B65H75/4428

REINFORCED SPOOL ASSEMBLY
20230053255 · 2023-02-16 ·

A reinforced spool assembly has a shaft, a spool member coaxially mounted around the shaft, and two ratchets mounted on two axial ends of a combination of the shaft and the spool member. Each one of two ratchets has a body having an inner surface. The two inner surfaces of the two bodies face each other. In each one of the ratchets, the body has a reinforced supporting structure. The reinforced supporting structure is located between the shaft and the spool member and is offset from the inner surface of the body. A reference plane is defined on and extends along the inner surface of the body, is perpendicular to a central axis of the shaft, and passes through the reinforced supporting structure. Mechanical strength of the reinforced spool assembly is increased by the reinforced supporting structure.

Automated footwear lacing systems, devices, and techniques
11707115 · 2023-07-25 · ·

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.

WEB RETRACTOR WITH SIDE, TOP OR BOTTOM WEB EXIT
20230025300 · 2023-01-26 ·

A web retractor may include a frame with spaced-apart first and second side walls and a bottom wall coupling together the side walls, the frame defining an opening through the first side wall, the second side wall or the bottom wall, a spool rotatably mounted to and between the first and second side walls and spaced apart from the opening, a web having one end mounted to the spool, the spool being rotatable to take up and pay out at least some of the web, and a web deflector mounted to at least one of the first side wall, the second sidewall and the bottom wall and positioned between the spool and the opening, the web deflector configured to guide the web from the spool out of the web retractor through the opening and to guide the web into the retractor and to the spool through the opening.

Automated footwear lacing systems, devices, and techniques
11559108 · 2023-01-24 · ·

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.

SPOOL ENCLOSURE FOR A TERMINAL

A cable spool module for a terminal module includes a skirt, a cable spool and a retention member. The cable spool may include a lower flange, an upper flange and a barrel disposed between the lower and upper flanges. The retention member may be configured to couple a terminal module to the cable spool. The skirt may be configured to be removed from the lower flange to permit access to the cable spool and the slack fiber optic cable wound on the cable spool.

REDUCED SIZED WEARABLE RETRACTABLE
20220381299 · 2022-12-01 ·

A swivel connector for a retractable assembly comprises a body defining a hollow portion, an indicator block received within the hollow portion of the body and sized to be movable within the body, a support upon which the indicator block rests, the support being movable relative to the body, and a yoke to which a lifeline can be connected, the yoke being connected to the support. The yoke and support move relative to the hollow portion of the body in unison, such that movement of the yoke and body relative to each other will cause the indicator block to move relative to the body between a first position and a second position, and wherein the indicator block is visible when in at least one of said first and second positions, to indicate that the retractable has been subject to a fall.

Fish tape assembly

A fish tape tool includes a housing and a chamber defined in the housing. A drum is configured to be inserted into the chamber of the housing. The drum contains a fish tape. The drum is rotatable relative to the housing to dispense or retract the fish tape from the housing. The drum is one of a plurality of drums that are insertable into and removable from the chamber of the housing. Each drum contains a different type of fish tape.

Seat cable adjustment system and method
11572177 · 2023-02-07 · ·

A seat assembly within an internal cabin of a vehicle includes an electrical interface housing that contains a first portion of a cable that is configured to provide one or both of electrical power or electrical signals to one or more electrical components. A cable reel rotatably coupled to a body of the electrical interface housing. The cable reel is configured to rotate about an axis. The first portion of the cable includes an adjustable coil that is coiled around the cable reel. The cable reel is rotatable in a first direction to deploy the first portion of the cable outwardly from the electrical interface housing and a second direction to retract the first portion of the cable inwardly into the electrical interface housing.

TENSION BRAKE
20230090904 · 2023-03-23 ·

A tension brake assembly includes a frame, a plurality of brake pad assemblies, and a hub configured to be coupled to a rotating component. The hub includes a plurality of drive pins adjacent an annular wall. A rotor engages the plurality of drive pins such that rotation of the hub causes rotation of the rotor while permitting axial movement relative to the annular wall. The rotor has friction surfaces for engagement with the brake pad assemblies. An actuator is provided. Movement of the actuator in a first direction moves the friction components together in the axial direction to increase friction exerted by the tension brake assembly. Movement of the actuator in a second direction moves the friction components away from one another in the axial direction to decrease friction exerted by the tension brake assembly.

DIGITAL CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADAPTIVE APPAREL

A control system for use within an adaptive support garment is discussed herein. The control system can include a lace spool, a ratchet mechanism, an actuator, and a control circuit. The lace spool can include a lace groove adapted to accumulate a portion of a lace cable coupled to a support structure within the adaptive support garment. The ratchet mechanism can be configured to control rotation of the lace spool during operation of the control system. The actuator can be adapted to control engagement of the ratchet mechanism. The control circuit electrically can be coupled to the actuator and can be configured to operate the actuator to engage or disengage the ratchet mechanism. In operation, rotation of the lace spool controls an effective length of the lace cable to provide adaptive support.