Reels used in string tightening systems

Abstract

To provide a reel based lacing system for tightening articles such as footwear.SOLUTION: A reel can be configured to allow the incremental tightening of a lace about a spool by rotation of a knob in the tightening direction. In some embodiments, the system can include a substantially inflexible pawl beam configured to resist rotation of the knob in the loosening direction, and a pawl spring 332 configured to bias a pawl 236 against the housing and to allow the pawl 236 to be displaced away from the housing when the knob is rotated in the tightening direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 20

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Reference to Related Applications) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 330,129, filed Apr. 30, 2010, entitled "REEL BASED LACING SYSTEM", which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The embodiments disclosed herein relate to components associated therewith, which are used singly or in combination in any of a variety of articles including lacing or closure systems and footwear, closable bags, protective gear, and the like.

Background Art

[0003] There are numerous mechanisms and methods for fastening articles such as footwear.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Nevertheless, there is a need for improved devices and methods.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In some embodiments, a reel for use in a lacing system is disclosed. The reel may include a housing having a plurality of housing teeth. The reel may have a spool supported by the housing, and the spool may be rotatable relative to the housing. The spool may include a groove formed therein, which may be configured to collect the string in it to tighten the lacing system when the spool rotates in the tightening direction. The groove may release the string from there to loosen the lacing system when the spool rotates in the loosening direction. The reel may include a knob supported by the housing, which may be rotatable relative to the housing. The knob may be coupled to the spool such that rotation of the knob also rotates the spool. The knob may include one or more claws, and at least one of the one or more claws may include a claw beam portion and a claw spring portion. The claw beam portion may be movable between a first position and a second position, and the claw spring portion may be configured to bias the claw beam portion toward the first position. The claw beam portion may include one or more claw teeth configured to engage with the housing teeth when the claw beam portion is in a first position, so as to prevent the knob from rotating in the loosening direction when a loosening force is applied in such a way that the knob is twisted in the loosening direction, without transmitting a substantial portion of the loosening force to the claw spring portion. In some embodiments, the claw beam portion and the claw spring portion may be formed integrally (e.g., integrally molded). In some embodiments, one or more claw teeth may be displaced away from the housing teeth to a second position when the knob is twisted in the tightening direction, so as to allow the knob and spool to rotate in the tightening direction.

[0006] In some embodiments, the housing teeth may extend radially, the claw beams may be radially movable between a first and second position, and the knob may be axially movable between an engaged position and an unengaged position. When the knob is in the unengaged position, the spool may be made capable of rotating in the loosening direction. One or more claws may be configured to engage with the housing teeth such that when a loosening force is applied to the knob, the knob is prevented from rotating in the loosening direction without applying a substantial axial force to the knob.

[0007] In some embodiments, a claw is disclosed, and the claw may include at least two claw teeth configured to engage simultaneously with at least two corresponding housing teeth, such that the loosening force is distributed among multiple teeth to prevent rotation in the loosening direction. In some embodiments, the claw beam may be configured to be biased toward the housing when a loosening force is applied to the knob. The loosening force may be applied to the knob by the user twisting the knob in the loosening direction or by pulling a string connected to a spool. The claw beam may be configured to be radially rotatable about a pivot axis, and one or more claw teeth may engage with the housing teeth at a position radially outward from a tangent extending from the pivot axis. The claw teeth may have a surface configured to press against the surface of the housing teeth when a loosening force is applied to the knob, such that the claw beam is biased toward the housing teeth when a loosening force is applied. The claw beam may be prevented from moving to a second position unless the knob is rotated in the loosening direction to release the surface of at least one claw tooth from the surface of the housing tooth. The sides of the claw rib may be configured to abut against the tips of one or more housing teeth that are not engaged by one or more claw teeth when a loosening force is applied to the knob and the claw rib is biased toward the housing teeth to provide additional support.

[0008] In some embodiments, methods for manufacturing a reel for a cord tightening system are disclosed. The method may include providing a housing, which may include a plurality of housing teeth. The method includes positioning a spool within the housing so that the spool is rotatable relative to the housing. The spool may include a groove formed therein, which may be configured to collect a cord in it to tighten the cord tightening system when the spool rotates in the tightening direction. The groove may be configured to release a cord from it to loosen the cord tightening system when the spool rotates in the loosening direction. The method may include mounting a knob to the housing so that the knob is rotatable relative to the housing. The knob may be coupled to the spool such that rotation of the knob also rotates the spool. The knob may include one or more claws, at least one of which may include a claw beam and a claw spring. The claw beam may be movable between a first position and a second position, and the claw spring may be configured to bias the claw beam toward the first position. The claw beam may include one or more claw teeth configured to engage with the housing teeth when the claw beam is in a first position, without transmitting a substantial portion of the loosening force to the claw spring, in order to prevent the knob from rotating in the loosening direction when a loosening force is applied in such a way that the knob is twisted in the loosening direction. The one or more claw teeth may be displaced away from the housing teeth to a second position when the knob is twisted in the tightening direction, allowing the knob and spool to rotate in the tightening direction.

[0009] In some embodiments, a pawl used with a reel in a cord tightening system is disclosed. The pawl may include a pawl beam having one or more pawl teeth configured to engage with housing teeth of the reel's housing. The pawl beam may be movable between a first position and a second position. The pawl may include a pawl spring configured to bias the pawl beam toward the first position. One or more pawl teeth may engage with the housing teeth when the pawl beam is in the first position to prevent the pawl from moving in the loosening direction when a loosening force is applied to the pawl, without transmitting a substantial portion of the loosening force to the pawl spring. One or more pawl teeth may disengage from the housing teeth when the pawl beam is in the second position to allow the pawl to move in the tightening direction. In some embodiments, the pawl beam and the pawl spring may be formed integrally.

[0010] In some embodiments, a reel for a cord tightening system is disclosed. The reel may have a housing having a plurality of housing teeth, and a spool supported by the housing so that the spool is rotatable relative to the housing. The spool may include a groove formed therein, which may be configured to collect a string in it so as the spool rotates in the tightening direction to tighten the cord tightening system, and to release the string from it so as the spool rotates in the loosening direction to loosen the cord tightening system. The reel may include a knob supported by the housing so that the knob is rotatable relative to the housing. The knob may be coupled to the spool so that the rotation of the knob also rotates the spool. The knob may include one or more claws configured to engage with the housing teeth, and at least one of the one or more claws may include a flexible claw arm portion having one or more claw teeth formed at a second end and attached to the knob at a first end. The claw arm portion may be configured to bend in a first direction when the knob rotates in the tightening direction so that one or more claw teeth are displaced away from the housing teeth to allow the knob to rotate in the tightening direction. The claw arm can be configured such that one or more claw teeth engage with corresponding housing teeth to prevent the knob from rotating in the loosening direction when a loosening force is applied in such a way that the knob is twisted in the loosening direction, and the loosening force bends the flexible claw arm in a second direction toward the housing teeth so that the flexible claw arm contacts the housing teeth to prevent the flexible claw arm from buckling under the loosening force.

[0011] In some embodiments, a claw is disclosed that practically includes a rigid claw beam and a flexible claw spring. The claw spring may be a flexible claw arm. In some embodiments, the claw beam may be movable between a first position and a second position, and the claw spring may be configured to bias the claw beam toward the first position. When the claw beam is in the first position, the flexible arm may be in a less bendable position, and when the claw beam is in the second position, the flexible arm may be in a more bent position. In some embodiments, the flexible arm may be less curved when in a more bent position than when in a less bendable position. In some embodiments, the flexible arm may generally extend in the same direction as the claw spring. In some embodiments, the claw beam and the claw spring may be formed integrally.

[0012] In some embodiments, a knob is disclosed that may be used with a reel of a cord tightening system. The knob may include one or more claws. At least one of the one or more claws may be coupled to the knob at a pivot axis. At least one claw may include a claw beam portion configured to rotate around the pivot axis between a first position and a second position, and a claw spring portion that can bias the claw beam portion toward the first position where it engages with the housing teeth of the reel to prevent the knob from rotating in the loosening direction. In some embodiments, the claw spring portion may extend from near the pivot axis in generally the same direction as the claw beam portion. In some embodiments, the claw spring portion may be a flexible arm portion. In some embodiments, the flexible arm portion may curve away from the claw beam portion. The claw spring portion may be formed integrally with the claw beam portion.

[0013] In some embodiments, a reel for a cord tightening system is disclosed. The reel may include a housing having a plurality of housing teeth. The reel may have a spool supported by the housing, and the spool may be rotatable relative to the housing. The reel may include a knob supported by the housing, and the knob may be rotatable relative to the housing. The knob may be coupled to the spool such that rotation of the knob also rotates the spool. The knob may include one or more claws, and at least one of the one or more claws may practically include a rigid claw beam portion and a claw spring portion. The claw beam portion may be movable between a first position and a second position, and the claw spring portion may be configured to bias the claw beam portion toward the first position. The claw beam portion may include one or more claw teeth portions configured to mesh with the housing teeth when the claw beam portion is in the first position to prevent the knob from rotating in the loosening direction. In some embodiments, one or more claw teeth portions may be movable away from the housing teeth to a second position when the knob allows the knob and spool to rotate in the tightening direction. The substantially rigid claw beam portion may be configured to resist loosening forces. The claw beam portion and the claw spring portion may be formed integrally in some embodiments.

