Lacing Architecture for Automated Footwear Platforms

Abstract

To provide systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine.SOLUTION: In this example, the footwear assembly can include a footwear upper and a lace cable running through a plurality of lace guides. The plurality of lace guides can be distributed along the inner side and the outer side, and each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides can be adapted to receive a prescribed length of the lace cable. The lace cable can extend through each of the plurality of lace guides to form a pattern along each of the inner side and outer side of the footwear upper. The footwear assembly can also include an inner proximal lace guide routing the lace cable into a lacing engine disposed within a mid-sole portion. Finally, the footwear assembly includes an outer proximal lace guide to route the lace cable out of the lacing engine.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] A lacing architecture for an automated footwear platform. Summary of the Invention

[0002] The following specification describes a lace-up engine, electric or non-electric, and related The present invention includes a footwear component, an automatic lacing footwear platform, and an associated manufacturing process. Various aspects of a footwear assembly with a lacing system are described. Specifically, most of the following specification is directed to centralized lacing tightening motorized or non-motorized Various lacing architectures for use in footwear that include lacing engines Aspects are described.

[0003] In the drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, like numerals refer to the same parts in different views. Similar numbers with different subscripts may represent different parts of similar components. The drawings may illustrate various embodiments of the present invention. 1 shows various embodiments in schematic form. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0004] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of some components of a footwear assembly having a powered lacing system, according to some illustrative embodiments. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a lacing architecture for use with a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 3A] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a flat footwear upper having a lacing architecture for use in a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 3B] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a flat footwear upper having a lacing architecture for use in a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 3C] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a flat footwear upper having a lacing architecture for use in a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates a portion of a footwear upper having a lacing architecture for use in a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 5] 1 illustrates a portion of a footwear upper having a lacing architecture for use in a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates a portion of a footwear upper having a lacing architecture for use in a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 7A] 1 illustrates a portion of a footwear upper having a lacing architecture for use in a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 7B] 1 illustrates a portion of a footwear upper having a lacing architecture for use in a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 7C] 1 illustrates a deformable lace guide for use in a footwear assembly, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 7D] 1 illustrates a deformable lace guide for use in a footwear assembly, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 7E] 10 is a graph illustrating various torque versus lace displacement curves for a deformable lace guide, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 8A]10A-10C illustrate lacing guides for use with particular lacing architectures, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 8B] 10A-10C illustrate lacing guides for use with particular lacing architectures, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 8C] 10A-10C illustrate lacing guides for use with particular lacing architectures, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 8D] 10A-10C illustrate lacing guides for use with particular lacing architectures, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 8E] 10A-10C illustrate lacing guides for use with particular lacing architectures, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 8F] 10A-10C illustrate lacing guides for use with particular lacing architectures, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 8G] 10A-10C illustrate lacing guides for use with particular lacing architectures, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 9] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a footwear assembly process for the assembly of footwear including a lacing engine, according to some illustrative embodiments. [Figure 10] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a footwear assembly process for the assembly of footwear including a lacing engine, according to some illustrative embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Any headings contained herein are for convenience only and may not necessarily be used. This does not affect the scope or meaning of any term or discussion under that heading. The concept of self-tightening shoelaces was first introduced in the 1989 film "Back to the Future." Marty McKinney in "Back to the Future II" The fictional Nike (registered trademark) electric shoelace lacing shoes worn by Marty McFly Nike (registered trademark) sneakers were the first to popularize the sport. , an electric shoelace tightener that looks similar to the prop version from the movie "Back to the Future 2" They released at least one version of the sneaker, but it featured an internal mechanical system. The system and surrounding footwear platform are not necessarily suitable for mass production or everyday use. Furthermore, other previous designs of power lacing systems have been subject to high manufacturing costs, It suffers from significant problems such as complexity, difficulty in assembly, and poor maintainability. The inventors have proposed, in particular, motorized and non-motorized systems that solve some or all of the problems listed above. We have developed a modular footwear platform that can be fitted with a lacing engine. and "Lasting for Automated Footwear Platforms" Lacing Apparatus for Automated Forwarding Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62 / 308,686 entitled "BEST EAR PLATFORM" To take full advantage of the modular lace-up engine discussed in detail in , the inventors have developed the lacing architecture discussed in this document. The lacing architecture is a centralized lacing mechanism that can be used to tighten various Solving problems such as uneven tightening, fit, comfort and performance The lacing architecture allows for greater lacing travel. It offers a variety of benefits, including tension equalization and improved comfort while maintaining a good fit. One aspect of improved comfort is the lacing, which reduces pressure on the top of the foot. Also, exemplary lacing architectures include medial-lateral and anterior lacing. By manipulating the lace tension in both the vertical and rear directions, you can adjust the fit and performance. It can also improve performance. There are many other benefits of the components described below. The benefits will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0006] The lacing architecture discussed is located within the midsole portion of the footwear assembly. It was clearly developed to work with the modular lace-up engine. The concept is to provide a footwear platform with a variety of positions around the footwear, for example, in the heel or This also applies to electric and manual lacing mechanisms located in the toe area. The lacing architectures discussed may be of various shapes and materials. Among other things, tubular plastic, metal clips, fabric loops or channels, plastic Use of a lace guide that can be formed from a lock clip and an open U-shaped channel In some embodiments, various different types of lacing guides may be provided. The lacing architecture can be mixed to perform specific lacing routing functions. Cut.

[0007] The electric lacing engine discussed below is a robust and It has been thoroughly developed to provide practical and interchangeable components. Sinn enables final assembly into modular footwear platforms at the retail level The laced engine design incorporates unique design elements that allow for standard assembly processes. Unique adaptation to known assembly techniques while still utilizing current assembly resources This allows for a large part of the footwear assembly process to be utilized.

[0008] In one embodiment, the modular automatic lacing footwear platform includes a lacing element. The midsole plate is secured to the midsole to house the engine. The soleplate design keeps the lacing engine running even at the latest point in time, like at the time of purchase. The platform can be inserted into the midsole plate and Another aspect of the Joule-style automated footwear platform is the use of different types of footwear interchangeably. For example, the electric lace-up engine discussed below allows It could be replaced with a force lacing engine or foot presence detector. A fully automatic electric lacing engine with the function or any other function can be installed in a standard midsole. It could be contained within a plate.

[0009] The use of a centralized lacing engine, either electric or non-electric, to tighten athletic footwear is , some in providing sufficient performance without sacrificing some comfort. The lace-up architecture discussed in this paper has been developed in the past using centralized Specifically designed for use with lace-up engines, from casual to high performance It has been designed to enable a wide variety of footwear designs.

[0010] This initial summary is intended to introduce the subject matter of this patent application. It is not intended to provide an exclusive or comprehensive description of the various inventions disclosed in the description. It is not intended to be.

