Articles of footwear and footwear systems include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the footwear or for performing other functions. Such systems and methods may use physical or other interaction(s) between the module and the article of footwear for activating and/or deactivating the module and/or sensing devices included with the module, for confirming whether the module and footwear are authorized for use with one another, and/or for automatic data algorithm selection methods. Additionally, such systems and methods also may use the activation and/or authentication systems for the module for data input to the module. Some examples of such systems and methods may utilize magnets and magnetic sensing systems and/or light (or other radiation) sources and sensing systems for activation, authentication, data input, and/or algorithm selection.

A rate dependent tether for securing a shoe to a user, and footwear incorporating the rate dependent tether. The rate dependent tether may include a tube filled with a shear-thickening material and at least one cable or ribbon. In conditions of normal, low, or no intense activity by the user, the rate dependent tether's deformation resistance is low allowing the rate dependent tether to be extended to allow insertion or removal of the foot. At active levels, for example, participating in sporting events or intense activities, the rate dependent tether's deformation resistance is high preventing the rate dependent tether from loosening and securing the shoe on the user. The rate dependent tether may be connected to a saddle. A rate dependent insole for footwear, a support impregnated with a shear-thickening fluid, a rate dependent footcone, and rate dependent bands are also described.

A tension-retaining system for retaining tension in a tensioning cord of a wearable article may include a retainer including an anchor and a wedge. The anchor may define a notch, and the wedge may have a tensioning cord coupling feature. The wedge may have an engagement portion that fits within the notch with the engagement portion disposed further in the notch than the tensioning cord coupling feature.

A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor, and the sensor is configured to sense changes in a foot proximity to the sensor in footwear. Information about the sensed proximity can be used to determine a foot velocity characteristic, which in turn can be used to update an automated footwear function, such as an automatic lacing function, or can be used to determine a step count, foot strike force, a rate of travel, or other information about a foot, about an activity, or about the footwear.

A removable collar for a boot including a base layer to abut a neck portion of the boot is provided. The collar also comprises multiple magnets coupled to the base layer. Each magnet magnetically couples with a corresponding metal attachment on the neck portion of the boot. The collar further includes a top layer attached to the base layer which conceals the magnets coupled to the base layer. The top layer may also include decorative features.

A system for carrying or using a device includes the device and at least one attachment apparatus. The device may include at least one attachment element. The attachment apparatus may include a length of material and at least one attachment point arranged on an end of the length of material. The at least one attachment point may include at least one magnetic feature configured to attach and detach the device and the length of material. The material can include but is not limited to cloth, metallic (magnetic and non-magnetic), fibrous material, and so forth.

Footwear, such as a sports shoe, that has a cleated scaffold that attaches to an underside of a sole of the shoe body of footwear because of an attachment mechanism. The mechanism has cooperative components arranged to engage each other when in alignment to allow the cleated scaffold and shoe body to move in unison and in the absence of a critical pivoting force. When a critical pivoting force arises, such as when the cleats remain fixed in position in a manner that resists their movement in unison with the shoe body, the scaffold dissociates from the shoe body in order to reduce/prevent knee injury.

A footwear impulse-momentum device includes a first momentum actuator, a second momentum actuator, a position sensor, and a processing system, which are dimensioned to fit within a shoe sole. The first momentum actuator is coupled to receive a first control signal and is configured, upon receipt thereof, to move between a first position and a second position. The second momentum actuator is coupled to receive a second control signal and is configured, upon receipt thereof, to move between a third position and a fourth position spaced. The position sensor is configured to sense a position of the sole of the shoe and supply a shoe position signal representative thereof. The processing system is configured to receive the shoe position signal and is operable, in response thereto, to selectively generate and supply the first and second control signals to the first and second momentum actuators, respectively.

Footwear comprising a sole portion; an upper portion secured to the sole portion; and a top portion secured to the upper portion through the use of a magnet included with the top portion and a magnet included with the upper portion.

The disclosure is directed to shoe accoutrements and methods of making and using the same. A shoe assembly for a shoe, can include an inner layer of first material; a support layer of second material, and the support layer including a slit, and a pocket being provided between the inner layer and the support layer. The shoe assembly can further include a first attachment plate attached to the inner layer; a second attachment plate, and the second attachment plate being magnetically attracted to the first attachment plate and positioned on the first attachment plate, and the second attachment plate being slidably removable out a top of the pocket, and the slit running along a back side of the pocket; a connection assembly attached to the second attachment plate; and an accoutrement, and the accoutrement supported by the connection assembly.