[0014] Specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail hereby with reference to the following figures. These figures are provided for illustrative purposes only, and the present invention is not limited to what is shown in the figures. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a lacing system used in athletic shoes. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tie-down system. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the reel of the cord tightening system shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is another exploded perspective view of the reel shown in Figure 3. [Figure 5]Figure 5 is a side view of the reel of FIG. 3, having a knob member shown in a non-interlocking position drawn with a normal line and a knob member shown in an interlocking position drawn with a dotted line. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the base member of the reel of FIG. 3. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a top view of the base member of FIG. 4. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a bottom view of the base member of FIG. 4. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional side view of the base member of FIG. 4. [Figure 10A] Figure 10A is a perspective view of the spool member of the reel of FIG. 3. [Figure 10B] Figure 10B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the spool member. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is another perspective view of the spool member of FIG. 10A. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a side view of the spool member of FIG. 10A. [Figure 13A] Figure 13A is a cross-sectional view of the spool member of FIG. 10A showing the string tightened thereto in a first arrangement. [Figure 13B] Figure 13B is a cross-sectional view of the spool member of FIG. 10A showing the string tightened thereto in a second arrangement. [Figure 13C] Figure 13C is a perspective view of the spool member of FIG. 10A showing the string tightened to the spool member in a third arrangement. [Figure 13D] Figure 13D is a perspective view of the spool member of FIG. 10A showing the string. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a top view of the spool member of FIG. 10A disposed in the housing of the base member of FIG. 4. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of the knob member of the reel of FIG. 3. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is another exploded perspective view of the knob member of FIG. 15. [Figure 17] Figure 17 is a perspective view of the claw of the knob member of FIG. 15. [Figure 18]Figure 18 is another perspective view of the claw shown in Figure 17. [Figure 19] Figure 19 is a top view of the claws of Figure 15, which are positioned on the knob core of Figure 15 and have claws configured to engage with the housing teeth of the housing. [Figure 20] Figure 20 is a top view of the claws of Figure 15, shown meshing with the housing teeth on the base member of Figure 4. [Figure 21] Figure 21 is a top view of the claw of Figure 15, showing the claw displaced radially inward when the knob member is rotated in the tightening direction. [Figure 22] Figure 22 is a top view of the spring bush, fastener, and knob of Figure 15, assembled on the knob core of Figure 15. [Figure 23A] Figure 23A is an exploded view of the reel shown in Figure 4 in its linked configuration. [Figure 23B] Figure 23B is a cross-sectional view of the reel shown in Figure 4 in its linked configuration. [Figure 24A] Figure 24A is an exploded view of the reel shown in Figure 4 in a non-interlocked configuration. [Figure 24B] Figure 24B and Figure 24A are cross-sectional views of the reel shown in Figure 4 in a non-interlocked configuration. [Figure 25] Figure 25 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a base member that can be used in place of the base member in Figure 4. [Figure 26] Figure 26 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the knob core. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lacing system 100 used to fasten athletic shoes 102. Athletic shoes can be running shoes, basketball shoes, ice skates, or snowboard boots, or other suitable footwear that can be fastened around the wearer's foot. The lacing system 100 can be used to fasten or secure various other items, such as belts, hats, gloves, snowboard bindings, medical devices, or bags. The lacing system may include a reel 104, a lace 106, and one or more lace guides 108. In the illustrated embodiment, the reel 104 can be attached to the tongue 110 of the shoe. Various other arrangements are also possible. For example, the reel 104 can be attached to the side of the athletic shoe 102, which may be advantageous for shoes designed so that when fastened, the sides 112a–b of the shoe are pulled closer to each other, leaving only a small portion of the tongue 110 exposed. The reel 104 can also be attached to the rear of the shoe 102, and a portion of the lace 106 can pass through the shoe 102 on both sides of the wearer's heel so that when attached to the rear, the lace 106 can be linked with the reel 104.

[0017] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a lacing system 200, which may be similar to lacing system 100 or any other lacing system described herein. The lacing system may include a reel 204, which may be similar to reel 104 or any other reel described herein. Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of reel 204. Figure 4 is another exploded perspective view of reel 204.

[0018] Referring to Figures 2 to 4, the reel 204 may include a base member 214, a spool member 216, and a knob member 218. The base member may include a housing 220 and a mounting flange 222. The housing 220 may include a plurality of housing teeth 224, which may extend radially inward. The housing 220 may include string holes 226a-b that allow the string 206 to enter the housing 220.

[0019] The spool member 216 may be positioned within the housing 220 such that it is rotatable around an axis 228 relative to the housing 220. The cord 206 may be fixed to the spool member 216 such that when the spool member 216 rotates in the tightening direction (indicated by arrow A), the cord 206 is drawn into the housing 220 and wound around a groove 230 formed in the spool member 216, and when the spool member 216 rotates in the loosening direction (indicated by arrow B), the cord 206 unwinds from the groove 230 in the spool member 216 and exits the housing 220 through cord holes 226a-b. The spool member 216 may also include spool teeth 232 formed therein. It will be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein may be modified so that the direction of rotation indicated by arrow B tightens the cord tightening system and the direction of rotation indicated by arrow A loosens the cord tightening system.

[0020] The knob member 218 may be mounted on the housing 220 such that the knob member 218 can rotate about an axis 228 relative to the housing 220. The knob member 218 may include knob teeth 234 that can be configured to mesh with spool teeth 232 to connect the knob member 218 to the spool member 218 such that rotation of the knob member 218 in the tightening direction also results in rotation of the spool member 216 in the tightening direction. In some embodiments, rotation of the knob member 218 in the loosening direction may also result in rotation of the spool member 216 in the loosening direction. The knob member 218 may also include one or more claws 236 that can be biased radially outward to mesh with housing teeth 224. The claws 236 and housing teeth 224 may be configured such that when the knob member 218 is rotated in the tightening direction, the housing teeth 224 can displace the claws 236 radially inward, thus enabling the knob member 218 to rotate in the tightening direction. The claws 236 and housing teeth 224 may also be configured such that when a force is applied to twist the knob member 218 in the loosening direction, the claws 236 and housing teeth 224 interlock with each other, thereby preventing the knob member 218 from rotating in the loosening direction.

[0021] Therefore, the reel 204 may provide a one-way tightening system configured to allow the user to rotate the knob member 218 in the tightening direction. This one-way tightening system rotates the spool member 216 in the tightening direction, and subsequently pulls the string 206 into the housing 220 through the string holes 226a-b. Once the string 206 is pulled into the housing 220, the string tightening system 200 can be tightened, causing the string guide 208 to be pulled toward the reel 204 (supported by arrow C in Figure 2). The string tightening system 200 is shown with a single string guide 208, but any other suitable number of string guides may be used.

[0022] In some embodiments, the knob member 218 may be axially movable along the axis 228 between a first or coupled position and a second or uncoupled position. Figure 5 is a side view of the reel 204 showing the knob member 218 in the uncoupled position, drawn with normal lines, and the knob member 218 in the coupled position, outlined with dotted lines. When in the coupled position, the spool teeth 232 may engage with the knob teeth 234 to couple the knob member 218 to the spool member 216 as described above. Also when in the coupled position, the pawl 236 may engage with the housing teeth 224 to prevent the knob member 218 from rotating in the loosening direction while allowing the knob member 218 to rotate in the tightening direction, as described above.

[0023] When in the un-engaged position, the knob member 218 may be positioned further axially away from the base member 214 by a distance sufficient to disengage the spool teeth 232 and lift the knob teeth 234 away from the spool teeth 232, so that the spool member 216 is detached from the knob member 218 and the spool member 216 can rotate freely independently of the knob member 218. Thus, when the spool member 216 rotates in the loosening direction and loosens the cord tightening system 200, the cord 216 can be pulled out from the housing 220. When in the un-engaged position, the pawls 236 of the knob member 218 may be lifted away from the housing teeth 224 so that they disengage and the knob member 218 can rotate freely in both the tightening and loosening directions without constraint. In some embodiments, when the knob member 218 is moved to the un-engaged position, the knob teeth 234 disengage from the spool teeth 232 and the pawls 236 also disengage from the housing teeth 224. In some embodiments, when the knob member 218 is moved to the engaged position, the knob teeth 234 disengage from the spool teeth 232, while the pawls 236 continue to engage with the housing teeth 224. In some embodiments, when the knob member 218 is moved to the unengaged position, the knob teeth 234 continue to engage with the spool teeth 232, but the pawls 236 disengage from the housing teeth 224.

[0024] The distance 238 between the engaged and disengaged positions of the knob member 218 can be at least about 1 mm and / or about 3 mm or less, and in some embodiments it may be about 2.5 mm, although distances outside this range may also be used. In some embodiments, the distance 238 may be approximately the same as, or slightly greater than, the height of the spool teeth 232, the height of the knob teeth 234, the height of the housing teeth 224, and / or the height of the claws 236.

[0025] In some embodiments, the reel 294 can be more resistant to accidental release because the pawl 236 engages radially with the housing teeth 224, while the knob member 218 is movable axially between an engaged and disengaged position. When the knob member is in the engaged position and a force is applied that attempts to twist the knob member 218 in the loosening direction, or when the string is pulled strongly and attempts to twist the spool member 218 in the loosening direction, the pawl 236 engages with the housing teeth 224, and the force is applied to the pawl 236. Since the pawl 236 is configured to be displaced radially rather than axially, the force applied to the pawl 236 is not transmitted axially in any meaningful way. Therefore, the reel 204 can withstand higher tightening pressure than some reels in which the knob pawl engages axially with the housing teeth.

