A zipper assembly includes various elements, such as a zipper-slider body and a zipper puller. The zipper puller can be gripped when manually traversing the zipper-slider body along zipper-teeth assemblies, such as when releasably fastening portions or edges of an article together. In addition, the zipper puller includes one or more additional hooking loops that releasably attach onto other surfaces or items.

Footwear is provided and comprises a bottom part comprising a sole and an integral rear upper section, and a separate top part comprising a front upper section. The parts are releasably connected to each other by a releasable fastener. Each part provides a fastener half and each fastener half has a start and an end. The rear upper section of the bottom part includes a heel cap portion. The top part comprises two ends at a rear part thereof and the ends are connected by a strap positioned between the start and end of the top half fastener, and a movable flap is provided and extends over the inside surface of at least part of the heel cap portion. The releasable fastener is a zipper fastener, in which each fastener half has a zipper track with a plurality of teeth, and the number of teeth on the halves is exactly the same.

Footwear is provided and comprises a bottom part comprising a sole and an integral rear upper section, and a separate top part comprising a front upper section. The parts are releasably connected to each other by a releasable fastener. Each part provides a fastener half and each fastener half has a start and an end. The rear upper section of the bottom part includes a heel cap portion. The top part comprises two ends at a rear part thereof and the ends are connected by a strap positioned between the start and end of the top half fastener, and a movable flap is provided and extends over the inside surface of at least part of the heel cap portion. The releasable fastener is a zipper fastener, in which each fastener half has a zipper track with a plurality of teeth, and the number of teeth on the halves is exactly the same.

According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing, and a stop mechanism. The device is configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the housing that incrementally tensions a tension member and thereby tightens the article. The device is also configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally loosens the tension member's tension. The stop mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the tension member's tension achieves or falls below a tension threshold.

According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing, and a stop mechanism. The device is configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the housing that incrementally tensions a tension member and thereby tightens the article. The device is also configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally loosens the tension member's tension. The stop mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the tension member's tension achieves or falls below a tension threshold.

An article of footwear includes a closure mechanism with a guide rail, a plurality of carriages disposed on the guide rail, and a strap connecting the carriages. The carriages are movably coupled to the guide rail to adjust the fit of the article of footwear. In some instances, a guide rail includes a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first end and the second end. The first end of the guide rail is disposed on the lateral side portion of the upper, the second end of the guide rail is disposed on the medial side portion of the upper, and the intermediate portion of the guide rail extends from the lateral side portion of the upper, around the heel portion of the upper, and to the medial side portion of the upper.

An article of footwear includes a closure mechanism with a guide rail, a plurality of carriages disposed on the guide rail, and a strap connecting the carriages. The carriages are movably coupled to the guide rail to adjust the fit of the article of footwear. In some instances, a guide rail includes a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first end and the second end. The first end of the guide rail is disposed on the lateral side portion of the upper, the second end of the guide rail is disposed on the medial side portion of the upper, and the intermediate portion of the guide rail extends from the lateral side portion of the upper, around the heel portion of the upper, and to the medial side portion of the upper.

Ski boot comprising a rigid shell which is shaped so as to accommodate the foot of the user, and has a lower part structured to couple with a ski binding device; a rigid cuff which is shaped so as to surround the lower part of the leg of the user, and is pivotally jointed to the shell thus to be able to pivot about a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the midplane of the boot, and shell closing means adapted to selectively tighten the shell on the foot of the user; the shell comprising a substantially basin-shaped casing which is superiorly provided with a main opening from which the leg of the user comes out, and with a longitudinal slit that branches from said main opening and extends along the casing towards the front tip of the shell; the shell closing means being placed at the longitudinal fissure.

Ski boot comprising a rigid shell which is shaped so as to accommodate the foot of the user, and has a lower part structured to couple with a ski binding device; a rigid cuff which is shaped so as to surround the lower part of the leg of the user, and is pivotally jointed to the shell thus to be able to pivot about a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the midplane of the boot, and shell closing means adapted to selectively tighten the shell on the foot of the user; the shell comprising a substantially basin-shaped casing which is superiorly provided with a main opening from which the leg of the user comes out, and with a longitudinal slit that branches from said main opening and extends along the casing towards the front tip of the shell; the shell closing means being placed at the longitudinal fissure.

A haptic zipper is provided. The haptic zipper includes a first chain, a second chain opposing the first chain, a slider, an actuator coupled to the slider, and a controller coupled to the actuator. The slider is coupled to the first chain and the second chain to mesh or disengage opposing teeth of the first and second chains. The controller is configured to process an input signal including data related to a haptic effect, generate a haptic drive signal based on the data, and transmit the haptic drive signal to the actuator to render the haptic effect.