A lacing system for clothing or footwear is disclosed, having one or more laces, wherein the laces have at least part of at least one non-smooth surface and which are rotated in the path between a closing flap and the other of the garment or of the upper of the shoe, so as to maintain a parallel and adherent relationship to each other. A kit for obtaining a lacing system to be applied to a garment or to a shoe is also disclosed.

A shoelace retainer is provided for use with a shoe. The shoelace retainer generally includes a base defining at least one channel for receiving a first portion of a shoelace therein while the shoelace is coupled to a shoe, thereby coupling the shoelace retainer to the shoe, and a cap associated with the base and defining at least one receptacle relative to the base where the at least one receptacle is configured to receive a second portion of the shoelace when the base is coupled to the shoe.

A shoelace retainer is provided for use with a shoe. The shoelace retainer generally includes a base defining at least one channel for receiving a first portion of a shoelace therein while the shoelace is coupled to a shoe, thereby coupling the shoelace retainer to the shoe, and a cap associated with the base and defining at least one receptacle relative to the base where the at least one receptacle is configured to receive a second portion of the shoelace when the base is coupled to the shoe.

An article of footwear with a knitted component including an upper and an integral knit ankle cuff is provided. The upper and the ankle cuff are formed as a one-piece knit element. The knit element forms a portion of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface forming a void for receiving a foot. The ankle cuff is formed of unitary knit construction with the upper as a one-piece knit element and extends above a throat area of the upper. The ankle cuff includes malleolus zones on medial and lateral sides to correspond with the ankle bones of a wearer. The knit component further incorporates features to assist with providing entry for a foot of a wear, providing comfort to a wearer, and to assist with orientation of the upper of the article of footwear when being worn.

An article of footwear includes an upper having a body with a first side and a second side, and a closure system for the upper. The closure system includes a first anchoring cable loop fixed at the first side, a flap, a flap cable loop, and a lace. The flap is fixed to the second side and extends across the body to a free end at the first side. The flap has an aperture extending through the flap. A flap cable loop extends from the free end. The flap cable loop is configured to extend from the free end through the first anchoring cable loop, and from the first anchoring cable loop back to the flap and through the aperture in the flap from an inner side to an outer side of the flap. A lace extends through the looped end of the flap cable at the outer side.

An article of footwear includes an upper having a body with a first side and a second side, and a closure system for the upper. The closure system includes a first anchoring cable loop fixed at the first side, a flap, a flap cable loop, and a lace. The flap is fixed to the second side and extends across the body to a free end at the first side. The flap has an aperture extending through the flap. A flap cable loop extends from the free end. The flap cable loop is configured to extend from the free end through the first anchoring cable loop, and from the first anchoring cable loop back to the flap and through the aperture in the flap from an inner side to an outer side of the flap. A lace extends through the looped end of the flap cable at the outer side.

An article of footwear includes an upper having a body with a first side and a second side, and a closure system for the upper. The closure system includes a first anchoring cable loop fixed at the first side, a flap, a flap cable loop, and a lace. The flap is fixed to the second side and extends across the body to a free end at the first side. The flap has an aperture extending through the flap. A flap cable loop extends from the free end. The flap cable loop is configured to extend from the free end through the first anchoring cable loop, and from the first anchoring cable loop back to the flap and through the aperture in the flap from an inner side to an outer side of the flap. A lace extends through the looped end of the flap cable at the outer side.

An article of footwear includes an upper having a body with a first side and a second side, and a closure system for the upper. The closure system includes a first anchoring cable loop fixed at the first side, a flap, a flap cable loop, and a lace. The flap is fixed to the second side and extends across the body to a free end at the first side. The flap has an aperture extending through the flap. A flap cable loop extends from the free end. The flap cable loop is configured to extend from the free end through the first anchoring cable loop, and from the first anchoring cable loop back to the flap and through the aperture in the flap from an inner side to an outer side of the flap. A lace extends through the looped end of the flap cable at the outer side.

The invention is intended to provide silicone elastomer laces that are improved in terms of branding and/or ornamentation and/or tear strength and/or additional novel functions other than the mechanical properties and external appearance thereof, as well as a novel lacing solution. For this purpose, the invention relates first to a lace (1) for a shoe (2) equipped with a lace passage (3), the two edges (4, 5) of said passage having through-holes (7). The lace (1) essentially comprises at least one silicone elastomer that is at least partially cross-linked and includes one or more silicone polymers and fillers and, optionally, at least one of the following compounds: catalyst(s), cross-linking agent(s), pigment(s), parting agent(s), plasticiser(s), adhesion promoter(s). The lace is characterised in that it comprises, in the middle portion thereof, an identification zone (9) which is integral with the lace (1) and which, once the lace (1) has been passed through the through-holes (7, 7i) of the shoe (2), is intended to appear on the instep of the shoe (2), between the two lower through-holes (7i) located on either side, and at the base of, the lace passage (3) on the shoe (2). The invention also relates to a lace intended to be locked in place on the shoe (2) using a so-called BlocKnot plate (30) that is provided with multiple passages (20) for holding the lace (1) in place when the free ends of the strands (81) and (82) of the lace are interlaced through the passages (20) and gripped, preferably by passing the free ends of the strands (81) and (82) through the passages (20) in an alternating manner on the front and rear of the plate (30).

The invention is intended to provide silicone elastomer laces that are improved in terms of branding and/or ornamentation and/or tear strength and/or additional novel functions other than the mechanical properties and external appearance thereof, as well as a novel lacing solution. For this purpose, the invention relates first to a lace (1) for a shoe (2) equipped with a lace passage (3), the two edges (4, 5) of said passage having through-holes (7). The lace (1) essentially comprises at least one silicone elastomer that is at least partially cross-linked and includes one or more silicone polymers and fillers and, optionally, at least one of the following compounds: catalyst(s), cross-linking agent(s), pigment(s), parting agent(s), plasticiser(s), adhesion promoter(s). The lace is characterised in that it comprises, in the middle portion thereof, an identification zone (9) which is integral with the lace (1) and which, once the lace (1) has been passed through the through-holes (7, 7i) of the shoe (2), is intended to appear on the instep of the shoe (2), between the two lower through-holes (7i) located on either side, and at the base of, the lace passage (3) on the shoe (2). The invention also relates to a lace intended to be locked in place on the shoe (2) using a so-called BlocKnot plate (30) that is provided with multiple passages (20) for holding the lace (1) in place when the free ends of the strands (81) and (82) of the lace are interlaced through the passages (20) and gripped, preferably by passing the free ends of the strands (81) and (82) through the passages (20) in an alternating manner on the front and rear of the plate (30).