Lace fixation assembly and system

Abstract

A lace closure system may include a low friction guide that defines the turning radius and direction of a lace which, though tension, pulls two or more panels toward each other. The lace closure system may include a fixator that defines a slot into which the lace is led, containing multiple engagement surfaces that, when the lace is wrapped into the slot, serve to engage the lace preventing unwanted loosening. The lace closure system may include a ring onto which the lace is attached, to assist in applying manual tension to the lace. The ring may be shaped and sized to removably attach to an outer perimeter of the fixator after excess lace has been wrapped into the slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lacing system for tightening an article, comprising:
 a fixation member coupled to the article, the fixation member having at least one entry aperture and an exit aperture with a lumen extending therebetween, the fixation member also having a spool with a fixation post;   a tension member having an intermediate portion slidably disposed within the lumen of the fixation member such that a proximal portion of the tension member is positioned on a proximal side of the fixation member and a distal portion of the tension member is positioned on a distal side of the fixation member and such that a length of the proximal portion and a length of the distal portion is adjustable via sliding of the tension member within the lumen;   a plurality of guide members coupled to the article on the proximal side of the fixation member to guide the proximal portion of the tension member along the article to the fixation member;   a tensioning portion of the tension member to effect sliding of the tension member within the lumen and thereby tighten the article by adjusting the length of the proximal portion of the tension member, and to maintain a tightness of the article by winding of the tension member about the fixation post, wherein the tensioning portion is securable to the spool of the fixation member, wherein the plurality of guide members direct the tension member along a panel of the article to the at least one entry aperture, and wherein the tension members overlaps itself along the panel; and   wherein the tensioning portion is a tensioning component that is snap-fit coupleable about the spool.   
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fixation member further includes a flange shaped complementary to the article. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lumen extending between the entry aperture and the exit apertures includes an arcuate configuration. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning portion is ring-shaped. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the spool and the tensioning component each comprise a plurality of traction members that when engaged inhibit rotation of the tensioning component when the tensioning component is secured about the spool. 
     
     
       6. A lacing system for tightening an article, comprising:
 a fixation member coupled to the article, the fixation member having an entry aperture, an exit aperture, and a fixation post that is accessible from an exterior of the fixation member;   a tension member having a proximal portion positioned on a proximal side of the fixation member, a distal portion positioned on a distal side of the fixation member, and an intermediate portion slidably disposed within the fixation member, wherein a length of the proximal portion and a length of the distal portion is adjustable via sliding of the tension member within the fixation member;   a plurality of guide members coupled to the article on the proximal side of the fixation member to guide the proximal portion of the tension member along the article;   a tensioning portion of the tension member that effects sliding of the tension member within the fixation member and thereby tightens the article by adjusting the length of the proximal portion of the tension member, and that maintains a tightness of the article by winding of the tension member about the fixation post from the exterior of the fixation member; and   wherein the tensioning portion comprises a component that is snap-fit coupleable about the fixation member.   
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the tensioning portion is securable to the fixation member. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the tensioning portion is a component that is coupled to the distal portion of the tension member. 
     
     
       9. A lacing system for tightening an article, comprising:
 a fixation member coupled to the article, the fixation member having at least one entry aperture and an exit aperture with a lumen extending therebetween, the fixation member also having a spool with a fixation post, the fixation post being accessible from an exterior of the fixation member;   a tension member having an intermediate portion slidably disposed within the lumen of the fixation member such that a proximal portion of the tension member is positioned on a proximal side of the fixation member and a distal portion of the tension member is positioned on a distal side of the fixation member and such that a length of the proximal portion and a length of the distal portion is adjustable via sliding of the tension member within the lumen;   a plurality of guide members coupled to the article on the proximal side of the fixation member to guide the proximal portion of the tension member along the article to the fixation member;   a tensioning portion of the tension member to effect sliding of the tension member within the lumen and thereby tighten the article by adjusting the length of the proximal portion of the tension member, and to maintain a tightness of the article by winding of the tension member about the fixation post from the exterior of the fixation member, wherein the tensioning portion is securable to the spool of the fixation member; and   wherein the tensioning portion is a tensioning component that is snap-fit coupleable about the spool.   
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the fixation member further includes a flange shaped complementary to the article. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the lumen extending between the entry aperture and the exit apertures includes an arcuate configuration. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of guide members direct the tension member along a panel of the article without overlap to the at least one entry aperture. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of guide members direct the tension member along a panel of the article to the at least one entry aperture, and wherein the tension members overlaps itself along the panel. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the tensioning portion is ring-shaped. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the spool and the tensioning component each comprise a plurality of traction members that when engaged inhibit rotation of the tensioning component when the tensioning component is secured about the spool. 
     
