A lace tensioning device includes a housing component having an interior region, a first aperture, and a second aperture, and a spool component that is rotatably positionable within the interior region of the housing component. The spool component has a central cylindrical member and a lumen that extends through the central cylindrical portion. The spool component is rotatable within the interior region of the housing component to align one end of the lumen with the first aperture and to align an opposite end of the lumen with the second aperture to enable a lace to be inserted through the first aperture, the lumen, and the second aperture so that opposing ends of the lace are positioned exterior to the housing component. A knot may then be tied in the lace and the lace retracted to couple the lace with the housing component and spool component.

A shoe includes a shoe sole and an upper coupled to the shoe sole. The upper has an upper body and an annular holding portion. The upper body has an opening portion for entry and removal of a wearer's foot. The annular holding portion is stretchable and configured to hold the wearer's foot. The annular holding portion is coupled to the opening portion. The opening portion has an edge that includes a first edge portion and a second edge portion. The first edge portion is located on a rear end in a longitudinal direction. The second edge portion is located forward of the first edge portion. The holding portion has a first degree of mobility relative to the first edge portion and a second degree of mobility relative to the second edge portion. The second degree of mobility is higher than the first degree of mobility.

A rotary push-pull rope retractor includes a top cover, a follower, a seat, a control member and a base. The seat is fixedly installed on the base. An upper surface of the seat is provided with an elastic member and a pawl connected with the elastic member. The follower includes a ratchet and a rope bin. The pawl is located on one side of the ratchet and engaged with the ratchet. The control member is slidably arranged on the upper surface of the seat, and the control member can push the pawl to move away from the ratchet and compress the elastic member to separate the pawl from the ratchet, so as to switch the meshing mode or the free mode of the rotary push-pull rope retractor. The top cover is arranged above the seat, and the top cover and the follower are connected in linkage.

Systems, apparatus, and methods related to an automated footwear platform including motor control techniques. The motor control techniques can include operations such as segmenting a pre-defined travel distance, defining a plurality of moves, creating a plurality of motion profiles, and commanding movements. The plurality of moves can utilize the segmented travel distance for a drive mechanism associated with the footwear platform. Each motion profile of the plurality of motion profiles can include one or more moves from the plurality of moves. Commanding movement of the drive mechanism can be based on selection of one or more motion profiles from the plurality of motion profiles.

The present invention relates to a lace, string, strap or zip cord lock or securement device that can be applied to an apparel item or accessory. The device has a threaded cap and threaded housing which attaches to a base. The housing includes a continuous opening through which the laces, strings, straps, or cords can be inserted such that they enter the opening on one side of the housing and exit the opening on the other side of the housing. Then, the cap can be turned to tighten the cap and cause it to move downwards on the housing until the laces, strings, cords or straps are pinned between the cap and the base. In addition, a lace, strap, string or cord insertion tool is provided to aid a user in inserting laces, strings, cord or straps through the continuous opening.

A closure system for an article of footwear includes a closure mechanism, a securing element, and a cord that is configured to be operably engaged with an upper of the footwear. The closure mechanism is configured to be actuated to adjust the footwear from a loosened configuration to a tightened configuration, and the securing element is configured to be engaged with the closure mechanism to secure the footwear in the tightened configuration.

A closure system for an article of footwear includes a closure mechanism, a securing element, and a cord or a lace that is configured to be operably engaged with an upper of the footwear. The closure mechanism is configured to be actuated to adjust the footwear from a loosened configuration to a tightened configuration, and the securing element is configured to be engaged with the closure mechanism to removably secure the closure mechanism to the footwear.

An article of footwear with an automatic lacing system is disclosed. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper.

An article of footwear facilitates relatively easy donning and removal, and secure adjustment. The article of footwear comprises a sole structure, an upper secured to the sole structure, and a plurality of tensioning cables having proximal ends fixed to at least one of the upper or the sole structure and extending out of the upper. A strap has a proximal end connected to distal ends of the plurality of tensioning cables, and has a distal end releasably securable to the upper to tighten the tensioning cables. A webbed spacer is secured to the plurality of tensioning cables. The webbed spacer extends between adjacent ones of the plurality of tensioning cables, and the adjacent ones of the plurality of tensioning cables spaced apart from one another by the webbed spacer.

It is provided a closure device includes a first closure part and a second closure part, which can be placed against each other along a closing direction, are held against each other in a closed position, and can be detached from each other for opening the closure device. The second closure part includes a housing element with a bearing opening and a rotary element rotatably mounted in the bearing opening of the housing element. The rotary element is operatively connected to an actuator element and can be rotated with respect to the second closure part for adjusting the actuator element along a winding direction. The first closure part includes a first toothing device the second closure part includes a second toothing device, and in the closed position of the closure device the first toothing device and the second toothing device are in engagement with each other in such a way that the first closure part and the second closure part are positively held against each other along the winding direction.