Autolacing Footwear Motor Housing With PCB Force-Redirecting Supports

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing footwear designs with motorized lacing systems face challenges in protecting the printed circuit board (PCB) from excessive forces, which can lead to damage due to the PCB's susceptibility to flexing and impact from external forces, compromising the system's performance and durability.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating supports within the housing that extend through the PCB to redirect forces away from the PCB to more robust components, such as the motor or battery, thereby reducing the impact on the PCB.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the PCB is positioned in the housing to control the motor, then the electrical functionality is achieved, but the PCB is susceptible to damage from external forces applied to the footwear

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePCB damage resistanceVSAvoidForce exposure to PCB

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Posts extending through the housing act as intermediary structural elements that intercept and redirect external forces applied to the footwear. These posts transfer forces to the motor or battery before they can reach the PCB, protecting the electronic components while maintaining the housing's structural integrity and motor control functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of external forces into a beneficial outcome by designing force redirection paths. When forces are applied to the footwear, the posts channel these forces through the motor or battery, which are more robust components, thereby protecting the PCB while utilizing the force transmission for structural support

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If the PCB is positioned in the housing, then motor control is enabled, but the PCB is vulnerable to flexing and impact forces

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePCB durabilityVSAvoidPCB force resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The posts serve as intermediary force transmission elements that create a protective barrier between external forces and the PCB. By extending through the housing and positioning forces against more robust components first, the posts mediate the force transmission and prevent direct impact on the PCB, enhancing durability without compromising motor control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4302626B1Autolacing footwear motor having force-directing supports

Publication Date: 2026.04.01 NIKE INNOVATE CV

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Figure 3A

AI summary

An article of footwear, motorized lacing system, and method includes a motor, a transmission, operatively coupled to the motor, a power source, operatively coupled to the motor, a lace spool, operatively coupled to the motor via the transmission, configured to spool and unspool the lace based on operation of the motor, a printed circuit board, and a housing. The housing contains the motor, the transmission, the power source, the lace spool and the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board positioned between an interior surface of the housing and at least one of the power source and the motor, wherein the interior surface includes a post that extends through a hole formed in the printed circuit board. A flexing of the interior surface causes force on the housing to be at least partially imparted on the at least one of the power source, the transmission, and the motor.