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/Mechanical Control Systems And Methods For Adaptive Apparel
Abstract

A control system for controlling tension applied to a lace cable coupled to a support structure of an adaptive support garment is discussed herein. The control system can include a lace spool, a damper mechanism, and a locking ring. The lace spool can include a lace groove to receive the lace cable and a rotary bias member to apply rotational tension to resist extension of the lace cable out of a housing holding the control system. The damper mechanism is engagable with the lace spool to generate an additional rotational tension resisting extension of the lace cable out of the housing. The locking ring is frictionally coupled to the lace spool, and the locking ring can include a lock wedge adapted to disengage the damper mechanism upon rotation into a pre-determined rotational position relative to the damper mechanism.

Full Text

What is claimed is:

A control system for controlling tension applied to a lace cable coupled to a support structure of an adaptive support garment is discussed herein. The control system can include a lace spool, a damper mechanism, and a locking ring. The lace spool can include a lace groove to receive the lace cable and a rotary bias member to apply rotational tension to resist extension of the lace cable out of a housing holding the control system. The damper mechanism is engagable with the lace spool to generate an additional rotational tension resisting extension of the lace cable out of the housing. The locking ring is frictionally coupled to the lace spool, and the locking ring can include a lock wedge adapted to disengage the damper mechanism upon rotation into a pre-determined rotational position relative to the damper mechanism.
Timeline
Filed
03/12/2026
Published
07/16/2026
Granted
Not Available
IPC Codes(3)
A41C 3/00:Brassieres
A41F 1/00:Fastening devices specially adapted for garments
B65H 23/24:by fluid action, e.g. to retard the running web