A lace adjuster for selectively adjusting and securing a shoelace of a shoe, the shoelace including a first lace end and a second lace end, includes an adjuster body, and a lace end retainer. The lace end retainer is coupled to the adjuster body. The lace end retainer is configured to receive and retain the first lace end and/or the second lace end between the lace end retainer and a surface of the adjuster body. The first lace end and/or the second lace end of the shoelace is thus inhibited from being moved relative to the lace end retainer and the adjuster body when retained by the lace end retainer by a force generated by a contact pressure of the lace end retainer against the surface of the adjuster body. The lace end retainer can be formed from a resilient material.

A lace adjuster for selectively adjusting and securing a shoelace of a shoe, the shoelace including a first lace end and a second lace end, includes an adjuster body, and a lace end retainer. The lace end retainer is coupled to the adjuster body. The lace end retainer is configured to receive and retain the first lace end and/or the second lace end between the lace end retainer and a surface of the adjuster body. The first lace end and/or the second lace end of the shoelace is thus inhibited from being moved relative to the lace end retainer and the adjuster body when retained by the lace end retainer by a force generated by a contact pressure of the lace end retainer against the surface of the adjuster body. The lace end retainer can be formed from a resilient material.

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 or magnetic sensor configured to sense changes in a body's proximity to the sensor in footwear. Characteristics of the sensed proximity can be used to update an automated footwear function, such as an automatic lacing function, or can be used to determine a step count, foot strike force, a rate of travel, or other information about a foot or about the footwear.

A closure mechanism for an article of footwear is provided. The article of footwear having an upper comprising a lateral sidewall and a medial sidewall, a vamp, an ankle opening, a first tension member, a second tension member, and a slider. The first tension member being coupled to the lateral sidewall portion and the second tension member being coupled to the medial sidewall at each of a first end near the vamp, an intermediate point at the ankle opening, and a second end. The slider may be coupled to and movable along the tension members from a first position at the vamp to a second position at the ankle opening, such that moving the slider from the first position to the second position operatively reduces a maximum size of the ankle opening.

A closure mechanism for an article of footwear is provided. The article of footwear having an upper comprising a lateral sidewall and a medial sidewall, a vamp, an ankle opening, a first tension member, a second tension member, and a slider. The first tension member being coupled to the lateral sidewall portion and the second tension member being coupled to the medial sidewall at each of a first end near the vamp, an intermediate point at the ankle opening, and a second end. The slider may be coupled to and movable along the tension members from a first position at the vamp to a second position at the ankle opening, such that moving the slider from the first position to the second position operatively reduces a maximum size of the ankle opening.

An article of footwear including a sole, an upper joined with the sole, and a lacing system. The lacing system is configured to secure the footwear to the wearer's foot and includes a primary lace support, a secondary lace support, and a lace. The primary lace support has a plurality of primary loops disposed on an exterior surface of the upper. Portions of the secondary lace support are inserted through the primary loops to form a plurality of secondary loops. A lace extends through the plurality of secondary loops. The lace is slidably adjustable within the secondary loops and the secondary loops are slidably adjustable within the primary loops to adjust the fit of the article of footwear on a wearer's foot.

An article of footwear can include a ferromagnetic body disposed in the article, and a magnetometer to measure a strength or direction of a magnetic field that is influenced by a position of the ferromagnetic body. One of the ferromagnetic body and the magnetometer can be configured to move relative to the other one of the ferromagnetic body and the magnetometer, for example according to movement of a foot in the article. In an example, the ferromagnetic body is disposed in a compressible insole and the ferromagnetic body moves in response to compression or relaxation of the insole. The magnetometer can be disposed in a platform or sole portion of the article that is relatively stationary compared to the ferromagnetic body. Rate of change information about the magnetic field can be used to control article functions or to provide information about a foot strike or step rate.

A lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel comprising a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the reel can include a rotation limiter which can be configured to prevent over-tightening of the lacing system and/or to prevent rotation past the substantially fully loosened state.

A lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel comprising a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the reel can include a rotation limiter which can be configured to prevent over-tightening of the lacing system and/or to prevent rotation past the substantially fully loosened state.

An article of footwear having an upper secured to an outsole in combination having three toe pockets, the first toe pocket having a configuration to separately receive within a big toe of a wearer, and the second toe pocket having a configuration to separately receive within a second toe of the wearer, and the third toe pocket having a configuration to receive within the remaining third toe, fourth toe and fifth toe of the wearer.