Autolacing footwear having an elongate spool

Abstract

An article of footwear and related method includes a midsole, an upper secured with respect to the midsole and forming a throat, and a plurality of laces extending across the throat of the upper. A motorized lacing system is positioned within the midsole and is configured to engage with a primary lace to increase and decrease tension on the primary lace. The motorized lacing system includes a motor, a lace spool, operatively coupled to the motor, configured to spool and unspool the primary lace based, and an elongate spool, the primary lace coupled to the elongate spool, configured to spool and unspool the plurality of laces based on operation of the motor and via the primary lace, each of the plurality of laces spaced along the elongate spool from one another.

1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a midsole;   an upper secured with respect to the midsole and forming a throat;   a plurality of laces extending across the throat of the upper; and   a motorized lacing system positioned within the midsole, configured to engage with a primary lace to increase and decrease tension on the primary lace, the motorized lacing system comprising:   a motor;   a lace spool, operatively coupled to the motor, configured to spool and unspool the primary lace based on an action of the motor; and   an elongate spool, the primary lace coupled to the elongate spool, configured to spool and unspool the plurality of laces based on operation of the motor and via the primary lace, each of the plurality of laces spaced along the elongate spool from one another.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate spool has a circular cross section. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate spool is cylindrical. 
     
     
         4 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a midsole;   an upper secured with respect to the midsole and forming a throat;   a plurality of laces extending across the throat of the upper; and   a motorized lacing system positioned within the midsole, configured to engage with a primary lace to increase and decrease tension on the primary lace, the motorized lacing system comprising:   a motor;   a lace spool, operatively coupled to the motor, configured to spool and unspool the primary lace based on an action of the motor; and   a first elongate spool and a second elongate spool, the primary lace coupled to the first and second elongate spools, each of the first and second elongate spools configured to spool and unspool the plurality of laces based on operation of the motor and via the primary lace, each of the plurality of laces spaced along the first and second elongate spools from one another, wherein the first and second elongate spools have a circular cross section, wherein the first and second elongate spools are cylindrical.   
     
     
         5 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a midsole;   an upper secured with respect to the midsole and forming a throat;   a plurality of laces extending across the throat of the upper; and   a motorized lacing system positioned within the midsole, configured to engage with a primary lace to increase and decrease tension on the primary lace, the motorized lacing system comprising:   a motor;   a lace spool, operatively coupled to the motor, configured to spool and unspool the primary lace based on an action of the motor; and   a first elongate spool and a second elongate spool, the primary lace coupled to the first and second elongate spools, each of the first and second elongate spools configured to spool and unspool the plurality of laces based on operation of the motor and via the primary lace, each of the plurality of laces spaced along the first and second elongate spools from one another, wherein the first and second elongate spools have a circular cross section, wherein the first and second elongate spools are cylindrical, and wherein the first and second elongate spools have a first diameter at a first end and a second diameter different from the first diameter at a second end opposite the first end.