A lace fastener for an article of footwear has at least an upper and a lower half attached by a spring, screw or similar mechanism. The lace fastener has at least one display face that may have the name, color, logo, etc. of the user's choosing. The lace fastener is adhered to the outer portion of the article of footwear, preferably near the top of the article of footwear. Once the article of footwear is laced, the laces are pulled through the lace fastener and the upper half is closed securing the laces in place. The laces may then be pulled through lace holders around the article of footwear in order to hold the laces neatly in place.

A pump includes a conduit defining an inner volume and formed from a flexible material, the conduit movable between an expanded state and a relaxed state. A coil is disposed within the conduit and includes an outer diameter that is approximately equal to an inner diameter of the conduit, the coil substantially maintaining its outer diameter when the conduit is moved between the relaxed state and the expanded state. A manifold is in fluid communication with the inner volume and is operable to permit fluid to enter the inner volume in a first mode and expel fluid from the inner volume in a second mode.

An article of footwear, the article including a sole structure and an upper coupled to a top of the sole structure. The upper including an opening and a closure system, wherein the closure system includes at least one first sheet and a plurality of second sheets. The at least one first sheet and the plurality of second sheets being interleaved.

The present invention relates to a lacing system for tightening a shoe upper, comprising: at least one strap, and a first and a second guiding element for coupling the strap to the shoe upper, wherein a first end of the strap is attached to a tongue portion of the shoe upper and a second end of the strap is configured to receive a portion of a shoelace, and wherein the first guiding element is arranged in a throat area of the shoe upper and the second guiding element is arranged in a sole area of the shoe upper opposite to the throat area.

The present invention relates to a lacing system for tightening a shoe upper, comprising: at least one strap, and a first and a second guiding element for coupling the strap to the shoe upper, wherein a first end of the strap is attached to a tongue portion of the shoe upper and a second end of the strap is configured to receive a portion of a shoelace, and wherein the first guiding element is arranged in a throat area of the shoe upper and the second guiding element is arranged in a sole area of the shoe upper opposite to the throat area.

An article of footwear, the article having a sole structure; and an upper coupled to a top of the sole structure. The upper includes an opening and a closure system, wherein the closure system has one or more flexible bands and one or more gripping mats attached to the one or more flexible bands. The one or more gripping mats include a plurality of microlocks, an inner film and an outer film, with the one or more flexible bands and the one or more gripping mats enclosed between the outer film and the inner film, and a first set of foam elements located on top surfaces of the one or more flexible bands and the one or more gripping mats.

An article of footwear includes an upper attached to a sole structure to define an interior cavity and a closure system. The sole structure includes a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The closure system includes a closure mechanism, a securing element and a cord that is operably engaged with the upper of the footwear and the closure mechanism. The closure mechanism is actuated to adjust the footwear from a loosened configuration to a tightened configuration. The securing element extends across the upper from a medial side to a lateral side. The securing element only partially covers a winding region formed by the cord proximate a tongue of the footwear. The securing element has a fixed end that is permanently fastened to the sole structure.