US 12,004,600 B2
Automated footwear platform having upper elastic tensioner
Summer L Schneider, Beaverton, OR (US); Narissa Chang, Portland, OR (US); Eric P. Avar, Lake Oswego, OR (US); Thomas G. Bell, Portland, OR (US); and Christopher Andon, Portland, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Jul. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/375,332.
Application 17/375,332 is a division of application No. 15/921,218, filed on Mar. 14, 2018, granted, now 11,083,248.
Application 15/921,218 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/458,824, filed on Mar. 14, 2017, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/475,105, filed on Mar. 22, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/471,850, filed on Mar. 15, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/424,301, filed on Nov. 18, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/413,142, filed on Oct. 26, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0337935 A1, Nov. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. A43C 11/00 (2006.01); A43B 3/34 (2022.01); A43B 11/00 (2006.01); A43B 13/14 (2006.01); A43B 23/02 (2006.01); A43C 1/00 (2006.01); A43C 1/06 (2006.01); A43C 3/00 (2006.01); A43C 7/06 (2006.01); A43C 11/12 (2006.01); A43C 11/16 (2006.01)
CPC A43C 11/165 (2013.01) [A43B 3/34 (2022.01); A43B 11/00 (2013.01); A43B 13/14 (2013.01); A43B 23/0245 (2013.01); A43C 1/00 (2013.01); A43C 3/00 (2013.01); A43C 7/06 (2013.01); A43C 11/008 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A footwear assembly comprising:
a footwear upper including a toe box portion, a medial side, a lateral side, and a heel portion, the medial side and the lateral side each extending proximally from the toe box portion to the heel portion;
a sole structure attached to the footwear upper;
a lacing engine disposed within the sole structure;
a lace cable with a first end anchored along a distal outside portion of the medial side, and a second end anchored along a distal outside portion of the lateral side and a central portion connecting the first end and the second end and extending through the lacing engine;
a plurality of lace guides distributed along the medial side and the lateral side in undulating patterns, each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides adapted to receive a length of the lace cable, wherein the lace cable extends through each of the plurality of lace guides to change a trajectory of the lace cable and to form a pattern along each of the medial side and lateral side of the footwear upper;
a medial proximal lace guide routing the lace cable from the pattern formed by a medial portion of the plurality of lace guides into a position allowing the lace cable to engage the lacing engine disposed within a mid-sole portion;
a lateral proximal lace guide to route the lace cable out of the position allowing the lace cable to engage the lacing engine into the pattern formed by a lateral portion of the plurality of lace guides; and
a first elastic member extending between a medial portion of the upper and a lateral portion of the footwear upper, the first elastic member positioned to uncouple the medial portion and the lateral portion to allow the lace cable to pull the plurality of lace guides to spread the medial portion and the lateral portion.