Reel Lace Coupling With Friction Locking After Lace Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional closure devices for articles like shoes fail to maintain secure fit and tension due to lace breakage, especially under harsh conditions, leading to discomfort, safety hazards, and noise during use.
Innovation Solution
A reel-based closure system with a spool and load holding mechanism that includes friction elements to maintain tension, a release mechanism for easy unwinding, and a stop member to ensure continued tension after lace breakage, along with a design that minimizes audible noise and prevents accidental opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional closure devices are used, then the article can be closed and secured, but the fit and tension are not maintained after lace breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a backup tensioning mechanism (reel assembly with spool and friction elements) that activates automatically when the primary lace fails. This pre-positioned backup system ensures continuous tension maintenance without requiring complex real-time detection or adjustment mechanisms, thus improving reliability while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reel assembly allows the lace to be wound back onto the spool after breakage or loosening, recovering the tensioning function. The friction elements engage with the spool to maintain tension during both tightening and holding phases, enabling the system to discard the failed lace configuration and recover a functional tensioned state.
2Reliability
If friction elements are used to maintain tension, then the lace remains secure, but noise is generated during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a friction element as an intermediary between the spool and the housing. This friction element provides the necessary grip to maintain lace tension while being designed to minimize noise generation through material selection and contact surface optimization, acting as a mediator between the conflicting requirements of security and quiet operation.
3Ease of operation
If a release mechanism is added for easy unwinding, then the lace can be quickly loosened, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The release mechanism is merged with the existing reel assembly structure. The friction elements and spool that were already part of the tensioning system are configured to also enable easy release through a simple rotational or pressing action, combining the tightening and releasing functions within a single integrated mechanism rather than adding separate systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively maintains shoe tightness even after lace failure, reduces noise during operation, and prevents accidental loosening, enhancing both safety and comfort in demanding conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The load holding mechanism includes a first friction element/component and a second friction element/component that are frictionally engageable to prevent rotation of the spool in a second direction opposite the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
A reel for tightening an article includes a housing and a spool positioned within the housing. A knob is coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing and thereby wind a tension member about a central post of the spool. A load holding mechanism is coupled with the spool and the housing and includes a first friction element and a second friction element that are frictionally engageable to prevent rotation of the spool in a second direction to prevent unwinding of the tension member from the spool's central post. Rotation of the knob in a first direction reduces frictional engagement of the friction elements to enable rotation of the spool in the first direction and tension in the tension member biases the spool toward rotation in the second direction which increases the frictional engagement of the friction elements.