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. A capacitive sensor, such as disposed within or upon the sensor housing, can be configured to provide the foot presence indication. In an example, foot presence can be detected using time-varying characteristics of a signal from the capacitive sensor.

A charging system can include provisions for providing power to various systems or components associated with the article of footwear. A charging system may include a charging unit with one or more components configured for use with one or more articles of footwear, where the articles of footwear can include different sizes. The components can be magnetically joined to the article in some cases. Upon connection with a power source, the article may be configured to unlace automatically. In some cases, the charging system can be used to facilitate the transfer of power to components in an automated tensioning system.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper coupled with the sole structure. The upper has a first side portion, a second side portion separated from the first side portion by a throat opening, and a closure for selectively coupling the first side portion to the second side portion. The closure includes a closure panel and a plurality of laces each extending between a respective first end and a respective second end. The first end of each of the plurality of laces is directly secured to the first side portion of the upper and the second end of each of the plurality of laces is directly secured to the unitary closure panel. A selective and reusable fastener is further provided to couple the closure panel to the second side panel of the upper.

An assembly for assisting a user in putting on footwear having a tongue comprising a shoehorn portion and one or more attachment portions. The shoehorn portion comprises an elongated handle and an engagement member. The engagement member comprises a first surface and one or more shoehorn magnets situated proximate to the first surface. The attachment portions are removably attached to the tongue and comprise a clip and a body portion. The clip is configured to removably attached to the tongue. The body portion is connected to the clip and comprises one or more attachment magnets configured to engage with the shoehorn magnets. The engagement of the attachment magnets to the shoehorn magnets allows the user to manipulate a movement of the tongue.

An apparatus and method are described for removably coupled footwear. The disclosed embodiments describe amongst other things, for example, a pair of shoes whereby the soles or top surfaces of each shoe may be connected and disconnected easily.

The pivotable footwear including a front portion, a heel portion, a flexible sole defining a channel extending across the flexible sole, a shoe upper attached to the flexible sole, and a lockable hinge mechanism disposed within the channel. The lockable hinge has an unlocked position wherein the heel portion of said footwear is free to pivot about the channel relative to the front portion of the footwear, and a locked position wherein the heel portion of the footwear is locked into position relative to the front portion of said footwear. The lockable hinge mechanism is electronically actuated and battery operated and controlled to move between the locked position and the unlocked position by actuation of an electronic remote control. That is, actuation of the electronic remote control causes the hinge to move the footwear to an open, foot insertion position and a wearable locked position.

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 configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body. A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor.

A personal article identification system includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, where the bottom surface is configured to be secured to a personal article and the top surface of the substrate having a first indicia. The system also includes a top layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, where the top layer overlaying the substrate and has a second indicia. The second indicia is different than the first indicia. An intermediary layer is between the substrate and the top layer. In addition, the system includes a plurality of dots forming a two dimensional patterned array in the top layer, where each of the dots is removably attached to the substrate via the intermediary layer, and when removed expose the underlying first indicia of the top surface of the substrate to create a design element in the two dimensional patterned array.

A charging system can include provisions for providing power to various systems or components associated with the article of footwear. A charging system may include a charging unit with one or more components configured for use with one or more articles of footwear, where the articles of footwear can include different sizes. The components can be magnetically joined to the article in some cases. Upon connection with a power source, the article may be configured to unlace automatically. In some cases, the charging system can be used to facilitate the transfer of power to components in an automated tensioning system.

Disclosed herein is a footwear apparatus for facilitating optimal gaiting, in accordance with some embodiments. Accordingly, the footwear apparatus includes an upper configured for retaining a foot of a user in the footwear apparatus. Further, the footwear apparatus includes a sole comprising a front portion and a rear portion. Further, the upper is attached to the sole. Further, the rear portion is raised away from a plane defined by the front portion. Further, the rear portion comprises a first attachment component. Further, the footwear apparatus includes a heel configured to be removably attached to the rear portion of the sole. Further, the heel comprises a second attachment component configured for mating with the first attachment component. Further, the removably attaching of the heel with the rear portion is based on the mating.