U.S. patent application number 11/450897 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-04 for lace locking device.
This patent application is currently assigned to K-2 Corporation. Invention is credited to Dodd H. Grande, John E. Svensson, Mark S. Williams.
Application Number | 20070000105 11/450897 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37022981 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070000105 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grande; Dodd H. ; et
al. |
January 4, 2007 |
Lace locking device
Abstract
A lace locker (100, 200) is disclosed having a housing (110,
210) that may include an attachment flange (112, 212), and a cam
lever (120, 220) pivotably attached to the housing, such that the
cam lever is movable between a locking position and a release
position. The lace locker receives a lace (96) that extends between
a toothed cam portion (123, 223) of the cam lever and a front wall
(114, 214) of the housing, such that in the locking position the
lace locker clampingly engages the lace. A lever portion (122, 222)
of the lace locker includes an aperture adapted to accommodate the
lace. A biasing member such as a spring (230) may optionally be
included to bias the lace locker toward the locking position. A
cooperative lever tab (241) and housing aperture (243) may be
provided to temporarily latch the lace locker in the release
position.
Inventors: |
Grande; Dodd H.; (Seattle,
WA) ; Williams; Mark S.; (Renton, WA) ;
Svensson; John E.; (Busan, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTENSEN, O'CONNOR, JOHNSON, KINDNESS, PLLC
1420 FIFTH AVENUE
SUITE 2800
SEATTLE
WA
98101-2347
US
|
Assignee: |
K-2 Corporation
Vashon
WA
|
Family ID: |
37022981 |
Appl. No.: |
11/450897 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60690820 |
Jun 14, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/712.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C 7/08 20130101; F16G
11/101 20130101; Y10T 24/3713 20150115; A43C 7/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
024/712.5 |
International
Class: |
A43C 7/08 20060101
A43C007/08 |
Claims
1. A lace locker adapted to selectively engage a lace, the lace
locker comprising: a housing adapted to receive a lace
therethrough, the housing having a front wall and a back wall; a
cam lever pivotably attached to the back wall, the cam lever having
a cam portion disposed substantially within the housing and a lever
portion extending out from the housing; wherein the cam lever is
movable between a locking position in which the received lace is
frictionally retained between the cam portion of the cam lever and
the housing front wall, and a release position in which the
received lace is not retained by the cam portion, by pushing
upwardly on the lever portion.
2. The lace locker of claim 1, wherein the cam portion of the cam
lever further comprises an outwardly-disposed tooth that engages
the lace when the cam lever is in the locking position.
3. The lace locker of claim 1, wherein the lace locker further
comprises a peripheral flange.
4. The lace locker of claim 3, wherein the lever portion of the
lever cam is oriented away from the flange, and further wherein
displacing the lever portion generally upwardly pivots the cam
lever such that the cam portion moves away from the front wall.
5. The lace locker of claim 4, wherein the lever portion further
comprises an aperture that is adapted to accommodate the lace.
6. The lace locker of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member
that engages the cam lever such that the cam lever is biased toward
the locking position.
7. The lace locker of claim 6, wherein the biasing member comprises
a spring.
8. The lace locker of claim 1, wherein the lace locker is oriented
such that tension in the received lace biases the cam lever towards
the locking position.
9. The lace locker of claim 1, wherein the lace locker comprises a
separable front flange portion having an aperture therethrough and
a cap portion that attaches to the front flange portion to define
the housing, and further wherein the cam lever includes outwardly
disposed posts to facilitate pivotable mounting to the housing.
10. The lace locker of claim 1, wherein the cam lever further
comprises a tab portion, and the housing further comprises an
aperture that is sized and positioned to frictionally receive the
tab portion of the cam lever when the cam lever is moved to the
release position.
11. A device for securing a lace, the device comprising: a housing
adapted to be attached to a boot, the housing having a wall
portion; a cam lever pivotably attached to the housing, the cam
lever having a lever portion and a toothed cam portion, the toothed
cam portion being disposed opposite the housing wall portion
defining a channel therebetween that is adapted to accommodate the
lace; wherein the cam lever is movable between a first position
that clampingly secures the lace between the toothed cam portion of
the cam lever and the wall portion of the housing, and a second
position wherein the lace is not clampingly secured.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the toothed cam portion is
movable away from the wall portion of the housing toward the second
position by pushing upwardly on the lever portion.