[0026] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the base member 214. Figure 7 is a top view of the base member 214. Figure 8 is a bottom view of the base member 214. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional side view of the base member 214. The base member 214 includes a mounting flange 222 which can be attached to one point of footwear or to the external structure of another article, or the mounting flange 222 can be attached to the underside of the external structure of an article such that at least a portion of the mounting flange 222 is hidden from view. The mounting flange 222 can be fixed to the article by sewing or by other suitable means such as using adhesive or rivets. The mounting flange 222 can be formed to fit a specific part of an article (e.g., the heel of a shoe), or the mounting flange can be flexible to fit various shapes. The mounting flange 222 can spread all or partially around the outer circumference of the housing 220. The mounting flange 222 can be somewhat elastic to accommodate the bending of the article in use. In some embodiments, the mounting flange 222 may be omitted, and the base member 214 or housing 220 may be attached to the article by screws, rivets, or other fasteners. For example, the threaded portion of the base member 214 or housing 220 may be screwed into a threaded connector of the article. In some embodiments, the mounting flange 222 is connected to the article and the reel 204 is substantially attached to the flange 222.

[0027] The housing 220 may be attached to or formed integrally with the mounting flange 222, as shown in the figure, and may extend upward from there. The housing 220 may include an outer wall 240 surrounding a recess 242, which may be substantially circular in shape. A shaft 244 may extend axially upward from the bottom of the recess 242, and the shaft 244 may be positioned substantially coaxially with the recess 242. The shaft 244 may include a step 245 or inclined portion where the shaft 244 intersects with the bottom of the recess 242. The shaft 244 may include a bore 246 at its center that may facilitate the fixing of the knob member 218 to the housing 220. The bore 246 may be threaded or configured to axially fix a fastener inserted therein. The shaft 244 may form a support surface around which the spool member 216 can rotate.

[0028] The outer wall 240 of the housing 220 may be substantially cylindrical in shape and may be substantially coaxial with the axis 244. The inner surface of the outer wall 240 may include a lower portion 248 and an upper portion 250. The lower portion 248 may be generally smooth and may include a step 251 or inclined portion where the outer wall 240 intersects with the bottom of the recess 242. The lower portion 248 may include one or more string openings 252a-b that can be connected to string holes 226a-b by string grooves 254a-b so that the string 206 can pass through the housing 220 and enter the recess 242. As best seen in Figure 9, the lower portion of the string groove 254a-b closest to the string holes 226a-b may be closed, while the upper portion of the string groove 254a-b closest to the string opening 252a-b may be open at the top. Furthermore, the cord grooves 254a-b and / or cord openings 252a-b may be connected to openings 256a-b formed in the bottom of the housing 220. The open tops of the openings 256a-b and cord grooves 254a-b may provide access to the cord 206 during use and installation, as well as an exit passage for water or other materials that may enter the recess 242 during use, and the molding of the cord grooves 254a-b may be facilitated when the base member 214 is made of fewer components (e.g., a single integrated piece).

[0029] The housing 220 may include housing teeth 224 extending radially inward from the upper portion 250 of the outer wall 240. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing includes 36 housing teeth 224, but any other suitable number of housing teeth 224 may be used. As best seen in Figure 7, each of the housing teeth 224 may include a first side 258 and a second side 260. The first side 258 may be shorter than the second side 260, and in some embodiments, the length of the first side 258 may be about half that of the second side 260. In some embodiments, the first side 258 of the housing teeth 224 may be at least about 0.5 mm in length and / or no more than about 1.0 mm in length and about 0.85 mm in length, while the second side may be at least about 1.0 mm in length and / or no more than about 2.0 mm in length and about 1.75 mm in length. Other dimensions outside these specific ranges are also possible. The first side portion 258 of the housing tooth 224 can be angled at an angle 262 away from a line pointing radially inward, where this angle 262 can be at least about 5° and / or up to about 15°, and in some embodiments about 10°. The second side portion 260 of the housing tooth 224 can be angled at an angle 264 away from a line pointing radially inward, where this angle 264 can be at least about 45° and / or no more than about 65°, and in some embodiments about 55°. Other angles outside these specifically identified ranges are also possible. In some embodiments, the transitions between the housing teeth 224 and between the first and second sides 258, 260 of the housing teeth 224 can be curved, but sharply edged transitions can also be used. The housing tooth 224 can be configured to contact the claw 236, as will be described in more detail below. The housing teeth 224 may include an angled (inclined) upper surface 266 to facilitate the transition of the claws 236 from a non-engaging to an engaging position, as will be described in more detail below.

[0030] The base member 214 may include one or more guard pieces 268 that can extend further axially upward from the outer wall 240 of the housing 220 so that when the knob member 218 is attached to the housing 220, the guard pieces 268 can function to cover a portion of the knob member 218. In some embodiments, the guard pieces 268 may be omitted. In some embodiments, the reel 204 may be positioned in a recess of the article such that a portion of the article itself extends to cover a portion of the knob member 218. The guard pieces 268, or portions of the article that function as guards, can protect the knob member 218 and reduce the occurrence of accidental release of the knob member 218.

[0031] Figure 10A is a perspective view of the spool member 216. Figure 11 is another perspective view of the spool member 216. Figure 12 is a side view of the spool member 216. Figures 13A-B are cross-sectional views of the spool member 216 with the attachment string 206 attached thereto. Figure 14 is a top view of the spool member 216 positioned within the housing 220.

[0032] The spool member 216 may include an upper flange 270 and a lower flange 272 having a substantially cylindrical wall 274 formed between them. The outer surface of the wall 274, the bottom surface of the upper flange 270, and the top surface of the lower flange 272 may form a groove 230 for receiving the cord 206 when it is wound around the spool member 216. The inner surface of the wall 274 may surround a recess 276 formed in the bottom surface of the spool member 216. A central opening 278 may extend through the ceiling of the recess. When the spool member 216 is positioned in the recess 242 of the housing 220, the shaft 244 may pass through the central opening 278 of the spool member 216. A stepped 245 or inclined end at the bottom of the shaft 244 may be accommodated in the recess 276 formed in the bottom surface of the spool member 216. The lower flange 272 may be formed slightly smaller than the upper flange 270 (as best seen in Figure 12) so that the lower flange 272 can fit into the stepped 251 or inclined end of the recess 242 and so that the removal / installation of the spool member 216 from / into the housing 220 with the cord 206 attached. Thus, in some embodiments, the bottom surface of the lower flange 272 may be coplanar with respect to the base of the recess 242. In some embodiments, a portion of the housing 220 may be configured to contact a portion of the spool member 216 so as to keep the bottom surface of the lower flange 272 at a small distance from the base of the recess to reduce the amount of friction when the spool member 216 rotates. When the spool member 216 is fully inserted into the recess 242 of the housing 220, the top surface of the upper flange 270 may be substantially aligned with the top of the lower portion 248 of the outer wall 240 so that the upper flange 270 does not overlap with the housing teeth 224.

[0033] The spool teeth 232 may be formed on the upper surface of the spool member 216. In the illustrated embodiment, 12 spool teeth 232 are shown, but any other suitable number of spool teeth 232 may be used. Each of the spool teeth 232 may include a first side portion 280 and a second side portion 282. In some embodiments, the first side portion 280 may be substantially vertical. In some embodiments, the first side portion may be angled from the vertical plane by at least about 5° and / or about 15° or less, and in some embodiments by about 10°. The second side portion 282 may be angled from the vertical plane by at least about 35° and / or about 55° or less, and in some embodiments by about 45°. The first side portion 280 may be at least about 1.5 mm in length and / or about 2.5 mm or less, and may be about 2 mm in length. The second side can be at least about 2.5 mm in length and / or no more than about 3.5 mm in length, and may be about 3 mm in length. Dimensions and angles outside the specified range may also be used. The spool teeth 232 may be configured to contact the knob teeth 234 as described in detail herein.

[0034] In some embodiments, one or more notches 281a-b may be formed in the upper flange 270 of the spool member 216. Also in some embodiments, the upper flange 270 and / or the lower flange may be substantially circular in shape but may have one or more flattened ends 283a-d. The notches 281a-b and / or flattened ends 283a-d may facilitate the removal of the spool member 216 from the housing 220 (for example, when replacing the string 206). A screwdriver or other tool may be inserted between the spool member 216 and the wall of the housing 220, and the spool member 216 may be pulled out of the housing 220. Many modifications are possible. For example, Figure 10B is a perspective view of a spool member 216' which is similar in many respects to the spool member 216, except that the upper flange 270' and lower flange 272' do not have flattened ends 283a-d. Therefore, the upper flange 270' and the lower flange 272' may be substantially circular in shape. In some embodiments, the upper flange 270' may include notches 281a' and 281b' that facilitate the removal of the spool member 216' from the housing 220. In some embodiments, flanges 270' and 272' that do not include flattened ends 283a-d may prevent the cord 206 from becoming caught or pinched in the gap formed between the housing 220 and the flattened ends 283a-d, especially when relatively thin cords are used.

[0035] The depth of the groove 230 can be at least about 1.5 mm and / or about 2.5 mm or less, and in some cases about 2 mm. The groove 230 may have a width of at least about 3.0 mm and / or about 4.0 mm or less, and in some cases about 3.5 mm. The outer surface of the wall 274 may have a diameter of at least about 10 mm and / or about 20 mm or less, and in some cases about 14 mm. Dimensions outside the given range are also possible. The cord 206 may generally have a small diameter such that the groove 230 can hold a cord of at least about 300 mm and / or about 600 mm or less, and in some cases about 450 mm, but the spool member 216 and the cord 206 may be configured to hold amounts of cord outside the given range.

