A tying system or mechanism with at least one lace and a fastener element can be used with a boxing glove or a shoe to allow a user to secure the at least one lace around the boxing glove or shoe without a second person and/or without tying a knot. The tying mechanism can include a back-to-back hook and loop of a fastener element and can include or more locking mechanisms to anchor free ends of the one or more laces at the eyelets of the boxing glove or shoe. The tying mechanism can generate a force that is radial or lateral to a gap defined by flaps of the boxing glove or shoes.

A tying system or mechanism with at least one lace and a fastener element can be used with a boxing glove or a shoe to allow a user to secure the at least one lace around the boxing glove or shoe without a second person and/or without tying a knot. The tying mechanism can include a back-to-back hook and loop of a fastener element and can include or more locking mechanisms to anchor free ends of the one or more laces at the eyelets of the boxing glove or shoe. The tying mechanism can generate a force that is radial or lateral to a gap defined by flaps of the boxing glove or shoes.

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 method for fastening a shoe is disclosed. The shoe has an upper part connected to a sole and a rotary closure that fastens the shoe using at least one tensioning element. The rotary closure has a rotatably arranged tensioning roller, and the tensioning roller is driven by an electric motor and a switching element. The switching element is connected to a controller, and includes touch sensitive sensors which form a surface that is accessible to the wearer. The switching element and the controller are configured to actuate the motor, and operation of fastening the shoe takes place by the controller detecting a first swipe signal over the touch sensitive sensors, and causing the fastening of the shoe at a first level of fastening force by the controller and the electric motor.

A method for fastening a shoe is disclosed. The shoe has an upper part connected to a sole and a rotary closure that fastens the shoe using at least one tensioning element. The rotary closure has a rotatably arranged tensioning roller, and the tensioning roller is driven by an electric motor and a switching element. The switching element is connected to a controller, and includes touch sensitive sensors which form a surface that is accessible to the wearer. The switching element and the controller are configured to actuate the motor, and operation of fastening the shoe takes place by the controller detecting a first swipe signal over the touch sensitive sensors, and causing the fastening of the shoe at a first level of fastening force by the controller and the electric motor.

In an example, a lacing engine apparatus can include a housing and a drivetrain. The housing can be securable within a footwear article. The drivetrain can include a motor, a sun gear, a planet gear, a rotating ring gear, and a spool. The spool can be secured to the ring gear and can be rotatable therewith. The spool can be configured to control a lace of the footwear article and can be configured to wind the lace as the ring gear rotates in a first direction.

In an example, a lacing engine apparatus can include a housing and a drivetrain. The housing can be securable within a footwear article. The drivetrain can include a motor, a sun gear, a planet gear, a rotating ring gear, and a spool. The spool can be secured to the ring gear and can be rotatable therewith. The spool can be configured to control a lace of the footwear article and can be configured to wind the lace as the ring gear rotates in a first direction.

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.

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 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.