[0011] Automatic Footwear Platform Below, we will explain the electric lacing engine, the midsole plate, and the platform. and various other components of the automated footwear platform, including Most of this disclosure is directed to a system for use with an electric lace-up engine. Although the focus is on laced architecture, the designs discussed are similar to those used for manual laced Tightening engine or other electric lace tightener with additional or lesser capacity It is applicable to engines. Therefore, it is used in the "Automatic Footwear Platform". The term "automatic" in this document is intended to cover only systems that operate without user input. To be precise, the term "automatic footwear platform" refers to the footwear laces. A variety of electric and manual, automatically operated, fastening or retaining systems Includes powered and human-operated mechanisms.

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates components of a powered lacing system for footwear, according to some exemplary embodiments. The electric lacing system 1 shown in FIG. 20, an actuator 30, a midsole plate 40, a midsole 50, and an 1 shows the basic components of the self-lacing footwear platform. The electric lacing system 1 includes a midsole plate 40. The actuator 30 then moves to the outsole. The midsole plate opposite the interface button that can be embedded in the 60 The lacing engine 10 is then inserted into the opening on the outer side of the midsole. In one embodiment, the lacing system 1 includes a lacing cable. The lacing cable is inserted under the continuous loop of the lacing cable and is connected to a spool in the lacing engine 10. Finally, the lid 20 is attached to the midsole plate 4. 0 groove and is locked in the closed position, latching into the recess of the midsole plate 40. The lid 20 can capture the lace-up engine 10 and prevent the laces from running. The tightening can help maintain cable alignment.

[0013] In one embodiment, the footwear article or power lacing system 1 monitors foot presence characteristics. The system may include or be in communication with one or more sensors that can detect or determine Footwear including the powered lacing system 1 is configured to include one or more foot presence sensors. It can be configured to perform various functions based on information from the For example, a foot presence sensor provides binary information regarding the presence or absence of a foot in the footwear. The foot presence sensor may be configured to provide a binary signal indicating whether a foot is present. If the electric lacing system 1 is indicated as being connected to a footwear lacing cable, The bolts can be operated to automatically tighten or loosen (i.e., loosen) In one embodiment, the article of footwear receives or interprets signals from the foot presence sensor. The processor circuit optionally includes a processor circuit for controlling the lacing end. embedded in the sole of the footwear article, for example, in the Gin 10 or together with the lacing engine. It can be done.

[0014] Lace-up architecture FIG. 2 illustrates an upper 2 showing an exemplary lacing configuration, according to some exemplary embodiments. 00. In this embodiment, the upper 205 includes laces 210 and In addition to the engine 10, an outer tightening lace fixing portion 215, an inner tightening lace fixing portion 216, The outer lace guide 222, the inner lace guide 220, and the Brio cable (brio The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 includes a diagonal lacing pattern. Continuous knit textile upper with non-overlapping medial and lateral lacing paths 5. The lace path begins at the outer lace anchor point 215 and extends to the outer lace Through the guide 222, through the lacing engine 10, and upward to the inner lacing guide The laces are formed through the cord 220 and back to the inner lace fastening portion 216. The tightening lace 210 is a continuous loop from the outer tightening lace fixing portion 215 to the inner tightening lace fixing portion 216. In this embodiment, the inside-out tightening is performed by the Brio cable 22. 5. In other embodiments, the lacing path may extend through the medial side of the upper 205. - Crossing or incorporating additional features to transmit clamping forces in an outward direction Furthermore, the concept of continuous lace loops is 210 and a more conventional approach, crossing back and forth across the central gap. It can be incorporated into the top.

[0015] 3A-3C illustrate a vehicle including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. Flat footwear upper with lacing architecture 300 for use in a footwear assembly 305. For purposes of discussing exemplary footwear uppers, Assume that the 305 is designed for incorporation into a right-foot version of the footwear assembly. FIG. 3A shows a flat footwear having the lacing architecture 300 as shown. FIG. 3 is a plan view of an upper 305. In this embodiment, footwear upper 305 includes a lace case. A series of lace guides 320A to 320B in a state where the bull 310 passes through the lace guides 320 320J (collectively referred to as lace guide 320). In this embodiment, the intermediate portion of the loop is connected to a lacing end in the midsole of the footwear assembly. When the outer tightening lace fixing part 345A and the inner tightening lace fixing part 345B are threaded through the gin, 45B (collectively referred to as lace fastening points 345) on either side of upper 305. The upper 305 also includes a series of lace guides. The reinforcement also includes a reinforcement associated with each of the lace guards 320. It is possible to cover one lace guide or span multiple lace guides. In this embodiment, the reinforcement portion includes a central reinforcement portion 325, a first outer reinforcement portion 335A, and a first inner reinforcement portion 335B. The reinforcement portion 335B includes a second outer reinforcement portion 330A and a second inner reinforcement portion 330B. The middle portion of the lace cable 310 is connected to the outer rear lace guide 315A and the inner rear lace guide 315B. To the lacing engine and their rear lacing guides via the lacing guide 315B or from the lacing engine or its rear lacing guide. and through the outer lace outlet 340A and the inner lace outlet 340B, Maybe I'll get out of the 300 and into the upper 300, or maybe I'll get out of the upper 300. It falls into the upper 300 range.

[0016] The upper 305 is divided into different sections, for example, a toe section 307, a midfoot section 308, and The toe portion 307 may include a foot portion 308, a heel portion 309, and a toe portion 309 that connects the metatarsals and phalanges of the foot. The midfoot portion 308 may correspond to the arch area of ​​the foot. 09 may correspond to the rear or heel portion of the foot. The lateral and lateral sides may include a central portion 306. In total, the central portion 306 allows for the adjustment of the fit of the footwear upper around the foot. It may include openings through which crisscrossing (or similar) patterns of laces extend. The central portion 306, including the opening, also facilitates easy entry and exit of the footwear assembly. .

[0017] The lace guides 320 are positioned along each of the lateral and medial sides of the upper 305. The lace cable 310 is threaded through the turn while retaining the lace cable 310. In this embodiment, the lace guide 320 is a tubular or channel structure for essentially a circular arc along the medial and lateral sides of the upper 305. It is a U-shaped plastic tube deployed in a sinusoidal pattern. The number of cycles that the wheel 310 completes may vary depending on the shoe size. The size footwear assembly can only accommodate 1.5 cycles, and the exemplary upper 305 , before entering the inner rear lace guide 315B or the outer rear lace guide 315A. The pattern is adapted to 2.5 periods. In this embodiment, the pattern is at least a U-shaped guide. has a wider profile than the peaks or valleys of a pure sine wave, making it inherently positive. In other embodiments, a pattern closer to a pure sine wave pattern may be utilized. (Without the extensive use of carefully curved lace guides, A pure sine wave is not easily achieved with the lace stretched between the lace guides. The shape of the lace guide 320 produces different torque vs. lace displacement curves. In this case, the torque is generated by the lacing engine in the midsole of the shoe. Using a lace guide with a tighter radius curve, or A higher frequency wave pattern (e.g., with more lace guides, more numbers The inclusion of a period (of 1000 cycles) may result in changes to the torque vs. lace displacement curve. For example, with a tighter radius lace guide, the lace cable will have higher friction. This can result in a higher initial torque, which The torque vs. lace displacement curve may appear to smooth out the torque. In some embodiments, a lace guide is provided to help smooth out the torque versus lace displacement curve. While utilizing a placement pattern or lace guide design (e.g., friction within the lace guide), It may be more preferable to maintain a low initial torque level (by keeping friction low). One such lace guide design is discussed in connection with Figures 7A and 7B. Another alternative lace guide design is discussed in connection with Figures 8A-8G. In addition to the lace guides discussed in connection with the drawings of They can be made from plastic, polymer, metal or fabric. For example, a lacing cable Layers of fabric are used to form molded channels for threading the wires in the desired pattern. As discussed below, plastic or metal guides and fabric overlays are The combination of the guiding components for use in the lacing architecture under discussion. It can be used to generate

[0018] Referring to FIG. 3A, reinforcements 325, 335, and 330 are shown as different lace guides, For example, it is shown in association with lace guide 320. The reinforcing portion 335 can be attached to cover the upper part of the tightening lace guides 320G and 320H. The process can include a fabric impregnated with a heat-activated adhesive, such as a hot melt adhesive. A reinforcement such as reinforcement 325 may cover multiple lace guides. For example, in this embodiment, the footwear may be positioned adjacent to a central portion, e.g., central portion 306. In another embodiment, the reinforcement 325 covers the six upper lace guides. The central portion 306 is split in the middle and is separate from the lace guides along the outer sides of the central portion 306. The two members are arranged to cover the lace guide along the inner side of the central portion 306. In yet another alternative embodiment, the reinforcement 325 may be attached to the individual lace guides. The six independent reinforcement sections can be used to tighten the laces. and the underlying footwear upper, e.g., upper 305. The reinforcement can be sewn, glued, or attached to the mechanism. The reinforcement may also be attached to the upper 305 in a variety of other ways, including combinations. The method of attaching the reinforcement, along with the type of fabric or material used, depends on the lace guide. It can also affect the friction experienced by the lacing cable passing through it. A stiffer material hot melted over the flexible lace guide provides support for the laces. In contrast, the adhesive that covers and adheres to the lace guide can increase the friction experienced by the cable. The flexible material reduces wear by maintaining additional flexibility in the lace guide. Friction can be reduced.

[0019] As mentioned above, FIG. 3A shows the medial and lateral upper lace guides (320A, 3 Single-member central reinforcement spanning 320B, 320E, 320F, 320I and 320J Reinforcement portion 325 is shown. Reinforcement portion 325 is attached to the underlying footwear upper, in this embodiment, upper 30. Assuming that the material is less flexible and stiffer than 5, the resulting The resulting center portion 306 may exhibit less forgiving fit characteristics. In some applications, a stiffer, less forgiving center section 306 may be desirable. However, in applications where greater flexibility across the central portion 306 is desired, a central reinforcement The section 325 can be divided into two or more reinforcement sections. The central reinforcement section allows for a variety of flexes that allow for more configurations to fit the central section 306. A flexible or elastic material may be used to bond across the center portion 306. In some embodiments, the upper 305 may include, for example, lace guides 410 and elastic members 412. 40, at least a portion of which is shown in FIG. 4, along the entire length of the central portion 306. A small gap is created by one or more elastic members that span the gap. The central reinforcement may be connected to the

[0020] FIG. 3B illustrates a flat footwear having the lacing architecture 300 as shown. 1 is another plan view of upper 305. In this embodiment, footwear upper 305 includes reinforcement portion 3 Similar to lace guide 320 with modifications to the configurations of 25, 330 and 335. As mentioned above, the changes to the reinforcement configuration are minimal. This results in slightly different fit characteristics and also changes the torque vs. lace displacement curve. There is a possibility.

[0021] FIG. 3C illustrates a series of laces in relation to a flat footwear upper, according to an exemplary embodiment. 3A is an example of a lacing architecture. The lace guide pattern is similar to the sinusoidal pattern described above, with each reinforcement The lace architecture 300B again covers the individual lace guides. The reinforced strips covering the upper lace guide pairs are designed to secure the central and individual lower lace guides. The lacing guides and wavy lacing pads, also known as parachute lacing pads, are Lacing architecture 300C has a single central reinforcement. Another wavy lacing pattern is the 300D lacing architecture, which allows for individual reinforcements. But it is cut to fit over the individual lace guides The 300E Lacing Architecture introduces a triangular lacing pattern. Modifications of the reinforcement structure in the square-shaped lacing pattern are shown. Tecture 300F is another variation of the reinforcement configuration, including a central reinforcement and an integrated lower reinforcement. Here is an example.

[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. 4 shows a portion of a footwear upper 405 having a lacing architecture 400 for use in a In this embodiment, the medial side of the upper 405 is provided with a lace guide 410. The lacing cable 430 is shown threaded through the inner exit guide 435. The lace guide 410 includes a reinforcement 420 to form the lace guide component 415. and at least a portion of the lace guide component is repositioned on the upper 405. In one embodiment, the lace guide component 415 is a hook and loop fastener. The upper 405 is lined with a material, and the upper 405 forms a surface that can accept a hook-and-loop fastener material. In this embodiment, the lace guide component 415 is configured to guide the upper 405 to the lace guide. With the knit loop surface formed to receive the thread component 415, In another embodiment, the lace guide component 415 may be a track. , for example, having an integrated track interface to engage with track 445. Track-based integration provides safe, limited mobility and exercise options. For example, the track 445 extends along the length of the central portion 450. A lace guide arrangement along the length of the track, running essentially perpendicular to the hand axis. In some embodiments, the track 44 allows for placement of the element 415. 5 is an outer side for holding the lace guide components on either side of the central portion 450. All lace guide components 41 may extend from the center to the inner side. 5. A similar track can be placed in the appropriate position to hold the footwear upper Allows for limited directional adjustment for all lace guides on the 405.

[0023] Footwear upper 405 may include another exemplary saddle-type upper including a central elastic member, such as elastic member 440. Also shown are fastening architectures. In these examples, the medial and lateral sides At least the upper lace guide components along the The center is made of elastic material that allows for different footwear designs to achieve different performance. For example, the foot can be secured through a wide range of lateral movements. High-performance basketball shoes need to be adjusted to ensure a snug fit. In another embodiment, a resilient material having a high modulus of elasticity can be used. , running shoes for long distance road running vs. achieving high levels of lateral motion control Running shoes may be designed to focus on comfort for the In certain embodiments, the elastic member may have a low modulus of elasticity. 440 can be replaced with a mechanism that allows for adjustment of the level of elasticity, As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the footwear accessories may include a An upper, e.g., upper 405, at least partially separates the medial side and the lateral side. A small gap along the center 450 may be included. Even in the case of a cap, a resilient member, such as resilient member 440, may be required to span the gap. It can be used.