13. The device of claim 11, wherein the lever portion further
comprises an aperture that is adapted to accommodate the lace.
14. The device of claim 11, further comprising a biasing member
that engages the cam lever such that the cam lever is biased toward
the first position.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein the biasing member comprises a
spring.
16. The device of claim 11, wherein the housing is oriented such
that tension in the received lace biases the cam lever towards the
locking position.
17. The device of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises a front
flange portion having an aperture therethrough and a cap portion
that attaches to the front flange portion.
18. The device of claim 11, wherein the cam lever further comprises
a tab portion, and the housing further comprises an aperture that
is sized and positioned to frictionally receive the tab portion of
the cam lever when the cam lever is moved to the release position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/690,820, filed Jun. 14, 2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to lacing systems and, in
particular, to lace lockers for facilitating tensioning and
de-tensioning lacing systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In-line skates, quad skates, ice skates, snowboard boots,
ski boots, and other sporting footwear often include a high-back
boot upper that attaches to a boot sole, and receives the user's
foot, thereby securing the skate or other footwear to the user. An
opening or vamp is typically provided near the front of the upper
to facilitate putting on and taking off the boot. Various
mechanisms for securing the boot upper about the user's foot are
known and commonly practiced in the art. For example, skates, such
as in-line skates, frequently include both a lace-type fastening
system and a strap-type fastener. The lace-type fastening system
allows the user to tighten the upper along at least a portion of
the length of the vamp, providing a secure and comfortable fit for
the user. Additionally, one or more strap assemblies--typically
having oppositely-disposed straps attached on either side of the
vamp and employing an adjustable buckling mechanism--provide a
strong and secure attachment. Strap assemblies are typically
located near the top of the upper, providing a binding force about
the user's ankle. Often a second strap assembly is provided that
extends generally over the user's instep. The strap-type fastener
is typically much sturdier than the lace system and, therefore,
provides a more robust connection that is able to withstand the
stresses of even a very rigorous skater's activity, while also
protecting the lace from excessive stresses.
[0004] Donning such boots and skates, however, can be tedious and
inconvenient for the user due to the multiple securement
mechanisms. The inconvenience is particularly undesirable in
sporting activities when the user may be burdened with other gear,
such as padding, safety equipment, backpacks, and the like, that
makes reaching down to the skates more difficult. Also, if the user
attempts to fasten or adjust the laces and/or straps while standing
upright on the skates, fastening these securement mechanisms may be
even more problematic due to the skater's need to maintain
balance.
[0005] Mechanisms that alleviate the need to physically tie the
laces are known, including, for example, devices often referred to
as lace fasteners or lace lockers. Lace lockers typically provide a
lace-clamping mechanism that may be slidably disposed on the laces,
and is adapted to releasably hold the laces in a tightened
configuration. An example of a lace locker is disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,477,593 to Leick. Leick discloses a lace locker having a
circular locking member slidably disposed in a converging cavity of
a body that is adapted to receive a lace. When the locking member
is near the narrow end of the cavity, it clampingly engages the
laces. When the locking member is near the wider end of the cavity,
the locking member releases the lace, permitting the lace locker to
slide along the length of the lace (or the lace to slide through
the lace locker). The locking member is biased toward the locking
position, i.e., toward the narrow end of the cavity, and a "pusher"
button is attached to the locking member, permitting the user to
move the locking member against the biasing force to release the
lace.
[0006] Another lace locker mechanism, operating on similar
principles, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,867 to Azam. Azam
discloses a device similar to that disclosed by Leick but having a
release mechanism that locks the lace locker in the unlocked
position to facilitate disengagement or loosening of the lace.
