Strap systems for securing feet into articles of footwear or other foot-receiving devices include one or more strap members formed or engaged together in a continuous path along an upper for an article of footwear or other foot-receiving device. One or more structures for applying a force to the strap member(s) is provided so as to shorten a length of the continuous path and thereby apply tension to the strap member(s). Such strap systems can be arranged so that the strap tightens during plantar flexion or dorsiflexion. Additional aspects of this invention relate to bootie members for supporting such strap systems, upper members or bootie members including such strap systems, and articles of footwear and other foot-receiving devices including such strap systems.

Strap systems for securing feet into articles of footwear or other foot-receiving devices include one or more strap members formed or engaged together in a continuous path along an upper for an article of footwear or other foot-receiving device. One or more structures for applying a force to the strap member(s) is provided so as to shorten a length of the continuous path and thereby apply tension to the strap member(s). Such strap systems can be arranged so that the strap tightens during plantar flexion or dorsiflexion. Additional aspects of this invention relate to bootie members for supporting such strap systems, upper members or bootie members including such strap systems, and articles of footwear and other foot-receiving devices including such strap systems.

Articles of footwear may include an upper formed from one or more upper parts, wherein at least one upper part defines an ankle-containing portion of the upper and at least one upper part (the same upper part or a different upper part) defines an instep-containing portion of the upper. The foot-insertion opening of the upper (which may include a closure system) may extend: (i) from a first side of an ankle-containing portion of the upper, (ii) around a rear heel or ankle area of the upper, (iii) along a second side of the ankle-containing portion of the upper, and (iv) to an instep-containing portion of the upper. One or more additional straps (e.g., an ankle strap, one or more interior bootie straps, etc.), fasteners, and/or locks may be provided to engage the upper/footwear with the wearer's foot.

A charging system can include provisions for providing power to various systems or components associated with the article of footwear. A charging system may include a charging device dimensioned to be used with one or more articles of footwear, where the articles of footwear can include different sizes. In some cases, the charging system can be used to facilitate the transfer of power to components in a motorized tensioning system.

Article of footwear comprised of an upper that includes a vamp, the vamp including a first wall, at least two keepers configured to receive a portion of a lace, each keeper being arranged on either side of a sagittal plane of the article of footwear. Each loop is defined by the following: the interstitial space between the first wall and a yoke locally covering an outer surface of the first wall, the interstitial space having an anterior opening and a posterior opening through which a portion of the lace extends, and an upper linkage between the first wall and the yoke, the upper linkage being achieved due to a first affixer located in a first connection zone close to the sagittal plane, whereby the yoke is superimposed on the first wall without folding.

An article of footwear providing easy donning and doffing through a heel region. A heel cup is pivotably coupled with the footwear to articulate between an open configuration allowing easier access to a foot-receiving cavity and a closed configuration enclosing a heel region of the footwear. A tensioning strap extends from a first side of the footwear around the heel cup to an opposite second side of the footwear when the heel cup is in the closed configuration. The heel strap is effective to structurally secure the heel cup in the closed configuration. One or more tensioning strands may extend from the tensioning strap. The tensioning strands may be effective to convert force provided through the tensioning strap across a forefoot portion to generate a forefoot securing force through a lacing mechanism.

Disclosed is a shoe having a compressible lattice structure in a heel portion to facilitate rapid, easy donning and doffing of shoes. In example embodiments, the lattice structure includes a plurality of interconnected, overlapping, intersecting and/or woven ribs defining a plurality of apertures. The lattice structure has an open position in which the shoe opening is expanded to facilitate reception of a foot of an individual wearing the rapid-entry shoe, and a closed position in which the shoe opening is smaller to retain the foot within the rapid-entry shoe.

Footwear for infants including a sole, a heel support extending above the sole and around a rear portion of the footwear, sidewalls attached to the sole and disposed along the sides of the footwear for supporting the sides of the infant's foot when held within the footwear. A front portion disposed in the front of the footwear and pivotable about the front of the footwear. The footwear can be configured in an open configuration when the front portion is pivoted about the front of the footwear and away from the sidewalls and a closed configuration when the front portion is pivoted about the footwear and toward the sidewalls thereby securing the foot of an infant therein. Two folds in the shoe can include opposing magnetic closure parts disposed thereon. The folds can include an upper-most fold, a middle fold, and a lower-most fold.

Shoe constructions having upper assemblies with independent booties and/or decoupled sole assemblies are disclosed herein. A shoe configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, an upper assembly attached to a sole assembly. The upper assembly can include a throat portion defining an opening configured to receive a foot and a bootie attached the overlay primarily at the throat portion. The bootie can be movable relative to the remaining portion of the upper assembly and the sole assembly. The sole assembly can include a midsole and an outsole that together define a first portion in a forefoot region of the shoe and a second portion in a heel region of the shoe. The first portion and second portions can be decoupled from each other. The midsole can include a stability plate that provides medial and lateral stability to the sole assembly.

A reel based closure device includes a housing component, a spool that is rotatably positioned within an interior region of the housing component, and a tightening component that is coupled with the housing component. The tightening component is operably coupled with the spool so that an operation of the tightening component causes the spool to rotate within the interior region of the housing component to wind a tension member about the spool. The housing component is configured so that the tension member is routed axially below the housing component's interior region and to one or more guides that are positioned along a lace path of an article, such as a shoe.