A closure system for a shoe includes a single shoelace which can be secured and tightened through the use of one hand. The shoe includes a button around which the shoelace is wrapped to facilitate easy removal of the shoe. In one embodiment one end of the shoelace is secured under the upper of the shoe near the toe and a second end of the shoelace is secured in a slider that is slidably mounted on the rear of the shoe to provide micro-adjustments of the tightness of the shoe. Alternatively, the shoe includes a strip of piping around the rear of the shoe and a slider in which the second end of the shoelace is secured slides along the piping when the user wants to make micro-adjustments. The adjustment of the tightness of the shoe can also be made by sliding a barrel that is located over the top of the tongue.

A closure system for a shoe includes a single shoelace which can be secured and tightened through the use of one hand. The shoe includes a button around which the shoelace is wrapped to facilitate easy removal of the shoe. In one embodiment one end of the shoelace is secured under the upper of the shoe near the toe and a second end of the shoelace is secured in a slider that is slidably mounted on the rear of the shoe to provide micro-adjustments of the tightness of the shoe. Alternatively, the shoe includes a strip of piping around the rear of the shoe and a slider in which the second end of the shoelace is secured slides along the piping when the user wants to make micro-adjustments. The adjustment of the tightness of the shoe can also be made by sliding a barrel that is located over the top of the tongue.

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 shoe lace replacement overlay system, including a shoe, wherein the shoe includes a shoe base, a shoe lace region, a notch area/tongue opening such that the notch area/tongue opening includes an elastic member/shoe tightener for retaining the shoe on a foot of a wearer, and a plurality of a first shoe replacement overlay attachments; and a shoe lace replacement overlay having a top side and a bottom side, wherein the top side of the shoe lace replacement overlay includes a shoe lace replacement overlay base having a first edge and a second edge, a plurality of eyelet strips, a plurality of eyelets, an elastic member located substantially between the plurality of eyelet strips, and wherein the bottom side of the shoe lace replacement overlay includes a plurality of a second shoe replacement overlay attachments such that the first shoe replacement overlay attachments and the second shoe replacement overlay attachments interact with each other in order to retain the shoe lace replacement overlay on the shoe lace region.

An article of footwear can include provisions for facilitating the installation of various components. During manufacture of the article of footwear, the upper and/or sole structure can include one or more specialized compartments designed to receive the components. The components can be installed in compartments after manufacture of the article of footwear. In some cases, the components can be used to perform different functions in a motorized tensioning system.

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.

An apparatus for attaching a dance shoe support to a dance shoe. The apparatus including a flexible substrate having a support side and a shoe side. The support side has a first adhesive material creating a first adhesion layer on the shoe support side. The shoe side has a second adhesive material creating a second adhesion layer on the shoe side. The support side is affixed to the dance shoe support and the shoe side is affixed to an inner surface of the dance shoe. The flexible substrate may further include a plurality of measurement indicators to allow for adjustment to the length of the flexible substrate prior to being affixed to the dance shoe support.

A cord lock device is provided, which includes a body having first and second faces, with a cord passage extending through the body between the first and second faces. First and second grip channels are formed in the first face and have respective first ends adjacent to the cord passage and second ends extending away from the cord passage. Each of the grip channels has a pair of grip teeth facing each other on opposite sides of the respective grip channel, ridges of the pairs of grip teeth extending from the first face toward the second face at an angle such that at the first face, the ridges are furthest from the cord passage, while at a point closest to the second face, the ridges are closest to the cord passage.

A cord lock device is provided, which includes a body having first and second faces, with a cord passage extending through the body between the first and second faces. First and second grip channels are formed in the first face and have respective first ends adjacent to the cord passage and second ends extending away from the cord passage. Each of the grip channels has a pair of grip teeth facing each other on opposite sides of the respective grip channel, ridges of the pairs of grip teeth extending from the first face toward the second face at an angle such that at the first face, the ridges are furthest from the cord passage, while at a point closest to the second face, the ridges are closest to the cord passage.