[0007] Generally, prior art lace lockers require two hands to
engage and/or disengage the lace locker. For example, in a slidable
lace locker a user must grasp the lace in one hand and grasp the
lace locker with the other hand to push the lace locker along a
portion of the length of the lace. Similarly, to remove a boot
equipped with such lace lockers, the user must first loosen the
lace locker and then typically pull outwardly on the tongue of the
boot. Another disadvantage of prior art lace lockers is that the
lace locker must be positioned generally at the top of the
uppermost lace keeper to hold the lace in the tightened position.
This may be inconvenient in boots that also have a strap-type
fastener because the lace locker may interfere with the desired
location of the strap and/or buckle. Interference between the strap
and the lace locker may also result in damage to either or both of
these devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A device for releasably securing a lace is disclosed, that
is particularly, though not exclusively, suitable for using in
athletic footwear, such as skates and the like. The disclosed lace
locker may be conveniently secured to a boot tongue, for example,
and provides a quick and simple means for the user to tension a
lace, and/or to selectively release the lace tension.
[0009] In the currently preferred embodiment, a lace locker
includes a housing that pivotably supports an activation mechanism
such as a cam lever. The cam lever includes a lever portion that
extends out of the housing, and is engaged by the user to release
the lace locker, that is, to move the lace locker form the locking
position to the release position. The lever portion includes an
aperture therethrough, adapted to accommodate the lace. The cam
lever also includes a cam portion, that may be toothed. The cam
portion is disposed adjacent a wall portion of the housing,
defining a channel therebetween that is adapted to receive the
lace. When the cam lever is in the locking position, a lace in the
channel is clamping engaged between the cam portion and the housing
wall portion. A biasing element, such as a spring, may bias the cam
lever towards the locking position.
[0010] The disclosed lace locker includes an attachment flange,
that may be used to attach the lace locker, for example to the
tongue of a sports boot. To tighten the lace, the user simply pulls
upwardly on the lace. Upon releasing the lace, the tension in the
lace will tend to further hold the lace locker toward the locking
position. To release tension in the lace, the user simply pushes
upwardly on the lever portion of the cam lever, to move the lace
locker towards the release position. In one embodiment of the
invention, a latching mechanism is provided to optionally allow the
user to temporarily latch the lace locker in the release
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages
of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same
become better understood by reference to the following detailed
description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front view of a lace locker according to the
present invention, attached to the upper portion of a tongue of a
sports boot;
[0013] FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views of the lace locker
shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2A showing the lace locker in the locking
position, FIG. 2B showing the lace locker in the open position;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the lace locker
shown in FIGS. 1;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a
lace locker according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 5A is a front perspective exploded view of the lace
locker shown in FIG. 4;
[0017] FIG. 5B is a back perspective exploded view of the lace
locker shown in FIG. 4;
[0018] FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional side view of the lace locker of
FIG. 4 in the locking position and installed on a boot tongue;
and
[0019] FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional side view of the lace locker of
FIG. 4 in the release position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a lace locker 100 made in accordance with the
present invention, and mounted near the upper end of a tongue 92 on
a sports boot 90, for example an inline skate boot. The boot 90
includes an elongate slot or vamp 98 that is biased to a closed
position by a conventional lace 96. A conventional strap assembly
94 is also provided, generally about the ankle portion of the boot
90. The lace locker 100 is preferably attached to the tongue 92,
and above the strap assembly 94. As discussed in more detail below,
the lace locker 100 allows the user to easily tension the lace 96,
by simply pulling upwardly on the lace 96.
[0021] Refer now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, showing the lace locker 100 in
isolation, and with the lace 96 disposed therethrough. FIG. 2A
shows the lace locker 100 in the closed or locking position, and
FIG. 2B shows the lace locker 100 in the open or release position.
The lace locker 100 includes a body or housing 110 that may
including a peripheral flange 112 to facilitate attaching the
housing 110 to the boot 90. The housing 110 includes a front wall
portion 114 that is disposed forwardly from the flange 112.
