Deformable lace guides for automated footwear platform

Abstract

Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine are discussed. In this example, the lace guide is deformable to assist in facilitating automated lace tightening. The lace guide can include a middle section, a first extension and a second extension. In this example, the lace guide can be configured to define a first route for a lace cable, the first route including receiving the lace cable along the first incoming lace axis and expelling the lace cable along the first outgoing lace axis. In this example, the lace guide can also deflect, in response to tension on the lace cable, resulting in defining a second route for the lace cable, the second route including receiving the lace cable along a second incoming lace axis and expelling the lace cable along a second outgoing lace axis.

The claimed invention includes: 
     
         1 . A lace guide comprising:
 a middle section including an internal channel curved at a first radius and dimensioned to receive a lace cable;   a first extension extending from a first end of the middle section defining a first incoming lace axis along at least a portion of the internal channel extending through the first extension, the first extension configured to receive the lace cable through a lace reception opening opposite the first end of the middle section; and   a second extension extending from a second end of the middle section defining a first outgoing lace axis along at least a portion of the internal channel extending through the second extension, the second extension configured to receive the lace cable from the middle section and route the lace cable through a lace exit opening along the first outgoing lace axis;   wherein the lace guide is configured to define a first route for a lace cable, the first route including receiving the lace cable along the first incoming lace axis and expelling the lace cable along the first outgoing lace axis;   wherein the lace guide deflects, in response to tension on the lace cable, resulting in defining a second route for the lace cable, the second route including receiving the lace cable along a second incoming lace axis and expelling the lace cable along a second outgoing lace axis.   
     
     
         2 . The lace guides of  claim 1 , wherein the lace guide in defining the first route induces a pre-tension in the lace cable. 
     
     
         3 . The lace guide of  claim 1 , wherein the lace guide includes a medial axis intersecting an apex of the middle section and aligned between the first incoming lace axis and the first outgoing lace axis;
 wherein the tension on the lace cable generates a resultant force vector aligned with the medial axis; and   wherein deflection of the lace guide is symmetric about the medial axis.   
     
     
         4 . The lace guide of  claim 1 , wherein the lace guide includes a medial axis intersecting an apex of the middle section and aligned between the first incoming lace axis and the first outgoing lace axis;
 wherein the tension on the lace cable causing deflection in the lace guide generates a resultant force vector that is not aligned with the medial axis; and   wherein the deflection of the lace guide is not symmetric about the medial axis.   
     
     
         5 . The lace guide of  claim 1 , wherein the internal channel is a tubular structure defining a cylindrical cross-section extending through at least the middle section. 
     
     
         6 . The lace guide of  claim 5 , wherein the first extension and the second extension both extend the tubular structure of the internal channel. 
     
     
         7 . The lace guide of  claim 1 , wherein the middle section includes a first modulus of elasticity, the first extension includes a second modulus of elasticity, and the second extension includes a third modulus of elasticity. 
     
     
         8 . The lace guide of  claim 7 , wherein the second modulus of elasticity is substantially the same as the third modulus of elasticity resulting in the first extension and the second extension flexing substantially the same amount in response to the tension on the lace cable being aligned with a medial axis of the lace guide. 
     
     
         9 . The lace guide of  claim 1 , wherein the internal channel is an open channel structure defining a u-shaped cross-section extending through at least the middle section. 
     
     
         10 . The lace guide of  claim 9 , wherein the first extension and the second extension both extend the open channel structure of the internal channel. 
     
     
         11 . The lace guides of  claim 10 , wherein the lace cable is loaded into the lace guide through the open channel structure of the internal channel. 
     
     
         12 . A footwear assembly comprising:
 a footwear upper including a toe box portion, a medial side, a lateral side, and a heel portion, the medial side and the lateral side each extending proximally from the toe box portion to the heel portion;   a lace cable with a first end anchored along a distal outside portion of the medial side and a second end anchored along a distal outside portion of the lateral side; and   a plurality of deformable lace guides distributed along the medial side and the lateral side, each deformable lace guide of the plurality of deformable lace guides adapted to receive a length of the lace cable, wherein each deformable lace guide forms a first shape in response to a first tension on the lace cable and a second shape in response to a second tension on the lace cable, and wherein each deformable lace guide operates to contribute to the first tension in the first shape.   
     
     
         13 . The footwear assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the second tension is greater than the first tension and the change in tension is generated by a shortening of an overall length of the lace cable. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear assembly of  claim 13 , wherein deformation from the first shape to the second shape of each deformable lace guide of the plurality of deformable lace guides operates to flatten out a cable tension versus shortening length curve. 
     
     
         15 . The footwear assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each deformable lace guide is a tubular structure having a cylindrical cross-section. 
     
     
         16 . The footwear assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each deformable lace guide of the plurality of deformable lace guides is a U-shaped lace guide including a curved middle section, a first extension extending from a first end of the middle section, and a second extension extending from a second end of the middle section. 
     
     
         17 . The footwear assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first extension, the middle section, and second extension all deform substantially uniformly in response to a change in tension from the first tension to the second tension. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first extension and the second extension deform substantially uniformly in response to a change in tension from the first tension to the second tension. 
     
     
         19 . The footwear assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the middle section exhibits negligible deformation between the first shape and the second shape in response to the change in tension. 
     
     
         20 . The footwear assembly of  claim 12 , wherein a first deformable lace guide of the plurality of deformable lace guides includes a first modulus of elasticity resulting in formation of the first shape in response to the first tension and the second shape in response to the second tension; and
 wherein a second deformable lace guide of the plurality of deformable lace guides includes a second modulus of elasticity resulting in formation of a third shape in response to the first tension and a fourth shape in response to the second tension.