IP Library Granted Patent US 12,414,599
Granted Patent B2
US 12,414,599 · App. 18/444,515 · Granted Sep 16, 2025

Lace adjuster assembly including feedback assembly for use in visualizing and measuring athletic performance

Inventor: Jonathan Nussbaum (Miami Beach, FL)
Assignee: LACECLIP LLC
A43B3/34A43C1/06A43C7/00A43C7/08A45F5/02G01P15/18G03B29/00A45F2005/023
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,414,599
App. No.
18/444,515
Granted
Sep 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lace adjuster system for selectively adjusting shoelaces ( 12 ) of shoes ( 10 A, 10 B) of a user, including a first lace adjuster assembly ( 13 ) for use with the first shoe ( 10 A) and a second lace adjuster assembly ( 13 ) for use with the second shoe ( 10 B). Each lace adjuster assembly ( 13 ) includes (i) a lace adjuster ( 14 ); and (ii) a feedback assembly ( 15 ) that is mechanically coupled to the lace adjuster ( 14 ), the feedback assembly ( 15 ) selectively measuring statistical data of the user during an athletic performance, the feedback assembly ( 15 ) including a sensor assembly ( 216 ) that senses a performance characteristic of the user during the athletic performance; and a controller ( 360 ) that receives the performance characteristic and generates a statistical data point that is based at least in part on the performance characteristic. The statistical data points can be combined to generate a combined statistical data point having enhanced accuracy.

Claims (33)

1. A lace adjuster system that is adapted to selectively adjust a first shoelace of a first shoe of a user and to selectively adjust a second shoelace of a second shoe of the user, the lace adjuster system comprising:

a first lace adjuster assembly including (i) a first lace adjuster that is adapted to selectively adjust the first shoelace of the first shoe of the user; and (ii) a first feedback assembly that is mechanically coupled to the first lace adjuster, the first feedback assembly measuring statistical data of the user during an athletic performance, the first feedback assembly including a first sensor assembly including a first performance sensor that is mechanically coupled to the first lace adjuster and that senses a first performance characteristic of the user during the athletic performance; and a first controller that is electrically coupled to the first performance sensor, the first controller including a first processor, the first controller receiving the first performance characteristic from the first performance sensor and generating a first statistical data point that is based at least in part on the first performance characteristic; and

a second lace adjuster assembly including (i) a second lace adjuster that is adapted to selectively adjust the second shoelace of the second shoe of the user; and (ii) a second feedback assembly that is mechanically coupled to the second lace adjuster, the second feedback assembly measuring statistical data of the user during the athletic performance, the second feedback assembly including a second sensor assembly including a second performance sensor that is mechanically coupled to the second lace adjuster and that senses a second performance characteristic of the user during the athletic performance; and a second controller that is electrically coupled to the second performance sensor, the second controller including a second processor, the second controller receiving the second performance characteristic from the second performance sensor and generating a second statistical data point that is based at least in part on the second performance characteristic.

2. The lace adjuster system of claim 1 wherein the first controller is the same as the second controller.

3. The lace adjuster of claim 1 wherein the first controller and the second controller are each within a remote device.

4. The lace adjuster system of claim 1 wherein the first statistical data point and the second statistical data point are combined by one of the first controller and the second controller to generate a combined statistical data point having enhanced accuracy relative to the first statistical data point and the second statistical data point.

5. The lace adjuster system of claim 4 wherein the first feedback assembly further includes a first storage device for storing the combined statistical data point.

6. The lace adjuster system of claim 5 wherein the first storage device is mechanically coupled to the first lace adjuster; and wherein the first sensor assembly further includes a first transmitter for transmitting the combined statistical data point from the first storage device to a remote device.

7. The lace adjuster system of claim 6 wherein the first transmitter transmits the combined statistical data point from the first storage device to the remote device via a wireless connection.

8. The lace adjuster system of claim 6 wherein the first transmitter transmits the combined statistical data point from the first storage device to the remote device via a wired connection.

9. The lace adjuster system of claim 1 wherein the first performance sensor senses one or more of a horizontal movement, a vertical movement and an angular movement of the user during the athletic performance.