[0024] FIG. 4 only illustrates a single track 445 or a single resilient member 440. However, these elements are either lacing guides in a particular lacing architecture. Or you can replicate it for all.

[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. 4 shows a portion of a footwear upper 405 having a lacing architecture 400 for use in a In this embodiment, the central portion 450 shown in FIG. The central closure mechanism 460 is shown as 465. The access mechanism provides a wider opening in the footwear upper 405 for easy entry and exit. The central zipper 465 allows for easy entry and exit of the legs. In another embodiment, the central closure 460 can be easily opened. Snaps, clasps, toggles, secondary drawstrings, or any similar closure It can be a mechanical mechanism.

[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. 6 shows a portion of a footwear upper 405 having a lacing architecture 600 for use in a In this embodiment, lacing architecture 600 includes a heel lacing guide. 610 and heel reinforcement 620 and heel redirect guide 610 and heel A heel lacing component 615 including an exit guide 635 is added. The lace guide 610 guides the lace cable 430 to the final lace guide 410 where it exits. Shift the heel lacing component 615 from the heel lacing component 615. The heel is formed from a heel lacing guide 610 with a heel reinforcement 620. The lacing guide 610 is similar to the lacing guides used in other locations on the upper 405. However, in other embodiments, the heel lacing guide 6 10 may have other shapes or may include multiple lace guides. In this embodiment, the heel lace component 615 is mounted on the heel track 645. 615. Adjustable lace guide as well as adjustable positioning of heel lace component 615. Other mechanisms, such as hook and loop fasteners or equivalent fastening mechanisms, may be used to allow for This can be done.

[0027] In some embodiments, the upper 405 may be a cross-section, similar to the midsection 450 described above. The shoe includes a heel protuberance 650 that may include a heel closure mechanism. In one embodiment, the heel closure mechanism enlarges the foot opening of a conventional footwear assembly. The shoe is designed to allow easy entry and exit from the footwear. In some embodiments, the heel lacing component 615 may be configured as a The heel ridge 650 is then fitted over the heel ridge 650 with a matching heel pad on the opposite side. The connection may also be made to the fastening component using an elastic member similar to elastic member 440. may include:

[0028] 7A and 7B illustrate a vehicle including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. Footwear upper 405 having lacing architecture 700 for use in a footwear assembly In this example, lacing architecture 700 includes laces 7 30. The lace guide 710 is In this embodiment, the lace guide 710 may include a reinforcement 720 that is 7B. Deflection of a portion of lace guide 710 from an initial open position shown in FIG. 7A to a deflected closed position shown in FIG. 7B. (For reference, phantom lines indicate the opposing positions in each drawing.) In this embodiment, the lace guide 710 has a length of approximately 1.5 mm between the initial open position and the closed position. The lace guide 710 may include an extension that provides a 4 degree deflection. There may be some flex between the final position (or shape). The deflection of 10 occurs when the lace 730 is tightened. The deflection is achieved by applying some initial tension to the tightening lace 730 and by tightening the tightening process. By providing an additional mechanism to distribute the lace tension during the tightening process, torque It acts to smooth out the displacement curve of the lacing. Therefore, in the initial shape of the deflection position, The lace guide 710 provides some initial tension to the lace cable, which also It also functions to take up slack in the lace cable. As this occurs, the lace guide 710 flexes or deforms.

[0029] The lace guide 710 is, in this embodiment, a plastic or polymer tube. The tubes are made of different materials and can have different moduli of elasticity depending on their specific composition. The elastic modulus of the lace guide 710, together with the configuration of the reinforcement portion 720, This controls the amount of additional tension created in the lace 730 due to the deflection of the cord 710. The elastic deformation of the ends (legs or extensions) of the lace guide 710 allows the lace guide 710 to return to its original shape. As the lace 730 tries to return to its original position, it exerts continuous tension on the lace 730. In other embodiments, the entire lace guide flexes uniformly along the entire length of the lace guide. The deflection occurs primarily in the U-shaped portion of the lace guide, with the extension remaining substantially straight. In yet another embodiment, the extension has a U-shaped portion that is relatively fixed. In this state, it can accommodate most deflections.

[0030] The reinforcement 720 supports the lace guide 710 in a manner that allows movement of the ends of the lace guide. In some embodiments, the reinforcement 720 is attached over the guide 710. Adhered by a hot melt process, the heat activated adhesive placement ensures the lace guide In another embodiment, the reinforcement 720 is They can be sewn into place or a combination of adhesive and stitching can be used. How the reinforcement portion 720 is attached or configured can be determined by: Affects which part of the lace guide will deflect under the load from the lace cable In some embodiments, the hot melt is applied to the U-shaped portion of the lace guide. are concentrated around the extensions (legs) to allow them to flex more freely.

[0031] 7C and 7D are diagrams illustrating a footwear assembly according to some exemplary embodiments. 7A and 7B show a deformable lace guide 710. In this embodiment, The lacing guide 710 introduced above in connection with FIG. 7 will be discussed in more detail. C shows the lace guide 710 in a first (open) state, which is the undeformed state. FIG. 7D shows lace guide 710 in a second (closed / flexed) state. This can be considered a deformed state. The lace guide 710 has three different The section includes a middle section 712, a first extension section 714, and a second extension section 716. The lace guide 710 also includes a lace receiving opening 740 and a lace guide. As mentioned above, the lace guide 710 may include a different The elastic modulus may be such that the level of deformation with a particular applied tension is In some embodiments, the lace guide 710 may have different sections with different elasticity. For example, the intermediate section 712 may have a first elastic modulus and the first extension may have a second elastic modulus. a second extension portion having a second elastic modulus, and a second extension portion having a third elastic modulus; In certain embodiments, the second and third elastic moduli can be substantially the same. This allows the first extension portion and the second extension portion to bend or deform in the same manner. In the examples, "substantially similar" means that the moduli are within a few percent of each other. In some embodiments, the lace guide 710 may be positioned at the apex 746. The modulus varies from a high modulus at the outer end of the first extension to a low modulus towards the outer ends of the second extension. In these embodiments, the moduli may vary depending on the laces. It may vary based on the wall thickness of the guide 710.