[0036] The cord or cable may have a diameter of at least about 0.5 mm and / or no more than about 1.5 mm, and in some embodiments the diameter may be about 0.75 mm or 1.0 mm, although diameters outside these ranges may also be used. The cord 206 may be a very smooth cable or elongated thread having a low modulus of elasticity and high tensile strength. In some embodiments the cable may have multiple strands of woven material. Any suitable cord may be used, but some embodiments may utilize cords formed from stretch chain, high elastic polyethylene fiber. One example of a suitable cord material is manufactured by Honeywell in New Jersey, Morris Township, and sold under the trade name SPECTRA®. Stretch chain, high elastic polyethylene fiber, advantageously has a high strength-to-weight ratio, is cut-resistant, and has very low elasticity. One suitable cord made from this material is tightly woven. A dense weave provides additional stiffness to the finished cord. The additional rigidity provided by the weaving method offers enhanced pushability, allowing the cord to be easily threaded (for example, within the reel 204). In addition, in some embodiments, the cord may be formed from a molded monofilament polymer. In some embodiments, the cord may be made from braided steel with or without a polymer or other lubricating coating.

[0037] One or more ends of the string 206 can be secured to the spool member 216. In some embodiments, the string 206 can be attached to the spool member 216 either detachably or permanently. In some embodiments, the string 206 can be passed through a hole formed in the spool member 216 and a knot can be formed at the end of the string 206, or a fixing member can be attached thereto to prevent the end from being pulled back through the hole. In some embodiments, the string 206 can be tied to a portion of the spool member 216. The string can also be secured to the spool member 216 by adhesive or any suitable method. In some embodiments, the string 206 is secured to the spool member 216 by passing the string 206 through a series of openings that cause the string 206 to bend at an angle that creates sufficient friction to prevent the string 206 from being removed from the spool member 216. In some embodiments, the string 206 wraps around itself so that when pulled, the string 206 tightens around itself. In some embodiments, only one end of the cord 206 is fixed to the spool member 216, and the other end of the cord 206 is fixed to the base member 214 or the article to be fastened.

[0038] The spool member 216 may include a first set of string holes 284a, 286a, 288a which can be configured to secure the first end of the string 206. In some embodiments, a second set of string holes 284b, 286b, 288b may be used to secure the second end of the string 206. String guides 290a-b may also be formed in recesses 276 to facilitate securing the string 206 to the spool member 216.

[0039] In the embodiment shown in Figure 13A, the first end of the string 206 can pass through the string hole 284a into the recess 276. A string guide 290a can direct the string 206 toward the string hole 286a, and in some embodiments, the string guide 290a may be positioned such that the string 206 is pressed between the string guide 290a and a portion 292a of the wall 274 between the holes 284a and 286a. The string 206 can exit the recess 276 through the string hole 286a and then bend at an angle of about 180° to re-enter the recess through the string hole 288a. In some embodiments, the tip of the first end of the string 206 can be pressed against the opposite string guide 290b to prevent the tip from moving around in the recess 276 and interfering with the rotation of the spool member 216. In some embodiments, the amount of string 206 passing through string holes 284b, 286b, and 288b may be configured such that only a small portion of the string 206 passes through hole 288a and re-enters the recess 276, so that the end is not pushed into the opposite string guide 290b. The second end of the string 206 may similarly be secured to the spool member 216 by the string holes 284a, 286b, 288b, the string guide 290b, and a portion 292b of the wall 274.

[0040] Other configurations for securing the cord are also possible. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 13B, the first end of the cord 206 passes through the cord hole 284a to enter the recess 276. A cord guide 290 can direct the cord 206 towards the cord hole 288b, and the cord guide 290a may be configured such that the cord 206 is pushed between the cord guide 290a and a portion 294a of the wall adjacent to the cord hole 284a. The cord 206 can pass through the cord hole 288b and then bend at an angle of about 180° to pass through the cord hole 286b and re-enter the recess 276. The second end of the cord 206 may be similarly secured to the spool member 216 by the cord holes 284b, 288a, 286a, the cord guide 290b, and a portion 294b of the wall 274.

[0041] Figures 13C and 13D show another way in which the string 206 may be secured to the spool member 216. As shown in Figure 13C, the end of the string 206 is passed through the string hole 284a to the recess 276, then through the string hole 286a to the outside of the recess 276, and then back through the string hole 288a to the recess 276. The end of the string 206 can then be passed through a loop of string formed between the string holes 284a and 286a, as shown in Figure 13C. The string 206 can then be tightened so that the string crosses within itself, as shown in Figure 13D. For example, the unglued end of the string 206 can be held with one hand while pulling the loop formed between the string holes 284a and 286a to remove the slack from the loop formed between the string holes 286a and 288a. The slack in the loop formed between the string holes 284a and 286a can be pulled out of the recess 276 through the string hole 284a until the string is tightened. Thus, once tightened, the string 206 pushes itself more tightly when it is pulled, thus preventing the string 206 from coming off the spool member 216.

[0042] The cord may pass over the top of the loop portion closest to the cord hole 288a, and then under the loop portion furthest from the cord hole 288a, as shown in the figure. When the cord is tightened, the unglued end of the cord 206 may be directed generally towards the base of the recess 276, rather than generally outward from the recess 276, as would be the case when the cord passes over the top of the loop portion furthest from the cord hole 288a. By biasing the unglued end of the cord towards the base of the recess 276, interference with the insertion of the spool member 216 into the housing 220 can be prevented. The cord guide 190a may be positioned to keep the unglued end of the cord 206 close to the perimeter of the recess 276 so that the unglued end of the cord 206 does not enter the central opening 278 or interfere with the spool member 216 being inserted into the housing 220.

[0043] Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of the knob member 218. Figure 16 is another exploded perspective view of the knob member 218. The knob member may include a knob core 296, a claw 236, a spring bush 298, a fastener 300, a knob spring 302, a knob cover 304, and a knob grip 306.

[0044] The knob core 296 may generally be disc-shaped. The knob core 296 may include knob teeth 234 formed on its bottom surface. In the illustrated embodiment, 12 knob teeth 234 are shown, but any other suitable number of knob teeth 234 may be used. In some embodiments, the same number of knob teeth 234 and spool teeth 232 may be used and may be formed similarly to or identically to the spool teeth 232, except that the knob teeth 234 are oriented in opposite directions so that the knob teeth 234 can mesh with the spool teeth 232. Thus, the dimensions described above for the spool teeth 232 may also apply to the knob teeth 234. When the knob member 218 is rotated in the tightening direction, the first side 308 of the knob teeth 234 may be pressed against the first side 280 of the spool teeth 232 to drive the spool member 216 in the tightening direction. When the cord 206 is tightened around the spool member 216 and a force is applied to the spool member 216 causing it to twist in the loosening direction, the second side 282 of the spool teeth 232 may contact the second side 310 of the knob teeth 234 so that the force is transmitted to the knob material 218 causing it to twist in the loosening direction. As described below, the force can cause the pawl 236 to engage with the housing teeth 224 so as to prevent the knob member 218 and the spool member 216 from rotating in the loosening direction, and thus keep the cord 206 in a tightened position.

[0045] The knob core 296 may include features to facilitate the fastening of the knob cover 304 therein. The knob core 296 may include a notch 312 formed on its upper surface near the periphery. A projection 314 may extend radially outward from the periphery of the knob core 296 at a position below the notch 312. The knob core 296 may include a central opening 316 passing through its center. This central opening 316 may be configured to receive a spring bush 298. The upper part of the central opening 316 may be wider than the lower part of the central opening 316 to form a step 318 therein. The knob core 296 may also include features to facilitate the fastening of the knob spring therein, such as a wide engaging tab 320 and a narrow engaging tab 322.

[0046] The knob core 296 may also include a claw recess 324 configured to receive a corresponding claw 236. The claw recess 324 may be formed generally similarly to the claw 236, but may be slightly larger than the claw 236 to allow the claw 236 to pivot (oscillate) and move within the claw recess 324 during operation, as described in detail elsewhere herein. The claw recess 324 may include a claw opening 326 formed in part of the base and / or side to allow part of the claw (e.g., the claw teeth) to extend through the knob core 296 (as can be seen in the assembled knob member 218 shown in Figure 4) and to contact the housing teeth 224.

[0047] Figures 17 and 18 are perspective views of the claw 236. The claw 236 may include a claw base 328, a claw beam 330, and a claw spring 332. The claw base 328 may be configured to connect to the knob core 296 and / or knob cover 304 so that the claw 236 can pivot around the axis 334. A pivot tab 336 may extend upward from the claw base 328 along the axis 334. The pivot tab 336 may be substantially cylindrical in shape and coaxial with the axis 334. A flange 337 may extend outward from one side of the claw base 328, and the flange 337 may facilitate the pivoting of the claw 236. As can be seen in Figures 17 and 18, in some embodiments, the claw beam 330, the claw spring 332, and the other components of the claw 236 may be formed integrally as a single piece (e.g., molded).

