An article of footwear, lacing engine, and method includes a motor, a transmission operatively coupled to the motor, and a lace spool. The lace spool is operatively coupled to the transmission and includes a top lace groove in a top surface of the lace spool and a circumferential channel, wherein the lace is configured to be inserted in the top lace groove and be taken up around the circumferential channel based on a turning of the lace spool from action by the motor and transmission. A fastener is configured to couple the lace spool to the transmission and is inserted into the lace spool via the top surface, the fastener having a head having a head width sufficient to partially cover the top lace groove, leaving a top gap having a gap width less than a thickness of the lace.

A shoe that includes a sole assembly, an upper including a vamp and a tightening device. The tightening device includes keepers, a single lace having a tightening portion in a lacing path, and a blocking element having an active state for fixing a length of the tightening portion of the lace. The tightening device includes a vamp keeper provided on the vamp of the upper, as well as a tension member configured to reversibly pass the tightening portion of the lace between the lacing path and a tightening path when the blocking element is in the active state.

A shoe that includes a sole assembly, an upper including a vamp and a tightening device. The tightening device includes keepers, a single lace having a tightening portion in a lacing path, and a blocking element having an active state for fixing a length of the tightening portion of the lace. The tightening device includes a vamp keeper provided on the vamp of the upper, as well as a tension member configured to reversibly pass the tightening portion of the lace between the lacing path and a tightening path when the blocking element is in the active state.

A lock for an adjustment cord of a wearable article includes a body defining a first passage extending through the body from an entrance opening of the body to a first exit opening of the body, and the body defining a second passage extending from an intermediate portion of the first passage to a second exit opening of the body. The body is configured with a segment of the first passage extending from the intermediate portion to the first exit opening in communication with the second passage. At least a portion of the second passage is narrower than the first passage so that a portion of the cord disposed in the segment of the first passage is movable relative to the first passage when tensioned and is repositionable to the second passage where the cord locks to the body and retains tension. A wearable article including a lock is disclosed.

A lock for an adjustment cord of a wearable article includes a body defining a first passage extending through the body from an entrance opening of the body to a first exit opening of the body, and the body defining a second passage extending from an intermediate portion of the first passage to a second exit opening of the body. The body is configured with a segment of the first passage extending from the intermediate portion to the first exit opening in communication with the second passage. At least a portion of the second passage is narrower than the first passage so that a portion of the cord disposed in the segment of the first passage is movable relative to the first passage when tensioned and is repositionable to the second passage where the cord locks to the body and retains tension. A wearable article including a lock is disclosed.

A system and method for a crystal mount. The system includes a coupler which has a mount and a base. The mount couples to a decorative item, and the base couples to an object. The system allows decorative items, such as a crystal, to be mounted onto a hook. This allows a crystal, for example, to be mounted within skates or other shoes.

According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing, and a stop mechanism. The device is configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the housing that incrementally tensions a tension member and thereby tightens the article. The device is also configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally loosens the tension member's tension. The stop mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the tension member's tension achieves or falls below a tension threshold.

According to an embodiment, a component for attachment to an article includes an upper component that is made of a thermoplastic material having a first melting temperature and a flange member that is molded onto the upper component and made of a thermoplastic elastomer material having a second melting temperature that is lower than the first melting temperature of the upper component. The flange member extends laterally from a bottom end of the upper component so that a bottom surface of the flange member is flush with or positioned axially below a bottom surface of the upper component. The melting temperature of the thermoplastic elastomer material enables the flange member to be directly coupled to the article via heat welding and the like without substantially affecting the upper component.

According to an embodiment, a component for attachment to an article includes an upper component that is made of a thermoplastic material having a first melting temperature and a flange member that is molded onto the upper component and made of a thermoplastic elastomer material having a second melting temperature that is lower than the first melting temperature of the upper component. The flange member extends laterally from a bottom end of the upper component so that a bottom surface of the flange member is flush with or positioned axially below a bottom surface of the upper component. The melting temperature of the thermoplastic elastomer material enables the flange member to be directly coupled to the article via heat welding and the like without substantially affecting the upper component.

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.