Patent ID: 9241539
Filing Date: 2016-01-26
CPC Classification: A43B,A43C

Claim Text:
1. A system for tightening laces of an article of clothing, the system comprising: a controller; a first user input device operatively coupled to the controller; a tightening device including a conduit sized and configured to receive at least one lace, the tightening device being operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller places the tightening device in one of a plurality of configurations including an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, wherein the tightening device comprises: a frame having a pair of the conduits extending therethrough, each of the pair of conduits being sized and configured to receive a respective lace; a motor supported by the frame; and a pair of tighteners supported by the frame and operatively coupled to the motor, each of the pair of tighteners being adapted to engage the respective lace such that actuation of the motor drives the pair of tighteners in a manner adapted to tighten the respective lace when the tightening device is in the engaged configuration, the pair of tighteners being rotated by the motor when the motor is actuated such that the pair of tighteners are adapted to tighten the laces when the tightening device is in the engaged configuration; the conduit being restricted to a first size in the engaged configuration, the first size dimensioned to restrain a free movement of the laces the at least one lace, and the conduit being opened to a second size in the disengaged configuration, the second size dimensioned to permit the free movement of the at least one lace, wherein in response to the first user input device receiving a first audio user input the controller places the tightening device in the engaged configuration.