[0032] The lace guide 710 defines many useful axes, allowing for easy identification of how the deformable lace guide is configured. For example, the first extension 714 is connected to the first incoming clamp. A string axis 750 can be defined, the axis being defined within the first extension 714. The second extension 716 is aligned with at least an outer portion of the inner channel. The second extension 716 defines a first exiting lace axis 760, which is defined within the second extension 716. The lace guide 710 is aligned with at least an outer portion of the inner channel. When deformed, the second incoming lace shaft 752 and the second outgoing lace shaft 762 and each of these axes is connected to a respective portion of the first extension and the second extension. Also, the lace guide 710 is aligned with the lace guide at the apex 746. Intermediate axis 710 intersects with id 710 and is equidistant from the first extension and the second extension. 44 (as shown in Figure 7C for a symmetrical lace guide in its undeformed state). (assuming the

[0033] FIG. 7E illustrates a further example of a deformable lace guide, according to some exemplary embodiments. 7 is a graph 770 showing various torque versus lace displacement curves. One of the benefits achieved with the guide 710 is that torque (or lace tension) This involves modifying the lace displacement (or shortening) curve. Curve 776 is an example lace Torque vs. displacement curves for a non-deformable lace guide used in the lacing architecture are shown. Curve 776 shows a rapid tension increase for a short displacement near the end of the tightening process. In contrast, curve 778 shows how the exemplary laces are subjected to Torque vs. deformation for the first deformable lace guide used in the lacing architecture. Curve 778 begins in a similar manner to curve 776, but the lace guide , the curve flattens out as it deforms with additional lace tension, allowing for larger laces. This results in increasing tension over the displacement. Flattening the curve is beneficial for the end user. This allows for greater control over the fit and performance of footwear.

[0034] The final embodiment has three segments: an initial clamping segment 780 and an adaptive clamping segment 790. The segments 780, 782 are divided into a reaction segment 784. , 784 is useful in any situation where torque and resulting displacement are desired. However, the reaction segment 784 is particularly suitable for use in applications where an electric lace-up engine , to perform sudden changes or corrections in lace displacement for unexpected external factors. In situations, for example, when the wearer suddenly stops moving, causing relatively high loads on the laces. In contrast, adaptive segment 782 can be used to reduce the load on the laces. For example, load changes may not be so sudden. or because changes in activity are input by the wearer into the power lacing engine. Or, an electric lacing engine could predict changes in activity through machine learning. Therefore, it can be used where a more gradual displacement than that of a lace may be utilized. The deformable lace guide design that results in this last embodiment is The structure design (e.g., channel shape, material selection, or parameter combination) The reaction segment 782 and the reaction segment 784 are designed to produce the reaction segment 782 and the reaction segment 784. The lacing architecture and lacing guides resulting from the example are shown in the initial lacing diagram. It also creates pretension in the drawstring cable that results in the drawstring segment 780.

[0035] 8A-8F illustrate specific lacing architectures according to some exemplary embodiments. 8 illustrates an exemplary lacing guide 800 for use with a sling. An alternative lace guide is shown having a lace channel. The lace guide 800 may be a lace guide 410, a heel lace guide 610, or Additionally, any of the lacing architectures described above in connection with the inner exit guide 435 may be used. All of the various configurations mentioned above can be substituted in The lacing guide 800 has a guide tab 805 and a stitch The opening 810, the guide top surface 815, the lace retainer 820, and the lace channel 8 25, a channel radius 830, a lace access opening 840, and a guide undersurface 845. , and a guide radius of 850. Open channel tightening lace guide, e.g., lace tightening guide 8 The advantage of 00 is that after the lace guide is attached to the footwear upper, the lace cable can be easily guided. The tubes shown in many of the lace architecture embodiments described above include the ability to thread In the case of a lacing guide, it is not possible to pass the lacing cable through the lacing guide (later It is best to do this before attaching the lace guide to the footwear upper. The open channel lace guide allows the lace guide 800 to be easily Once placed on the bracket, the lace cable simply passes through the lace retainer 820. This allows for simple lace routing. The tightening guide 800 can be fabricated from a variety of materials, including metal or plastic. can be done.

[0036] In this embodiment, the lacing guide 800 is first attached to the footwear accessory by stitching or adhesive. The illustrated design can be attached to a footwear upper (or similar Designed to allow for easy manual or automatic sewing of the lacing guide 800 onto the material Once the lacing guide 800 is attached to the footwear upper, the lacing guide 800 is attached to the upper. Once attached, simply pull the lace cable loop through lace channel 825. The lace access opening 84 allows the lace cable to pass through. 0 is a relief recess for the lace cable to move around lace retainer 820 In some embodiments, the laces extend through the lower surface 845 to form a The retainer 820 can be of different sizes, or even have multiple smaller protrusions. In one embodiment, the lace retainer 820 may be divided into narrower 8. The opening 840 may be further away from the opening 840. In some embodiments, the access opening 840 may extend into a different The closure may be dimensioned to accommodate a lace retainer 82 (as shown in FIG. 8F). 0 shape. In this example, the channel radius 830 is It is designed to match or be slightly larger than the diameter of the The channel radius 830 is the radius through which the lace cable passing through the lace guide 800 is received. One of the parameters of the lacing guide 800 that can control the amount of friction Another parameter of the lacing guide 800 that affects the friction experienced by the lacing cable is The meter includes a guide radius 850. The guide radius 850 is also located on the footwear upper. This may also affect the frequency or spacing of the lace guides that are applied.

[0037] FIG. 8G illustrates a lacing guide 800 according to some exemplary embodiments. 8 illustrates a portion of a footwear upper 405 with a flex architecture 890. The lacing architecture 890 consists of 8 halves, each with multiple lacing guides. 00 is located on the lateral side of the footwear upper 405. Similar to the lacing architecture 890, the lacing architecture 890 utilizes lacing guides 800 to Forms a wave pattern or parachute lacing pattern for passing lacing cables One benefit of this type of lacing architecture is that the tightening of the laces is It is possible to generate both posterior-medial and anterior-posterior tightening of the Par 405. That is what I mean.

[0038] In this embodiment, lacing guide 800 is attached, at least initially, by stitching 860. The stitching 860 covers or closes the stitch opening 810. Also, one of the lacing guides 800 is shown engaging with the reinforcement 87. The 0 is shown covering the lacing guide. Alternatively, a larger reinforcement can be placed on each of the guides 800 individually. It could be used to cover multiple lacing guides. The reinforcement 870 may be attached via adhesive, heat-activated adhesive, and / or stitching. In some embodiments, the reinforcement 870 can be (heat activated or not) adhesive and a vacuum bagging process that evenly compresses the reinforcement covering the lacing guide. The same vacuum bagging process can also be used to attach the reinforced In other embodiments, a mechanical press or A similar machine may be used to assist in applying the reinforcement over the lacing guide. This can be done.