[0022] An actuator that is preferably in the form of a
lever-mounted cam, hereinafter referred to as a cam lever 120, is
pivotably disposed substantially in the housing 110. The cam lever
120 includes a lever portion 122 that extends from an aperture in
the housing 110 and is accessible to the user such that the user
can push upwardly on the lever portion 122 to pivot the cam lever
120 from the locking position shown in FIG. 2A to the release
position shown in FIG. 2B.
[0023] Refer now to FIG. 3, which shows a partially cross-sectioned
side view of the lace locker 100, with the cam lever 120 in the
locking position. It can now be seen that the cam lever 120
includes the lever portion 122 and an attached or integral cam
portion 123. In this embodiment the cam portion 123 is integral
with the lever portion 122. The lever portion 122 includes a cutout
or aperture 121 therethrough. The lace 96 is clampingly engaged
between the cam portion 123 of the cam lever 120 and the front wall
114 of the housing 110, and extends upwardly through the cutout or
aperture 121 in the lever portion 122 of the cam lever 120. The cam
portion 123 of the cam lever 120 may also include
outwardly-extending teeth 124 that are positioned to engage the
lace 96 when the cam lever 120 is in the locking position. The
teeth 124 are positioned on the cam portion 123 above the pivot
point of the cam lever 120, such that when the lace 96 is in
tension during use, the lace 96 will produce a generally downward
force on the teeth 124 of the cam lever 120, thereby urging the cam
lever 120 towards the locking position, and improving the clamping
engagement of the lace 96.
[0024] In this embodiment, the housing 110 includes a pair of
oppositely disposed rearward walls 131 (one visible in FIG. 3). The
cam portion 123 of the cam lever 120 has a transverse aperture 133
therethrough, at the pivot point for the cam lever 120. A pivot pin
135 extends through the cam lever transverse aperture 133 and
through oppositely disposed, apertures (not visible) in the
rearward walls 131, to pivotably attach the cam lever 120 to the
housing 110. Although not shown in FIGS. 1-3, it is contemplated
that a spring or other biasing device may optionally be provided to
bias the cam lever 120, preferably towards the locking
position.
[0025] The flange 112 of the lace locker 100 provides a surface to
facilitate very secure attachment of the lace locker 100 to the
boot, for example to the tongue or other portion of the boot upper.
The flange 112 may, for example, be sewn to the boot, and/or may be
disposed underneath an outer layer of the boot. An adhesive or
other fixative may be used to fix the lace locker 100 to the boot.
It is also contemplated that the lace locker 100 may alternatively
be removably attached to the boot, for example by providing the
lace locker 100 with a releasable engagement mechanism, such as a
hook or the like that engages a corresponding engagement mechanism
(not shown) on the boot.
[0026] A perspective view of another embodiment of a lace locker
200 in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. An
exploded three-quarter front view of the lace locker 200 is shown
in FIG. 5A, and an exploded, three-quarter rear view of the lace
locker 200 is shown in FIG. 5B. Referring now to all three views,
the lace locker 200 includes a housing 210 having a peripheral
flange 212, a rear wall portion 213 (FIG. 5B), and a front wall
portion 214. A lower aperture 257 is provided generally below and
behind the front wall portion 214, to accommodate the lace (not
shown). A cap 240 is attached to the back side of the housing 210,
for example with cooperative tabs 250 on the rear wall portion 213
and recesses 251 in the cap 240. Other attachment mechanisms are
known in the art and contemplated by the present invention. The cap
240, cooperatively with the housing 210 define a partially closed
volume, with a forward aperture 218. A cam lever 220, having a
lever portion 222 and a cam portion 223, is pivotably disposed in
the defined volume, such that the lever portion 222 extends through
the forward aperture 218 in the housing 210, and is engageable by
the user for pivoting the cam lever 220, usually from the lower
locking position to the upper release position. The cam portion 223
of the cam lever 220 preferably includes a plurality of outwardly
disposed teeth 224, that may extend transversely across the length
of the cam portion 223.
