Systems and apparatus related to automated tightening of a footwear platform including a footwear lacing apparatus are discussed. In an example, a footwear lacing apparatus can include a housing structure, a spool, and a drive mechanism. The housing structure can include a top section and a bottom section. The spool can include a superior surface, a lace spool under the superior surface and a spool shaft with a keyed connection pin. The spool can also be integrated into the top section of the housing structure. The drive mechanism can couple with the spool via the keyed connection pin on the spool shaft. The drive mechanism can be adapted to rotate the spool to tighten or loosen a lace cable integrated into the footwear.

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 shoe includes a shoe upper that holds a wearer's foot when worn. A shoe sole is connected to the shoe upper and has a collapsible section including a body that at least partially defines a pocket in the collapsible section. An insert is installed in the pocket. The insert has a vertical thickness that expands the collapsible section and increases the vertical thickness of the shoe sole compared to when no insert is installed in the pocket. The shoe may be used for limb length correction.

The invention relates to a footwear item comprising a device for storing information or an object. The footwear item comprises a sole (1) including a front part (201) and a rear part (101), with a hole (2) being provided in the sole (1) that opens onto the front part (200) or the rear part (100) of the footwear item (0). The invention also comprises: a casing (3, 4) inserted into the hole (2) in the sole (1), said casing (3, 4) comprising a duct (3) designed to be inserted into the hole (2) in the sole (1), said duct (3) comprising an opening (153) and being secured in the hole (2) such that the duct (3) is permanently secured to the sole (1); and a cover (4) hermetically sealing the opening (153) in the duct (3) such that the casing (3, 4) is leak-tight, said cover (4) comprising a tube (5) designed to be inserted into the duct (3) through the opening (153) so as to allow the storage of information or an object.

An article of footwear can include provisions for facilitating the installation of various components such as a lighting apparatus. During manufacture of the article of footwear, the upper and/or sole structure can include a chamber designed to receive the lighting apparatus. The lighting apparatus can be installed in the chamber after manufacture of the article of footwear. In some cases, the lighting apparatus can include provisions for facilitating the installation of the lighting apparatus in the chamber, including a removable handle portion that can help guide the lighting apparatus within the chamber.

A system, recharge apparatus, and method includes transmit coils positioned in a pattern to allow at least one of the transmit coils to establish a wireless link with a receive coil positioned in proximity of the recharge apparatus. A power source is coupled to the transmit coils and configured to selectively energize ones of the transmit coils to transfer power to the receive coil. An energy efficiency detection circuit is configured to detect an electrical response of each one of the transmit coils when energized by the power source, the electrical response indicative of an energy efficiency between the one of the transmit coils and the receive coil. The power source selectively energizes ones of the transmit coils, selected according to a statistical analysis of an historical record and the electrical response indicative of the energy efficiency meeting a minimum efficiency criterion for energy transfer to the receive coil.

A rapid-entry shoe having an upper, a sole portion, and at least one pocket coupled to a rear portion of the upper and encapsulating a compressed medium that biases a topline of the shoe toward an uncollapsed configuration.

The invention relates to a footwear item comprising a device for storing information or an object. The footwear item comprises a sole (1) including a front part (201) and a rear part (101), with a hole (2) being provided in the sole (1) that opens onto the front part (200) or the rear part (100) of the footwear item (0). The footwear item (0) also comprises: a casing (3, 4) inserted into the hole (2) in the sole (1), said casing (3, 4) comprising a duct (3) for storing information or an object, said duct (3) comprising an opening (153) and a closed part (353); a means for anchoring the duct (3) in the hole (2) in the sole (1), designed to secure the duct (3) to the sole (1), allowing same to be secured to one another permanently; and a cover (4) hermetically sealing the opening (153) in the duct (3) such that the casing (3, 4) is leak-tight.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a peripheral surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The bottom surface includes a recess defining a first opening in the peripheral surface. The sole structure for an article of footwear also includes an insert disposed within the recess and including a first material having a first gloss unit value and a second material disposed on an outer surface of the first material and having a second gloss unit value. The second material is at least partially disposed within the first opening.

A lower body equestrian riding boot system for holding a riding spur includes a boot having one or more pockets located on an outer surface of a side and near one end of the boot, the pocket is configured to retain a free end of a riding spur yoke. A backstrap located on an outer surface of a back side and near the bottom of the boot has one end that is releasably attached to the boot and includes an aperture through which a neck of a riding spur projects. A concealed curved zipper extending beyond the front of a pocket. The pocket, the backstrap and the zipper cooperate to secure the riding spur to the boot, so that the spur can be easily attached, adjusted and/or removed from the boot, and so the boot can be removed from the foot with the spur still attached.