Lockout feature for a control device

• US 10,010,129 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• 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): Collier, Jameson
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANGINE, HEATHER N
• Application Number:
  US14/723,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20160345653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 36 501, 36 505
• 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. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper;

a sole structure secured to the upper;

a motorized tensioning system entirely directly secured to at least one of the upper and the sole structure, the motorized tensioning system including a control device comprising one or more buttons configured to provide manual control of the motorized tensioning system; and

a sensor configured to output a signal indicative of a competitive activity;

a processor, coupled to the motorized tensioning system; and

a computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when implemented by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

operate in an operating mode, in which manual control of the motorized tensioning system is enabled, based on the signal being indicative of a period of competitive inactivity; and

operate in a lockout mode in which the manual control of the motorized tensioning system is disabled based on the signal being indicative of competitive activity.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the processor to activate the lockout mode during periods in which the signal exceeds a high intensity activity threshold.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein the one or more buttons of the control device are configured to transmit incremental tightening and loosening commands to the motorized tensioning system.

4. The article of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer.

5. The article of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor device.

6. The article of claim 1, wherein the signal being indicative of the period of competitive inactivity is indicative of the article of footwear being stationary.

7. The article of claim 1, wherein the computer readable medium further includes instructions to selectively operate in a first state in which the sensor is powered down and the lockout mode is unavailable, and a second state where the sensor is powered on and the lockout mode is available.

8. A method of disabling manual controls in a control device associated with the article of footwear of claim 1, comprising:

determining if an athlete wearing the article of footwear is competing in competitive activity;

permitting manual control of the control device if the athlete is determined not to be competing; and

disabling manual control of the control device if the athlete is determined to be competing.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining if the athlete has begun to compete.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining whether the athlete is engaging in a high intensity activity.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining whether the athlete has stopped competing if it is determined that the athlete has begun competing.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising continuing to disable manual control if it is determined that the athlete is still competing.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising permitting manual control if it is determined that the athlete has stopped competing.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining whether the athlete is engaging in an intermediate intensity activity.