     
       16. A lacing system for tightening an article, the lacing system comprising:
 a housing that is coupleable with the article, the housing including a lumen;   a tensioning component that is removably attachable to the housing, the tensioning component including at least one aperture;   a tension member that is coupled with the tensioning component and that is windable about a spool to tighten the article and that is unwindable from about the spool to loosen the article, the tension member being slidably positioned through the lumen of the housing; and   a plurality of guide members that direct the tension member along a lace path of the article to the at least one aperture, the tension member overlapping itself along the lace path, the plurality of guide members being coupled to the article on a proximal side of the housing and being configured to guide a proximal portion of the tension member along the article to the housing;   wherein:
 the lacing system is configured so that the tensioning component is attachable to the housing and so that the tensioning component is user rotatable relative to the housing subsequent to said attachment to effect winding of the tension member about the spool and thereby tighten the article; 
 the tensioning component is detachable from the housing to effect unwinding of the tension member from about the spool and thereby loosen the article; 
 the tensioning component is configured to pull the tension member distally of the housing and wind the tension member about the spool; and 
 the lacing system is configured so that pulling the tension member distally of the housing causes the tension member to slide through the lumen of the housing thereby tightening the article by adjusting a length of the proximal portion of the tension member. 
   
     
     
       17. The lacing system of claim 16, wherein the tensioning component is configured for incremental rotation in a tightening direction to effect winding of the tension member about the spool. 
     
     
       18. The lacing system of claim 17, wherein the rotation of the tensioning component in the tightening direction is a ratcheting motion. 
     
     
       19. The lacing system of claim 17, wherein the tensioning component is further configured for incremental rotation in a loosening direction to effect unwinding of the tension member from about the spool. 
     
     
       20. The lacing system of claim 16, wherein the spool is a rotatable spool. 
     
     
       21. The lacing system of claim 20, wherein the rotatable spool is a ratcheted rotary dial. 
     
     
       22. The lacing system of claim 16, wherein the lacing system is configured so that rotation of the tensioning component effects winding of the tension member about the spool without having to decouple the tensioning component from the housing. 
     
     
       23. The lacing system of claim 16, wherein the tensioning component is snap coupleable to the housing. 
     
     
       24. A method of attaching a lacing system to an article, the method comprising:
 providing a lacing system comprising:
 a housing that includes a lumen; 
 a tensioning component that is removably attachable to the housing, the tensioning component including at least one aperture; 
 a tension member that is slidably positioned through the lumen of the housing and that is coupled with the tensioning component, the tension member being windable about a spool to tighten the article and being unwindable from about the spool to loosen the article; and 
 a plurality of guide members that direct the tension member along a lace path of the article to the at least one aperture, the tension member overlapping itself along the lace path, the plurality of guide members being coupled to the article on a proximal side of the housing and being configured to guide a proximal portion of the tension member along the article to the housing; and 
   attaching the housing of the lacing system to the article;   wherein, subsequent to attachment with the housing, the tensioning component is user rotatable relative to the housing to effect winding of the tension member about the spool;   wherein the tensioning component is detachable from the housing to effect unwinding of the tension member from about the spool and thereby loosen the article;   wherein the tensioning component is configured to pull the tension member distally of the housing and wind the tension member about the spool; and   wherein the lacing system is configured so that pulling the tension member distally of the housing causes the tension member to slide through the lumen of the housing thereby tightening the article by adjusting a length of the proximal portion of the tension member.   
     
     
       25. The method of claim 24, wherein the tensioning component is configured for incremental rotation in a tightening direction to effect winding of the tension member about the spool. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 25, wherein the rotation of the tensioning component in the tightening direction is a ratcheting motion. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 25, wherein the tensioning component is further configured for incremental rotation in a loosening direction to effect unwinding of the tension member from about the spool. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 24, wherein the spool is a rotatable spool. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 28, wherein the rotatable spool is a ratcheted rotary dial. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 24, wherein the lacing system is configured so that rotation of the tensioning component effects winding of the tension member about the spool without having to decouple the tensioning component from the housing. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 24, wherein the tensioning component is snap coupleable to the housing.