediate intensity activity.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining, based on the sensor signal, if the user is engaging in a high intensity activity, wherein the controller determines that the user is engaged in the competitive activity if the user is engaged in the high intensity activity.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium which, when implemented by a control device associated with an article of footwear, causes the control device to implement operations comprising:

receiving, from a sensor of the article of footwear, a signal indicative of a competitive activity;

determining if a user wearing the article of footwear is engaging in competitive activity based on the signal as received;

operating in an operating mode, in which manual control of the control device is enabled if the user is determined not to be engaged in the competitive activity; and

operating in a lockout mode in which the manual control of the control device is disabled if the user is determined to be engaged in the competitive activity.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein determining if the user is engaging in competitive activity comprises determining if the user has begun to engage in the competitive activity and operating in the lockout mode upon determining that the user has begun to engage in the competitive activity.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further comprising, following determining that the user has begun to engage in the competitive activity, determining if the user has stopped competing if it is determined that the user has begun to engage in the competitive activity, wherein the controller is configured to operate in the operating mode upon determining the user has stopped engaging in the competitive activity.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to remain in the lockout mode until the controller determines that the user has stopped engaging in the competitive activity.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9, further comprising determining, based on the sensor signal, if the user is engaging in an intermediate intensity activity, wherein the controller determines that the user is not engaged in the competitive activity if the user is engaged in the intermediate intensity activity.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further comprising determining, based on the sensor signal, if the user is engaging in a high intensity activity, wherein the controller determines that the user is engaged in the competitive activity if the user is engaged in the high intensity activity.