[0039] Once all lacing guides 800 are initially positioned and attached to the footwear upper 405, Once the lacing guides are engaged, the lace cables can be threaded through the lacing guides. The cable routing also includes routing a first end of the drawstring cable at an outer fastening point 470. You can start by securing the section. In that case, you can fasten the lacing cable to each lacing Pull into Channel 825, start with the front lacing guide, and place the upper 405 heel Once the lacing cable has been Once threaded through guide 800, the lacing guide and the lacing cable are secured together. To achieve this, optionally, reinforcement 870 may be attached over each of lacing guides 800. This can be done.

[0040] Assembly Process FIG. 9 illustrates an assembly of footwear including a lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a footwear assembly process 900 for a footwear The construction process 900 includes, at 910, assembling a footwear upper, a lace guide, and a lace case. At 920, the lace cable is threaded through a tubular lace guide. and, at 930, securing a first end of the drawstring cable; and, at 940, Securing the second end of the lace cable, and positioning the lace guide at 950. At 960, securing the lace guide; and at 970, This includes operations such as integrating the upper with the footwear assembly, as described in more detail below. The process 900 may include some or all of the process actions described. and at least some of the process operations may be performed at various locations and Using different automation tools or at various locations or with different automation tools This can be done using

[0041] In this example, process 900 includes, at 910, assembling a footwear upper and a plurality of laces. The footwear upper, e.g., The upper 405 is made up of the remainder of the footwear assembly (e.g., sole, midsole, outer cover, etc.). The lace guides in this embodiment may be flat footwear uppers that are separate from the shoe. The lace guides include tubular plastic lace guides as described above, but may also include other types of lace guides. At 920, the process 900 generates a plurality of laces. Continue with the lace cable being threaded through the guide. The hose may be threaded through the lace guides at various points during the assembly process 900. When using a lace guide, place the laces in the lace guide before assembling them to the footwear upper. In some embodiments, it may be preferable to pass the process 900 through 91. The laces obtained during operation in step 0 are already threaded through multiple lace guides. With the lace guide in place, the lace cable can be threaded through the lace guide in advance.

[0042] At 930, the process 900 includes a step of attaching a first lacing cable to the footwear upper. Continuing with the first end, for example, the lacing cable 430 is attached to the outside of the upper 405. In some embodiments, the drawstring cable may be more wherein permanent fixation is achieved between the footwear upper and its integration with the rest of the footwear assembly. , may be temporarily secured to upper 405. At 940, process 900 Continuing with the second end of the lacing cable secured to the upper. Like the first end of the strap, the second end can be temporarily secured to the upper. Additionally, process 900 may optionally be continued until later in the process or during footwear assembly. The fixation of the second end can be delayed until during integration with the core.

[0043] At 950, the process 900 includes providing a plurality of lace guides disposed on the upper. For example, lace guide 410 may be positioned on upper 405 to provide a desired Once the lacing guides are in place, the lacing pattern can be generated. The 900 and 960 models are designed to provide a secure fit by fastening lace guides onto the upper of the footwear. For example, the reinforcement 420 may be used to hold the lace guide 410 in place. The lace guide 410 can be secured over the pro The process 900 then attaches the footwear upper to the remainder of the footwear assembly, including the sole, at 970. In one embodiment, the integration can be completed by forming a footwear assembly. the lateral side and medial sides of the footwear upper to engage the lacing engine in the midsole of the This may include positioning the loops of the lacing cable that connects the sides. Cut.

[0044] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a footwear arrangement including multiple lacing guides, according to some exemplary embodiments. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a footwear assembly process 1000 for assembly. 10, the assembly process 1000 includes, at 1010, assembling a footwear upper and a lace guide. and a lacing cable; and, in 1020, a lacing guide is attached to the footwear upper. attaching, at 1030, a first end of a drawstring cable; At 1040, threading the lace cable through the lace guide; at 1050, Securing the second end of the drawstring cable, at 1060, optionally Also, the upper is attached to the footwear upper in 1070 by covering the guide. The process 100, which is described in more detail below, includes operations such as integrating the assembly. 0 may include some or all of the process actions described, or Also, at least some of the process operations may be performed in various locations and with different automation tools. This can be done using a tool, or at various locations or with different automated tools. This can be done.

[0045] In this example, the process 1000 includes, at 1010, assembling a footwear upper and a plurality of heels. The footwear upper, e.g., The upper 405 is attached to the remainder of the footwear assembly (e.g., the sole, midsole, outer cover, etc.). The lace guide may be a flat footwear upper that is separate from the shoe. Examples include open channel plastic lacing guides as described above, but other types are also possible. At 1020, the process 1000 includes: Continuing with the lace guides secured to the upper, e.g., lace guide 800 can be individually sewn in place on the upper 405.

[0046] At 1030, the process 1000 includes a lacing cable secured to the footwear upper. For example, the lacing cable 430 may be attached to the first end of the upper 405. In some embodiments, the drawstring cable may be secured along the outer edge. A more permanent fixation is achieved between the footwear upper and its integration with the rest of the footwear assembly. In this state, the upper 405 may be temporarily secured to the upper 405. The lace cable is threaded through the open channel lace guide. The shoe upper has a fastening element between the lateral side and the medial side for engagement with the lacing engine. The lacing loops are included to secure the engine to the assembly. The length can be set to a predetermined length that ensures that the footwear is tightly fastened properly.

[0047] At 1050, the process 1000 includes a lacing cable secured to the footwear upper. As with the first end of the drawstring cable, The second end can be temporarily secured to the upper. , optionally until later in the process or during integration with the footwear assembly. In certain embodiments, the fastening of the second end of the drawstring cable can be delayed. Delaying the fixation of the first end and the second end or the first end or the second end The total length of the laces can be adjusted, which allows for the integration of the lace engine. It may be useful during

[0048] At 1060, the process 1000 includes applying a fabric reinforcement (cover) over the lace guide. ) and further securing them to the footwear upper. For example, the lace guide 800 provides additional support between the lace guide and the lace cable. The lace guide may have a reinforcement 870 hot melted over it to secure the laces in place. Finally, the process 1000 includes, at 1070, assembling the footwear upper, including the sole. In one embodiment, the footwear assembly can be completed by integrating the The integration includes a lacing engine within the midsole of the footwear assembly for engaging the lacing engine. The lace cable loop that connects the outer side and inner side of the upper is placed in an appropriate position. This may include placing the

[0049] Example The inventors have developed an improved lacing device, particularly for automatic and semi-automatic tightening of shoelaces. This document specifically addresses the need for an exemplary lacing architecture. lacing architecture, exemplary lace guide for use in the lacing architecture, and automatic Related assembly techniques for footwear platforms are described in the following examples. are non-limiting implementations of the actuators and footwear assemblies discussed herein. Provide an example.

