SPOOL AND LACING MODULE PROVIDED WITH SAME

Abstract

A spool includes a shaft, a trunk portion, and an upper lid portion. The shaft is rotatable about a central axis. The trunk portion includes a lower portion to which the shaft is connected and a radially outer surface around which a string material is wound. The upper lid portion is on an upper surface of the trunk portion. The trunk portion includes a groove portion, a first base portion, and a second base portion. The groove portion is recessed axially downward, extends in a radial direction, and is provided with the string material. The first base portion and the second base portion are side by side in a radial direction with the groove portion therebetween. The first base portion includes a first protruding portion protruding toward the second base portion. The second base portion includes a second protruding portion protruding toward the first base portion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-201652, filed on Dec. 4, 2020, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-103990, filed on Jun. 23, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a spool and a lacing module provided with the spool.

2. BACKGROUND

A conventional spool for tightening a shoelace or the like includes an upper plate, a lower plate, and a drum disposed between the upper plate and the lower plate. A winding passage in which a string material is disposed is provided on the upper surface of the upper plate. With the forward or reverse rotation of the drum, the string material is wound around or unwound around the radially outer surface of the drum.

However, the conventional spool has a problem that the string material comes off from the spool.

SUMMARY

An example embodiment of a spool of the present disclosure includes a shaft, a trunk portion, and an upper lid portion. The shaft is rotatable about a central axis extending vertically. The trunk portion includes a lower portion to which the shaft is connected and a radially outer surface around which a string material is wound. The upper lid portion is on an upper surface of the trunk portion. The trunk portion includes a groove portion, a first base portion, and a second base portion. The groove portion is recessed axially downward from an upper surface, extends in a radial direction, and is provided with the string material. The first base portion and the second base portion are side by side in a radial direction with the groove portion interposed therebetween. The first base portion includes a first protruding portion protruding toward the second base portion. The second base portion includes a second protruding portion protruding toward the first base portion. The first protruding portion and the second protruding portion are on opposite sides with respect to the central axis in a direction in which the groove portion extends. The upper lid portion and the trunk portion are fixed via a fixing portion on at least one of the first base portion and the second base portion.

The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the example embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a lacing module according to a first example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a spool of the first example embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the spool according to the first example embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from below.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the spool according to the first example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the spool according to the first example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a trunk portion of the spool according to the first example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a spool according to a second example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a spool according to a third example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a trunk portion of a spool according to a fourth example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a part of a groove portion of the spool according to the fourth example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of an upper lid portion of a spool according to a fifth example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of a groove portion of the spool according to the fifth example embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification, the term “axial direction” simply refers to a direction in which a central axis of a shaft of a spool extends. The term “radial direction” simply refers to a direction centered on the central axis of the shaft of the spool and orthogonal to the central axis. The term “circumferential direction” simply refers to a direction along an arc centered on the central axis of the shaft of the spool. Further, in this specification, for the sake of convenience of the description, the shapes and positional relations of portions will be described on the assumption that the axial direction is a vertical direction, and the vertical direction in FIG. 2 is the vertical direction of the shaft of the spool. Incidentally, the above definition of the vertical direction is not meant to restrict the orientation of, or positional relationships among parts of, the spool during use. Further, in this specification, a section parallel to the axial direction is referred to as a “longitudinal section”. Further, the term “parallel” used in this specification does not mean parallel in a strict sense, but includes substantially parallel.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a lacing module 10 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. The lacing module 10 is attached to footwear such as an exercise shoe, and can electrically tighten or loosen a shoelace (string material) S of the footwear.

The lacing module 10 includes a motor 11, a spool 20, a battery 13, and a housing 14. The motor 11 is electrically connected to the battery 13, and rotates about a rotation shaft C by the power supplied from the battery 13.

A gear 12 is connected to the rotation shaft C of the motor 11 and is connected to a shaft 30 of the spool 20 described later via an intermediate gear (not illustrated). The driving of the motor 11 causes the gear 12 to rotate in both forward and reverse directions about the rotation shaft C. The shaft 30 rotates in both forward and reverse directions about a central axis J (see FIG. 2) in conjunction with the rotation of the gear 12. A shoelace S is wound or unwound around the spool 20 by forward and reverse rotation of the shaft 30.

