An article of footwear and related method includes a midsole, an upper secured with respect to the midsole and forming a throat, and a plurality of laces extending across the throat of the upper. A motorized lacing system is positioned within the midsole and is configured to engage with a primary lace to increase and decrease tension on the primary lace. The motorized lacing system includes a motor, a lace spool, operatively coupled to the motor, configured to spool and unspool the primary lace based, and an elongate spool, the primary lace coupled to the elongate spool, configured to spool and unspool the plurality of laces based on operation of the motor and via the primary lace, each of the plurality of laces spaced along the elongate spool from one another.

An article of footwear and related method includes a midsole, an upper secured with respect to the midsole, and a lace extending through the upper. A motorized lacing system positioned within the midsole, configured to engage with the lace to increase and decrease tension on the lace. The motorized lacing system includes a motor, including a motor shaft, a spool, coupled to the motor shaft, configured to spool and unspool the lace based on the turning of the motor shaft, a processor circuit, and an optical encoder. The optical encoder comprises a three-dimensional encoder defining a major axis and having a surface having a first plurality of segments positioned between a second plurality of segments, and an optical sensor, positioned within optical range of the cylindrical encoder, configured to output a signal to the processor circuit indicative of a detected one of a first and second plurality of segments.

The present disclosure generally relates to devices and methods for securing shoelace knots by clamping an individual knot between two movable plates.

A shoe lace holder to assist in the tying of shoe laces and to prevent shoe laces inadvertently coming undone during use is disclosed. The shoelace holder includes a unitary body having top and bottom surfaces defined by a front edge, a back edge and side edges. The body includes at least one first hole and at least one second hole, two slots, which extend in opposite directions relative to each other, and at least two further holes spaced apart from each other. The holes allow a shoe lace to pass through, and the slots are adapted to engage a portion of the shoe lace there in. When attached to a shoe a shoe's laces are interwoven through the respective holes and slots to prevent the lace inadvertently untying in use. A method of securing a shoe lace to the shoe lace holder is also disclosed.

A fastening device includes a case, a spool disposed in the case and configured for a lace to be wound therearound, a plurality of ratchet teeth inside the case, a ratchet element disposed at the case and located at one side of the ratchet teeth, and a knob disposed at the case. The ratchet element includes a ratchet arm selectively engaged with at least one of the ratchet teeth. As the ratchet arm is engaged with at least one of the ratchet teeth, the spool is prohibited to rotate in a releasing direction, and as the knob is rotated in a tensioning direction, the ratchet arm is disengaged from at least one of the ratchet teeth to allow the spool to tension the lace.

An article of footwear and related method includes a midsole, an upper secured with respect to the midsole, and a lace extending through the upper. A motorized lacing system positioned within the midsole, configured to engage with the lace to increase and decrease tension on the lace. The motorized lacing system includes a motor, including a motor shaft, a spool, coupled to the motor shaft, configured to spool and unspool the lace based on the turning of the motor shaft, a processor circuit, and an optical encoder. The optical encoder comprises a three-dimensional encoder defining a major axis and having a surface having a first plurality of segments positioned between a second plurality of segments, and an optical sensor, positioned within optical range of the cylindrical encoder, configured to output a signal to the processor circuit indicative of a detected one of a first and second plurality of segments.

A clamp includes a cap, a base, a plurality of staggered protrusions on the base and the cap, a hinge, and a latch. The hinge is defined by the cap and the base. The latch is configured to secure the cap to the base. A footwear includes laces on the foot wear and at least one aforementioned clamp, which clamps at least two of the laces.

An article of footwear and related method includes a midsole, an upper secured with respect to the midsole, and a lace extending through the upper. A motorized lacing system positioned within the midsole, configured to engage with the lace to increase and decrease tension on the lace. The motorized lacing system includes a motor, including a motor shaft, a spool, coupled to the motor shaft, configured to spool and unspool the lace based on the turning of the motor shaft, a processor circuit, and an optical encoder. The optical encoder comprises a three-dimensional encoder defining a major axis and having a surface having a first plurality of segments positioned between a second plurality of segments, and an optical sensor, positioned within optical range of the cylindrical encoder, configured to output a signal to the processor circuit indicative of a detected one of a first and second plurality of segments.

Provided are, among other things, shoes having elastic tongue-securing straps. In one representative embodiment, a shoe includes: (a) a sole; (b) an upper, extending above the sole, that includes a front section, a left side, a right side, a rear section, and a tongue that originates from the front section and extends rearwardly between the left side and the right side; (c) a left elastic strap that extends from a left side of the tongue and: (1) extends through a loop that is securely attached to the left side of the upper and has a distal end securely attached to the sole, and/or (2) has its distal end securely attached to the left side of the upper; and (d) a right elastic strap that extends from a right side of the tongue and: (1) extends through a loop that is securely attached to the right side of the upper and has a distal end securely attached to the sole, and/or (2) has its distal end securely attached to the right side of the upper, with the left elastic strap having a proximal end fixedly attached to the left side of the tongue and the right elastic strap having a proximal end fixedly attached to the right side of the tongue.

A device for use in securing two or more laces on an article of clothing includes (a) a piece of flexible and elastic material having shear-resistive properties and an initial disk-like shape and (b) a hole formed in the material. When the laces are inserted through the hole a first time, wrapped together around a portion of the piece of material, inserted together through the hole a second time, and pulled tightly in opposite directions, the material deforms to (1) assume a self-herniated shape in which the material grips the laces and folds upon itself and the laces toward the hole, and (2) retain the self-herniated shape and secure the laces in place after pulling forces are removed from the laces.