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 or magnetic sensor configured to sense changes in a body's proximity to the sensor in footwear. Characteristics of the sensed proximity can be used to update an automated footwear function, such as an automatic lacing function, or can be used to determine a step count, foot strike force, a rate of travel, or other information about a foot or about the footwear.

An article of footwear or an article of apparel can include provisions for facilitating the use of a sensor device and protecting the sensor device from external particles or fluid. The sensor device can include a conduit for moving air through the sensor device from one portion of the sensor device to another portion of the sensor device. An elastic membrane can be attached to an opening formed in the sensor device. The elastic membrane can deform in response to changes in air pressure within the sensor device.

A footwear assembly can comprise, an upper, a lace cable, a plurality of lace guides and a tensioner. The tensioner can comprise an elastic member extending between two lace guides of the plurality of lace guides, an elastic member extending between first and second portions of the upper, an elastic member extending between a portion of the upper and a lace guide of the plurality of lace guides, a heel channel connected to a heel portion of the upper and configured to facilitate access to an interior space, an elastic member coupled to the footwear assembly that functions to smooth out a torque versus lace displacement curve during tightening of the lace cable.

A lacing system of an article includes two laces that are routed through the article of footwear to provide two distinct fastening zones. A first lace can be routed through a first set of lace-receiving passages in a first fastening zone of a body of the article, and a second lace can be routed through a second fastening zone of the body. A method of lacing an article includes routing the first lace and the second lace through the lace-receiving passages of the respective zones.

A footwear assembly includes an upper, a lace cable, a plurality of lace guides and a tensioner. The tensioner includes a tensioning member secured to a side of the upper proximate a toe box and the lace cable, and a floating overlay attached to a side of the upper proximate a toe box and the lace cable. The tensioning members include an elastic member. The tensioning members can be configured to provide a stiff lockout zone and an elastic stretch zone.

An interlocking fastening device includes two solid interlocking forms that can be quickly and easily locked when placed together. The two forms are held together by tension forces and resist these same tension forces to create a locking mechanism. Each interlocking form is made up of rigid three-dimensional wave formations that taper upwardly at an acute angle from a guide plate. When bringing the two rigid interlocking forms together they self-align to provide a rigid, strong, low-profile, thin, low-wear, locking, mechanism.

Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.

An article of footwear may include a motorized tensioning system. The tensioning system may include a tensile member and a motorized tightening device configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear. The tensioning system may further include a power source configured to supply power to the motorized tightening device. The tensile member, the motorized tightening device, and the power source may be configured to be removably attached to the article of footwear.

An article of footwear can include a ferromagnetic body disposed in the article, and a magnetometer to measure a strength or direction of a magnetic field that is influenced by a position of the ferromagnetic body. One of the ferromagnetic body and the magnetometer can be configured to move relative to the other one of the ferromagnetic body and the magnetometer, for example according to movement of a foot in the article. In an example, the ferromagnetic body is disposed in a compressible insole and the ferromagnetic body moves in response to compression or relaxation of the insole. The magnetometer can be disposed in a platform or sole portion of the article that is relatively stationary compared to the ferromagnetic body. Rate of change information about the magnetic field can be used to control article functions or to provide information about a foot strike or step rate.

A cycling shoe has a sole and an upper attached to the sole. An adjustable closure panel extends across an opening in the upper. A lever assembly is exposed at an outer, rear surface of the upper, and is movable about a hinge between a first position and a second position. One or more passages extend through the cycling shoe to accommodate one or more cables to connect the lever assembly to the adjustable closure panel. The lever assembly is configured such that moving the lever assembly between the first position and the second position causes the one or more cables, if connected between the lever assembly to the adjustable closure panel, to tighten or loosen the closure panel relative to the upper.