A skate boot includes a boot shell having first and second opposite side portions cooperating to define a foot receiving opening therebetween. The first and second side portions have a facing portion extending from the foot receiving opening. A band having a first end portion is received in the boot shell and attached to the boot shell at or adjacent the second side portion. The band extends across an interior of the boot shell and is slidingly received through an opening defined in the first side portion so as to have a second end portion of the band extending outside of the boot shell. The second end portion of the band defines an aperture for receiving a lace.

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.

Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.

A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a tensioning member that is tightened or loosened using a motorized tensioning device for winding and unwinding the tensioning member on a spool. The motorized tensioning device includes a torque transmitting system that allows for incremental tightening, incremental loosening and full loosening of the tensioning member.

A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a tensioning member that is tightened or loosened using a motorized tensioning device for winding and unwinding the tensioning member on a spool. The motorized tensioning device includes a torque transmitting system that allows for incremental tightening, incremental loosening and full loosening of the tensioning member.

What is disclosed is a shoe (1), in particular a running shoe, comprising a shoe tip (2) and a heel edge (3) and a lacing system, wherein the lacing system comprises a lacing (4), wherein the lacing comprises two end regions (42, 42) along the lacing and a middle region adjoining between the end regions (41, 42) on respective branching points (43, 44) of the lacing, and wherein the lacing branches into a first strand (46) and a second strand (47) at the branching points (43, 44); and wherein the shoe has a holder comprising several holding structure pairs for fastening the lacing (4), wherein the holding structure pairs in each case consist of a medial-side and an opposite holding structure (54, 512, 522, 522) arranged on the lateral side, and wherein the holder has a from the shoe tip first holding region (51) comprising at least one holding structure pair, and an adjoining second holding region (52) arranged in the direction of the heel edge (3), comprising at least two holding structure pairs; and wherein exclusively the first strand (46) is fastened to the holding structure pairs in the first holding region (51), and exclusively the second strand (47) is fastened to the holding structure pairs in the second holding region (52).

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 footwear includes: a sole; an upper located above the sole to accommodate a foot; a loop engagement portion located on at least one of a medial face or a lateral face of the footwear, fixed to one of the sole, the upper, or an interface between the sole and the upper, and including a plurality of loops, and extending from a lower side toward an upper side; a loop tightening part including a single loop passing through the plurality of loops of the loop engagement portion ; a fixing portion disposed in the loop tightening part; and a fixed portion which is disposed on the upper or the sole and to which the fixing portion is fixed. In a state where the loop engagement portion is pulled by the loop tightening part, the fixing portion is fixable to the fixed portion.

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 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.