[0048] The claw beam 330 may be formed of a material, thickness, and length such that when the knob member 218 is rotated in the tightening direction, the claw 236 is displaced by the housing teeth 224, but the claw beam 330 is substantially rigid and does not bend. One or more claw teeth 338a-b may be located near the opposite end of the claw beam 330 from the claw base 328. In the illustrated embodiment, two claw teeth 338a-b are used, but any other suitable number of claw teeth 338a-b may be used. The claw teeth 338a-b, and in some cases the entire claw beam 330, may have a bent or inclined bottom surface 339 that can facilitate the transition of the knob member 218 from a non-interlocked position to an interlocked position, as described in detail elsewhere herein. The claw beam 330 may include a step 340 formed where the end of the claw beam 330 extends downward from the rest of the claw 236. The downward extension of the claw beam portion may be configured to extend through or into the claw opening 326 formed in the claw recess 324 of the knob core 296.

[0049] The claw base 328 may include an end surface 328a configured to engage with the surface 324a of the claw recess 324 (as can be seen in Figure 19). In some embodiments, when pressure is applied to one or more claw teeth 338, the load may be transmitted through the claw beam 330 to the engagement between the end surface 328a and the surface 324a. In some embodiments, when the claw 236 pivots radially outward around the axis 334, the end surface 328a of the claw base 328 may come into contact with the surface 324a of the claw recess 324, thus limiting the distance the claw 326 can pivot radially outward. For example, the claw 236 may be allowed to pivot radially outward enough to engage with the housing teeth 224 but not significantly far. This can be achieved by releasing pressure from the claw 236 when a loosening force is applied to a knob member 218 which can produce a component of the force that biases the claw 236 radially outward, as described below. The contact surface between surfaces 328a and 324a can also restrict the radial movement of the claw 236 when the knob member 218 is in the unengaged position, thus keeping the claw 236 sufficiently radially inward so that the knob member 218 can be pushed to the engaged position without substantial interference from the claw 236. In some embodiments, the claw 236 is located within the claw recess 324 and is generally confined between the knob cover 304 and the knob core 296. As described below, the upper tab 384 may engage with the pivot tab 336 to prevent axial movement of the claw 236. Similarly, the beam tab 385 extending downward from the knob cover 304 may engage with the upper surface of the claw beam 330 to prevent its axial movement.

[0050] The claw spring portion 332 may be a cantilever or arched spring as shown in the illustrated embodiments, but any other suitable type of spring may be used. The claw spring portion 332 may extend outward from the claw base 328 in generally the same direction as the claw beam portion 330. The claw spring portion 332 may be bent away from the claw beam portion 330. A generally cylindrical end piece 342 may be formed at the end of the claw spring portion. The claw spring portion 332 may be made of a material, thickness, and length such that it is elastic and flexible so that it bends as the claw 236 is displaced by the housing teeth 224 when the knob member 218 is rotated in the tightening direction. The claw spring portion 332 is shown in the relaxed position in Figures 17 and 18. In some embodiments, the claw beam portion 330 and the claw spring portion 332 are formed independently and then joined to form the claw 236. Therefore, the claw beam portion 330 and the claw spring portion 332 do not need to be formed from the same material. For example, a metal claw beam portion 330 may be advantageous due to its relatively high strength-to-thickness ratio, while using a plastic claw spring portion 332 may be advantageous. In some embodiments, the same material may be used even when the claw beam portion 330 and the claw spring portion 332 are formed separately. In the embodiments shown in Figures 17-18, the claw spring portion 332 and the claw beam portion 330 can be formed integrally from the same material as a single part, thereby reducing manufacturing and assembly costs and complexity. In some embodiments, a spring different from that shown in the illustrated embodiments may be used. For example, a metal or plastic leaf spring or a wire coil spring may be used in some applications.

[0051] Since the claw beam portion 330 and the claw spring portion 332 are separate parts, the claw spring portion 332 can be modified to bend more easily (for example, by making the claw spring portion 332 thinner) without reducing the amount of force that the claw beam portion 330 can withstand when the knob member 218 is twisted in the loosening direction. Similarly, the claw beam portion 330 can be modified to withstand a greater force applied to the knob 218 in the loosening direction (for example, by making the claw beam portion 330 thicker) without reducing the flexibility of the claw spring portion 332. Thus, the claw 236 can be adjusted to a desired level of flexibility and strength. For example, the claw 236 can be configured to withstand a large force when the knob member 218 is twisted in the loosening direction, while at the same time being easily radially displaceable when the knob member 218 is rotated in the tightening direction. In some embodiments, the force applied to the claw 236 when the knob member 218 is twisted in the loosening direction is supported by the claw beam 330, while the claw spring 332 provides substantially no support. The load-bearing capacity of a flexible claw decreases as the claw is made more flexible, and the flexibility of the claw decreases as the beam is made to withstand higher forces. Therefore, this configuration may be advantageous over embodiments that include a load-bearing beam that similarly bends to displace the claw (e.g., during tightening). Consequently, when using a flexible claw beam, a sufficient amount of loosening force will cause the claw beam to bend, thus impairing the lacing system. However, when using the claw 236, the claw beam 330 may be configured to be substantially rigid even when a relatively large loosening force is applied, and the claw spring 332 may be configured to allow the claw beam 330 to easily pivot when a tightening force is applied.

[0052] Figure 19 is a top view showing the claw 236 positioned inside the claw recess 324 of the knob core 296. The housing 220 is not shown in Figure 19, but the claw 236 is shown in the position where the claw teeth 338a-b engage with the housing teeth 224. Figure 20 is a top view showing the base member 214 and claw 236 in the same position as in Figure 19, with the claw teeth 338a-b engaged with the housing teeth 224. Figure 21 is a top view of the base member 214 and claw 236 in their displaced form when the knob member 218 is rotated in the tightening direction. Elements of the knob member 218 and spool member 216 other than the claw 236 have been omitted from the diagrams shown in Figures 20 and 21 for simplification.

[0053] In some embodiments, the claw spring portion 332 may be partially bent to a less curved position than its relaxed position when inserted into the claw recess 324. The bent claw spring portion 332 causes the claw beam portion 330 to be biased radially outward and the claw teeth 338a-b to contact the housing teeth 224 radially outward. When the knob member 218 is twisted in the loosening direction (indicated by arrow B), the first sides 334a-b of the claw teeth 338a-b may contact the first sides 258 of the housing teeth 224 to prevent the knob member 218 from rotating in the loosening direction. In some embodiments, the claw recess 324 may be configured to accommodate the claw 236 without the need for the claw spring portion 332 to be partially bent. Therefore, in some embodiments, the claw spring portion 332 may be in a relaxed position when the claw beam portion 330 engages with the housing teeth 224 to prevent the knob 218 from loosening. When the claw beam portion 330 is displaced away from the housing teeth 224, the claw spring portion 332 may transition from a relaxed state to a bent state so that the claw beam portion 330 is biased toward the housing teeth 224. Also, as shown in Figure 20, for example, in some embodiments, one or more claw teeth 338a-b may engage with the housing teeth 224 at a position radially outward from the tangent line extending from the pivot axis 334 of the claw 236. In the embodiment of Figure 20, the claw tooth 338b may engage with the corresponding housing tooth 224 at a position on a line angled radially outward from the tangent line C by an angle 345 of at least about 5° and / or not more than about 15°, and in some embodiments, about 10°. Therefore, when a loosening force is applied to the knob member 218 (indicated by arrow B), the force component is directed to encourage the claw 236 to pivot radially outward. Thus, when a larger loosening force is applied to the knob member 218, the claw teeth 338a-b are biased to engage firmly with the housing teeth 224. This can prevent the claw 236 from accidentally disengaging from the housing teeth 224 when a large loosening force is applied.As the claw 236 is biased radially outward, the claw beam can contact the tips of one or more housing teeth 224 that are not engaged by the claw teeth 338a-b. These claw teeth 338a-b can prevent the claw beam 330 from bending outward and can transmit a portion of the loosening force to the housing. As described above, the surface 328a of the claw base 328 can contact the surface 324a of the claw recess 324, thereby limiting the amount by which the claw 236 can rotate radially outward.

