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 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.

Articles of footwear may include an upper formed from one or more upper parts, wherein at least one upper part defines an ankle-containing portion of the upper and at least one upper part (the same upper part or a different upper part) defines an instep-containing portion of the upper. The foot-insertion opening of the upper (which may include a closure system) may extend: (i) from a first side of an ankle-containing portion of the upper, (ii) around a rear heel or ankle area of the upper, (iii) along a second side of the ankle-containing portion of the upper, and (iv) to an instep-containing portion of the upper. One or more additional straps (e.g., an ankle strap, one or more interior bootie straps, etc.), fasteners, and/or locks may be provided to engage the upper/footwear with the wearer's foot.

Articles of footwear may include an upper formed from one or more upper parts, wherein at least one upper part defines an ankle-containing portion of the upper and at least one upper part (the same upper part or a different upper part) defines an instep-containing portion of the upper. The foot-insertion opening of the upper (which may include a closure system) may extend: (i) from a first side of an ankle-containing portion of the upper, (ii) around a rear heel or ankle area of the upper, (iii) along a second side of the ankle-containing portion of the upper, and (iv) to an instep-containing portion of the upper. One or more additional straps (e.g., an ankle strap, one or more interior bootie straps, etc.), fasteners, and/or locks may be provided to engage the upper/footwear with the wearer's foot.

An athletic skate body has an integrated leather vamp main body, a heel accessory piece, multiple strengthening pieces, a tongue, a shoe lining, an inner board, and a sole. The integrated leather vamp main body has a seamless toe box surface portion and a first lateral surface portion and a second lateral surface portion extending rearward from two sides of the toe box surface portion. The first and the second lateral surface portions are sewed with a heel accessory piece and thus a heel portion is formed. With the seamless toe box surface portion, strength of a head portion of the athletic skate body is enhanced, and a vamp base can be cut into shape by automation equipment. Thus, with the plane and integral vamp base attached with multiple strengthening pieces precisely, the manpower is saved and the quality of the athletic skate body is improved.

An athletic skate body has an integrated leather vamp main body, a heel accessory piece, multiple strengthening pieces, a tongue, a shoe lining, an inner board, and a sole. The integrated leather vamp main body has a seamless toe box surface portion and a first lateral surface portion and a second lateral surface portion extending rearward from two sides of the toe box surface portion. The first and the second lateral surface portions are sewed with a heel accessory piece and thus a heel portion is formed. With the seamless toe box surface portion, strength of a head portion of the athletic skate body is enhanced, and a vamp base can be cut into shape by automation equipment. Thus, with the plane and integral vamp base attached with multiple strengthening pieces precisely, the manpower is saved and the quality of the athletic skate body is improved.

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to an article of footwear. The article of footwear may include an inner element, the inner element having an overfoot portion and an underfoot portion. The article of footwear may further include an outer element at least partially formed by a first knitted component, the outer element covering the throat area of the inner element. The article of footwear may further include a fastening element secured to the inner element in a throat area, where the fastening element is located between the inner element and the outer element, and where adjustment of the fastening element adjusts the fit of the inner element when the article of footwear is in use. The article of footwear may further include a sole structure, where the sole structure at least partially covers the underfoot portion of the inner element.

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to an article of footwear. The article of footwear may include an inner element, the inner element having an overfoot portion and an underfoot portion. The article of footwear may further include an outer element at least partially formed by a first knitted component, the outer element covering the throat area of the inner element. The article of footwear may further include a fastening element secured to the inner element in a throat area, where the fastening element is located between the inner element and the outer element, and where adjustment of the fastening element adjusts the fit of the inner element when the article of footwear is in use. The article of footwear may further include a sole structure, where the sole structure at least partially covers the underfoot portion of the inner element.

There is disclosed a ski boot system. One embodiment includes right and left side portions formed by a longitudinal split with a hinged connection therebetween. The open configuration allows placement of an inner liner into the shell. The closed configuration restricts removal of the liner from the shell. A selectively fastenable connector and/or a selectively locking sheath extend between the right and left side portions. The selectively fastenable connector and/or the selectively locking sheath permit selective positioning of the shell between open and closed configurations. The liner of a ski boot includes a wall of material defining inner and outer surfaces. The outer surface defines an exterior having dimensions sized to compressively fit within the shell. The inner surface defines an interior having dimensions sized to receive a foot. Other embodiments are disclosed.

An article of footwear comprises a sole structure, and an upper. The upper includes a front section and a rear section, both secured to the sole structure. The front section is fixed to the sole structure at least partially forward of the rear section and includes a medial portion and a lateral portion that together define a foot-receiving cavity over the sole structure, and a foot entry opening of the foot-receiving cavity. A zipper is secured to the medial portion and to the lateral portion. The zipper includes a slider movable between a zipped position and an unzipped position forward of the zipped position. An anchor is secured to one of the front section or the sole structure forward of the zipped position of the slider, and a cord is engaged with the zipper and with the rear section of the upper, and routed through the anchor.