Footwear having removable motorized adjustment system

• US 9,693,605 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2013
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Beers, Tiffany A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mohandesi, Jila M
• Application Number:
  US14/032,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20140082963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 36 501, 36 51, 36 505, 24 68 SK, 247146
• 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: A43B 3/38 with power sources
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/00 Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes dress fastenings in general A44B
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/008 Combined fastenings, e.g. to accelerate undoing or fastening
• 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: A61F 5/028 Braces for providing support to the lower back, e.g. lumbo sacral supports
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 59/00 Adjusting or controlling tension in filamentary material, e.g. for preventing snarling; Applications of tension indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 59/384 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 69/00 Methods of, or devices for, interconnecting successive lengths of material; Knot-tying devices ;Control of the correct working of the interconnecting device

Abstract

An article of footwear may include a motorized tensioning system. The tensioning system may include a tensile member and a motorized tightening device configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear. The tensioning system may further include a power source configured to supply power to the motorized tightening device. The tensile member, the motorized tightening device, and the power source may be configured to be removably attached to the article of footwear.

Claims

1. An article of footwear including a motorized tensioning system, comprising:

a tensile member having a first tensile member portion and a second tensile member portion;

the first tensile member portion having a fastener at a distal end of the first tensile member portion;

the second tensile member portion having a corresponding fastener at a distal end of the second tensile member portion;

wherein the fastener is configured to be connected to the corresponding fastener;

a motorized tightening device configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear; and

a power source configured to supply power to the motorized tightening device;

wherein the tensile member, the motorized tightening device, and the power source are configured to be removably attached to the article of footwear.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the motorized tensioning system further includes a control unit and a housing configured to house the first tensile member portion, the motorized tightening device, the power source and the control unit, and wherein the housing is configured to be removably attached to the article of footwear.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the housing is configured to be removably attached to a heel portion of the article of footwear.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein, when the housing is attached to the heel portion of the article of footwear, the motorized tightening device is disposed in a rearmost portion of the article of footwear.

5. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the housing is configured to wrap at least partially around a medial side and a lateral side of the heel portion of the article of footwear.

6. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein, when the housing is attached to the heel portion of the article of footwear, the motorized tightening device is disposed in the medial side or lateral side of the heel portion of the article of footwear.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first tensile member portion is configured to be detachable from the second tensile member portion by disconnecting the fastener from the corresponding fastener, thereby enabling removal of the tensile member from the article of footwear.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein, when the tensile member is laced into the article of footwear, the fastener and the corresponding fastener are disposed in an instep region of the article of footwear.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the tensile member is configured to be laced into the article of footwear in a lacing region in an instep region of the article of footwear.

10. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the tensile member includes a first tensile member portion associated with the motorized tightening device, and a second tensile member portion laced into the article of footwear in a sole structure of the article of footwear.

11. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the motorized tightening device is configured to be controlled using a remote device.

12. The article of footwear of claim 1, further including at least one of a cushioning element and an electronics device in a heel region of a sole structure of the article of footwear.

13. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the article of footwear includes a cushioning element in a heel region of a sole structure of the article of footwear and an electronics device in a midfoot region of the sole structure of the article of footwear.

14. An article of footwear including a motorized tensioning system, comprising:

a tensile member having a first ensile member portion and a second tensile member portion;

wherein the first tensile member portion has a fastener at a distal end of the first tensile member portion;

the second tensile member portion having a corresponding fastener at a distal end of the second tensile member portion;

wherein the fastener is configured to be connected to the corresponding fastener;

wherein the motorized tensioning system includes a housing configured to house a motorized tightening device, a power source, a control unit and the first tensile member portion;

wherein the housing is configured to be removably attached to a heel portion of the article of footwear;

the motorized tightening device configured to apply tension in the tensile member; and

the power source configured to supply power to the motorized tightening device.

15. The article of footwear of claim 14, further comprising a first electrical cable extending between the power source and the motorized tightening device and a second electrical cable extending between the control unit and the motorized tightening device.

16. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the first tensile member portion is configured to be detachable from the second tensile member portion by disconnecting the fastener from the corresponding fastener.

17. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein a first surface of the housing is configured to mate with a second surface of the heel portion.

18. The article of footwear of claim 17, wherein the first surface and the second surface may be configured to be removably attached with a hook and loop fastener material.

19. The article of footwear of claim 14, further comprising a manual lace and wherein the motorized tensioning system is configured to be replaced with the manual lace.

20. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the housing is configured to wrap around a medial side and a lateral side of the heel portion, and the housing configured to have a lower profile on the medial side than on the lateral side.

21. A kit of parts, comprising:

an article of footwear;

a manual lace;

a motorized tensioning system, including a tensile member and a motorized tightening device configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear;

the tensile member having a first tensile member portion and a second tensile member portion;

wherein the first tensile member portion is configured to be connected to the second tensile member portion with a manual coupling; and

a container configured to contain the article of footwear, the manual lace, the tensile member, and the motorized tightening device;

wherein the tensile member and the motorized tightening device are configured to be removably attached to the article of footwear and interchangeable with the manual lace.

22. The kit of parts according to claim 21, wherein the first tensile member portion is configured to be detachable from the second tensile member portion by disconnecting the manual coupling, thereby enabling removal of the tensile member from the article of footwear.

23. The kit of parts according to claim 21, further including a remote device configured to control the motorized tightening device.