| Rough and fine adjustment closure system -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Rough and fine adjustment closure systemRelated Patent Categories: Boots, Shoes, And Leggings, Uppers, Closure, For Ski BootRough and fine adjustment closure system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070169378, Rough and fine adjustment closure system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Benefit Claim [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/756,633, filed Jan. 6, 2006. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE [0002] This application hereby incorporates by reference U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006-0156517, published Jul. 20, 2006; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003-0204938, published Nov. 6, 2003; U.S. Patent Application No. 2002-0095750, published Jul. 25, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,558, issued Sep. 18, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,953, issued Mar. 20, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,599, issued Aug. 10, 1999; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/756,633, filed Jan. 6, 2006, in their entireties. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of the Invention [0004] The present invention relates to closure systems used in combination with any of a variety of applications including clothing and baggage, for example in a lacing system for footwear that provides rough and fine adjustments of the tightening pressure. [0005] 2. Description of the Related Art [0006] There currently exist a number of mechanisms and methods for providing closure to openings on any of a variety of articles, including clothing and baggage. This includes traditional manual tie systems which require manual tying of the lace to secure the tightening pressure, pull type systems with sliding pressure clasps, and reel based tightening systems. A number of such reel based systems are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/263,253, filed Oct. 31, 2005, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. [0007] Notwithstanding the forgoing, there remains a need for an improved closure system for use in a variety of applications, which enables rapid removal of slack, followed by customized adjustability of tension. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] Embodiments of the invention provide the ability to close any of a number of articles with a closure system having both rough and fine adjustments. The rough adjustment allows for rapid tightening of a loosened opening. The fine adjustment allows for incremental adjustment of the tension in the closure system. [0009] In some embodiments, a lacing system includes a footwear member including first and second opposing sides configured to fit around a foot, at least a first and second opposing lace guides on the opposing first and second sides, a rotatable spool having at least one lace pathway extending through at least a portion thereof, and a lace guided by the guides and extending through the lace pathway through the spool. The lace may be pulled through the spool to permit a first stage tightening of the footwear and the spool may be rotated to permit a second stage tightening of the footwear. The lace pathway can extend completely through the spool. [0010] In some embodiments, a closure system for an article having a first side and a second side includes at least a first lace guide on the first side and a second lace guide on the second side defining at least a portion of a lace path which extends between the first and second sides. The system further includes a lace guided by the guide members and extending between the first and second sides such that the lace extends completely through and is rotatable around a spool. The system also includes a control for winding the lace around the spool to draw the first side toward the second side, wherein the lace can be manually pulled through the spool when the spool is in a first position. The system can include multiple tightening mechanisms and multiple lacing zones. [0011] In some embodiments, a method of tightening footwear is provided which includes providing footwear having a rotatable reel, a lace, and a lacing zone. The lace is pulled through the reel for a first distance to reduce the slack in the lace and the reel is rotated to tighten the lace in the lacing zone. [0012] In some embodiments, a method of tightening footwear is provided which includes providing footwear having a mechanical tension adjuster, a lace, and a lacing zone, manually pulling the lace through the reel to reduce slack in the lace, and next actuating the mechanical tension adjuster to tighten the lace in the lacing zone. [0013] Some embodiments provide a two stage tension adjustable closure system including an article having a lacing zone and carrying a rotatable spool having at least one lace pathway through at least a portion of the spool and wherein the spool is convertible between a first mode of operation in which the lace may be pulled through the lace pathway and a second mode of operation in which rotation of the spool winds lace around the spool. In some embodiments, the system is converted from the first mode to the second mode by rotating the spool. [0014] In some embodiments, a footwear lacing system includes a footwear member having first and second opposing sides configured to fit around a foot and at least a first and second opposing lace guides on the opposing first and second sides. The system also includes a housing having a rotatable reel including at least one lace pathway and a lace guided by the guides and extending through the lace pathway through the housing such that when the system is tensioned, the housing is coupled to the guides by the tensioned lace and a section of the lace remains exposed and not under tension. [0015] In some embodiments, a footwear lacing system includes a footwear member including first and second sides configured to fit around a foot, a first lace guide attached to the first side, a second lace guide attached to the second side, a tightening mechanism attached to the footwear and including a housing and a rotatable spool, wherein the spool includes at least one bore defining a lace pathway extending from a first side of the spool disposed near the guides through at least a portion of the spool to a second side of the spool disposed away from the guides, and a lace, wherein the lace extends between the first and second guides to define at least a portion of a lacing zone and the lace is adapted to extend through the bore in the spool of the tightening mechanism such that a portion extends from tightening mechanism outside the lacing zone and is adapted to be grasped by a user. In some embodiments, the lace is configured to be pulled through the spool without rotating the spool to permit a first stage tightening of the lacing zone and the spool is rotatable to permit a second stage tightening of the lacing zone. In some embodiments, the lacing system also includes a rotatable knob selectively engageable with the spool. In some embodiments, the