A pneumatic elastic band comprises an outer portion, an inflatable portion and a nozzle. The outer portion has a strip-shaped structure with elasticity. The inflatable portion comprises a plurality of expansion portions and a plurality of communication portions. Each of the communication portions is connected between two of the expansion portions adjacent to each other for defining a plurality of gaps. The nozzle is disposed on a surface of the outer portion and communicated with the inflatable portion. When a gas is guided into the inflatable portion through the nozzle, the plurality of expansion portions of the inflatable portion are inflated to fill the gaps and make the inflatable portion contract inwardly, so that the outer portion contracts inwardly and deforms, wherein when the gas is guided out of the inflatable portion, the inflatable portion is deflated and loosened to return to an uninflated state to loosen the shoe.

Described is a shoe fastener for use with a shoe having an upper, eyelets in the upper, and laces. The shoe fastener includes a zipper having a zipper clasp and a tape. The tape has a width on each side of the zipper clasp that is sized and shaped to accommodate tape eyelets in the tape on each side of the zipper clasp. Upon inserting the shoe fastener adjacent to the upper of the shoe, and threading the laces through the shoe eyelets and the tape eyelets to secure the fastener to the shoe, the shoe may be fastened and unfastened by operating the zipper clasp.

A lace tensioning device includes a housing component having an interior region, a first aperture, and a second aperture, and a spool component that is rotatably positionable within the interior region of the housing component. The spool component has a central cylindrical member and a lumen that extends through the central cylindrical portion. The spool component is rotatable within the interior region of the housing component to align one end of the lumen with the first aperture and to align an opposite end of the lumen with the second aperture to enable a lace to be inserted through the first aperture, the lumen, and the second aperture so that opposing ends of the lace are positioned exterior to the housing component. A knot may then be tied in the lace and the lace retracted to couple the lace with the housing component and spool component.

A lace tensioning device includes a housing component having an interior region, a first aperture, and a second aperture, and a spool component that is rotatably positionable within the interior region of the housing component. The spool component has a central cylindrical member and a lumen that extends through the central cylindrical portion. The spool component is rotatable within the interior region of the housing component to align one end of the lumen with the first aperture and to align an opposite end of the lumen with the second aperture to enable a lace to be inserted through the first aperture, the lumen, and the second aperture so that opposing ends of the lace are positioned exterior to the housing component. A knot may then be tied in the lace and the lace retracted to couple the lace with the housing component and spool component.

Devices and apparatus of adjusting curvature of a headband of a headset are disclosed. Some embodiments include a stiffening frame that is flat or arcuate. The apparatus can include a holder that attaches the frame to the headband. The frame and the holder interact with a headband of a headset to adjust curvature of the headband.

Devices and apparatus of adjusting curvature of a headband of a headset are disclosed. Some embodiments include a stiffening frame that is flat or arcuate. The apparatus can include a holder that attaches the frame to the headband. The frame and the holder interact with a headband of a headset to adjust curvature of the headband.

A method of manufacturing waterproof apertured materials or surfaces, and such materials or surfaces, using nanoparticle hydrophobic compositions and treatments, and preferably superhydrophobic compositions and treatments, which possess apertures retaining breeching members possessing liquid wicking properties which would normally render the surface or material water-permeable. By treating the breeching members with the nanoparticle hydrophobic or superhydrophobic compositions, a hydrophobic field extending from the breeching member is created, such that the extended hydrophobic field precludes passage of liquid through the apertures by wicking or capillary action.

An elastomeric tubular casing encompasses an elongate, flaccid, textile article. The elastomeric tubular casing has a tube interior; a tube exterior; and tube first and second ends. The elastomeric tube in a first post-production orientation is rolled into a doughnut geometry, and adapted to unroll about the elongate, flaccid, textile article to resume a generally cylindrical tubular geometry, and thereby encase a portion of the textile article. According to a method of laundering an elongate, flaccid, textile article, the elongate, flaccid, textile article is encased with an elastomeric sleeve, the elastomeric sleeve having an interior diameter approximately equal to an exterior circumference of the elongate flaccid textile article and the elastomeric sleeve extending longitudinally co-extensively the elongate, flaccid textile article. The encased textile article is then laundered. The elastomeric sleeve is removed from the laundered textile article to yield a laundered, elongate, flaccid, textile article.

A shoe includes an upper member covering a foot, and a string-like body formed continuously with the upper member by the same thread as a thread forming the upper member.

A shoe includes an upper member covering a foot, and a string-like body formed continuously with the upper member by the same thread as a thread forming the upper member.