Footwear Lacing Engine With Planetary Spool for Serviceable Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorized lacing systems for footwear face challenges such as high cost, complexity, and poor serviceability, making them unsuitable for mass production and daily use, while non-motorized systems struggle to provide sufficient performance without compromising comfort.
Innovation Solution
A modular footwear platform with interchangeable motorized and non-motorized lacing engines, incorporating unique design elements like a mid-sole plate that allows for late assembly and integration of various lacing engines, including foot presence sensing and planetary gear trains, to enable efficient and comfortable lacing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If motorized lacing systems are implemented, then lacing automation and performance are improved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex motorized systems with a simplified mechanical lacing engine that uses a spool and reel mechanism. This mechanical substitution eliminates motors, batteries, and electronic controls while achieving automated lacing through pure mechanical advantage, directly resolving the contradiction between automation and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the motorized components (motors, batteries, electronics) from the lacing system, retaining only the essential mechanical elements needed for lacing functionality. This extraction reduces complexity while preserving the core automated lacing capability through mechanical means
2Extent of automation
If motorized lacing systems are implemented, then lacing automation is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive mechanical components such as spools, reels, and laces that can be easily manufactured and replaced. These simple mechanical parts are far cheaper than motorized systems, enabling mass production while maintaining automated lacing functionality
Solution Approach 2:
By substituting expensive motorized systems with simple mechanical components, the patent dramatically reduces manufacturing costs. The mechanical lacing engine uses basic elements like spools and tension members that are inexpensive to produce at scale
3Extent of automation
If motorized lacing systems are implemented, then lacing automation is improved, but serviceability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lacing system into modular, easily replaceable components including the spool, reel, laces, and tension members. This segmentation allows individual parts to be serviced or replaced independently without affecting the entire system, greatly improving serviceability compared to integrated motorized systems
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical design allows users to easily service and maintain the system themselves through simple operations like replacing laces or adjusting the spool mechanism, without requiring specialized technical knowledge or tools needed for motorized 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 modular design addresses the challenges of cost, complexity, and serviceability, enabling efficient and comfortable lacing while allowing for interchangeable engines to suit different performance needs, from casual to high-performance footwear.
Implementation Method 1
The drivetrain can include a motor, a sun gear, a planet gear, a rotating ring gear, and a spool
Data Source
AI summary
In an example, a lacing engine apparatus can include a housing and a drivetrain. The housing can be securable within a footwear article. The drivetrain can include a motor, a sun gear, a planet gear, a rotating ring gear, and a spool. The spool can be secured to the ring gear and can be rotatable therewith. The spool can be configured to control a lace of the footwear article and can be configured to wind the lace as the ring gear rotates in a first direction.