knob is rotatable only in a first, lace tightening direction and in some embodiments, the knob is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position and the spool is rotationally locked to the knob when the knob is in the engaged position. [0016] In some embodiments, closure system having multiple stages of tightening includes at least two lace guides, a lace, a tightening mechanism including a housing and a spool having at least one lace pathway extending through the spool from a first side of the spool to a second side of the spool and disposed within the housing, wherein the lace couples the lace guides to the tightening mechanism and is configured to extend through the tightening mechanism and is configured to be manually pulled through the tightening mechanism without rotating the spool in a first stage of tightening and the spool is rotated to wind the lace thereon in a second stage of tightening. In some embodiments, the tightening mechanism further comprises a control selectively coupled to the spool. In some embodiments, the control has an axis and is rotatable about the axis. In some embodiments, the control is movable along the axis. In some embodiments, the closure system comprises multiple lacing zones. In some embodiments, multiple tightening mechanisms are included and one lacing zone is manipulated by a first tightening mechanism and a second lacing zone is manipulated by the second tightening mechanism. In some embodiments, an article is provided which incorporates the closure system wherein the article is one of footwear, shoes, boots, sandals, pants, belts, jackets, vests, gloves, headwear, baggage, briefcases, back packs, or sports equipment bindings. [0017] In some embodiments, a tightening mechanism for use in a closure system includes a housing having an internal chamber, an entrance opening, and an exit opening, a spool configured to be disposed within the internal chamber of the housing and to be in communication with the entrance and exit openings, wherein the spool has an axis of rotation and includes two substantially parallel bores substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation and extending through the spool from a first side of the spool to a second side of the spool, a control knob selectively engageable with the spool, wherein the knob has an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the spool and is rotatable only in one direction when engaged with the spool and wherein the spool is rotatable about its own axis-in both directions when the knob is disengaged from the spool. In some embodiments, the tightening mechanism also includes an alignment portion spaced apart from the entrance opening of the housing. In some embodiments, the alignment portion is connected to the housing with elongated tubes and in some embodiments, the alignment portion and the housing are unitary. In some embodiments, the tightening mechanism also includes a lace extending through the bores in the spool such that a portion of the lace extends outwardly from the housing from both the entrance and exit openings. In some embodiments, rotation of the knob when engaged with the spool causes the lace to wind into the housing and onto the spool from both the entrance and exit openings. In some embodiments, an article is provided which incorporates the tightening mechanism wherein the article is one of footwear, shoes, boots, sandals, pants, belts, jackets, vests, gloves, headwear, baggage, briefcases, back packs, or sports equipment bindings. [0018] In some embodiments, a two stage tension adjustable closure system includes a housing having an internal chamber, an entrance opening and an exit opening, a rotatable reel disposed within the internal chamber, a lace passing through the housing such that a portion extending from the entrance opening forms a lacing zone and a portion extending from the exit opening forms a free end configured to be grasped by a user and wherein the reel is convertible between a first mode of operation in which the reel does not rotate and the lace may be pulled by the free end through the housing to set a first tension on the lace in the lacing zone and a second mode of operation in which rotation of the reel winds lace around the reel. In some embodiments, an article is provided which incorporates the two stage tension adjustable closure system wherein the article is one of footwear, shoes, boots, sandals, pants, belts, jackets, vests, gloves, headwear, baggage, briefcases, back packs, or sports equipment bindings. [0019] In some embodiments, a tightening mechanism includes a housing having an internal chamber, an entrance opening, and an exit opening, a spool is disposed in the internal chamber, wherein the spool has an axis of rotation and includes two substantially parallel bores substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation and extending through the spool from a first side of the spool to a second side of the spool. The tightening mechanism may also include a control knob selectively engageable with the spool, wherein the knob has an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the spool and is rotatable only in one direction when engaged with the spool and wherein the spool is rotatable about its own axis in both directions when the knob is disengaged from the spool. In some embodiments, the tightening mechanism further includes an alignment portion spaced apart from the entrance opening of the housing. In some embodiments, the alignment portion is connected to the housing with elongated tubes and, in some embodiments, the alignment portion and the housing are unitary. In some embodiments, a lace may extend through the bores in the spool such that a portion of the lace extends outwardly from the housing from both the entrance and exit openings. In some embodiments, rotation of the knob when engaged with the spool causes the lace to wind into the housing and onto the spool from both the entrance and exit openings. In some embodiments, an article is provided which incorporates the tightening mechanism wherein the article is one of footwear, shoes, boots, sandals, pants, belts, jackets, vests, gloves, headwear, baggage, briefcases, back packs, or sports equipment bindings. Continue reading about Rough and fine adjustment closure system... Full patent description for Rough and fine adjustment closure system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Rough and fine adjustment closure system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Rough and fine adjustment closure system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Articulating footwear for sports activity Next Patent Application: Article of footwear having a fluid-filled chamber with flexion zones Industry Class: Boots, shoes, and leggings ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Rough and fine adjustment closure system patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.14229 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Medical: Surgery , Surgery(2) , Surgery(3) , Drug , Drug(2) , Prosthesis , Dentistry 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
