US 12,075,889 B2
Box lacing channel for automated footwear platform
Summer L. Schneider, Beaverton, OR (US); and Narissa Chang, Portland, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Jun. 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/207,324.
Application 17/382,908 is a division of application No. 16/793,068, filed on Feb. 18, 2020, granted, now 11,076,658.
Application 18/207,324 is a continuation of application No. 17/382,908, filed on Jul. 22, 2021, granted, now 11,707,116.
Application 16/793,068 is a continuation of application No. 15/460,117, filed on Mar. 15, 2017, granted, now 10,602,805.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/308,648, filed on Mar. 15, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0309657 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A43C 1/00 (2006.01); A43C 7/00 (2006.01); A43C 11/16 (2006.01); B65H 75/14 (2006.01); A43B 3/34 (2022.01); A43B 3/36 (2022.01); A43B 13/14 (2006.01); B65H 59/00 (2006.01); B65H 59/38 (2006.01); B65H 69/00 (2006.01); B65H 75/30 (2006.01); B65H 75/44 (2006.01)
CPC A43C 11/165 (2013.01) [A43C 7/00 (2013.01); A43C 11/16 (2013.01); B65H 75/14 (2013.01); B65H 75/148 (2013.01); A43B 3/34 (2022.01); A43B 3/36 (2022.01); A43B 13/14 (2013.01); A43C 1/00 (2013.01); B65H 59/00 (2013.01); B65H 59/38 (2013.01); B65H 69/00 (2013.01); B65H 75/141 (2013.01); B65H 75/30 (2013.01); B65H 75/4486 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An article of footwear comprising:
a sole structure comprising a medial side and a lateral side;
an upper connected to the sole structure, the upper defining a heel portion, an arch portion and a toe portion; and
a footwear lacing apparatus located in the sole structure, the footwear lacing apparatus comprising:
a housing structure comprising:
a first inlet defined by a first pair of opposing channel walls of the housing structure, the first inlet located on the medial side of the sole structure;
a second inlet defined by a second pair of opposing channel walls of the housing structure, the second inlet located on the lateral side of the sole structure; and
a lacing channel extending between the first and second inlets;
a spool disposed in the lacing channel; and
a drive mechanism coupling with the spool and adapted to rotate the spool to wind or unwind a lace cable extending through the lacing channel and through the spool.