The housing 14 houses the motor 11, the spool 20, and the battery 13 therein. In the housing 14, outlets 14a and 14b are opened, and the shoelace S is drawn out to the outside of the housing 14 through the outlets 14a and 14b.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the spool 20 as viewed from above, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the spool 20 as viewed from below. FIGS. 4 and 5 are an exploded perspective view and a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the spool 20. FIG. 6 is a top view of a trunk portion 40.

The spool 20 includes the shaft 30, the trunk portion 40, and an upper lid portion 50. The shaft 30 has a columnar shape and rotates about the central axis J extending vertically.

The trunk portion 40 is formed in a disk shape having a diameter larger than that of the shaft 30, and the shaft 30 is connected to a lower portion thereof. Further, the shoelace S is wound around the radially outer surface of the trunk portion 40. The trunk portion 40 includes a groove portion 41, a first base portion 42, a second base portion 43, and a lower flange portion 44.

The groove portion 41 is recessed axially downward from the upper surface of the trunk portion 40, extends in the radial direction, and is disposed with the shoelace S. The first base portion 42 and the second base portion 43 are disposed side by side in the radial direction with the groove portion 41 interposed therebetween. The first base portion 42 and the second base portion 43 are disposed at positions point-symmetrical to each other about the central axis J. As a result, the spool 20 rotates stably. The shoelace S is wound around radially outer surfaces 42a and 43a of the first base portion 42 and the second base portion 43 (see FIG. 6).

The first base portion 42 includes a first protruding portion 421 and an insertion hole 422 (see FIGS. 4 and 6). The first protruding portion 421 protrudes toward the second base portion 43. The second base portion 43 includes a second protruding portion 431 and an insertion hole 432. The second protruding portion 431 protrudes toward the first base portion 42. The first protruding portion 421 and the second protruding portion 431 are disposed on the opposite side of the central axis J in the direction in which the groove portion 41 extends.

The first protruding portion 421 and the second protruding portion 431 are curved in a convex shape when viewed from the axial direction. As a result, the shoelace S is prevented from being caught by the first protruding portion 421 and the second protruding portion 431, and the shoelace S can be smoothly pulled out radially outward of the groove portion 41.

When viewed from the axial direction, the curvature of a peripheral surface 421a of the first protruding portion 421 is larger than the curvature of an inner surface 435 of the second base portion 43 facing the first protruding portion 421 (see FIG. 6). When viewed from the axial direction, the curvature of a peripheral surface 431a of the second protruding portion 431 is larger than the curvature of an inner surface 425 of the first base portion 42 facing the second protruding portion 431. As a result, when the trunk portion 40 rotates in the forward rotational direction (counterclockwise direction) in top view, it is possible to reduce the concentration of the tension of the shoelace S on the peripheral surface 421a of the first protruding portion 421 and the peripheral surface 431a of the second protruding portion 431, and to suppress the breakage of the shoelace S.

The insertion holes 422 and 432 penetrate the trunk portion 40 in the axial direction. Screw portions 422a and 432a are formed on the inner peripheral surfaces of the insertion holes 422 and 432. Incidentally, the insertion holes 422 and 432 may be formed by non-penetrating recess portions that are recessed axially downward from the upper surface of the trunk portion 40 without penetrating the trunk portion 40. That is, the insertion holes 422 and 432 may be formed to be recessed in the axial direction.

The insertion hole 422 axially faces a through hole 51 of the upper lid portion 50 to be described later, and is partially disposed in the first protruding portion 421. The insertion hole 432 faces a through hole 52 of the upper lid portion 50 in the axial direction, and is partially disposed in the second protruding portion 431. By providing the first protruding portion 421 and the second protruding portion 431, the diameters of the insertion holes 422 and 432 can be formed to be large.

The lower flange portion 44 protrudes radially outward from the lower end portion of the trunk portion 40 and is formed in an annular shape. The lower flange portion 44 supports the shoelace S wound around the radially outer surfaces 42a and 43a of the first base portion 42 and the second base portion 43, and prevents the shoelace S from coming off axially downward.