[0050] Example 1 is a footwear assembly having a lacing architecture to facilitate automatic tightening. In this embodiment, the footwear assembly includes a toe box and The footwear upper may include a medial side portion, a lateral side portion, and a heel portion, the medial side portion The outer side portion and the outer side portion each extend closely from the toe box portion to the heel portion. The assembly may also include a lace cable passing through a plurality of lace guides. The drawstring cable has a first end secured along the distal exterior of the medial side and a second end secured along the distal exterior of the lateral side. and a second end fixed along the distal exterior. Multiple lace guides can be positioned along the inner and outer sides of each The lace guide can be adapted to accept a length of lace cable. In this embodiment, the lace guides are located on each of the medial and lateral sides of the footwear upper. Extending through each of the plurality of lace guides to form a pattern along the The footwear assembly also includes a plurality of lace guides for routing the lace cables. Lace cables are positioned within the midsole section from the pattern formed by the section. Also includes an inner proximity lace guide that threads the laces into position to allow them to engage the engine. Finally, the footwear assembly may include a lacing cable. Lace guides are positioned to allow the laces to engage with the engine The outer proximal lace guide includes an outer lace guide for threading the lace to the pattern formed by the outer portion of the lace.

[0051] In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 is a U-shaped channel for holding a drawstring cable. Each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides forming the panel may optionally include Cut.

[0052] In Example 3, the subject matter of Example 2 is further characterized in that the U-shaped channel in each lace guide is: It is intended to be an open channel that allows the lace loop to be retracted into the lace guide. It may be included optionally.

[0053] In Example 4, the subject matter of Example 2 is further characterized in that the U-shaped channel in each lace guide is: A tubular structure in which a lacing cable is threaded, curved or formed into a U-shape It can optionally include being formed of a tubular structure.

[0054] In Example 5, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 4 is such that the pattern is a fastening. The force or torque vs. lace displacement curve during cable tightening is also designed to be even. may optionally be included.

[0055] In Example 6, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 5 is a plurality of lace guides. Each lace guide in the hood has an overlay containing heat-activated adhesive covering it. The method may optionally include securing the upper to the footwear upper in a compressed state.

[0056] In Example 7, the subject of Example 6 is that the overlay is impregnated with a heat-activated adhesive. The fabric may optionally be a woven fabric. In Example 8, the subject matter of Example 6 is provided with an overlay that secures each lace guide. Optionally, portions of each lace guide extending therefrom may be included.

[0057] In Example 9, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 8 is a plurality of lace guides. Each lace guide of the footwear shall be at least initially secured to the footwear upper by stitching. may optionally be included.

[0058] In Example 10, the subject matter of Example 9 is characterized in that each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides Additionally, an overlay containing heat-activated adhesive is placed over each lace guide and compressed. It may optionally include being secured to a footwear upper.

[0059] In Example 11, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 10 is a lace guide. forming a substantially sinusoidal wave along each of the medial and lateral sides of the footwear upper. The pattern may optionally include a pattern formed in the state.

[0060] In Example 12, the subject matter of Example 11 is such that the substantially sine wave is compared to a standard sine wave. Optionally, the curve is a modified sine wave with larger radius curves in the peaks and valleys. It can include.

[0061] In Example 13, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 12 is an inner side and Three upper lace guides are provided adjacent the centerline of each footwear upper on the lateral side. A pattern may optionally be included.

[0062] In Example 14, the subject of Example 13 is a three-arm stencil ... Each of the upper lace guides may be spaced a different distance from the center line. It may be included optionally.

[0063] In Example 15, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 14 is at least a toe box. and optionally a footwear upper having an elastic centerline portion extending from the upper portion to proximate the foot opening. It can include.

[0064] In Example 16, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 15 is a lace guide. The pair is connected across the center line of the footwear upper by an elastic member. It can be optionally included.

[0065] In Example 17, the subject matter of Example 16 is such that the elastic member is Optionally, the torque vs. lace displacement curve of the .

[0066] In Example 18, the subject matter of Example 16 is characterized in that the elastic member provides a variable modulus of elasticity to adjust the footwear angle. Optionally, the elastic can be replaced with different elastic members to change the fit characteristics of the upper. It can be included in the selection.

[0067] In Example 19, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 18 is a plurality of laces. Between the inner portion of the guide and the outer portions of the plurality of lace guides, a slit extends from the toe box to the foot opening. The shoe may optionally include a footwear upper including a zipper.

[0068] In Example 20, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 19 is a lace cable. A pattern that prevents the loop from crossing the center of the footwear upper between the medial and lateral sides. It can be optionally included.

[0069] Example 21 is a footwear accessory having a lacing architecture to facilitate automatic tightening. This example describes a lacing assembly for an automatic footwear platform. The architecture may include a lace cable threaded through multiple lace guides. The lacing cables are arranged along the distal exterior of the medial side of the upper of the footwear assembly. and a second end fixed along the lateral side of the upper portion. The plurality of lace guides may be arranged in a first pattern along the inner side and in a second pattern along the outer side. The lace guides may be arranged in a second pattern along the side. Each lace guide has an opening for receiving a length of lace cable. The lacing architecture may also include a plurality of lace guides. From the first pattern formed by the side portion, the lace cables extend into the midsole portion. Thread the lace cable through to a position that allows it to engage the provided lace engine. Finally, this embodiment may also include an inner proximal lace guide for lacing. The architecture is such that the lacing cable engages the lacing engine. The outer portion of the lace guide is formed by a plurality of lace guides. An outer proximal lace guide may also be included for threading the laces through the second pattern.

[0070] In Example 22, the subject matter of Example 21 includes a lace cable retainer in a lace guide. and a lace retention member extending into the open lace channel to assist in retaining the lace. Each lace guide may optionally include a plurality of lace guides.

[0071] In Example 23, the subject matter of Example 22 is a plurality of lace guides. a lace access opening on an opposite side of the lace retaining member, Optionally, the part of the strap that forms a gap for routing the cable around the strap retainer. It can be included in the selection.

[0072] In Example 24, the subject matter of any one of Examples 21 to 23 is a plurality of fastenings. each lace guide of the lace guides has a stitch opening along a top surface of the lace guide; Stitched openings allow the lace guides to be at least partially secured to the upper by stitching. The method may optionally include being able to

[0073] Additional notes Throughout this specification, plural instances refer to elements that are listed as single instances, The individual actions of one or more methods may be considered separate actions or structures. Although illustrated and described separately, one or more of the individual operations may be performed simultaneously. The operations may be performed in any order, and the operations need not be performed in the order shown. In such a configuration, structures and functions presented as separate components may be combined into a single Similarly, what is presented as a single component may be implemented as a single structure or component. The structures and functions described may be implemented as separate components. Forms, modifications, additions and improvements are within the scope of the subject matter herein.

[0074] Although the subject matter has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, those Various modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the broader scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be used individually or collectively. Therefore, for convenience, and in fact when more than one is disclosed, the scope of this application may be narrowed to one or more. without any voluntary attempt to limit itself to any one disclosure or inventive concept, simply by referring to an "invention" It can be referred to by the following terms:

[0075] The embodiments illustrated herein are sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed. Structural and logical substitutions and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Other embodiments may be used and derived therefrom, as may be practiced without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present disclosure should not be construed as limiting and various The scope of the embodiments includes the full range of equivalents to which the disclosed subject matter is entitled. .

