An eyelet for an article of footwear includes an eyelet body configured to slidably couple a first string to a second string. The eyelet body defines a first arc-shaped aperture and an opposing, second arc-shaped aperture. The first arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the first string, and the second arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the second string. The eyelet may be disposed over (but not necessarily attached to) an upper of an article of footwear.

A shoe lacing system includes a shoelace attachment portion disposed on a tongue of the shoe lacing system between a pair of shoelace receivers, the shoelace attachment portion includes notches disposed on the shoelace attachment portion to receive and couple the shoelace. The shoe lacing system can include a pair of sliding members coupled underneath a pair of shoelace receivers that are adapted to move along a track underneath the pair of sliding members, the ends of each of the loop segments are coupled to either one of the pair of shoelace receivers or one of the pair of sliding members. The shoe lacing system can include shoelace loops that are tensioned by pulling each of the shoelace loops and crossing and coupling each of the shoelace loops to notches disposed outside of each of the pair of shoelace outlets. Additionally, a shoe lacing kit is provided that incudes at least one shoelace lacing system component, and one or more pads having piercing pins protruding from a side thereof, the one or more pads capable of securing the at lest one shoelace lacing system component to a portion of a shoe. Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a shoe lacing device, comprising a first portion and a second portion hingedly attached to the first portion, the second portion including a hook or an opening.

The invention relates to a shoe upper (1) for a shoe (2), especially for a sports shoe. To create an upper which allows an optimal lacing at a pleasant appearance the invention proposes that the upper comprises: a plane base layer (3) of material, a structured layer (4) being arranged on the outer surface (5) of the base layer (3) facing away from the foot of the wearer of the shoe (2), wherein the structured layer (4) comprises a plurality of tunnel sections (6), wherein each tunnel section (6) has at least one tunnel (7) which extends from a first side (8) to a second side (9) of the tunnel section (6) and wherein the tunnel section (6) comprises at least one connecting channel (10) which connects the tunnel (7) with the outer surface (11) of the tunnel section (6).

An apparatus of a footwear securing device, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a shoelace, wherein the shoelace is configured to lace through one or more loop holes positioned on the footwear. The apparatus includes at least two retention devices positioned on a proximal end of the shoelace. The apparatus includes at least two retention devices positioned on a distal end of the shoelace. The at least one of the at least two retention devices on the proximal end of the shoe lace are configured to be removably attached from at least one of the at least two retention devices on the distal end.

An apparatus of a footwear securing device, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a shoelace, wherein the shoelace is configured to lace through one or more loop holes positioned on the footwear. The apparatus includes at least two retention devices positioned on a proximal end of the shoelace. The apparatus includes at least two retention devices positioned on a distal end of the shoelace. The at least one of the at least two retention devices on the proximal end of the shoe lace are configured to be removably attached from at least one of the at least two retention devices on the distal end.

A lace routing pattern for a lacing system for an article of footwear is described. The lacing system is moved between opened and closed positions by applying tension to segments of a lace connected to a tensioning assembly of a tensioning system. Each of the lace segments are arranged to extend between opposite sides of a lacing area according to a different lace routing pattern. The lace routing patterns have equal total closure distances for each of the lace segments so that tension applied by the tensioning system will be uniformly distributed through the lacing system and the article of footwear.

A system and method for forming 3D printed structures on a base component includes extruding material through a nozzle while moving the nozzle vertically. Extruded material flows from the nozzle and spreads outwardly upon contact with an underlying portion of material. The outward spread of material is controlled to form a desired geometry for the 3D printed structure. An optical sensing device may provide feedback for controlling the outward spread of material. Using a molding component, structures with anchored portions extending through openings in the base component can be formed.

A lace guide for an article of footwear comprises a base, a body protruding from the base, and an enlarged head at a distal end of the body. The body, the base, and the enlarged head define an external channel that extends at least partially around the body to receive and retain a lace. The base may be a heel counter, and the lace guide and the heel counter may be an integral, one-piece component. Alternatively, the base of the lace guide may be a wing extending along a side of the upper, or may be secured to a footwear upper.

A lace guide for an article of footwear comprises a base, a body protruding from the base, and an enlarged head at a distal end of the body. The body, the base, and the enlarged head define an external channel that extends at least partially around the body to receive and retain a lace. The base may be a heel counter, and the lace guide and the heel counter may be an integral, one-piece component. Alternatively, the base of the lace guide may be a wing extending along a side of the upper, or may be secured to a footwear upper.

An eyelet for an article of footwear includes an eyelet body configured to slidably couple a first string to a second string. The eyelet body defines a first arc-shaped aperture and an opposing, second arc-shaped aperture. The first arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the first string, and the second arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the second string. The eyelet may be disposed over (but not necessarily attached to) an upper of an article of footwear.