The upper lid portion 50 has a disk shape having a diameter larger than that of the trunk portion 40, and is disposed on the upper surface of the trunk portion 40. The radially outer end of the upper lid portion 50 is positioned on the radially outer side from the radially outer end of the trunk portion 40. The upper lid portion 50 prevents the shoelace S wound around the radially outer surface of the trunk portion 40 from coming off axially upward.

An axial distance between the upper surface of the lower flange portion 44 and the lower surface of the upper lid portion 50 is formed to be larger toward the axially outer side. As a result, it is possible to prevent the shoelace S from coming into contact with the radially outer end of the upper lid portion 50 and the radially outer end of the lower flange portion 44 at the time of rotation of the spool 20, and to smoothly wind up and rewind the shoelace S. In particular, even when the spool 20 vibrates in the axial direction, the shoelace S can be smoothly wound up and rewound.

The upper lid portion 50 has the through holes 51 and 52 and a projection portion 53 (see FIG. 5). The through holes 51 and 52 penetrate the upper lid portion 50 in the axial direction. A stepped portion 511 recessed in the axial direction is provided around the upper end of the through hole 51. A stepped portion 521 recessed in the axial direction is provided around the upper end of the through hole 52. The through hole 51 overlaps the insertion hole 422 in the axial direction. The through hole 52 overlaps the insertion hole 432 in the axial direction.

The projection portion 53 protrudes axially downward from the lower surface of the upper lid portion 50. The projection portion 53 is disposed in the groove portion 41. By providing the projection portion 53, positioning of the trunk portion 40 and the upper lid portion 50 is facilitated, and assembling workability is improved.

Screws 80 are inserted into the through hole 51 and the insertion hole 422, and the through hole 52 and the insertion hole 432, respectively. The screw 80 has a pin portion 81 and a flange portion 82. The pin portion 81 extends in the axial direction. The flange portion 82 protrudes radially outward from the tip portion of the pin portion 81 and is formed in an annular shape.

When assembling the spool 20, first, the shoelace S is disposed in the groove portion 41. At this time, both end portions of the shoelace S are pulled out radially outward of the groove portion 41. Next, the upper lid portion 50 is disposed on the upper surfaces of the first base portion 42 and the second base portion 43. At this time, the projection portion 53 is inserted into the groove portion 41. As a result, the through hole 51 and the insertion hole 422 can easily coincide with the through hole 52 and the insertion hole 432 in the axial direction.

Next, the screw 80 inserted into the through hole 51 from the upper surface side of the upper lid portion 50 is tightened into the insertion hole 422, and the screw 80 inserted into the through hole 52 is tightened into the insertion hole 432. As a result, the screw portions 422a and 432a are screwed with the outer peripheral surfaces of the pin portions 81. Therefore, the flange portion 82 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the stepped portion 511, and the upper lid portion 50 and the trunk portion 40 are firmly fixed. Fixing portion 70 for fixing the upper lid portion 50 and the trunk portion 40 are configured by the screws 80, the through holes 51 and 52, and the insertion holes 422 and 432. At this time, the flange portions 82 contact the peripheries of the through holes 51 and 52 in the axial direction. That is, the flange portions 82 contact the bottom surfaces of the stepped portions 511 and 521 in the axial direction.

By providing the stepped portion 511, the flange portion 82 is accommodated in the stepped portion 511, and the tip portions of the pin portions 81 are disposed on the axially inner side from the end portions of the through holes 51 and 52. As a result, the size of the spool 20 can be reduced in the axial direction. Incidentally, the tip portions of the pin portions 81 may be disposed at the same positions in the axial direction as the end portions of the through holes 51 and 52.

The shoelace S is held in the groove portion 41, and the trunk portion 40 and the upper lid portion 50 are firmly fixed via the fixing portion 70 disposed on the first base portion 42 and the second base portion 43. Therefore, the shoelace S can be prevented from coming off from the spool 20.

