US 12,317,963 B2
Article of footwear having an automatic lacing system
Markus Bock, Herzogenaurach (DE); and Randolph Maussner, Spalt (DE)
Assigned to PUMA SE, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed by PUMA SE, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/537,969.
Application 17/537,969 is a continuation of application No. 16/392,481, filed on Apr. 23, 2019, granted, now 11,185,130.
Application 16/392,481 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/EP2016/001967, filed on Nov. 22, 2016.
Application 16/392,481 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/EP2016/001968, filed on Nov. 22, 2016.
Application 16/392,481 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/766,199, granted, now 10,349,703, issued on Jul. 16, 2019, previously published as PCT/EP2015/001963, filed on Oct. 7, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0079294 A1, Mar. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. A43C 11/16 (2006.01); A43B 3/36 (2022.01); A43B 3/44 (2022.01); A43B 3/48 (2022.01); A43C 1/00 (2006.01); A43C 11/20 (2006.01)
CPC A43C 11/165 (2013.01) [A43B 3/36 (2022.01); A43B 3/44 (2022.01); A43B 3/48 (2022.01); A43C 1/00 (2013.01); A43C 11/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A footwear assembly, comprising:
at least one article of footwear comprising:
an upper;
a sole structure coupled with the upper;
a housing that houses a motor, a gear train that is configured to be driven by the motor, and a spool that is configured to loosen or tighten a first lace;
a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that is disposed under a cover of the housing; and
a control printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a wireless communication module and a microcontroller that is connected to the plurality of LEDs,
wherein the first lace is incrementally tightened to a first level of tightness by tapping or swiping a region of the at least one article of footwear with a first tap or swipe and loosened to a second level of tightness that is different than the first level of tightness by tapping or swiping the region of the at least one article of footwear with a second tap or swipe,
wherein the plurality of LEDs includes a first plurality of LEDs that is illuminated to achieve a first illumination configuration in response to the first tap or swipe and further includes a second plurality of LEDs that is illuminated to achieve a second illumination configuration in response to the second tap or swipe,
wherein the first tap or swipe is different than the second tap or swipe, and the first illumination configuration is different than the second illumination configuration,
wherein the first plurality of LEDs displaying the first illumination configuration is associated with the first level of tightness and the second plurality of LEDs displaying the second illumination configuration is associated with the second level of tightness, and
wherein, when illuminated, the first plurality of LEDs includes a greater number of illuminated LEDs than the second plurality of LEDs.