[0027] A pair of oppositely-disposed posts 226 on the cam lever 220
are sized and positioned to be inserted into corresponding
apertures 216 in the rear wall portion 213 of the housing 210, such
that the cam lever 220 is pivotably retained therein. An optional
biasing member such as a spring 230 is attached to the cam lever
220 and biases the cam lever 220 toward the locking position. The
lever portion 222 of the cam lever 220 includes an aperture 228
therethrough to accommodate a lace (not shown).
[0028] The cap 240 in the disclosed embodiment includes one or more
cutouts or apertures 255 to accommodate the spring 230. It will be
appreciated that the flange portion 212 may be used to facilitate
attaching the lace locker 200 to a boot or other footwear, for
example using any of the methods described above.
[0029] Refer now to FIGS. 6A and 6B, showing a side view of the
lace locker 200, wherein the housing 210 and cap 240 are shown in
cross-section. The lace locker 200 is attached to a boot tongue 92
with stitches 91 that extend through the flange 212, although other
attachment methods are clearly suitable, as are well-known in the
art. The cam lever 220 is shown in the lower, locking position in
FIG. 6A and in the upper, release position in FIG. 6B.
[0030] The spring 230 is positioned with one leg extending through
the cutout 255 in the cap 240, and the opposite end engaged in an
aperture 225 in the cam lever 220, and a coiled portion disposed
about the post 226, such that the spring 230 biases the cam lever
220 towards the locking position. In the locking position the teeth
224 clampingly engage the lace 96 between the cam portion 223 of
the cam lever 220 and the inside surface of the front wall 214.
[0031] The cam lever 220 also includes an optional tab portion 241,
that may be integrally formed, and that is positioned, sized and
shaped to engage a corresponding aperture 243 in the housing 210,
whereby the cam lever 220 can be temporarily locked or retained in
the open position. To release the cam lever 220, i.e. to return to
the lace locking position, the user simply pushed downwardly on the
lever portion 222.
[0032] Referring still to FIGS. 6A and 6B, is can be seen that the
lace 96 enter the lace locker 220 through a lower aperture 257 in
the housing 210, and extend upwardly between the inside surface of
the front wall portion 210 and the cam portion 223 of the cam lever
220, wherein the lace 96 are lockingly engageable by the cam lever
220. The lace 96 extends upwardly through the aperture 228 through
the lever portion 222, for easy access by the user.
[0033] In the preferred embodiment, the lace locker 200 is located
on the tongue of a skate boot above the buckle strap (see FIG. 1),
thereby allowing easy access and use of the lace locker 200. The
tension in the lace 96 can be relieved by simply pushing upwardly
on the lever portion 222, to move the cam lever 220 from the
locking position to the release position. This allows easy and
ergonomic release--for example, allowing the user to simply push
upwardly on the cam lever 220 while grasping the tongue and pulling
generally upwardly and forwardly to pull slack into the lacing
system for easy release and removal of the boot. It is contemplated
that the lace locker 200 may advantageously combined with a handle
or strap (not shown) at the top of the tongue. It will be
appreciated that, in the preferred embodiment, the lace locker 200
will automatically re-engage the lace when the cam lever 220 is
released rather than requiring the user to manually move the cam
lever 220 to the locking position. If it is desired to loosen the
lace slightly, the user can simply push upwardly momentarily on the
cam lever 220. It will also be appreciated that the lace locker 200
has an ergonomic shape that is easy and intuitive to operate.
Moreover, the cam lever 220 is self-locking--that is, the tension
in the lace tends to pull the locking mechanism into the locking
position.
[0034] It will also be appreciated that although the present
invention includes an aperture 228 in the lever portion 222 of the
cam lever 220 to accommodate the lace 96; alternatively, the cam
lever 220 may alternatively be bifurcated, e.g. L-shaped or
U-shaped, to accommodate the lace or the lace may be directed
around the cam lever 220. It is also contemplated that the lace
locker 200 mechanism could alternatively be rotated at an angle,
such as ninety degrees (90.degree.), from the orientation shown.
The lace locker 200 may be utilized with inline skates,
conventional skates, snowboard boots, ski boots, backpacks or other
containers, or other sporting and non-sporting equipment.
[0035] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been
illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various
changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
* * * * *