Automated Tensioning System For An Article Of Footwear

• US 20160345681A1
• Filed: 12/01/2015
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Pheil, Holli, Frederick, Ryan, Palmer, Austin, Ciuffo, Michael, Beers, Tiffany A., Owings, Andrew A., Walker, Steven H.
• Granted Patent: US 10,743,620 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/44 with sensors, e.g. for detecting contact or position
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/00 Shoe lacing fastenings garment fastening devices A41F
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/008 Combined fastenings, e.g. to accelerate undoing or fastening
• 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

Abstract

An article of footwear can include provisions for improving the operation and use of various systems associated with the article. An automated tensioning system can be configured to provide and perform a variety of functions associated with the fastening of the article of footwear. The automated tensioning system may tighten and loosen the article of footwear through the operation of a motor. The automated tensioning system may also be able to store and recall a preset tension level.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

a motorized tensioning system that is configured to adjust a tension level of the article of footwear from a first tension level to a second tension level, wherein the first tension level is greater than the second tension level;

the motorized tensioning system including a motor;

wherein there is a first current level associated with operating the motor when the article of footwear is tensioned at the first tension level, wherein there is a second current level associated with operating the motor when the article of footwear is tensioned at the second tension level;

wherein the first current level is different from the second current level; and

the motorized tensioning system being configured to measure current levels that are associated with operation of the motor in order to determine the tension level of the article of footwear.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising:

a control device, the control device comprising a first button and a second button;

the control device being configured to provide manual control of the motorized tensioning system; and

wherein interaction with the first button initiates an increase in the tension level of the article of footwear.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein interaction with the second button initiates a decrease in the tension level of the article of footwear.

4. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the increase in the tension level of the article of footwear occurs while the motor operates in a forward direction.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the decrease in the tension level of the article of footwear occurs while the motor operates in a reverse direction with an operation of the motor in a reverse direction.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein an increase in a current level associated with operating the motor corresponds with an increase in the tension level of the article of footwear.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first current level is greater than the second current level.

8. An article of footwear, comprising:

an automated tensioning system that is configured to adjust a level of tension associated with the article of footwear;

the automated tensioning system including a motor, wherein the motor operates in a first direction and a second direction, wherein the motor operates in the first direction as the level of tension is increased, wherein the motor operates in the second direction as the level of tension is decreased; and

wherein the automated tensioning system determines the level of tension of the article of footwear by measuring a current level that is associated with the motor following operation of the motor in the second direction.

9. The article of footwear of claim 8, further comprising at least a first light source, wherein the automated tensioning system is configured to display a first animation using the first light source during operation of the motor.

10. The article of footwear of claim 8, wherein the motor is configured to cease operating upon registration of a safety timeout by the automated tensioning system.

11. The article of footwear of claim 8, wherein operation of the motor in the first direction is correlated with an increase in the current level associated with the motor.

12. The article of footwear of claim 8, wherein operation of the motor in the second direction is correlated with a decrease in the current level associated with the motor.

13. The article of footwear of claim 8, wherein the automated tensioning system is configured to save a preset level of tension, and wherein the automated tensioning system is configured to operate the motor in order to adjust the level of tension of the article of footwear to the preset level of tension.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein the preset level of tension is saved by storing information regarding the current level associated with the preset level of tension.

15. The article of footwear of claim 8, wherein the automated tensioning system determines the level of tension of the article of footwear by measuring the current level within 0.001 and 10 seconds of the motor operation in the second direction.

16. An article of footwear, comprising:

a fastening mechanism associated with two or more tension levels;

an automated tensioning system configured to adjust the tension level of the fastening mechanism from a first tension level to a second tension level, wherein the first tension level is different from the second tension level;

the automated tensioning system including a motor;

the automated tensioning system being configured to store the first tension level; and

the automated tensioning system being configured to operate the motor such that the tension level of the fastening mechanism returns to the first tension level automatically.

17. The article of footwear of claim 16, further including a sensor, wherein activation of the sensor initiates a command to the automated tensioning system to return to the first tension level.

18. The article of footwear of claim 17, wherein the sensor is a force sensitive resistor disposed in a heel region of the article of footwear.

19. The article of footwear of claim 16, further including a control device, wherein interaction with the control device can initiate a command to the automated tensioning system to return to the first tension level.

20. The article of footwear of claim 19, wherein the control device includes a first button and a second button, and wherein depression of both the first button and the second button for longer than a predetermined threshold duration initiates the command to the automated tensioning system to return to the first tension level.

21. The article of footwear of claim 20, wherein the predetermined threshold duration is between 2 seconds and 4 seconds.

22. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein a measurement of a current that is associated with operation of the motor is used to determine the tension level of the article.

23. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the first tension level is stored by measurement and storage of a current level that is associated with an operation of the motor that adjusts the tension level of the article of footwear to the first tension level.

24. A method of automatically adjusting tension in an article of footwear, comprising:

adjusting a tension level of the article of footwear to a first tension level;

measuring a first current level associated with the operation of a motor during the adjustment to the first tension level;

storing the first current level in memory;

adjusting the tension level of the article of footwear to a second tension level that is different from the first tension level; and

returning the tension level of the article of footwear to the first tension level.

25. The method of automatically adjusting tension in an article of footwear of claim 24, further comprising:

measuring a second current level associated with the operation of the motor during the adjustment to the second tension level; and

determining the difference between the first current level and the second current level.

26. The method of automatically adjusting tension in an article of footwear of claim 25, further comprising storing the second tension level in memory.

27. The method of automatically adjusting tension in an article of footwear of claim 24, wherein the step of returning the tension level of the article of footwear to the first tension level occurs in response to an input being registered by a sensor.

28. The method of automatically adjusting tension in an article of footwear of claim 24, wherein the step of returning the tension level of the article of footwear to the first tension level occurs in response to registration of an input into a control device.