10. The lace adjuster system of claim 9 wherein the first performance sensor is one of a two-axis accelerometer, a three-axis accelerometer, and a three-axis gyrometer.

11. The lace adjuster system of claim 9 wherein the first performance sensor includes a first magnetometer that measures a magnitude and direction of magnetic fields at a point in space in relation to a position of the user during the athletic performance.

12. The lace adjuster system of claim 9 wherein the second performance sensor senses the one or more of a horizontal movement, a vertical movement and an angular movement of the user during the athletic performance.

13. The lace adjuster system of claim 12 wherein the second performance sensor is the one of a two-axis accelerometer, a three-axis accelerometer, and a three-axis gyrometer.

14. The lace adjuster system of claim 12 wherein the second performance sensor includes a second magnetometer that measures a magnitude and direction of magnetic fields at a point in space in relation to a position of the user during the athletic performance.

15. The lace adjuster system of claim 1 wherein the first feedback assembly further includes a first image capturing assembly that captures a first image of the user during the athletic performance.

16. The lace adjuster system of claim 15 wherein the second feedback assembly further includes a second image capturing assembly that captures a second image of the user during the athletic performance.

17. The lace adjuster system of claim 1 wherein the first sensor assembly further includes a first locational sensor for providing precise locational information of the user; and wherein the locational information from the first locational sensor is wirelessly transmitted to a remote device.

18. The lace adjuster system of claim 17 wherein the second sensor assembly further includes a second locational sensor for providing precise locational information of the user; and wherein the locational information from the second locational sensor is wirelessly transmitted to the remote device.

19. The lace adjuster system of claim 1 wherein the first lace adjuster includes (i) a body assembly having a first body member and a second body member that is coupled to the first body member, the body assembly defining a cavity, and (ii) a lace end retainer that is connected to the body assembly, the lace end retainer being configured to selectively retain at least a portion of the shoelace, the lace adjuster being selectively movable between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration, wherein the shoelace is adjustable relative to the lace adjuster when the lace adjuster is in the unlocked configuration, and wherein the shoelace is resiliently retained by the lace adjuster and is inhibited from being adjusted relative to the lace adjuster when the lace adjuster is in the locked configuration; and wherein the first performance sensor is positioned within the cavity.

20. A lace adjuster system that is adapted to selectively adjust a first shoelace of a first shoe of a user and to selectively adjust a second shoelace of a second shoe of the user, the lace adjuster system comprising:

a first lace adjuster assembly including (i) a first lace adjuster that is adapted to selectively adjust the first shoelace of the first shoe of the user; and (ii) a first feedback assembly that is mechanically coupled to the first lace adjuster, the first feedback assembly measuring statistical data of the user during an athletic performance, the first feedback assembly including a first sensor assembly including a first performance sensor that is mechanically coupled to the first lace adjuster and that senses a first performance characteristic of the user during the athletic performance; and a first controller that is electrically coupled to the first performance sensor, the first controller including a first processor, the first controller receiving the first performance characteristic from the first performance sensor and generating a first statistical data point that is based at least in part on the first performance characteristic; and

a second lace adjuster assembly including (i) a second lace adjuster that is adapted to selectively adjust the second shoelace of the second shoe of the user; and (ii) a second feedback assembly that is mechanically coupled to the second lace adjuster, the second feedback assembly measuring statistical data of the user during the athletic performance, the second feedback assembly including a second sensor assembly including a second performance sensor that is mechanically coupled to the second lace adjuster and that senses a second performance characteristic of the user during the athletic performance; and a second controller that is electrically coupled to the second performance sensor, the second controller including a second processor, the second controller receiving the second performance characteristic from the second performance sensor and generating a second statistical data point that is based at least in part on the second performance characteristic;

wherein the first statistical data point and the second statistical data point are combined by one of the first controller and the second controller to generate a combined statistical data point having enhanced accuracy relative to the first statistical data point and the second statistical data point;

wherein the first feedback assembly further includes a first storage device for storing the combined statistical data point;

wherein the first storage device is mechanically coupled to the first lace adjuster, the first sensor assembly further including a first transmitter for transmitting the combined statistical data point from the first storage device to a remote device;

