A shoe quick tightening system includes two shoelace segments with aglets at the ends threaded through openings on the shoe, a pull-tab is connected to an aglet clip with at least two aglet channels to receive the two shoelace segments and aglets, and a clip cover engaged with the clip and enclosing the aglets within the clip and cover, the pull tab including hook and loop fastener portion adapted to couple with a mating hook and loop fastener portion on a surface of the shoe.

Provided is a self-fitting and automatically adjustable footwear wherein the shoe upper and/or shoe tongue have or are attached to a shape memory material (‘SMM”). Upon stimulation, the SMM deforms and brings the footwear to self-assemble about a foot, which further brings two clasp members close to each other and facilitates the clasp thereof to form a self-assembled and closed footwear. The clasp members may be integrated with straps or shoelaces, and optionally SMM. The footwear may include a motor, a control unit, and sensors which enable a motor-actuated fine tensioning of the footwear. A push button to enable manual opening of the footwear may be affixed on the footwear or removably attached to multiple surfaces/locations. The entire assembly generates data transmittable to health care providers and other data trackers. The footwear may include a battery, which may be charged by placing the footwear on a charge dock station.

A shoe includes an outsole, a first upper portion, a second upper portion, a rotary dial mounted to the first upper portion, and first and second lace portions coupled between the rotary dial and the second upper portion. The first lace portion aligns with a heel region of the shoe, the second lace portion aligns with a pedal region of the outsole, and a closure center line aligns with a medial arch region of the outsole. The second upper portion includes first and second lace guides. The first upper portion includes a third lace guide between the first and second lace portions. The first and second lace portions define a unitary lace extending from the rotary dial, through the first, second, and third lace guides, and back to the rotary dial. No portion of the lace member crosses over another portion of the lace member outside of the rotary dial.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for closure of footwear. According to an example embodiment, an article of footwear that automatically secures to a user's foot includes a sole and a closure mechanism with a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the closure mechanism is attached to the sole. The second portion extends away from the sole. Deformation of a surface of the closure mechanism actuates the closure mechanism such that it automatically moves from a first stable position to a second stable position. In the second stable position, the closure mechanism conforms to and applies a force to at least one of an upper surface of the article of footwear and an upper surface of a foot of a user of the article of footwear.

A lace-receiving assembly includes a substrate, a first sheet, and a lace guide. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first sheet includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The third surface is bonded to the first surface to define a channel extending between the substrate and the first sheet. The lace guide is disposed within the channel.

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.

The present invention contemplates a binding system for a snowboards and the like. The system includes a soft-soled boot having a hardened exterior shell consisting of a toe portion and a heel portion, which are linked by at least one sidewall portion. The toe and heel portions include two toe and two heel pegs respectively. The boot includes an instep portion having instep cables for adjusting the boot to the wearer and the cables are adjusted by grommets and tightened in position by at least one resting bar. The binding has a base plate for connecting to the snowboard. The base plate further supports a pair of toe hooks adapted to engage the toe pegs and a pair of heel peg levers adapted to releasably engage the heel pegs of the boot. A grappling hook and ratchet mechanism grabs the resting bar on the boot.

A closure system including a body for receiving an object. An activation device is connected to a base structure, and is activated by placement of the object within the closure system. The activation device operates between a raised or depressed configuration, depending on the position of the object within the closure system. A tightening mechanism is responsive to the operation of the activation device. When the activation device is in the raised configuration, the tightening mechanism is loose. When the user depresses the activation device, the tightening mechanism tightens around the object. A movable displacer in a locking device for locking the configuration of the closure system and removably insertable into a recess helps better control tension within the tightening mechanism and improves comfort by disengaging the activation device from the tightening mechanism. A lace lock for locking a lace is disclosed. A lace tension distributor is also disclosed.

The present invention is directed to an adjustable footwear system to provide varying degrees of tightness in different areas of the footwear before and after the footwear is received on the foot. An extensor system is activated to open or close a cavity of the footwear between the upper and an insole. The extensor system can provide loosen the footwear to the foot.

The present invention is directed to an adjustable footwear system to provide varying degrees of tightness in different areas of the footwear before and after the footwear is received on the foot. The footwear is, in its initial form, tightest on the inner cavity with an upper comprised of one or more elastic materials. An extensor system is activated to create a rigid infra-structure to open a cavity of the footwear between the upper and an insole. A decrease of pressure in the extensor system decreases the cavity volume and allows for the elastic upper to apply pressure to the foot.