CLOSURE DEVICES INCLUDING INCREMENTAL RELEASE MECHANISMS AND METHODS THEREFOR

• Main Authors: Soderberg, Mark, Venturini, Aaron, Irwin, Eric, Kruse, Randon, Converse, Christopher
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 18.07.2019
• Subjects: APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVINGPURPOSES; BLASTING; CHAINS; CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; DENTISTRY; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR; FOMENTATION; FOOTWEAR; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; LACES IN GENERAL; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR; PROSTHESES; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; WEAPONS

According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing, and a stop mechanism. The device is configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the housing that incrementally tensions a tension member and thereby tightens the article. The device is also configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally loosens the tension member's tension. The stop mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the tension member's tension achieves or falls below a tension threshold.