IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,268,282
Granted Patent B2
US 12,268,282 · App. 17/735,831 · Granted Apr 8, 2025

Article of footwear with a tensioning system including a guide assembly

Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers (Portland, OR); Andrew A. Owings (Portland, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A43C11/165A43B3/34A43C11/008
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,268,282
App. No.
17/735,831
Granted
Apr 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An article with an automatic tensioning system includes a lace guide assembly. The lace guide assembly includes a lower guide member and two upper guide members that include channels for routing a tensioning member. Straps of the upper are attached to the two upper guide members. As the tensioning member is pulled into a tensioning device, the two upper guide members are pulled toward the lower guide member. This pulls on the straps and acts to tighten the upper around a foot.

Claims (39)

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper forming a throat opening;

a sole structure;

a tensioning member;

a tensioning device including a reel member and a motor, the tensioning device disposed in at least one of the upper and the sole structure, wherein a portion of the tensioning member is joined to the reel member so that the tensioning member can be wound and unwound from the reel member;

a guide member, secured to the upper, configured to guide the tensioning member; and

a plurality of tightening members, secured to the guide member and to the upper, each tightening member of the plurality of tightening members extending across various portions of the throat of the upper;

wherein the tensioning member transmits tension to the tightening members by applying force to the guide member as the tensioning member is wound around the reel member.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the guide member is an elongate guide member having a first end and a second end, wherein a first tightening member of the plurality of tightening members is secured proximate the first end and a second tightening member of the plurality of tightening members is secured proximate the second end.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein the guide member comprises a channel, configured to guide the tensioning member, positioned between, at least in part, the first tightening member and the second tightening member.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein the channel is a curved channel.

5. The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein the elongate guide member is a first elongate guide member, and further comprising a second elongate guide member having a first end and a second end, wherein a third tightening member of the plurality of tightening members is secured proximate the first end and a fourth tightening member of the plurality of tightening members is secured proximate the second end.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5 , further comprising a lower guide member positioned between the first and second elongate guide members and the sole structure, wherein the lower guide member comprises a plurality of channels configured to guide the tensioning member.

7. The article of footwear of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of channels comprise: a first channel configured to direct the tensioning member from the tensioning device to the first elongate guide member; a second channel configured to direct the tensioning member from the first elongate guide member to the second elongate guide member; and a third channel configured to direct the tensioning member from the second elongate guide member to tensioning device.

8. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper forming a throat opening;

a guide member, secured to the upper, configured to guide a tensioning member; and

a plurality of tightening members, secured to the guide member and to the upper, each tightening member of the plurality of tightening members extending across various portions of the throat of the upper;

wherein the tensioning member transmits tension to the tightening members by applying force to the guide member as the tensioning member is wound around a reel member;

wherein the guide member is an elongate guide member having a first end and a second end, wherein a first tightening member of the plurality of tightening members is secured proximate the first end and a second tightening member of the plurality of tightening members is secured proximate the second end;

wherein the elongate guide member is a first elongate guide member, and further comprising a second elongate guide member having a first end and a second end, wherein a third tightening member of the plurality of tightening members is secured proximate the first end and a fourth tightening member of the plurality of tightening members is secured proximate the second end; and

further comprising a lower guide member positioned between the first and second elongate guide members and a sole structure, wherein the lower guide member comprises a plurality of channels configured to guide the tensioning member.

9. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the guide member comprises a channel, configured to guide the tensioning member, positioned between, at least in part, the first tightening member and the second tightening member.

10. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the channel is a curved channel.

11. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of channels comprise: a first channel configured to direct the tensioning member from the tensioning device to the first elongate guide member; a second channel configured to direct the tensioning member from the first elongate guide member to the second elongate guide member; and a third channel configured to direct the tensioning member from the second elongate guide member to tensioning device.

12. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper forming a throat opening;

a sole structure;

a tensioning member;

a tensioning device including a reel member and a motor, the tensioning device disposed in at least one of the upper and the sole structure, wherein a portion of the tensioning member is joined to the reel member so that the tensioning member can be wound and unwound from the reel member;

a first elongate guide member and a second elongate guide member, each secured to the upper, configured to guide the tensioning member;

a plurality of tightening members, secured to the first and second elongate guide members and to the upper, each tightening member of the plurality of tightening members extending across various portions of the throat of the upper; and

a lower guide member positioned between the first and second elongate guide members and the sole structure, wherein the lower guide member comprises a plurality of channels configured to guide the tensioning member;

wherein the first elongate guide member has a first end and a second end, wherein a first tightening member of the plurality of tightening members is secured proximate the first end and a second tightening member of the plurality of tightening members is secured proximate the second end;

wherein the second elongate guide member has a first end and a second end, wherein a third tightening member of the plurality of tightening members is secured proximate the first end and a fourth tightening member of the plurality of tightening members is secured proximate the second end; and

wherein the tensioning member transmits tension to the tightening members by applying force to the first and second elongate guide members as the tensioning member is wound around the reel member.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the first and second elongate guide members comprise a channel, configured to guide the tensioning member, positioned between, at least in part, the first tightening member and the second tightening member.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the channel is a curved channel.

15. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of channels comprise: a first channel configured to direct the tensioning member from the tensioning device to the first elongate guide member; a second channel configured to direct the tensioning member from the first elongate guide member to the second elongate guide member; and a third channel configured to direct the tensioning member from the second elongate guide member to tensioning device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: BEERS, TIFFANY A.; OWINGS, ANDREW A.
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 060867/0358 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16210120 · Dec 5, 2018
Continuation 15070164 · Mar 15, 2016
Related Publication 20220256975A1 · Aug 18, 2022
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