US 12,256,808 B2
Lace coupling for reel based closure device
Thomas Trudel, Conifer, CO (US); Eric Craig Irwin, Denver, CO (US); and Eric Whewell, Denver, CO (US)
Assigned to Boa Technology Inc., Denver, CO (US)
Filed by Boa Technology Inc., Denver, CO (US)
Filed on Feb. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/185,214.
Application 17/185,214 is a continuation of application No. 15/596,526, filed on May 16, 2017, granted, now 10,952,503.
Application 15/596,526 is a continuation of application No. 14/487,024, filed on Sep. 15, 2014, granted, now 9,681,705, issued on Jun. 20, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/937,372, filed on Feb. 7, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/877,628, filed on Sep. 13, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0177098 A1, Jun. 17, 2021
Int. Cl. A43C 7/00 (2006.01); A43C 11/16 (2006.01); F16G 11/12 (2006.01)
CPC A43C 7/00 (2013.01) [A43C 11/165 (2013.01); F16G 11/12 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49826 (2015.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A reel based closure device that is configured to tension a tension member upon operation of the reel based closure device, the reel based closure device being configured so that when the reel based closure device is assembled, the tension member may be coupled with the reel based closure device, the reel based closure device comprising:
a housing having:
an interior region; and
an aperture through which the tension member is insertable; and
a component that includes:
a first channel; and
a second channel;
wherein the first channel is alignable with the aperture of the housing so that while the reel based closure device is assembled, a distal end of the tension member is insertable through the aperture of the housing, through the first channel, and through the second channel so the distal end of the tension member is positioned externally of the housing while a portion of the tension member is disposed within the reel based closure device and within the component; and
wherein the second channel is narrowed to engage the distal end of the tension member within the second channel as the tension member is retracted through the second channel, thereby preventing further retraction of the tension member through the second channel such that the tension member is coupled with the reel based closure device and a distal tip of the tension member is positioned within the reel based closure device.