Tension limiting mechanisms for closure devices and methods therefor
According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing having an interior region and a spool positioned within the interior region and rotatable relative thereto. A tightening mechanism is operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the interior region of the housing. A tension member is coupled with the spool and is configured to be tensioned upon rotation of the spool via the tightening mechanism. The device also includes a tension limiting mechanism that allows the tension member to be tensioned via the tightening mechanism until a tension threshold is achieved. After the tension threshold is achieved, further operation of the tightening mechanism does not substantially tension the tension member due to the tension limiting mechanism.
1. A reel for use with a lacing system for tightening an article comprising:
a housing having an interior region;
a spool positioned within the interior region of the housing and rotatable relative thereto, the spool having an annular channel formed therein;
a knob rotatable relative to the housing and operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the interior region of the housing;
a tension member coupled with the spool so as to be tensioned by winding the tension member around the spool's annular channel upon rotation of the knob;
a tension control mechanism that is configured to enable tensioning of the tension member by rotation of the knob until a tension threshold is achieved, after which further rotation of the knob does not cause further tensioning of the tension member; and
an adjustment mechanism that is operably coupled with the tension control mechanism and that is adjustable by a user to adjust the tension threshold upon which further rotation of the knob does not cause further tensioning of the tension member.
2. The reel of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment arm or member that is rotatable by the user to adjust the tension threshold.
3. The reel of claim 1 , wherein the tension control mechanism is further configured to enable rotation of the spool within the housing's interior region upon tensioning of the tension member from a source other than the knob.
4. The reel of claim 1 , wherein the tension control mechanism comprises a non-linear clutch mechanism that transfers a rotational force from the knob to the spool until the tension threshold is achieved, and wherein the non-linear clutch mechanism allows slippage of the spool after the tension threshold is achieved to limit additional tensioning of the tension member.
5. The reel of claim 4 , wherein the non-linear clutch mechanism has a wave-like or sinusoidal shape.
6. The reel of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a spring member that biases a first component of the tension control mechanism toward a second component of the tension control mechanism, and wherein user adjustment of the adjustment mechanism comprises varying a biasing force of the spring member.
7. The reel of claim 6 , wherein the adjustment mechanism further includes a lever arm that is rotatable by the user to vary the biasing force of the spring member.
8. The reel of claim 1 , wherein the tension control mechanism comprises one or more cantilever arms that extend from a main body of the tension control mechanism and that engage with corresponding teeth of a spool driving mechanism to enable tensioning of the tension member by rotation of the knob until the tension threshold is achieved; and wherein the adjustment mechanism adjusts a flexibility of the one or more cantilever arms.
9. The reel of claim 6 , wherein the spring member is replaceable such that user adjustment of the adjustment mechanism comprises replacing the spring member with another spring member having a different spring constant.
10. The reel of claim 6 , wherein the adjustment mechanism further includes a detent, and wherein user adjustment of the adjustment mechanism comprises varying a position of the detent in relation to the spring member.
11. A reel device for tightening an article comprising:
a housing having an interior region;
a spool positioned within the interior region of the housing and rotatable relative thereto;
a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the interior region of the housing;
a tension member coupled with the spool so as to be windable about the spool, the tension member being configured to be tensioned upon rotation of the spool via the knob; and
a tension limiting mechanism that allows the tension member to be tensioned via the knob until a tension threshold is achieved, after which further operation of the knob does not substantially tension the tension member; and
an adjustment mechanism that is adjustable by a user to adjust the tension threshold.
12. The reel device of claim 11 , wherein the tension limiting mechanism is configured to allow the tension member's tension to be substantially maintained upon tensioning of the tension member from the article.
13. The reel device of claim 12 , wherein the tension limiting mechanism is disposed axially below a load holding element that allows rotation of the spool in a first direction while preventing rotation of the spool in a second direction.
14. The reel device of claim 12 , wherein the tension limiting mechanism comprises a non-linear clutch mechanism that transfers rotational forces between the tension limiting mechanism and spool until the tension threshold is achieved and that allows slippage of the spool relative to the tension limiting mechanism after the tension threshold is achieved.
15. The reel device of claim 14 , wherein the tension limiting mechanism has a wave-like or sinusoidal shape.
16. The reel device of claim 11 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment arm or member that is rotatable by the user to adjust the tension threshold.
17. The reel device of claim 11 , wherein the tension limiting mechanism is disposed axially above a load holding element that allows rotation of the spool in a first direction while preventing rotation of the spool in a second direction.
18. The reel device of claim 11 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a spring member, and wherein user adjustment of the adjustment mechanism comprises varying a biasing force of the spring member.
19. The reel device of claim 18 , wherein the spring member biases opposing wave like or sinusoidal shaped members of the tension limiting mechanism into engagement.
20. The reel device of claim 18 , wherein the adjustment mechanism further includes a lever arm that is rotatable by the user to vary the biasing force of the spring member.
21. The reel of claim 1 , wherein the tension control mechanism is further configured to allow rotation of the spool within the housing's interior region upon tensioning of the tension member from the article.
22. The reel of claim 21 , wherein the tension control mechanism comprises:
a first mechanism that enables tensioning of the tension member by rotation of the knob until the tension threshold is achieved; and
a second mechanism that enables rotation of the spool upon tensioning of the tension member from the source other than the knob.
23. The reel device of claim 11 , wherein the tension limiting mechanism is configured to allow rotation of the spool within the housing's interior region upon tensioning of the tension member from the article.