At least a part of the fixing portion 70 overlaps the first protruding portion 421 or the second protruding portion 431 in the axial direction. In this example embodiment, a part of the insertion hole 422 is disposed in the first protruding portion 421. Further, a part of the insertion hole 432 is disposed in the second protruding portion 431 in the axial direction. Therefore, a part of the screw 80 of the fixing portion 70 overlaps the first protruding portion 421 or the second protruding portion 431 in the axial direction. As a result, the diameters of the insertion holes 422 and 432 and the pin portion 81 can be formed to be large, and the trunk portion 40 and the upper lid portion 50 can be more firmly fixed.

Incidentally, in this example embodiment, the screw 80 is tightened from the upper surface side of the upper lid portion 50. However, the screw 80 may be tightened from the lower surface side of the trunk portion 40. In this case, the through hole penetrating in the axial direction is provided in the trunk portion 40, and the insertion hole screwed with the screw 80 is provided in the upper lid portion 50. Further, the stepped portion is formed around the lower end of the through hole.

Next, a second example embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the spool 20 according to the second example embodiment. For convenience of explanation, the same portions as those in the first example embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 are denoted by the same reference signs. The second example embodiment is different from the first example embodiment in the configuration of the fixing portion 70. The other portions are similar to those of the first example embodiment, and similar effects can be obtained.

The fixing portion 70 includes the through holes 51 and 52, pin portions 423 and 433, and flange portions 424 and 434. The pin portion 423 protrudes axially upward from the upper surface of the first base portion 42 and is inserted into the through hole 51. The pin portion 433 protrudes axially upward from the upper surface of the second base portion 43 and is inserted into the through hole 52. That is, the pin portions 423 and 433 protrude from the trunk portion 40 and are inserted into the through holes 51 and 52.

At the time of assembling the spool 20, the tip portion of the pin portion 423 protruding axially outward from the through hole 51 and the tip portion of the pin portion 433 protruding axially outward from the through hole 52 are caulked to form the flange portions 424 and 434. The flange portion 424 protrudes radially outward from the tip portion of the pin portion 423 and contacts the bottom surface of the stepped portion 511 in the axial direction. That is, the flange portion 424 contacts the periphery of the through hole 51 in the axial direction. The flange portion 434 protrudes radially outward from the tip portion of the pin portion 433 and contacts the bottom surface of the stepped portion 521 in the axial direction. That is, the flange portion 434 contacts the periphery of the through hole 52 in the axial direction.

By caulking the tip portions of the pin portions 423 and 433 to fix the trunk portion 40 and the upper lid portion 50, the number of components of the spool 20 can be reduced.

In this example embodiment, a part of the pin portion 423 is disposed in the first protruding portion 421. Further, a part of the pin portion 433 is disposed in the second protruding portion 431. Therefore, the pin portions 423 and 433 of the fixing portion 70 partially overlap the first protruding portion 421 or the second protruding portion 431 in the axial direction. As a result, the diameters of the through holes 51 and 52 and the pin portions 423 and 433 are formed to be large, and the trunk portion 40 and the upper lid portion 50 can be more firmly fixed.

Incidentally, in this example embodiment, the pin portions 423 and 433 protrude from the trunk portion 40, but may protrude from the upper lid portion 50. In this case, the through hole is provided on the trunk portion 40. Further, the flange portions 424 and 434 are disposed on the lower surface side of the trunk portion 40.

Next, a third example embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the spool 20 according to the third example embodiment. For convenience of explanation, the same portions as those in the first example embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 are denoted by the same reference signs. The second example embodiment is different from the first example embodiment in the configuration of the fixing portion 70. The other portions are similar to those of the first example embodiment, and similar effects can be obtained.

The fixing portion 70 includes the through holes 51 and 52 and the pin portions 423 and 433. The pin portion 423 protrudes axially upward from the upper surface of the first base portion 42 and is inserted into the through hole 51. The pin portion 433 protrudes axially upward from the upper surface of the second base portion 43 and is inserted into the through hole 52. That is, the pin portions 423 and 433 protrude from the trunk portion 40 and are inserted into the through holes 51 and 52. At this time, the pin portions 423 and 433 are press-fitted into the through holes 51 and 52.

By press-fitting the pin portions 423 and 433 into the through holes 51 and 52 to fix the trunk portion 40 and the upper lid portion 50, the number of components of the spool 20 can be reduced.