[0054] In some embodiments, multiple claw teeth 338a-b may be used so that multiple claw teeth 338a-b mesh simultaneously with multiple corresponding housing teeth 224, and when the knob member 218 is twisted in the loosening direction, the applied force is distributed to multiple teeth for each claw 236 to prevent the knob member 218 from rotating in the loosening direction. By distributing the force to multiple teeth, the housing teeth 224 and claw teeth 338a-b can be relatively small in size, while providing sufficient meshing surface area between the first side 258 of the housing tooth 224 and the first side 344a-b of the claw teeth 338a-b. For example, the meshing of two claw teeth 338a-b with two consecutive housing teeth 224 as shown may provide substantially the same meshing surface area as a single claw tooth and housing tooth twice the size shown to resist rotation in the loosening direction. As the size of the housing teeth 224 decreases, the number of housing teeth 224 can increase, and the tightening resolution of the reel 204 can increase. When the knob member 218 is advanced by only one housing tooth 224 in the tightening direction (indicated by arrow A), the distance the knob member 218 moves in the rotational direction decreases as the size of the housing teeth 224 decreases and the number of housing teeth 224 increases. Therefore, by using more and smaller housing teeth 224, the tightening resolution of the reel 204 is increased, so that the lacing system 200 can be tightened more precisely to the desired level of tightness. Also, as the size of the housing teeth 224 decreases, the distance the pawl 236 is displaced radially inward when the knob member 218 is tightened also decreases, making it easier to rotate the knob member 218 in the tightening direction. In some embodiments, multiple pawl teeth 338a-b are used, so it is important to note that the knob member 218 can be easily rotated in the tightening direction while strongly resisting rotation in the loosening direction. Although two nail teeth 338a-b are shown for each nail 236, additional nail teeth (e.g., 3, 4, 5, or more) may be used, and in some embodiments, a single nail tooth may be used.For example, as shown in Figure 20, in some embodiments, one or more claw teeth 338a-b and housing teeth 224 may be configured to not move relative to each other when fully engaged, thereby preventing the claws 236 from rotating radially inward unless the knob member 218 is moved in the tightening direction (indicated by arrow A). The surfaces 258 of the housing teeth 224 and 334a of the claw teeth 338a may form an angle 343 (e.g., at least about 5° and / or about 15° or less, or about 10°) from line D. This line D may be perpendicular to the tangent C with respect to the pivot axis 334 of the corresponding claw 236. Line D may be tangent to the arc traced by surface 344a when surface 344a of the claw teeth 338a pivots radially inward. Since the surface 258 of the housing tooth 224 is angled toward the claw beam 330, when a force biases the surface 344a to move in the direction of arrow D, the surface 344a can come into contact with the surface 258. Therefore, when the claw tooth 338a is fully engaged with the housing tooth 224 such that the surface 344a of the claw tooth 338a comes into contact with the surface 258 of the housing tooth 224, radial inward rotation is prevented from radially inward rotation of the claw 236 because the surface 344a of the claw tooth 338a presses more firmly against the surface 258 of the housing tooth 224. The oblique contact surface between the surfaces 258 and 344a can also result in a radially outward force on the claw 236 when a loosening force is applied (indicated by arrow B). To allow the claw 236 to rotate radially inward, the claw 236 may be moved in the tightening direction (indicated by arrow A) such that the surface 344a of the claw teeth 338a disengages from the surface 258 of the housing teeth 224. Other claw teeth (e.g., claw teeth 338b) may operate similarly to claw teeth 338a to prevent accidental disengagement of the claw 236.

[0055] When the knob member 218 is rotated in the tightening direction (indicated by arrow A), the second side 260 of the housing teeth 224 can slide along the second side 346a-b of the claw teeth 338a-b, causing the claw 236 to rotate around the pivot axis (e.g., around the pivot tab 336) such that the claw beam 330 is displaced radially inward from the housing teeth 224, as shown in Figure 21. As the claw 236 rotates, the claw spring 232 may be further bent, for example, to a less curved position, and the end piece 32 may slide along the wall of the claw recess 224, further away from the claw base 328. The curved end of the substantially cylindrical end piece 342 may provide a small contact area between the end piece 342 and the wall of the claw recess 224, reducing the amount of friction between them when the end piece 342 slides. Once the tips of the claw teeth 338a-b pass the tips of the housing teeth 224, the claw 236 can snap radially outward to a position similar to that shown in Figure 20, except that the claw 236 has advanced by one housing tooth 224 or one step in the tightening direction. To tighten the lacing system 200, the user can turn the knob member 218 by the desired amount in the tightening direction, with the claw 236 snapping back after each step to prevent rotation in the loosening direction.

[0056] As can be seen in Figures 20 and 21, the flange 337 of the claw 236 may extend radially outward beyond the tip of the housing tooth 224, but the flange 337 may be located near the top of the claw 236 where the flange 337 does not contact the housing tooth 224. Rather, the flange 337 may contact a portion of the wall 325 of the claw recess 324, as can be seen in Figure 19. As the claw 236 rotates, the flange 337 may rotate slightly relative to the wall of the claw recess 324 to facilitate the desired rotational displacement of the claw 236. The fit between the flange 337 and the wall 325 may also help to maintain the approximate radial and axial position of the claw 236 within the claw recess 324.

[0057] The claw 236 may be configured differently from that shown in the illustrated embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, the flexible arm of the claw spring portion 332 may bend toward the claw beam portion 330 (e.g., in the opposite direction to that shown in the illustrated embodiments), and the central portion of the curved arm of the claw spring portion 332 may move along the wall of the corresponding recess 324. In some embodiments, the curved arm may be configured to bend more when it is in a more bent position (e.g., when the claw beam portion 330 is displaced away from the housing teeth 224) than when it is in a less bent position (e.g., when the claw beam 330 engages with the housing teeth 224). In some embodiments, the flexible arm may be attached to the claw 236 in locations other than those shown in the illustrated embodiments. For example, the flexible arm of the claw spring portion 332 may extend from the end of the claw beam portion 330 furthest from the pivot tab 336. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the claw spring portion 332 may include a flexible arm extending generally in the opposite direction to the claw beam portion 330, or generally radially inward, or in various other suitable directions as long as the claw spring portion 332 can be bent to bias the claw beam portion 330 toward the housing teeth 224. As described above, the claw spring portion 332 may also be made from a leaf spring, a coil spring, or any other suitable biasing member configured to radially bias the claw beam portion 330 toward the housing teeth 224.

[0058] Various embodiments described herein include housing teeth 224 extending radially inward and claws 236 configured to be biased radially outward toward the housing teeth 224, but other configurations are also possible. For example, the housing teeth 224 may extend radially outward. The housing teeth 224 may be formed, for example, on the outer surface of a shaft 244 or a similar structure. In these embodiments, the claws 236 may be configured to be biased radially inward toward the housing teeth 224. In some embodiments, more housing teeth 224 may be included, and it may be advantageous to position the housing teeth 224 closer to the periphery of the reel 204 (for example, as shown in the illustrated embodiments) so that the housing teeth 224 are arranged along a larger circumference to increase the clamping resolution (number of teeth per rotation) of the reel 204.

[0059] Figure 22 is a top view of the assembled knob core 296, spring bush 298, fastener 300, and knob spring 302. Referring here to Figures 15, 16, and 22, the spring bush 298 may be substantially cylindrical in shape and may have a central opening 348 formed through its center. The outer surface of the spring bush 298 may widen at the upper part 349 at the bottom 351, forming a step 350 which can be configured to abut against a step 318 formed in the central opening 316 of the knob core 296 when the spring bush 298 is fully inserted into the central opening 316 of the knob core 296. At the central opening 348 passing through the center of the spring bush 298, the upper part may be wider than the lower part to form a step 352.

[0060] The head 354 of the fastener 300 may abut against a step 352 in the central opening 348 of the spring bush 298 when the fastener 300 is fully inserted into the central opening 348 of the spring bush 298. The fastener 300 may be a screw having a shaft 356 that includes a thread 358 configured to engage with a thread formed in a bore 246 formed in the shaft 244 of the housing. In some embodiments, the bore 246 may include a threaded metal insert or a plastic thread molded as part of the bore 246. In some embodiments, the bore 246 may not have a pre-formed thread, and the thread 358 of the fastener 300 may form the thread in the bore the first time the fastener 300 is inserted into the bore 246. The head 354 may include a recess 360. This recess 360 may be hexagonal or cross-shaped, or may be configured to allow a screwdriver or other tool to turn the fastener 300. In some embodiments, the knob member 218 may be joined to the housing 220 by some other means, such as a fastening clasp, rivet, or ultrasonic welding. Other alternatives are also possible.

[0061] The knob spring 302 may include a pair of opposing engaging portions 362a-b that can be configured to engage with the spring bush 298. A pair of end pieces 364a-b may extend inward from the engaging portions 362a-b at substantially right angles. An interconnecting portion 368, which may be formed along a partial circumference of a circle, may be attached to the engaging portions 362a-b by curved connecting portions 370a-b.

[0062] The knob spring 302 can be fixed to the knob core 296. A wide engaging tab 320 may be configured to fit between the curved connecting portions 370a-b of the knob spring 302, while a narrow engaging tab 322 may be configured to fit between the end pieces 364a-b of the knob spring 302 to prevent the knob spring 302 from rotating or moving relative to the knob core 296. In some embodiments, the wide engaging tab 320 and / or the narrow engaging tab 322 may be configured to receive the knob spring 302 such that the knob spring 302 is kept in a slightly bent position with the curved connecting portions 370a-b in contact with the wide engaging tab 320 and / or the end pieces 364a-b in contact with the narrow engaging tab 322. In some embodiments, the knob spring 302 may be prevented from moving axially by the knob cover 304 when the knob cover 304 is attached to the knob core 296.

[0063] The knob spring 302 may be configured such that the engaging portions 362a-b can be elastically separated from each other, allowing the wider upper portion of the spring bush 298 to pass between the engaging portions 362a-b. The spring bush 298 can be in a disengaged position, as shown in Figure 22, where the spring bush 298 is located below the engaging portions 362a-b. In the engaged position, the wider upper portion 349 of the spring bush 298 may be positioned above the engaging portions 362a-b of the knob spring 302. The wider upper portion 349 of the spring bush may be wider than the distance between the engaging portions 362a-b of the knob spring 302 to prevent the spring bush from unintentionally shifting between the engaged and disengaged positions. To move the spring bush 298 from the engaged position to the disengaged position, a force may be applied, for example, by pulling the knob member 218 axially away from the base member 214. This force presses the spring bush 298 against the engaging portions 362a-b and elastically separates the engaging portions 362a-b from each other until the wider upper portion 359 of the spring bush 298 passes between them. To move the spring bush 298 from the disengaged position to the engaged position, a force can be applied, for example, by pushing the knob member 218 axially toward the base member 214. This force pushes the spring bush 298 upward against the engaging portions 362a-b and elastically separates the engaging portions 362a-b from each other until the wider upper portion 359 of the spring bush 298 passes between them.

