An article of footwear includes an upper having a tensioning element operable to move the upper between a tightened state and a loosened state. The tensioning element includes a first strand having (i) a first portion extending along a lateral side of an ankle opening of the upper to a first turn in the heel region, and (ii) a second portion extending from the first turn and along the lateral side of the ankle opening to a second end at an anterior end of the ankle opening. The tensioning element also includes a second strand having (i) a first portion extending along a medial side of the ankle opening to a second turn in the heel region, and (ii) a second portion extending from the second turn and along the medial side of the ankle opening to a fourth end at the anterior end of the ankle opening.

A spine for an article of footwear includes a base extending from a first end to a second end. The spine also includes a sidewall extending transversely from the base from the first end to the second end. The sidewall has a plurality of sidewall supports including a forefoot sidewall support at the first end, a heel sidewall support at the second end, and a mid-foot sidewall support disposed between the first end and the second end and defining a maximum height of the sidewall.

A footwear article includes a hinged portion in a heel region that may be biased in various positions to increase or decrease a size of a foot-insertion opening. The hinged portion may be arranged in a first position, in which the hinged portion is more upright and is in position to cup a wearer's heel or Achilles region when the footwear article is worn. In addition, the hinged portion may be hingedly rotated downward or rearwardly (e.g., away from the foot-insertion opening) to a second position, which may increase a size of the foot-insertion opening and/or may change an angle along which a foot can pass through the foot-insertion opening when the footwear article is being donned or doffed. One or more elastic members may be attached to the hinged portion and to some other portion of the footwear article to bias the hinged portion.

A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a tensioning member that is tightened or loosened using a motorized tensioning device for winding and unwinding the tensioning member on a spool. The tensioning system may be used with various sensors to determine how the motorized tensioning device should be controlled.

A waterproof boot comprises a bootie, such as a hiking boot, and a boot upper comprising a varying diameter tube of waterproof material. The boot upper may have a bottom opening that is sealed between an outer gasket and an inner gasket affixed to the bottom of the bootie. The boot upper may also have a top opening that allows a wearer to insert a leg through the top opening of the boot upper and into the bootie. The boot upper may extend more than three inches over the top of the bootie to provide an extended waterproof shield that prevents water from entering into the top of the bootie. The boot upper may include a gusset and a zipper and/or a horizontal Velcro strip and Velcro receiving area to enlarge (or contract) the top opening of the boot upper to allow the wearer to pull the boot upper over a calf of the wearer and improve the fit and comfort of the boot upper.

A fastener having two strap ends connected by an elastomeric member is described. The elastomeric member has sufficient elasticity to allow a user to increase the distance of separation between the two strap ends by applying a tension force, while providing enough tension to return the two strap ends to close proximity when the user releases the tension force. The elastomeric member may also have an adjustable elasticity to accommodate different applications with different load forces.

A tension-retaining system for retaining tension in a tensioning cord of a wearable article may include a retainer including an anchor and a wedge. The anchor may define a notch, and the wedge may have a tensioning cord coupling feature. The wedge may have an engagement portion that fits within the notch with the engagement portion disposed further in the notch than the tensioning cord coupling feature.

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, and the sensor is configured to sense changes in a foot proximity to the sensor in footwear. Information about the sensed proximity can be used to determine a foot velocity characteristic, which in turn 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, about an activity, or about the footwear.

Foot support systems (and articles of footwear including them) include: (a) a medial side member having one or more medial side supports (e.g., ribs); (b) a lateral side member having one or more lateral side supports (e.g., ribs); and (c) structure (such as a hinge system) configured to move the foot support system (e.g., the medial side support(s) with respect to the lateral side support(s)) between: (a) a foot-insertion configuration and (b) a foot-containing configuration. In moving from the foot-insertion configuration to the foot-containing configuration, the foot support system can be changed between an open condition and a closed condition.

The invention relates to gum shoe-type footwear and a mechanism both for fixing the shoes and for fastening normal footwear provided with this mechanism which allows a person to perform this operation without leaning and without using their hands. According to the invention, the device comprises a Subassembly (A) drive mechanism and a Subassembly (B) of lower fastening of the Subassembly (A), a Subassembly (C) of upper fastening of the Subassembly (A) and footwear positioning and a pneumatic Subassembly (D).