wherein the first performance sensor senses one or more of a horizontal movement, a vertical movement and an angular movement of the user during the athletic performance;

wherein the second performance sensor senses the one or more of a horizontal movement, a vertical movement and an angular movement of the user during the athletic performance;

wherein the first feedback assembly includes a first image capturing assembly that captures a first image of the user during the athletic performance;

wherein the second feedback assembly includes a second image capturing assembly that captures a second image of the user during the athletic performance;

wherein the first sensor assembly further includes a first locational sensor for providing precise locational information of the user, the locational information from the first locational sensor being wirelessly transmitted to a remote device; and

wherein the second sensor assembly further includes a second locational sensor for providing precise locational information of the user, the locational information from the second locational sensor being wirelessly transmitted to the remote device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 9, 2024
From: NUSSBAUM, JONATHAN
To: LACECLIP LLC
Reel/Frame 067365/0052 →
Continuity (10)
Continuation In Part 18110817 · Feb 16, 2023
Continuation In Part 17354655 · Jun 22, 2021
Continuation 16690908 · Nov 21, 2019
Continuation 15301946
Provisional Application 63446546 · Feb 17, 2023
Provisional Application 63042401 · Jun 22, 2020
Provisional Application 62043822 · Aug 29, 2014
Provisional Application 62018194 · Jun 27, 2014
Provisional Application 61979491 · Apr 14, 2014
Related Publication 20240277105A1 · Aug 22, 2024
References Cited (117)
US 1879475A · Poon · 1932 [cited by examiner]
US 4622723A · Krauss · 1986 [cited by examiner]
US 5029371A · Rosenblood · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5345657A · Shimizu · 1994 [cited by examiner]
US 5649340A · Ida · 1997 [cited by examiner]
US 5899963A · Hutchings · 1999 [cited by examiner]
US 6876947B1 · Darley · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 7255468B2 · Capriola · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 7404263B2 · Guzman · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7596891B2 · Carnes · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 7695154B2 · Ellenburg · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 7722219B2 · Hartley · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 7908774B2 · Mirza · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 7927253B2 · Vincent · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 8172722B2 · Molyneux · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 8181320B2 · Wolfberg · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 8231506B2 · Molyneux · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 8360904B2 · Oleson · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US D689495S · Bentley et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US D694842S · Bentley et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8613676B2 · Bentley · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8628453B2 · Balakrishnan · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 8700354B1 · Bentley et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8702430B2 · Dibenedetto · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 8702516B2 · Bentley · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US D706654S · Bentley et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8739639B2 · Owings · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 8769836B2 · Donovan · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 8827824B2 · Bentley et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8903521B2 · Goree et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8904605B2 · Kawaguchi · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 8905855B2 · Fitzpatrick et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8913134B2 · Goree et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8941723B2 · Bentley · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 8944928B2 · Kaps et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8994826B2 · Bentley · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 9017296B2 · Beck · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 9028337B2 · Bentley · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9039527B2 · Bentley et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9301569B2 · Donovan · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 9542706B2 · Case, Jr. · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 9642415B2 · Pease · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9743861B2 · Giedwoyn · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 9763489B2 · Amos · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 9928878B2 · Anderson · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10238166B2 · Rosenbaum · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10363453B2 · Fitzgerald · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 10409961B2 · Flaherty · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10512304B2 · Nussbaum · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 10595581B2 · Nussbaum · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 10667580B2 · Kovach et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10926133B2 · Giedwoyn · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 10983945B2 · Molettiere · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11060926B2 · Reif · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11510462B2 · Yun · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 11603905B2 · Perrier · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 11662359B2 · Kolen · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 11684111B2 · Henrichot · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 11937666B2 · Nussbaum · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20020152645A1 · Darley et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20040221433A1 · Wolfberg · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 20050268436A1 · Yoshiguchi · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 20070166024A1 · Robinson · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070260421A1 · Berner, Jr. · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20080115334A1 · Chen · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20090223085A1 · Wolfberg · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090293313A1 · Bruce et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20110016680A1 · Chang · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20110178720A1 · Bamburg et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110251822A1 · Darley et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120088544A1 · Bentley et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120215474A1 · Bentley et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130008058A1 · Jasmine · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20130095941A1 · Bentley et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130117975A1 · Herrera · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130128022A1 · Bose et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130185003A1 · Carbeck · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20130211774A1 · Bentley et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140085465A1 · Angermann · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20140376876A1 · Bentley et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150059136A1 · Schreiner · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20150154452A1 · Bentley et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20170241797A1 · Kong et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20200008745A1 · Burch, V · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200375470A1 · Fu · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20210012877A1 · Aragones et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210014582A1 · Case, Jr. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210315315A1 · Nussbaum · 2021 [cited by applicant]
CN 101185535A1 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
CN 101367011A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009050699A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014504943A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
KR 20010065023A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2013010171A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2013184672A2 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2014036374A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2015191157 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2015191157A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion, PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2024/016203, dated Jun. 26, 2024, issued by International Search Authority US. [cited by applicant]
Decision on Application issued on Oct. 17, 2023, by the China National Intellectual Property Administration, in CNIPA Application Serial No. 2021111964284. Informal English translation with redactions provided. [cited by applicant]
The International Search Report and Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, dated Jul. 20, 2015, FlyClip LLC, PCT/US15/25763. (related application). [cited by applicant]
The International Preliminary Report on Patentability, dated Oct. 18, 2016, FlyClip LLC, PCT/US15/25763. (related application). [cited by applicant]
“Beyond Fitbit: Sensors track hang time, vertical leaps”, San Diego Union Tribune Newspaper Article by Mike Freeman dated Jun. 17, 2015, pp. 1-3. [cited by applicant]
Supplementary European Search Report from the European Patent Office, U.S. Appl. No. 15/301,946, dated Oct. 16, 2017. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued on Feb. 17, 2018 by the State Intellectual Property Office of China in Application No. 2015800318712 (this Chinese application is related to the instant U.S. Application and both claim priority from… [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued on Oct. 17, 2018 by the State Intellectual Property Office of China in Application No. 2015800318712 (this Chinese application is related to the instant U.S. Application and both claim priority from… [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued on Oct. 15, 2018 by the European Patent Office in Application No. 15806231.5 (this EPO application is related to the instant U.S. Application and both claim priority from PCT application PCT/US2015/… [cited by applicant]
Response to Office Action filed on Feb. 14, 2019 with the European Patent Office in Application No. 15806231.5 (this EPO application is related to the instant U.S. Application and both claim priority from PCT applicatio… [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued on Mar. 4, 2019 by the Australian Intellectual Property Office in Application No. 2015272024 (this Australian application is related to the instant U.S. Application and both claim priority from PCT … [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued on Mar. 26, 2019 by the Japan Patent Office in Application No. 2016-562003 (this Japanese application is related to the instant U.S. Application and both claim priority from PCT application PCT/US20… [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued on Oct. 29, 2019 by the Japan Patent Office in Application No. 2016-562003 (this Japanese application is related to the instant U.S. Application). [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued by the U.S. Patent Office in U.S. Appl. No. 17/354,655 dated Feb. 21, 2023. [cited by applicant]
First Office Action issued by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office on Apr. 1, 2020, in Canadian Patent Application No. 2,945,792. (This application is related to U.S. Appl. No. 16/690,908). [cited by applicant]
Office Action from the State Intellectual Property Office—China, in Application No. 2015800318712, dated Apr. 1, 2021. (This application is related to U.S. Appl. No. 16/690,908). [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion, issued by European Patent Office, in Application No. PCT/2021/038485, dated Oct. 12, 2021. (Related matter). [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued by the China Intellectual Property Administration, on Nov. 30, 2022, in Chinese Patent Application No. 2021111964284. (Related matter). [cited by applicant]
Notification Concerning Transmittal of International Preliminary Report on Patentability issued by the International Bureau on Jan. 5, 2023, in PCT patent application serial No. PCT/US2021/038485. (Related matter). [cited by applicant]