An apparatus for automatically adjusting tension on retention member to hold multiple objects together. Examples include using retention apparatus to obtain optimal fit and use of a human wearable item such as article of footwear. Sensors may be used to sense changes in movement of the article of footwear, of the person wearing it, or of a third object such as a vehicle carrying the person. A retention member may surround at least a portion of the objects, and an actuator may be included that automatically rotates a rotating member such as a gear or pulley that may be coupled to the retention member. The rotating member may be configured to automatically adjust tension on the retention member many times per second based on control signals from control logic responsive to the sensors.

An apparatus for a shoe sole with an air pump for adjusting pressure levels in air chambers distributed throughout the sole, and a battery. A sole system cloud based application remotely connects to and adjusts the air chambers according to user preferences.

An apparatus for a shoe sole with an air pump for adjusting pressure levels in air chambers distributed throughout the sole, and a battery. A sole system cloud based application remotely connects to and adjusts the air chambers according to user preferences.

In one example, an apparatus. includes a shoe having a sole with at least a portion of foam replaced with a composite polymeric foam, at least one probe disposed in the composite polymeric foam, a voltage detector coupled to the probe that detects voltage data generated by the composite polymeric foam, and a transformation module that converts voltage data generated by the composite polymeric foam in response to deformation events into GRF, acceleration, or pressure data. In another example, a method includes receiving voltage data produced by composite polymeric foam, the composite polymeric foam providing support and padding in the sole of a shoe, converting the voltage data to force data, comparing the force data to a profile, and transmitting, when the force data fails to fall within a threshold of the profile, a feedback signal to a physical feedback device, the feedback signal indicating a difference with the profile.

In one example, an apparatus. includes a shoe having a sole with at least a portion of foam replaced with a composite polymeric foam, at least one probe disposed in the composite polymeric foam, a voltage detector coupled to the probe that detects voltage data generated by the composite polymeric foam, and a transformation module that converts voltage data generated by the composite polymeric foam in response to deformation events into GRF, acceleration, or pressure data. In another example, a method includes receiving voltage data produced by composite polymeric foam, the composite polymeric foam providing support and padding in the sole of a shoe, converting the voltage data to force data, comparing the force data to a profile, and transmitting, when the force data fails to fall within a threshold of the profile, a feedback signal to a physical feedback device, the feedback signal indicating a difference with the profile.

Provided is a winding device configured so that the entirety of the device can be thinned and looseness of an elongated member can be reduced. In a winding device 1A, a flat motor 2 is used as a motor, and a spool 3 and a magical planetary gear mechanism 4 are formed flat along an extending XY plane of the flat motor 2. Thus, the entirety of the device can be configured flat, and can be thinned. Moreover, the magical planetary gear mechanism 4 prevents rotation of the spool 3 by external force, and therefore, looseness of the elongated member can be reduced.

A fitness tracking system includes a shoe, a monitoring device, and a controller. The monitoring device is mounted on the shoe and includes an accelerometer configured to generate acceleration data corresponding to acceleration of a foot received by the shoe. The controller is operably connected to the accelerometer and is configured to collect sampled acceleration data by sampling the generated acceleration data, to identify foot strike data of the sampled acceleration data, to identify a local minimum of the sampled acceleration data collected prior to the foot strike data, and to determine foot strike characteristic data corresponding to the foot strike data based on an acceleration value at the local minimum.

A fitness tracking system includes a shoe, a monitoring device, and a controller. The monitoring device is mounted on the shoe and includes an accelerometer configured to generate acceleration data corresponding to acceleration of a foot received by the shoe. The controller is operably connected to the accelerometer and is configured to collect sampled acceleration data by sampling the generated acceleration data, to identify foot strike data of the sampled acceleration data, to identify a local minimum of the sampled acceleration data collected prior to the foot strike data, and to determine foot strike characteristic data corresponding to the foot strike data based on an acceleration value at the local minimum.

A smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized, wherein the smartphone device is configured to actively control the configuration of one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes and one or more sensors located in either one or both of a sole or a removable inner sole insert of the footwear of the user and/or located in an apparatus worn or carried by the user, glued unto the user, or implanted in the user. The one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, or sipes, and one or more sensors are configured for computer control. A sole and/or a removable inner sole insert for footwear, including one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, internal sipes and sensors in the sole and/or in a removable insert; or on an insole; all being configured for control by a smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized.

A smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized, wherein the smartphone device is configured to actively control the configuration of one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes and one or more sensors located in either one or both of a sole or a removable inner sole insert of the footwear of the user and/or located in an apparatus worn or carried by the user, glued unto the user, or implanted in the user. The one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, or sipes, and one or more sensors are configured for computer control. A sole and/or a removable inner sole insert for footwear, including one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, internal sipes and sensors in the sole and/or in a removable insert; or on an insole; all being configured for control by a smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized.