Lacing engine systems, apparatus, and methods of operation are discussed. In an example, a lacing engine apparatus can include a housing, a drivetrain, and a lace take-up mechanism for retracting a length of lace cable upon activation. The drivetrain can include various reduction gears to reduce rotational speed out of the motor and power the lace take-up mechanism. The lace take-up mechanism can include structures such as a double-yoke, a radial pulley including an outer rotating disc and an inner stationary disc, a variable take-up spool, or a zip-strip mechanism.

A device for holding onto a rope to form a loop that can be tighten about two objects. The device including a base portion having at least one hole for securing one end of the rope. A clamping portion slidably engages a plurality of posts enabling the clamping portion to slide between a clamp position and release position for securing a portion of the rope therebetween. A clamp/release mechanism provides a means to clamp and release the clamping portion onto from the posts. The clamp/release mechanism includes a plurality of levers to selectively engage a respective post to clamp the clamping portion onto the posts when in a clamp position and disengage the at least one post to release the clamping portion from the posts when in a release position.

The specification discusses various lacing engine configurations for use in an automated footwear platform. For example, lacing engines with mechanisms to detect lace cable position and/or lace cable tensions are discussed. In an example, the lacing engine can include a housing, a lace spool and a detection mechanism. The lace spool can be at least partially disposed within the housing, and be adapted to collect a portion of the lace cable in response to rotation in a first direction during tightening of the footwear platform. The detection mechanism can detect a state of the lace cable manipulated by the lacing engine.

Provided is a cord stopper for moving along a length of cord and releasably engaging the cord. The cord stopper comprises a body delimiting a channel for passing the cord through the body. A first path and a second path for the cord are defined in the channel. The first path or the second path is selectable by rotating the body relative to the cord. A cord engagement portion is provided along the first path, and a cord passing portion in the channel defines the second path. The cord engagement portion is configured to engage the cord such that movement of the cord stopper along the cord is restricted when the first path is selected. The cord passing portion is configured to permit the cord stopper to move along the length of the cord when the second path is selected. Further provided is a cord stopper assembly comprising the cord stopper and the cord. Methods of using and manufacturing the cord stopper are also provided

A directional lock or a headgear or interface assembly comprising one or more directional locks that include a catch arrangement for initiating or assisting in movement of a lock member of the direction lock. In some configurations, the catch arrangement assists movement of the lock member in only a portion of a range of travel of the lock member. In some configurations, the directional lock comprises a housing and a sleeve and the catch arrangement comprises a catch arm carried by the sleeve. The catch arm includes a catch end that contacts the lock member, which can be a lock washer in some configurations.

Lacing engine systems, apparatus, and methods of operation are discussed. In an example, a lacing engine apparatus can include a housing, a drivetrain, and a lace take-up mechanism for retracting a length of lace cable upon activation. The drivetrain can include various reduction gears to reduce rotational speed out of the motor and power the lace take-up mechanism. The lace take-up mechanism can include structures such as a double-yoke, a radial pulley including an outer rotating disc and an inner stationary disc, a variable take-up spool, or a zip-strip mechanism.

A carriage (10) for holding a clamping member (14) in a clamping device (12), the carriage (10) comprising a central portion (24) and at least one holding portion (26) for holding the clamping member (14), wherein the, or each, holding portion (26) is foldable relative to the central portion (24) between an open position of the, or each, holding portion (26) and a closed position of the, or each, holding portion (26).

A cable lockout device includes a housing receiving a cable in which the cable forms a loop external to the housing. The housing has a passageway extending therethrough through which the cable extends and has a cable gripping location positioned along the passageway. The cable lockout device further includes a locking arm rotationally coupled to the housing that actuates a cleat or cam spaced from the axis of the locking arm, which cleat or cam can be brought towards another cleat or cam in the cable gripping location (upon closure) or away from the other cleat or cam (upon opening). In a closed position of the locking arm, the locking arm is lockable relative to the body to prevent movement of the locking arm back to the opened position without first unlocking the locking arm relative to the body.

A device for locking an object suspended from a cable passing through a clamp and extending along a substantially vertical axis, the clamp includes a fixed part, at least two moving jaws, a first actuator and a second actuator, the two jaws coming into contact with the cable to immobilize the cable by clamping in a closed position and moving away from the cable in an open position, the fixed part having as many inclined surfaces as there are jaws, each of the jaws being configured to slide along one of the inclined surfaces so as to pass from the open position to the closed position, the first actuator being configured to move the jaws upward, make them slide along their respective inclined surface and allow the clamp to close, the second actuator being configured to pull downward on the cable with respect to the fixed part and allow the clamp to open.

A swageless cable terminal for gripping a cable includes an elongated terminal housing with a hollow bore, one portion of which is tapered toward one end of the housing. A set of tapered wedges positioned in the bore of the housing define a central passageway that admits a cable inserted into the housing through the one end. An inserted cable causes the set of wedges to shift in the bore of the housing and expand the passageway within the set of wedges to admit the inserted cable. When an attempt is made to withdraw the inserted cable from the one end of the terminal housing, a compliant pressing ring captured on the inserted cable urges the set of wedges into the tapered portion of the bore in gripping relationship with the cable. The inserted cable can then be secured to another object by means of the housing.