Systems and apparatus related to an automated footwear platform including an actuator assembly for controlling a footwear lacing apparatus are discussed. In an example, an Lacing architectures for automated footwear assemblies are discussed. In an example, a footwear assembly can include a floating tongue within an upper assembly. The lacing architecture can include a first plurality or lace guides forming a first lacing zone and a second plurality of lace guides forming a second lacing zone. The lacing architecture can also include a tongue lace guide assembly secure to a proximal portion of the floating tongue.

A lace routing pattern for a lacing system for an article of footwear is described. The lacing system is moved between opened and closed positions by applying tension to segments of a lace connected to a tensioning assembly of a tensioning system. Each of the lace segments are arranged to extend between opposite sides of a lacing area according to a different lace routing pattern. The lace routing patterns have equal total closure distances for each of the lace segments so that tension applied by the tensioning system will be uniformly distributed through the lacing system and the article of footwear.

A foot orthotic device has an insole. A strap is removably coupled to a bottom surface of the insole in a midfoot area of the insole.

A skate boot comprising an outer shell including medial and lateral side portions for facing the medial and lateral sides of the foot. Each of the medial and lateral side portions has an upper edge. The skate boot also comprises a lace member mounted to either of the upper edges of the medial and lateral side portions. The lace member has at least one opening for receiving an insert. The lace member has a first flexion mode when no insert is received in the at least one opening and a second flexion mode when the insert is received in the at least one opening. The second flexion mode is different from the first flexion mode.

Article of footwear comprised of an upper that includes a vamp, the vamp including a first wall, at least two keepers configured to receive a portion of a lace, each keeper being arranged on either side of a sagittal plane of the article of footwear. Each loop is defined by the following: the interstitial space between the first wall and a yoke locally covering an outer surface of the first wall, the interstitial space having an anterior opening and a posterior opening through which a portion of the lace extends, and an upper linkage between the first wall and the yoke, the upper linkage being achieved due to a first affixer located in a first connection zone close to the sagittal plane, whereby the yoke is superimposed on the first wall without folding.

Footwear (1) with retention system (2) comprising an upper (4) delimiting an inner space; the retention system (2) is positioned at least partially in the inner space and comprises at least one constraint element (10A, 10B, 10C) designed to be positioned at the top instep area or at the side/heel area of the foot of the user, the at least one constraint element (10A, 10B, 10C) being designed to pass from a loose condition to a tightened condition and vice versa. The retention system (2) further comprises a cord (14) slidably coupled to the at least one constraint element (10A, 10B, 10C), tensioning means (22) connected to a first portion (15) of the cord (14) and designed to be handled by the user for pulling the cord (14) into a tensioned condition to bring the at least one constraint element (10) in the tightened condition and locking means (24) for locking the cord (14) in tensioned condition.

A pair of shoes may be asymmetric between one another in various respects. For example, the left shoe may include a throat extending gradually towards a lateral side of the left shoe while the right shoe may include a throat extending gradually towards a medial side of the left shoe. In addition, the left shoe may include a heel counter constructed into a left-shoe heel portion that provides more support on the medial side than on the lateral side of the left shoe, while the right shoe may include a heel counter constructed into a right-shoe heel portion that provides more support on the lateral side than on the medial side of the right shoe.

An article with an automatic tensioning system includes a lace guide assembly. The lace guide assembly includes a lower guide member and two upper guide members that include channels for routing a tensioning member. Straps of the upper are attached to the two upper guide members. As the tensioning member is pulled into a tensioning device, the two upper guide members are pulled toward the lower guide member. This pulls on the straps and acts to tighten the upper around a foot.

A reel based closure device includes a housing component, a spool that is rotatably positioned within an interior region of the housing component, and a tightening component that is coupled with the housing component. The tightening component is operably coupled with the spool so that an operation of the tightening component causes the spool to rotate within the interior region of the housing component to wind a tension member about the spool. The housing component is configured so that the tension member is routed axially below the housing component's interior region and to one or more guides that are positioned along a lace path of an article, such as a shoe.

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.