[0064] Many variations are possible. For example, in some embodiments, the engaging portions 362a-b can be held firmly in place, and the spring bush 298 can be made from an elastically compressible material so that it can transition between an engaged and disengaged position by elastically compressing and passing between the engaging portions 362a-b. In some embodiments, the fastener 300 and the spring bush 298 can be combined into a single part. The knob spring 302 can take various other forms and can be attached to the knob core 296 in various other ways so that the engaging portions 362a-b bend elastically away from each other. The spring bush 298 can be formed in various other shapes different from those shown in the illustrated embodiments. In some embodiments, the spring bush 298 can be rotationally symmetric and can rotate with the knob core 296 and the knob spring 302. Thus, in some cases, the spring bush 298 may have flat sides that engage with the knob spring 302 along a line instead of just at a point.

[0065] Referring to Figures 15 and 16, the knob cover 304 may generally be disc-shaped. The knob cover 304 may have a dome-shaped or substantially frustoconical top wall 372 and a peripheral wall 376 with a cavity 376 formed therein. A central opening 378 may be formed in the center of the top wall 372 so as to allow a screwdriver or other tool to be inserted through it to engage with a recess 360 in the fastener 300. The knob cover 304 may include fixing tabs 380 and notches 382 configured to engage with corresponding notches 312 and projections 314 of the knob core 196 for securing the knob cover 304 to the knob core 296 using snap-fit ​​connections. The knob cover 304 may be secured to the knob core 296 by a variety of other methods, such as using adhesive, screw connections, ultrasonic welding, or any other suitable method. The knob cover 304 may be fixed to the knob core 296 or removable. When the knob cover 304 is attached to the knob core 296, the claws 236, spring bush 298, fastener 300, and knob spring 302 may be enclosed between them.

[0066] The upper tab 384 may extend downward from the lower surface of the upper wall 372 of the knob cover 304. The upper tab 384 may be aligned with the pivot tab 336 of the claw 236, and the bottom surface of the upper tab 384 may be in contact with, or nearly in contact with, the upper surface of the pivot tab 336 of the claw 236, thereby preventing the claw from moving axially. Various modifications are possible. In some embodiments, the pivot tab 336 of the claw 236 may fit into a bore formed in the knob cover 304 to fix the claw 236 and allow the claw 236 to pivot around the pivot tab 336.

[0067] A recess 386 may be formed in the center of the cavity 376, and the recess 386 may be configured to receive the wider upper portion 349 of the spring bush 298 when the spring bush 298 is in the engaged position.

[0068] The peripheral wall 374 of the knob cover 304 may include a notch 388 configured to receive a corresponding tab 390 formed on the inner surface of the knob grip 306. The knob grip 306 may generally be donut-shaped and may include external ridges 392 and / or recesses 394 to facilitate the holding of the knob member 218. In some embodiments, the knob grip 306 may be divided into intermittent portions arranged around the knob cover 304, which may reduce the amount of labor required. Various modifications are possible.

[0069] An opening 396 may be formed in part of the upper wall 372 of the knob cover 304 to provide a view of some internal components of the reel 204 in use, or to provide an exit path for water or other foreign matter to exit the reel 204.

[0070] As described above, the knob member 218 may be axially movable between an engaged position and an unengaged position. Figure 23A is an exploded view of a reel 204 with the engaged knob member 218. Figure 23B is a cross-sectional view of a reel 204 with the engaged knob member 218. Figure 24A is an exploded view of a reel 204 with the unengaged knob member 218. Figure 24B is a cross-sectional view of a reel 204 with the unengaged knob member 218. The knob member 218 can be fixed to the base member 214 by twisting a fastener 300 so that the threads 358 engage with the corresponding threads in a bore 246 formed on the shaft 244. In some embodiments, when the fastener 300 is sufficiently tightened, a portion of the shaft 244 extending upward beyond the spool member 216 may enter the lower portion of the central opening 348 formed through the spring bush 298. The bottom end 398 of the spring bush 298 may contact, or nearly contact, the annular region 400 inside the spool teeth 232.

[0071] As shown in Figures 23A and 23B, when the knob member 218 is in the engaged position, the spring bush 298 and the fastener 300 can be held in the position lifted by the knob spring 302 as described above, so that the bottom end 398 of the spring bush 298 does not extend beyond the central opening 316 of the knob core 296. Therefore, the knob member 218 is held in the lower engaged position (shown by a dotted line in Figure 5) with the bottom of the knob core 296 in contact with or close to the upper surface of the spool member 216. Therefore, when in the engaged position, the knob teeth 234 engage with the spool teeth 232 and the pawls 236 engage with the housing teeth 224.

[0072] As shown in Figures 24A and 24B, when the knob member 218 is in the unengaged position, the spring bush 298 and fastener 300 can be held in the lowered position by the knob spring 302 as described above, so that the bottom end 398 of the spring bush 298 extends beyond the central opening 316 of the knob core 296 by at least about 1.0 mm and / or not more than about 3 mm, and in some embodiments only about 2.25 mm, although other forms outside these ranges are also possible. As the bottom end 398 of the spring bush 298 abuts against, or remains almost in contact with, the annular region 400 of the spool member 216, the knob member 218 is lifted away from the spool member 216 and base member 214 by a sufficient amount (e.g., about 2.25 mm) to disengage the knob teeth 234 from the spool teeth 232 and / or the claws 236 from the housing teeth 224. In the illustrated embodiment, when the knob is in the un-engaged position, the knob teeth 234 disengage from the spool teeth 232 and the pawls 236 also disengage from the housing teeth 224. Thus, in the illustrated un-engaged configuration, the spool member 216 can rotate freely in the loosening direction independently of the knob member 218 to loosen the cord tightening system 200, and the knob member 218 can rotate freely in both the tightening and loosening directions.

[0073] Many variations are possible. In some embodiments, when in the unengaged position, the knob teeth 234 may disengage from the spool teeth 232, while the pawl 236 may remain engaged with the housing teeth 224 (for example, if the step 340 shown in Figure 17 is enlarged so that the pawl teeth 338a-b extend further downward). In these embodiments, the knob member 218 may be prevented from rotating in the loosening direction even when in the unengaged position, while the spool member 216 may rotate freely in the loosening direction independently of the knob member 218, allowing the cord 206 to be pulled out to loosen the cord tightening system 200. In some embodiments, when in the unengaged position, the knob teeth 234 may remain engaged with the spool teeth 232 (for example, if the knob teeth 234 and / or spool teeth 232 are higher than in the illustrated embodiments), while the pawl 236 may disengage from the housing teeth 224. In these embodiments, the spool member 216 remains coupled to the knob member 218 even when in a non-engaged position, but the knob member 218 and the spool member 216 are allowed to rotate together in the loosening direction to release the string 206 from the reel 204 in order to loosen the string tightening system 200. Other variations are also possible. For example, in some embodiments, the spool member 216 may be formed integrally with the knob member 218, or fixedly attached to the knob member 218, or detachably attached to the knob member 218, and the spool teeth 232 and knob teeth 234 may be omitted.

[0074] As described above, when in the unengaged position, the claw 236 can be lifted sufficiently to disengage from the housing teeth 224. In some embodiments, the claw is biased radially outward by the claw spring portion 232, so that the claw 236 can bend radially outward such that a portion of the bottom surface of the claw 236 is positioned above a portion of the top surface of the housing teeth 224. Therefore, in some embodiments, when the knob member 218 is moved back to the engaged position, the claw 236 must be bent radially inward so that the claw 236 can re-engage with the housing teeth 224. Also as described above, at least a portion of the top surface 266 of the housing teeth 224 can be angled or inclined, and / or at least a portion of the bottom surface 339 of the claw 236 can be angled or inclined, so the downward pressure applied when the knob member is returned to the engaged position can cause the claw 236 to bend radially inward to facilitate re-engaging with the housing teeth 224. In some embodiments, the claw recess 324 or other portion of the knob member 218 can be configured to prevent the claw 236 from bending radially outward beyond the radial position where it engages with the housing teeth 224, thereby reducing or eliminating the need to bend the claw 236 inward when moving the knob member 218 to the interlocked position.

[0075] The knob member 218 can be moved from the linked position to the unlinked position by pulling it axially away from the base member 214 with sufficient force to displace the knob spring 302 in the spring bush 298 and allow it to pass through. To move the knob member 218 from the unlinked position to the linked position, the knob member 218 can be pushed axially toward the base member 214 with sufficient force to displace the knob spring 302 in the spring bush 298 and allow it to pass through.

[0076] The radial engagement of the pawl 236 with the housing teeth 224 can reduce or eliminate the occurrence of unintended movement of the knob member 218 from the engaged position to the disengaged position due to the application of a force that tends to twist the knob member 218 in the loosening direction. When the string 206 is pulled, the string can transmit a force that tends to twist the spool member 216 in the loosening direction, and this force can be transmitted to the knob 218 via the spool teeth 232 and the knob teeth 234, and the pawl 236 can distribute the force radially among a certain number of housing teeth 224. Since the pawl 236 engages with the housing teeth radially and not axially, and the pawl 236 is configured to be displaced radially (when the reel 204 is tightened), virtually no force is applied to the knob 218 axially. Therefore, the radial pawl 236 does not transmit any substantial force axially that would cause the spool teeth 232 to separate from the knob field 234, which could result in unintended detachment of the knob member and / or unintended loosening of the spool member 216. Thus, the reel 204 may be configured to withstand very large forces applied to pull the string 206 or to twist in a direction that loosens the knob member 218, without causing the reel 204 to unintended detach the knob member 218 from the housing teeth in the axial direction, and the pawl may be configured to be displaced axially during tightening.

[0077] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the force applied to the claw 236 when the knob 218 is twisted in the loosening direction is supported by the claw beam 330 such that substantially no force is transmitted to the claw spring 332. Thus, the claw spring 332 may be configured to be easily bendable, while the claw beam 330 may be configured to be substantially rigid. Thus, the claw 236 may be configured to resist relatively large forces applied to twist the knob member 218 in the loosening direction because the force is supported by the rigid claw beam 330, while the claw may also be configured to rotate in the relevant direction when a relatively small force is applied to twist the knob member 218 in the tightening direction because the force is transmitted to the flexible claw spring 332.

[0078] The components of the string fastening system described herein may be formed from any suitable material, including, but not limited to, plastic, carbon or other fiber-reinforced plastic, aluminum, steel, rubber, and any other suitable material or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the base member 214, spool member 216, knob core 296, claw 236, spring bush 298, knob cover 304, string guide, or any other suitable component described herein may be formed by injection molding or by other means from any suitable polymer material, such as nylon, PVC, or PET. In addition, some of the components described herein may be coated or layered with a lubricating material to reduce friction with interacting components or parts. The fastener 300 and knob spring 302 may be made from metal (e.g., aluminum or steel), but other materials such as plastic may also be used. The knob grip 306 may be formed from rubber, latex, silicone, or other material that facilitates gripping the knob member 218.

[0079] Figure 25 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a base member 414 that may be used in place of the base member 214 described above. The base member 414 may include a housing 420 and a mounting flange 422, and may be generally similar to the base member 214 described above, except that the string holes 426a-b may be configured to direct the string radially away from the base member 414 rather than axially away from the base member 214, as shown in Figure 2, for example. Also, the string holes 426a-b are generally located on the same side of the base member 414 rather than at both ends as in the base member 214 described above. Many variations are possible depending on the specific application to which the string fastening system is applied. For example, in some embodiments, the base member may include only one string hole, and only one end of the string may enter the housing and be attached to the spool member. In these embodiments, the other end of the string may be attached to the base member or the article to be fastened.

[0080] Figure 26 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a knob core 596 that may be used in a reel which may be similar in many respects to the reel 204 described herein. The knob core 596 may include a claw 536 which may be formed integrally with the knob core 596 to simplify the structure and assembly of the reel. In other embodiments, the claw 536 may be attached to the knob core 596 in any suitable way. The claw 536 may include a claw arm portion 532 which may be made of a material, thickness, and length such that it is flexible so as the knob core 596 rotates in the tightening direction (indicated by arrow A) in a similar manner to that described above, allowing the claw 536 to be displaced radially inward by the housing teeth. The claw 536 may include claw teeth portions 538a-b formed at the ends of the claw arm portion 532. In the illustrated embodiment, two claw teeth portions 538a-b are used for each claw 536, but any other suitable number of claw teeth portions 538a-b may be used.

[0081] When the knob core 596 is twisted in the loosening direction (indicated by arrow B), the claw teeth 538a-b may contact the housing teeth (not shown in Figure 26) to prevent the knob core 596 from rotating in the loosening direction. The force arrows drawn in Figure 26 indicate the direction in which the force is distributed radially. When the claw teeth 538a-b contact the housing teeth, a force is applied from the claw teeth 538a-b to the housing teeth as shown. Since the claw arm 532 can be curved as shown, when the claw teeth 538a-b contact the housing teeth, the claw arm 532 tends to bend or buckle radially outward as indicated by the arrows in Figure 26. The claws 536 may be configured such that when the claw arms 532 attempt to bend or buckle radially outward, they contact the tips of the housing teeth, distributing the force to the housing teeth in the direction of deformation and preventing buckling. In some embodiments, the housing teeth may substantially prevent the claw arms 532 from moving radially outward. Since the claws 536 engage with the housing teeth radially rather than axially, and the claws 536 are configured to be displaced radially rather than axially, no force applied during tightening when twisting substantially in the loosening direction is applied axially, thus reducing or eliminating the occurrence of unintended axial movement of the knob core 596 from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

[0082] While various embodiments of the lacing system are described herein, various components, features, or other aspects of the embodiments of the lacing system described herein may be combined or replaced to form additional embodiments of the lacing system not specified herein, all of which are considered to be part of this disclosure. In addition, while many variations are illustrated and described in detail, other modifications within the scope of this disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art based on this disclosure. Therefore, it is intended that the scope of the disclosure should not be limited by the specific embodiments disclosed above.

Claims

1. A reel-type closure system for fastening articles, A housing having an internal area, A spool rotatably disposed within the internal region of the housing, wherein a string can be wound around the spool to tighten the article, One or more pawls operably coupled to the spool to allow the spool to rotate in the first direction within the internal region of the housing, while preventing the spool from rotating in the second direction, A knob is rotatably coupled to the housing and operably coupled to the spool such that the rotation of the knob causes the spool to rotate in the first direction within the internal region of the housing, thereby winding the string around the spool. A bush disposed within the internal region of the housing and axially aligned with the axis of the spool, the bush including a portion that extends radially outward, which is operably coupled to one or more claws and supports one or more claws in an axially raised position that enables the spool to rotate in the second direction, A reel-type closing system equipped with [a specific feature].

2. The reel-type closing system according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the bush extending radially outward supports one or more claws even when the spool is in a lowered position in the axial direction, preventing rotation of the spool in the second direction.

3. The reel-type closing system according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the bush extending radially outward is cylindrical in shape.

4. The reel-type closing system according to claim 2, wherein the radially outward-extending portion includes a tapered upper surface and a tapered lower surface such that the radially outward-extending portion generally has a rhombic shape.

5. The reel-type closing system according to claim 2, wherein the top of the radially outward-extending portion is wider than the bottom of the radially outward-extending portion.

6. The reel-type closing system according to claim 1, wherein the bush includes a central opening into which a fastener can be inserted.

7. The reel-type closing system according to claim 1, wherein the bush engages with a spring component to support one or more claws in an axially raised position.

8. The reel-type closing system according to claim 7, wherein the portion of the bush extending radially outward defines an annular projection having a diameter larger than the opening of the spring component.

9. The reel-type closing system according to claim 7, wherein the spring component is one or more claw components.

10. The reel-type closing system according to claim 1, wherein the bush is made of an elastically compressible material.

11. A reel-type closing system, Housing and A spool rotatably disposed within the housing, A tightening member is rotatably coupled to the housing, and the operation of the tightening member is such that it rotates the spool in a first direction within the housing and wraps a string around the spool; A bush disposed within the housing, the bush being operably coupled to the fastening member and supporting the fastening member in an axially lifted position, the bush including a portion extending radially outward that allows the spool to rotate in a second direction and unwind the string from around the spool; A reel-type closing system equipped with [a specific feature].

12. The reel-type closing system according to claim 11, wherein the bush is made of an elastically compressible material.

13. The reel-type closing system according to claim 11, wherein the radially outward-extending portion includes a tapered upper surface and a tapered lower surface such that the radially outward-extending portion generally has a rhombic shape.

14. The reel-type closing system according to claim 13, wherein the top of the radially outward-extending portion is wider than the bottom of the radially outward-extending portion.

15. The reel-type closing system according to claim 11, wherein the bush includes a central opening into which a fastener can be inserted.

16. The reel-type closing system according to claim 11, further comprising a pawl operably coupled to the spool so as to enable the spool to rotate in the first direction and to prevent the spool from rotating in the second direction.

17. The reel-type closing system according to claim 16, wherein the bush engages with the claw to support the claw in an axially raised position.

18. The reel-type closing system according to claim 17, wherein the claw is movable in the axial direction around the bush between a raised position in the axial direction and a lowered position in the axial direction.

19. The reel-type closing system according to claim 17, wherein the bush engages with the spring component of the claw to support the claw in the axially raised position.

20. A reel-type closing system, Housing and A spool rotatably disposed within the housing, A tightening member is rotatably coupled to the housing, and the operation of the tightening member causes the spool to rotate in a first direction within the housing and wraps a string around the spool, A bush disposed within the housing, the bush including a portion extending radially outward, which is operably coupled to the clamping member, so as to support the reel-type closing system in an engaged position, preventing the spool from rotating in a second direction to unwind the string from around the spool; A reel-type closing system equipped with [a specific feature].

21. The reel-type closing system according to claim 20, further comprising a pawl component operably coupled to the spool so as to allow the spool to rotate in the first direction and to prevent the spool from rotating in the second direction when the reel-type closing system is in the engaged position.

22. The sole and The upper is attached to the sole, To tighten the footwear around the wearer's foot, it has a pullable string, One or more guides arranged along the footwear, wherein the one or more guides are arranged to guide or direct the lace around a path along the footwear, A reel-type closing system, Housing and A spool rotatably disposed within the housing, A tightening member is rotatably coupled to the housing, and the operation of the tightening member causes the spool to rotate in a first direction within the housing, wraps the string around the spool, and thereby pulls the string; A reel-type closing system comprising: a bush disposed within the housing, the bush being operably coupled to the fastening member and supporting the fastening member in an axially lifted position, the bush including a portion extending radially outward, thereby enabling the spool to rotate in a second direction and unwind the string from around the spool; A footwear item equipped with the following features.

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