In this example embodiment, a part of the pin portion 423 is disposed in the first protruding portion 421. Further, a part of the pin portion 433 is disposed in the second protruding portion 431. Therefore, the pin portions 423 and 433 of the fixing portion 70 partially overlap the first protruding portion 421 or the second protruding portion 431 in the axial direction. As a result, the diameters of the through holes 51 and 52 and the pin portions 423 and 433 are formed to be large, and the trunk portion 40 and the upper lid portion 50 can be more firmly fixed.

Incidentally, in this example embodiment, the pin portions 423 and 433 protrude from the trunk portion 40, but may protrude from the upper lid portion 50. In this case, the through hole is provided in the trunk portion 40.

Next, a fourth example embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 9 is a top view of the trunk portion 40 of the spool 20 according to the fourth example embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a part of the groove portion 41. For convenience of explanation, the same portions as those in the first example embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 are denoted by the same reference signs. The fourth example embodiment is different from the first example embodiment in the configuration of the groove portion 41. The other portions are similar to those of the first example embodiment, and similar effects can be obtained.

The groove portion 41 has a narrow portion 41a. The narrow portion 41a is narrower than the diameter of the shoelace (string material) S. As a result, when the shoelace S is disposed in the groove portion 41, the shoelace S is locked in the narrow portion 41a. Therefore, when the spool 20 is assembled, the shoelace S is hardly detached from the groove portion 41, and the assembling workability is improved. The narrow portions 41a are disposed with the central axis J interposed therebetween on both sides in the direction in which the groove portion 41 extends. As a result, the shoelace S is stably held in the groove portion 41 by the narrow portion 41a.

In this example embodiment, the narrow portion 41a is formed between a first groove claw portion 426 and a second groove claw portion 436. The first groove claw portion 426 protrudes from the first base portion 42 toward the second base portion 43. The second groove claw portion 436 protrudes from the second base portion 43 toward the first base portion 42. The first groove claw portion 426 and the second groove claw portion 436 come into contact with the shoelace S. By forming the narrow portion 41a between the first groove claw portion 426 and the second groove claw portion 436, the shoelace S can be easily locked when the spool 20 is assembled.

The first groove claw portions 426 are provided at two positions. One first groove claw portion 426 protrudes from the peripheral surface 421a of the first protruding portion 421. The other first groove claw portion 426 protrudes from the inner surface 425 of the first base portion 42 facing the second protruding portion 431. Further, the second groove claw portions 436 are provided at two positions. One second groove claw portion 436 protrudes from the peripheral surface 431a of the second protruding portion 431. The other second groove claw portion 436 protrudes from the inner surface 435 of the second base portion 43 facing the first protruding portion 421.

Incidentally, the first groove claw portion 426 and the second groove claw portion 436 may be provided at only one position or at least three positions.

The narrow portion 41a may be formed by narrowing the width between the peripheral surface 421a of the first protruding portion 421 and the inner surface 435 of the second base portion 43 without providing the first groove claw portion 426 and the second groove claw portion 436. Further, the narrow portion 41a may be formed by narrowing the width between the peripheral surface 431a of the second protruding portion 431 and the inner surface 425 of the first base portion 42.

The first groove claw portion 426 and the second groove claw portion 436 have claw inclination portions 426a and 436a of which the upper surfaces are inclined axially downward toward the tip sides in the protruding direction, respectively. As a result, the shoelace S can be easily guided to the narrow portion 41a along the claw inclination portions 426a and 436a. Incidentally, in this example embodiment, the claw inclination portions 426a and 436a are formed on both sides of the first groove claw portion 426 and the second groove claw portion 436, but one may be omitted.

Next, a fifth example embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the upper lid portion 50 according to the fifth example embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a part of the groove portion 41. In FIG. 12, a center line m passing through the center of the groove portion 41 in the width direction and extending in the direction in which the groove portion 41 extends is indicated by an alternate long and short dash line. For convenience of explanation, the same portions as those in the first example embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 are denoted by the same reference signs. The fifth example embodiment is different from the first example embodiment in the configuration of the projection portion 53. The other portions are similar to those of the first example embodiment, and similar effects can be obtained.

