It is an objective of the present invention to provide a structure for attaching a shoelace winding apparatus in which a shoelace winding apparatus can be easily and firmly attached to a shoe and can be stably operated, and maintenance, such as the replacement of parts, is also easy. The present invention pertains to a structure for attaching a shoelace winding apparatus (1). The structure is provided with: a reel (4) that winds a shoelace by being rotated by an operation handle (6); a ratchet pawl (51) that limits rotation of the reel (4); and a base member (3) including a substantially cylindrical body (31), which has one closed end and accommodates the reel (4). The base member has an inner circumferential surface including an annular gear (34) with teeth that engages with the ratchet pawl (51). The structure for attaching a shoelace winding apparatus (1) includes a base-member attachment cover (9). and a flange portion (92). The cover (9) includes a substantially cylindrical cover portion (91) with a closed end. The cover portion (91) is allowed to secure the base member such that the base member is directly attachable and detachable from an outside of an upper section and held in the cover portion (91). The flange portion (92) protrudes from the circumference of the cover portion (91) and conforms to the shape of the shoe.

According to an embodiment, a method of assembling a reel includes coupling a drive component with a tightening component and coupling the tightening component with a top end of a housing. A spool component is then inserted within a bottom end of the housing so that the spool component is positioned within the housing's interior region and faces a bottom surface of the drive component. An attachment component is then coupled with the bottom end of the housing. The attachment component includes a coupling member that couples with the drive component. Coupling of the coupling member with the drive component operationally couples the drive component and the spool component so that operation of the tightening component causes the spool component to rotate within the housing in a first direction while preventing rotation of the spool component in a second direction.

A lace closure system may include a low friction guide that defines the turning radius and direction of a lace which, though tension, pulls two or more panels toward each other. The lace closure system may include a fixator that defines a slot into which the lace is led, containing multiple engagement surfaces that, when the lace is wrapped into the slot, serve to engage the lace preventing unwanted loosening. The lace closure system may include a ring onto which the lace is attached, to assist in applying manual tension to the lace. The ring may be shaped and sized to removably attach to an outer perimeter of the fixator after excess lace has been wrapped into the slot.

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 lace tensioning device includes a housing component having an interior region, a first aperture, and a second aperture, and a spool component that is rotatably positionable within the interior region of the housing component. The spool component has a central cylindrical member and a lumen that extends through the central cylindrical portion. The spool component is rotatable within the interior region of the housing component to align one end of the lumen with the first aperture and to align an opposite end of the lumen with the second aperture to enable a lace to be inserted through the first aperture, the lumen, and the second aperture so that opposing ends of the lace are positioned exterior to the housing component. A knot may then be tied in the lace and the lace retracted to couple the lace with the housing component and spool component.

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.

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 lace tensioning device includes a housing component having an interior region, a first aperture, and a second aperture, and a spool component that is rotatably positionable within the interior region of the housing component. The spool component has a central cylindrical member and a lumen that extends through the central cylindrical portion. The spool component is rotatable within the interior region of the housing component to align one end of the lumen with the first aperture and to align an opposite end of the lumen with the second aperture to enable a lace to be inserted through the first aperture, the lumen, and the second aperture so that opposing ends of the lace are positioned exterior to the housing component. A knot may then be tied in the lace and the lace retracted to couple the lace with the housing component and spool component.

Provided is an apparatus for tightening wire, comprising: a housing (10); a spool (20) mounted to the housing to wind a wire; a winder (30) that engages with the spool to wind the wire or disengages from the same to unwind the wire; a ratchet (40) that allows axial rotation in one direction in which the wire is tightened; a spiral cam (50) where the winder and the ratchet are mounted; and a dial (60) mounted to the spiral cam to axially rotate the winder. The apparatus provides an engagement and disengagement structure that allows the spool and the winder to engage or disengage, so that, by forward and backward rotations, only the wire is wound when the spool and the winder engage and the wire is unwound when the spool and the winder disengage, thereby allowing the winding and unwinding of the wire by simple forward and backward rotating operation.

A lace tensioning device includes a housing component having an interior region, a first aperture, and a second aperture, and a spool component that is rotatably positionable within the interior region of the housing component. The spool component has a central cylindrical member and a lumen that extends through the central cylindrical portion. The spool component is rotatable within the interior region of the housing component to align one end of the lumen with the first aperture and to align an opposite end of the lumen with the second aperture to enable a lace to be inserted through the first aperture, the lumen, and the second aperture so that opposing ends of the lace are positioned exterior to the housing component. A knot may then be tied in the lace and the lace retracted to couple the lace with the housing component and spool component.