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.

A sport shoe includes a first lacing strip, a second lacing strip, an intermediate strip and a closing device. The closing device includes a first winder and a second winder for stressing the first lacing strip and the second lacing strip so as to bring them closer together, and an actuator unit for selectively rotating the first winder or the second winder. The first winder, the second winder and the actuator unit are rotatably supported on a single support unit. The shoe further also includes a plug-in member of the support unit on the intermediate strip.

A tensioning system for use with an article of footwear includes a pulley assembly. The pulley assembly may include a first disc and a second disc connected by a central shaft. A tensioning element can be engaged around the central shaft. A ring element can be used to prevent the tensioning element from disengaging the pulley when there is slack in the tensioning element. The pulley assembly can include a guide portion that guides a tensioning member so as to restrict the entry angle of segments of the tensioning member.

A tensioning system for use with an article of footwear includes a pulley assembly. The pulley assembly may include a first disc and a second disc connected by a central shaft. A tensioning element can be engaged around the central shaft. A ring element can be used to prevent the tensioning element from disengaging the pulley when there is slack in the tensioning element. The pulley assembly can include a guide portion that guides a tensioning member so as to restrict the entry angle of segments of the tensioning member.

An article of footwear can include a tensioning system with a multilayered upper and a relatively narrow strobel. One layer of the upper can be attached to an outer periphery of the strobel. Another layer of the upper can be attached to a portion of the sole structure. In addition, a lacing region can be formed by folding a laminated structure including the second layer. A third layer of the upper can provide a bootie within the article of footwear configured to receive a foot.

An article of footwear can include a tensioning system with a multilayered upper and a relatively narrow strobel. One layer of the upper can be attached to an outer periphery of the strobel. Another layer of the upper can be attached to a portion of the sole structure. In addition, a lacing region can be formed by folding a laminated structure including the second layer. A third layer of the upper can provide a bootie within the article of footwear configured to receive a foot.

A modular footwear having individual versatility is provided comprising an insole for primary support and a sole provided thereon. The footwear further comprises a heel provided on the insole having a heel counter provided on an upper periphery of the heel and wherein the insole defines a channel for receiving an attachment means to securely attach the footwear to the individual.

A lace fitting structure for fitting an upper 3 wrapping around an instep of a foot to the instep, the structure including: a medial side portion 31 covering the instep and a medial side surface of a big toe; a lateral side portion 32 covering the instep and a lateral side surface of a little toe; first shoelace means 1 placed to extend in a longitudinal direction Y of the foot and engaged with the medial side portion 31 and the lateral side portion 32 along central edge portions 33 of the medial side portion 31 and the lateral side portion 32; placement means for placing a portion of the first shoelace means 1 so that the first shoelace means 1 is exposed in a plurality of exposed areas 1.sub.i, which are separated from one another in the longitudinal direction Y; and second shoelace means 2 engaging, in a transverse direction X of the foot, with the first shoelace means 1 in the plurality of exposed areas 1.sub.i so as to bring the medial side portion 31 and the lateral side portion 32 closer to each other, wherein a length L of the exposed areas 1.sub.i in the longitudinal direction Y is greater than a thickness and a width of the second shoelace means 2.

A retention system for footwear can include opposed closure elements and a tensioner configured to urge the opposed closure elements toward each other in response to a tensile force applied to the tensioner. Opposed first and second anchors can be spaced from the tensioner. A retainer can have opposed first and second retainer couplers. The first retainer coupler can operatively engage the first anchor and the second retainer coupler can operatively engage the second anchor such that a tensile load applied to one or both of the first and second retainer couplers urges the retainer toward one or both of the first and second anchors. Each of the retainer couplers can be operatively engaged with the tensioner such that a tensile load applied to the tensioner urges the first retainer coupler and the second retainer coupler into tension and thereby urges the retainer toward one or both of the anchors.