The projection portion 53 is configured by a pair of projection pieces 531 and 532 disposed with the center line m interposed therebetween, and the shortest distance between the pair of projection pieces 531 and 532 is smaller than the diameter of the shoelace (string material) S. As a result, the shoelace S can be sandwiched between the projection pieces 531 and 532, and the shoelace S can be locked to the upper lid portion 50. Therefore, when the spool 20 is assembled, the upper lid portion 50 to which the shoelace S is locked is fixed to the trunk portion 40, whereby the assembling workability is improved. Further, the projection portions 53 are disposed with the central axis J interposed therebetween on both sides in the direction in which the groove portion 41 extends. As a result, the shoelace S is stably locked to the lower surface of the upper lid portion 50. Incidentally, the pair of projection pieces 531 and 532 may be provided at only one position or at least three positions.

At least one of the pair of projection pieces 531 and 532 has a guide portion 533. The guide portion 533 extends along the groove portion 41 toward the projection portion 53 disposed on the opposite side with respect to the central axis J. As a result, in the state of being sandwiched between one pair of projection pieces 531 and 532, the shoelace S extends between another pair of projection pieces 531 and 532 in contact with the guide portion 533. As a result, when the upper lid portion 50 to which the shoelace S is locked is fixed to the trunk portion 40, a part of the shoelace S is prevented from protruding from the groove portion 41, and the assembling workability is further improved.

The pair of projection pieces 531 and 532 includes a first lid claw portion 531a protruding from one projection piece 531 to the other projection piece 532 and a second lid claw portion 532a protruding from the other projection piece 532 to the one projection piece 531. A distance between the first lid claw portion 531a and the second lid claw portion 532a is smaller than the diameter of the shoelace (string material) S. By providing the first lid claw portion 531a and the second lid claw portion 532a, the shoelace S can be easily locked to the upper lid portion 50.

Incidentally, in this example embodiment, the first lid claw portion 531a and the second lid claw portion 532a are disposed with the center line m interposed therebetween to face each other, but may be disposed to be shifted in the direction in which the groove portion 41 extends.

Without providing the first lid claw portion 531a and the second lid claw portion 532a, a width between the inner surface of the projection piece 531 and the inner surface of the projection piece 532 may be formed to be narrow so that the shoelace S is sandwiched between the inner surface of the projection piece 531 and the inner surface of the projection piece 532.

The first lid claw portion 531a and the second lid claw portion 532a have lid claw inclination portions 531b and 532b of which the lower surfaces are inclined axially upward toward the tip sides in the protruding direction, respectively. As a result, the shoelace S can be easily guided along the lid claw inclination portions 531b and 532b between the first lid claw portion 531a and the second lid claw portion 532a. Incidentally, in this example embodiment, the lid claw inclination portions 531b and 532b are formed on both sides of the first lid claw portion 531a and the second lid claw portion 532a, but one may be omitted.

For example, in the above-described example embodiments, one fixing portion 70 is provided in each of the first base portion and the second base portion 43, but a plurality of fixing portions may be provided. Further, the fixing portion 70 may be provided in only one of the first base portion 42 and the second base portion 43.

The present disclosure is applicable to, for example, a spool mounted on a lacing module.

Features of the above-described example embodiments and the modifications thereof may be combined appropriately as long as no conflict arises.

While example embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.

Claims

1. A spool comprising:

a shaft rotatable about a central axis extending vertically;

a trunk portion which includes a lower portion to which the shaft is connected and a radially outer surface around which a string material is wound; and

an upper lid portion which is on an upper surface of the trunk portion; wherein

the trunk portion includes: a groove portion which is recessed axially downward from an upper surface, extends in a radial direction, and is provided with the string material; and a first base portion and a second base portion which are provided with the groove portion interposed therebetween side by side in a radial direction;

the first base portion includes a first protruding portion protruding toward the second base portion;

the second base portion includes a second protruding portion protruding toward the first base portion;

the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion are on opposite sides with respect to the central axis in a direction in which the groove portion extends; and

the upper lid portion and the trunk portion are fixed via a fixing portion on at least one of the first base portion and the second base portion.

