Reel based closure system
Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.
1. A reel based closure system, comprising:
a housing, comprising an outer housing wall that defines an interior region;
a spool rotatably positioned within the interior region of the housing, the spool comprising:
an upper flange;
an annular channel that receives a tension member as the spool rotates within the interior region of the housing, wherein as the spool rotates in a first direction within the interior region of the housing, the tension member winds about the channel, and wherein as the spool rotates in a second direction within the interior region of the housing, the tension member unwinds from about the channel;
a knob coupled with the housing and operationally coupled with the spool so that the knob is rotatable about the housing and so that a rotation of the knob causes the spool to rotate within the housing in the first direction;
a pawl component positioned axially above the spool and operationally coupled to the knob and the spool, the pawl component comprising at least one pawl member that is engageable to allow the spool to rotate in the first direction within the interior region of the housing and to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction in response to tension being applied to the tension member;
wherein the at least one pawl member is oriented axially relative to an axis of the housing.
2. The reel based closure device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pawl member is axially engageable with axially oriented teeth that are coupled with the housing.
3. The reel based closure device of claim 2 , wherein the axially oriented teeth are formed on an upper surface of the outer housing wall.
4. The reel based closure device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one pawl member and the axially oriented teeth are configured so that the at least one pawl member deflects axially relative to the housing as the knob is rotated in the first direction.
5. The reel based closure device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pawl member comprises a cantilever beam that includes a single tooth at a distal end thereof.
6. The reel based closure device of claim 1 , wherein the pawl component is integrally mounted with the knob.
7. The reel based closure device of claim 6 , wherein the at least one pawl member is further configured to allow the spool to rotate in the second direction within the housing upon an axial movement of the knob relative to the housing or upon a rotation of the knob in the second direction.
8. The reel based closure device of claim 1 , wherein the pawl component includes a plurality of axially oriented teeth that are engageable with axially oriented teeth that are coupled to the upper flange of the spool.
9. A reel based closure device, comprising:
a housing;
a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, the spool being configured so that a tension member is windable about the spool as the spool rotates within the housing in a first direction and so that the tension member unwinds from about the spool as the spool rotates within the housing in a second direction;
a knob coupled with the housing and operationally coupled with the spool so that the knob is rotatable about the housing and so that a rotation of the knob causes the spool to rotate within the housing in the first direction;
a pawl component positioned axially above the spool and operationally coupled to the knob and the spool, the pawl component comprising at least one pawl member that is configured to allow the spool to rotate in the first direction within the housing and to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction within the housing in response to tension being applied to the tension member;
wherein the at least one pawl member is oriented axially relative to an axis of the housing.
10. The reel based closure device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one pawl member is axially engageable with axially oriented teeth that are coupled with the housing.
11. The reel based closure device of claim 10 , wherein the axially oriented teeth are formed on an upper surface of an outer wall of the housing.
12. The reel based closure device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one pawl member and the axially oriented teeth are configured so that the at least one pawl member deflects axially relative to the housing as the knob is rotated in the first direction.
13. The reel based closure device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one pawl member comprises a cantilever beam that includes a single tooth at a distal end thereof.
14. The reel based closure device of claim 9 , wherein the pawl component is integrally mounted with the knob.
15. The reel based closure device of claim 9 , wherein the pawl component includes a plurality of axially oriented teeth that are engageable with axially oriented teeth that are coupled to an upper surface of the spool.
16. The reel based closure device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one pawl member is further configured to allow the spool to rotate in the second direction within the housing upon an axial movement of the knob relative to the housing or upon a rotation of the knob in the second direction.
17. The reel based closure device of claim 16 , wherein the knob is rotatable incrementally in the second direction to incrementally decrease tension in the tension member.
18. A reel based closure device, comprising:
a housing having an outer housing wall and a plurality of axially oriented teeth coupled with an upper surface of the outer housing wall;
a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, the spool being configured so that a tension member is windable about the spool as the spool rotates within the housing in a first direction and so that the tension member unwinds from about the spool as the spool rotates within the housing in a second direction;
a knob rotatably coupled with the housing and operationally coupled with the spool so that an operation of the knob causes the spool to rotate within the housing in the first direction;
a pawl component operationally coupled to the knob and the spool, the pawl component comprising a plurality of axially oriented pawl members that are engageable with the axially oriented teeth to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction within the housing in response to tension being applied to the tension member, the plurality of axially oriented pawl members being further configured to axially deflect upon the operation of the knob to allow the spool to rotate in the first direction within the housing.
19. The reel based closure device of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of axially oriented pawl members are disengageable with the axially oriented teeth upon an axial movement of the knob relative to the housing or upon a rotation of the knob in the second direction, and wherein disengagement of the plurality of axially oriented pawl members and the axially oriented teeth allows the spool to rotate in the second direction within the housing.
20. The reel based closure device of claim 19 , wherein the knob is rotatable incrementally in the second direction to incrementally decrease tension in the tension member.