Systems and apparatus related to automated tightening of a footwear platform including a footwear lacing apparatus are discussed. In an example, a footwear lacing apparatus can include a housing structure, a spool, and a drive mechanism. The housing structure can include a top section and a bottom section. The spool can include a superior surface, a lace spool under the superior surface and a spool shaft with a keyed connection pin. The spool can also be integrated into the top section of the housing structure. The drive mechanism can couple with the spool via the keyed connection pin on the spool shaft. The drive mechanism can be adapted to rotate the spool to tighten or loosen a lace cable integrated into the footwear.

A tensioning system for articles of footwear (100) and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a tensioning member that is tightened or loosened using a motorized tensioning device for winding and unwinding the tensioning member on a spool. The motorized tensioning device includes a torque transmitting system that allows for incremental tightening, incremental loosening and full loosening of the tensioning member.

A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor, and the sensor is configured to sense changes in a foot proximity to the sensor in footwear. Information about the sensed proximity can be used to determine a foot velocity characteristic, which in turn can be used to update an automated footwear function, such as an automatic lacing function, or can be used to determine a step count, foot strike force, a rate of travel, or other information about a foot, about an activity, or about the footwear.

An article of footwear or an article of apparel can include provisions for facilitating the use of a sensor device and protecting the sensor device from external particles or fluid. The sensor device can include a conduit for moving air through the sensor device from one portion of the sensor device to another portion of the sensor device. An elastic membrane can be attached to an opening formed in the sensor device. The elastic membrane can deform in response to changes in air pressure within the sensor device.

A latching system used for a rotary closure of a shoe.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a tensioning mechanism operable to move the upper between a tightened state and a loosened state and including a tensioning cable having a first end disposed on one of a lateral side and a medial side of the upper. The tensioning cable is movable in a tightening direction to move the tightening mechanism into a tightened state and movable in a loosening direction to move the tightening mechanism into a loosened state. The article of footwear also includes a locking device disposed on the one of the lateral side and the medial side of the upper. The locking device is operable between a locked state restricting movement of the tensioning cable in the loosening direction and an unlocked state permitting movement of the tensioning cable in both the loosening direction and the tightening direction.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a tensioning mechanism operable to move the upper between a tightened state and a loosened state and including a tensioning cable having a first end disposed on one of a lateral side and a medial side of the upper. The tensioning cable is movable in a tightening direction to move the tightening mechanism into a tightened state and movable in a loosening direction to move the tightening mechanism into a loosened state. The article of footwear also includes a locking device disposed on the one of the lateral side and the medial side of the upper. The locking device is operable between a locked state restricting movement of the tensioning cable in the loosening direction and an unlocked state permitting movement of the tensioning cable in both the loosening direction and the tightening direction.

A hallux valgus sandal for treating at least great toe malpositions, having a sole element with an outsole and a footbed, with a great toe strap section for the lateral positional fixing of the great toe and with a holding strap section, which holds the sandal on the foot when the sandal is worn. The wrap length of the great toe strap section can be changed in such a way that an adjustable corrective force can be exerted on the great toe. A metatarsus strap section is also provided, the wrap length of which can be changed, wherein both strap sections can be coupled to each other such that a metatarsus corrective force acting laterally on the metatarsal bone can be varied to press the metatarsal bone on the foot inner side in the lateral direction towards the foot outer side. As a result of said metatarsus corrective force, a hallux corrective force in the direction toward the foot inner side can be exerted, wherein the great toe strap section is guided backwards from the great toe at an angle and enters a channel on the inside of the sole element that is arranged in the metatarsus region of the sandal.

A footwear assembly includes at least one article of footwear having an upper and a housing disposed along the upper. A first lace extends along portions of the upper and into the housing through a first lateral aperture or a first medial aperture. The housing defines a swipe panel, a sole structure coupled with the upper, and a control PCB comprising a wireless communication module. The footwear assembly further includes an electronic device wirelessly coupled with the wireless communication module. The first lace can be incrementally tightened or loosened by swiping the swipe panel or via an input on a display screen of the electronic device.

An article of footwear includes a motorized tensioning system, sensors, and a gesture control system. Based on information received from one or more sensors the gesture control system may detect a prompting gesture and enters an armed mode for receiving further instructions. In the armed mode the system may detect a variety of different control gestures that correspond to different tensioning commands.