Tensioning system and reel member for footwear

Abstract

A tensioning system for an article of footwear includes a motor, a reel member in communication with the motor, and a lace, the reel member comprising a shaft including a central axis running from a first end to a second end and at least three flanges disposed along the shaft. A center flange of the at least three flanges includes an aperture extending through the center flange from a first face to a second face of the center flange, the aperture aligned with the central axis. A portion of the lace extends through the aperture in the center flange to interconnect the lace with the reel member and the lace is configured to be wound around portions of the shaft disposed on opposite sides of the center flange when the tensioning system is in a tightened condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reel member for receiving a portion of a lace, the reel member comprising:
 a shaft extending along a central axis;   three flanges disposed along the shaft, the three flanges including a center flange positioned equidistance from each of the other three flanges, the center flange including an aperture extending parallel the central axis through a sidewall portion of the center flange; and   a central portion of the lace extending through the aperture;   wherein the central flange is configured to direct the lace to opposite sides of the center flange upon rotation of the shaft about the central axis.   
     
     
         2 . The reel member of  claim 1 , wherein equal portions of lace are disposed on opposite sides of the center flange when the shaft is rotated in a first direction to shorten an effective length of the lace. 
     
     
         3 . The reel member of  claim 1 , wherein equal portions of lace are unwound from opposite sides of the center flange when the shaft is rotated in a second direction to lengthen an effective length of the lace. 
     
     
         4 . The reel member of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is chamfered around a circumference of the aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The reel member of  claim 1 , wherein the central portion of the lace is configured to slide through the aperture to adjust tension in different portions of the tensioning system. 
     
     
         6 . The reel member of  claim 5 , wherein the central portion of the lace is slid through the aperture to adjust an amount of a first portion of the lace that is associated with a midfoot region of an article of footwear and to adjust an amount of a second portion of the lace that is associated with a forefoot region of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         7 . The reel member of  claim 1 , wherein the three flanges include a first end flange, the center flange, and a second end flange; and
 wherein the center flange is located on the shaft between the first end flange and the second end flange.   
     
     
         8 . The reel member of  claim 7 , wherein a first portion of the lace is wound on a first shaft section disposed between the first end flange and the center flange when the shaft is rotated to shorten the lace extending out of the reel member; and
 wherein a second portion of lace is wound on a second shaft section disposed between the second end flange and the center flange when the shaft is rotated to shorten the lace extending out of the reel member.   
     
     
         9 . A reel member for a tensioning system of an article of footwear, the reel member comprising:
 a shaft including a central axis running from a first end to a second end; and   at least one flange, including a first face opposite a second face, extending radially outward from the shaft;   wherein the at least one flange includes an aperture extending through the flange from the first face to the second face aligned with the central axis, and the aperture is configured to receive a middle portion of a lace.   
     
     
         10 . The reel member of  claim 9 , further comprising at least three flanges; and
 wherein a center flange of the at least three flanges includes the aperture.   
     
     
         11 . The reel member of  claim 9 , further comprising a first end and a second end disposed at opposite ends along the central axis of the reel member; and
 wherein the reel member includes a screw disposed at the second end.   
     
     
         12 . The reel member of  claim 11 , wherein the screw is configured to receive a gear in communication with a motor of a tensioning system to rotate the reel member about the central axis. 
     
     
         13 . The reel member of  claim 9 , wherein the shaft includes a first portion extending from the first face and a second portion extending from the second face, and wherein the first portion receives a first length of lace and the second portion receives second length of lace upon rotation of the shaft. 
     
     
         14 . A reel apparatus comprising:
 a shaft including a central axis running from a first end to a second end along the central axis; and   a flange, including a first face opposite a second face and an aperture extending parallel to the central axis through the flange, disposed along the shaft with the shaft running through a center of the flange from the first face to the second face;   wherein the shaft includes a first portion extending from the first face and a second portion extending from the second face, and   wherein the aperture is adapted to receive a middle portion of a lace, and wherein the first portion and the second portion are adapted to receive portions of the lace concurrently upon rotation of the reel apparatus about the central axis.   
     
     
         15 . The reel apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the reel apparatus rotates about the central axis in a first rotational direction to wind the lace to shorten an effective length of the lace. 
     
     
         16 . The reel apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the reel apparatus rotates about the central axis in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction to unwind the lace to lengthen an effective length of the lace. 
     
     
         17 . The reel apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein rotation in at least one of the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction is performed using a motor coupled to the shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The reel apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein rotation in the second rotational direction is performed by applying tension to the lace while the shaft is free to rotate. 
     
     
         19 . The reel apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the flange extends radially outward from the shaft; and
 wherein the aperture is spaced apart from the shaft.   
     
     
         20 . The reel apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the aperture is located adjacent to a perimeter edge of the flange.