[0076] The term "or" when used herein shall have either an inclusive or exclusive meaning. Furthermore, multiple cases may be presented herein as a single case. It can be provided for a variety of resources, actions, or structures. The boundaries between sources, operations, modules, engines, and data stores are somewhat arbitrary. Specific operations are illustrated in the context of specific exemplary configurations. Various applications are contemplated and may be included within the scope of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Structures and functions presented as separate resources in the exemplary configurations may be combined. Similarly, it may be implemented as a single resource. The structures and functions described may be implemented as independent resources. Variations, modifications, additions and improvements may be made to the practice of this disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. should be considered.

[0077] Each of these non-limiting examples can stand alone or be used in conjunction with other examples. They may be combined in various permutations or combinations with one or more. The above detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The following shows, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. Embodiments are also referred to herein as examples. Such examples are not intended to be limiting unless otherwise specified. However, the present inventors have determined that the present invention may include elements in addition to those described in the drawings. Embodiments in which only the elements shown or described are provided are also contemplated. Furthermore, the inventors have made no claims relating to a particular embodiment (or one or more aspects thereof) or Other embodiments (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein those elements (or one or more thereof) shown or described in relation to Embodiments using any combination or permutation of the aspects are also contemplated.

[0078] In the event of a conflict of usage between this document and any document incorporated by reference, this Written usage controls. In this document, the term "one" is used in place of "at least one" as commonly found in patent documents. one or more, regardless of any other instance or usage of "at least one" or "one or more." is used to include one or more. In this document, the term "or" is used as a non-exclusive Unless otherwise specified, "A or B" is used to refer to something else. is used to include "A but not B," "B but not A," and "A and B." In the document, the terms "including" and "in which" are interchangeable with "comprising" and "wherein" The plain English equivalents of each term are used in the following claims. In the present specification, the terms "including" and "comprising" are open-ended, i.e., the terms "including" and "comprising" are used in the claims. Systems, devices, and articles that include elements other than those listed after such term in , composition, design or process is still considered to be within the scope of the claim. Furthermore, in the following claims, terms such as "first," "second," and "third" shall be used interchangeably. are used merely as names and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on these objects. stomach.

[0079] Examples of the processes described herein, such as footwear assembly examples, include: , may include at least in part mechanical or robotic implementation. The above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. The described embodiments (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. For example: Other embodiments may be used by those skilled in the art upon reviewing the above description. The approximation, if provided, will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It shall not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. It is submitted with the understanding that the above description does not include various shapes. Features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. should not be construed as intending that any disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter encompasses all configurations of the specific embodiments disclosed. Therefore, the following claims incorporate the invention by reference. The detailed description is incorporated as an example or embodiment, and each claim is a separate implementation. These embodiments are independent in form and may be combined or permuted in various ways. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. Reference should be made to the present application to determine such claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. do.

Claims

1. a footwear upper including a toe box, a medial side portion, a lateral side portion, an open central portion, and a heel portion, the medial side portion and the lateral side portion each extending closely from the toe box to the heel portion on either side of the open central portion; a drawstring cable having a first end secured along the distal exterior of the medial side and a second end secured along the distal exterior of the lateral side; a plurality of lace guides disposed along the medial and lateral sides, each of the plurality of lace guides adapted to receive a predetermined length of the lace cable, the lace cable extending through each of the plurality of lace guides without spanning the open central portion; a lace guide track disposed across at least one lace guide of the plurality of lace guides, the at least one lace guide being adjustable along a length of the lace guide track; A footwear assembly comprising:

2. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lace guide track extends in a medial-lateral direction to allow for medial-lateral adjustment of the lace guide.

3. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lace guide track extends across the open central portion from the medial side to the lateral side.

4. The footwear assembly of claim 3 , wherein the lace guide track adjustably positions an inner lace guide of the plurality of lace guides and an outer lace guide of the plurality of lace guides.

5. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of lace guide tracks for adjustably positioning the plurality of lace guides.

6. The footwear assembly of claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of lace guide tracks extends across the open central portion from the medial side to the lateral side.

7. 7. The footwear assembly of claim 6, wherein each lace guide track of the plurality of lace guide tracks is adapted to receive an inner lace guide and an opposing outer lace guide of the plurality of lace guides.

8. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides forms a U-shaped channel for retaining the lace cable.

9. 9. The footwear assembly of claim 8, wherein the U-shaped channel in each lace guide is an open channel that allows a lace loop to be retracted into the lace guide.

10. 9. The footwear assembly of claim 8, wherein the U-shaped channel in each lace guide is formed by the tubular structure being bent or formed into a U-shape with the lace cables threaded through the tubular structure.

11. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lace guides are arranged in a pattern configured to even out a force or torque versus lace displacement curve during tightening of the lace cables.

12. The footwear assembly of claim 11 , wherein the pattern includes three upper lace guides on each of the medial and lateral sides proximate a centerline of the footwear upper.

13. 13. The footwear assembly of claim 12, wherein each of the three upper lace guides on each of the medial and lateral sides is coupled to a lace adjustment track, allowing them to be spaced different distances from the centerline.

14. 2. The footwear assembly of claim 1, wherein the footwear upper includes a zipper extending from the toe box to a foot opening between a medial side of the plurality of lace guides and a lateral side of the plurality of lace guides.

15. The footwear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lacing cables are routed underneath the footwear upper and engage a lacing engine located underneath the footwear assembly.

16. 1. A lacing architecture for an automated footwear platform, comprising: a lacing cable having a first end secured along a distal exterior of a medial side of an upper portion of the footwear assembly and a second end secured along a distal exterior of a lateral side of the upper portion; a plurality of lace guides arranged in a first pattern along the inner side and in a second pattern along the outer side, each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides receiving a predetermined length of the lace cable, at least a portion of the inner side being separated from at least a portion of the outer side by an open center; a lace guide track disposed across at least one lace guide of the plurality of lace guides, the at least one lace guide being adjustable along a length of the lace guide track; Equipped with a lace-up architecture.

17. The lacing architecture of claim 16, wherein the lace guide track extends in a medial-lateral direction to allow for medial-lateral adjustment of the lace guide.

18. 17. The lacing architecture of claim 16, wherein the lace guide track extends across the open central portion from the medial side to the lateral side.

19. 20. The lacing architecture of claim 18, wherein the lace guide track adjustably positions an inner lace guide of the plurality of lace guides and an outer lace guide of the plurality of lace guides.

20. The lacing architecture of claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of lace guide tracks for adjustably positioning the plurality of lace guides.

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