Lace fixation assembly and system

• US 9,439,477 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2014
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2013
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: BOA Technology Incorporated (The Kattegat Trust Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: BOA Technology Incorporated (The Kattegat Trust Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Neiley, Roger T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): MERCADO, LOUIS A
• Application Number:
  US14/166,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20140208550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: A43C 7/00 Holding-devices for laces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2183 Ski, boot, and shoe fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3703 Includes separate device for holding drawn portion of lacing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3724 having lacing wound thereabout or wedged therein

Abstract

A lace closure system may include a low friction guide that defines the turning radius and direction of a lace which, though tension, pulls two or more panels toward each other. The lace closure system may include a fixator that defines a slot into which the lace is led, containing multiple engagement surfaces that, when the lace is wrapped into the slot, serve to engage the lace preventing unwanted loosening. The lace closure system may include a ring onto which the lace is attached, to assist in applying manual tension to the lace. The ring may be shaped and sized to removably attach to an outer perimeter of the fixator after excess lace has been wrapped into the slot.

Claims

1. A lacing system for tightening an article, comprising:

a fixation member coupled to the article, the fixation member having at least one entry aperture and an exit aperture with a lumen extending therebetween, the fixation member also having a spool with a fixation post;

a tension member having an intermediate portion slidably disposed within the lumen of the fixation member such that a proximal portion of the tension member is positioned on a proximal side of the fixation member and a distal portion of the tension member is positioned on a distal side of the fixation member and such that a length of the proximal portion and a length of the distal portion is adjustable via sliding of the tension member within the lumen;

a plurality of guide members coupled to the article on the proximal side of the fixation member to guide the proximal portion of the tension member along the article to the fixation member;

a tensioning portion of the tension member to effect sliding of the tension member within the lumen and thereby tighten the article by adjusting the length of the proximal portion of the tension member, and to maintain a tightness of the article by winding of the tension member about the fixation post, wherein the tensioning portion is securable to the spool of the fixation member, wherein the plurality of guide members direct the tension member along a panel of the article to the at least one entry aperture, and wherein the tension members overlaps itself along the panel; and

wherein the tensioning portion is a tensioning component that is snap-fit coupleable about the spool.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixation member further includes a flange shaped complementary to the article.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the lumen extending between the entry aperture and the exit apertures includes an arcuate configuration.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the tensioning portion is ring-shaped.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the spool and the tensioning component each comprise a plurality of traction members that when engaged inhibit rotation of the tensioning component when the tensioning component is secured about the spool.

6. A lacing system for tightening an article, comprising:

a fixation member coupled to the article, the fixation member having an entry aperture, an exit aperture, and a fixation post that is accessible from an exterior of the fixation member;

a tension member having a proximal portion positioned on a proximal side of the fixation member, a distal portion positioned on a distal side of the fixation member, and an intermediate portion slidably disposed within the fixation member, wherein a length of the proximal portion and a length of the distal portion is adjustable via sliding of the tension member within the fixation member;

a plurality of guide members coupled to the article on the proximal side of the fixation member to guide the proximal portion of the tension member along the article;

a tensioning portion of the tension member that effects sliding of the tension member within the fixation member and thereby tightens the article by adjusting the length of the proximal portion of the tension member, and that maintains a tightness of the article by winding of the tension member about the fixation post from the exterior of the fixation member; and

wherein the tensioning portion comprises a component that is snap-fit coupleable about the fixation member.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the tensioning portion is securable to the fixation member.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the tensioning portion is a component that is coupled to the distal portion of the tension member.

9. A lacing system for tightening an article, comprising:

a fixation member coupled to the article, the fixation member having at least one entry aperture and an exit aperture with a lumen extending therebetween, the fixation member also having a spool with a fixation post, the fixation post being accessible from an exterior of the fixation member;

a tension member having an intermediate portion slidably disposed within the lumen of the fixation member such that a proximal portion of the tension member is positioned on a proximal side of the fixation member and a distal portion of the tension member is positioned on a distal side of the fixation member and such that a length of the proximal portion and a length of the distal portion is adjustable via sliding of the tension member within the lumen;

a plurality of guide members coupled to the article on the proximal side of the fixation member to guide the proximal portion of the tension member along the article to the fixation member;

a tensioning portion of the tension member to effect sliding of the tension member within the lumen and thereby tighten the article by adjusting the length of the proximal portion of the tension member, and to maintain a tightness of the article by winding of the tension member about the fixation post from the exterior of the fixation member, wherein the tensioning portion is securable to the spool of the fixation member; and

wherein the tensioning portion is a tensioning component that is snap-fit coupleable about the spool.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the fixation member further includes a flange shaped complementary to the article.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the lumen extending between the entry aperture and the exit apertures includes an arcuate configuration.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of guide members direct the tension member along a panel of the article without overlap to the at least one entry aperture.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of guide members direct the tension member along a panel of the article to the at least one entry aperture, and wherein the tension members overlaps itself along the panel.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the tensioning portion is ring-shaped.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the spool and the tensioning component each comprise a plurality of traction members that when engaged inhibit rotation of the tensioning component when the tensioning component is secured about the spool.