2. The spool according to claim 1, wherein

the fixing portion includes: a through hole which is provided in one of the upper lid portion and the trunk portion and penetrates in an axial direction; an insertion hole which is provided in another of the upper lid portion and the trunk portion, opposes the through hole in the axial direction, and is recessed in the axial direction; and a screw which is inserted into the through hole and the insertion hole;

the screw includes: a pin portion which extends in the axial direction; and a flange portion which protrudes radially outward from a tip portion of the pin portion;

a screw portion is provided in an inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole; and

the screw portion is screwed with an outer peripheral surface of the pin portion.

3. The spool according to claim 1, wherein

the fixing portion includes: a through hole which is provided in one of the upper lid portion and the trunk portion and penetrates in an axial direction; a pin portion which protrudes from another of the upper lid portion and the trunk portion and is inserted into the through hole; and a flange portion which protrudes radially outward from a tip portion of the pin portion; and

the flange portion contacts a periphery of the through hole in the axial direction.

4. The spool according to claim 2, wherein

a stepped portion recessed in the axial direction is provided around one end of the through hole; and

the flange portion contacts a bottom surface of the stepped portion in the axial direction.

5. The spool according to claim 1, wherein

the fixing portion includes: a through hole which is provided in one of the upper lid portion and the trunk portion and penetrates in an axial direction; and a pin portion which protrudes from another of the upper lid portion and the trunk portion and is inserted into the through hole; and

the pin portion is press-fitted into the through hole.

6. The spool according to claim 2, wherein

a tip portion of the pin portion is at a same position as an end portion of the through hole in the axial direction or on an axially inner side from the end portion of the through hole.

7. The spool according to claim 2, wherein

at least a portion of the fixing portion overlaps the first protruding portion or the second protruding portion in the axial direction.

8. The spool according to claim 1, wherein

the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion are curved in a convex shape when viewed from the axial direction.

9. The spool according to claim 1, wherein

a curvature of a peripheral surface of the first protruding portion is larger than a curvature of an inner surface of the second base portion facing the first protruding portion when viewed in the axial direction; and

a curvature of a peripheral surface of the second protruding portion is larger than a curvature of an inner surface of the first base portion opposing the second protruding portion when viewed from the axial direction.

10. The spool according to claim 1, wherein

the first base portion and the second base portion are at positions point-symmetrical to each other about the central axis.

11. The spool according to claim 1, wherein

the groove portion includes a narrow portion having a width narrower than a diameter of the string material.

12. The spool according to claim 11, wherein

the narrow portions are provided with the central axis interposed therebetween on both sides in a direction in which the groove portion extends.

13. The spool according to claim 11, wherein

the narrow portion is between a first groove claw portion which protrudes from the first base portion toward the second base portion and a second groove claw portion which protrudes from the second base portion toward the first base portion.

14. The spool according to claim 1, wherein

the trunk portion includes an annular lower flange portion which protrudes radially outward from a lower end portion;

a radially outer end of the upper lid portion is positioned on a radially outer side from a radially outer end of the trunk portion; and

an axial distance between an upper surface of the lower flange portion and a lower surface of the upper lid portion is larger toward the radially outer side.

15. The spool according to claim 1, wherein

the upper lid portion includes a projection portion which protrudes axially downward from the lower surface; and

the projection portion is in the groove portion.

16. The spool according to claim 15, wherein

the projection portion is defined by a pair of projection pieces arranged with a center line interposed therebetween, the center line passing through a center of the groove portion in a width direction and extends in a direction in which the groove portion extends; and

a shortest distance between the pair of projection pieces is smaller than a diameter of the string material.

17. The spool according to claim 16, wherein

the projection portions are arranged with the central axis interposed therebetween on both sides in a direction in which the groove portion extends.

18. The spool according to claim 17, wherein

at least one of the pair of projection pieces includes a guide portion which extends along the groove portion toward the projection portion on an opposite side with respect to the central axis.

19. The spool according to claim 16, wherein

the pair of projection pieces includes a first lid claw portion which protrudes from one projection piece to another projection piece and a second lid claw portion which protrudes from the other projection piece to the one projection piece; and

a distance between the first lid claw portion and the second lid claw portion is smaller than the diameter of the string material.

20. A lacing module comprising:

the spool according to claim 1.