A shoe having a toe portion, a heel portion and first and second sides, the shoe including a sole, an upper and a closing mechanism extending from a top portion of the upper down along the first side of the shoe and then horizontally between the sole and the upper around the toe portion, around the second side and around the heel portion.

A shoe having a toe portion, a heel portion and first and second sides, the shoe including a sole, an upper and a closing mechanism extending from a top portion of the upper down along the first side of the shoe and then horizontally between the sole and the upper around the toe portion, around the second side and around the heel portion.

A smart zipper includes: a fastener stringer including two rows of zipper teeth and a joint at one end of the two rows of zipper teeth for fixedly connecting the one end of the two rows of zipper teeth; a slider, including two lateral limiting portions, the two lateral limiting portions having conductive properties, and the two lateral limiting portions respectively electrically contacting outer edges of the two rows of zipper teeth; and a resistance measuring chip electrically connected to the two lateral limiting portions of the slider respectively, wherein the resistance measuring chip, the slider and the fastener stringer form a conductive loop. The resistance measuring chip is used for measuring the resistance value of the conductive loop, and outputting a measurement signal. The smart zipper provided by the present disclosure can detect its own closed state. Therefore, the user can know the closed state of the zipper in real time to avoid embarrassment or property loss due to unclosed zipper.

A smart zipper includes: a fastener stringer including two rows of zipper teeth and a joint at one end of the two rows of zipper teeth for fixedly connecting the one end of the two rows of zipper teeth; a slider, including two lateral limiting portions, the two lateral limiting portions having conductive properties, and the two lateral limiting portions respectively electrically contacting outer edges of the two rows of zipper teeth; and a resistance measuring chip electrically connected to the two lateral limiting portions of the slider respectively, wherein the resistance measuring chip, the slider and the fastener stringer form a conductive loop. The resistance measuring chip is used for measuring the resistance value of the conductive loop, and outputting a measurement signal. The smart zipper provided by the present disclosure can detect its own closed state. Therefore, the user can know the closed state of the zipper in real time to avoid embarrassment or property loss due to unclosed zipper.

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.

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.

Footwear that opens fully at its back to allow a user to easily slide his or her foot into the footwear. The footwear may particularly be a boot, such as a cowboy boot or a work boot. The footwear may have both a vertical opening and a horizontal opening, allowing the user to place his or her foot into the footwear without bending his or her ankle.

Footwear that opens fully at its back to allow a user to easily slide his or her foot into the footwear. The footwear may particularly be a boot, such as a cowboy boot or a work boot. The footwear may have both a vertical opening and a horizontal opening, allowing the user to place his or her foot into the footwear without bending his or her ankle.

Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine are discussed. In this example, the footwear assembly can include a footwear upper and a lace cable running through a plurality of lace guides. The plurality of lace guides can be distributed along the medial side and the lateral side, and each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides can be adapted to receive a length of the lace cable. The lace cable can extend through each of the plurality of lace guides to form a pattern along each of the medial side and lateral side of the footwear upper. The footwear assembly can also include a medial proximal lace guide routing the lace cable into a lacing engine disposed within a mid-sole portion. Finally, the footwear assembly includes a lateral proximal lace guide to route the lace cable out of the lacing engine.

Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine are discussed. In this example, the footwear assembly can include a footwear upper and a lace cable running through a plurality of lace guides. The plurality of lace guides can be distributed along the medial side and the lateral side, and each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides can be adapted to receive a length of the lace cable. The lace cable can extend through each of the plurality of lace guides to form a pattern along each of the medial side and lateral side of the footwear upper. The footwear assembly can also include a medial proximal lace guide routing the lace cable into a lacing engine disposed within a mid-sole portion. Finally, the footwear assembly includes a lateral proximal lace guide to route the lace cable out of the lacing engine.