In a fastening structure, a third guide member located on the medial side and a third guide member located on the lateral side overlap each other in a foot length direction of footwear as viewed in the foot length direction. A tightening member is guided such that intermediate portions of the tightening member, which are located on the medial and lateral sides, extend in a direction including a component of the foot length direction without crossing each other in a foot width direction of the footwear.

A rapid-entry shoe with a rotating tongue having an open configuration for ease of donning or doffing by a foot and also having a closed configuration for retention of the foot.

A rapid-entry shoe with a rotating tongue having an open configuration for ease of donning or doffing by a foot and also having a closed configuration for retention of the foot.

A shoe lace replacement overlay system, including a shoe, wherein the shoe includes a shoe base, a shoe lace region, a notch area/tongue opening such that the notch area/tongue opening includes an elastic member/shoe tightener for retaining the shoe on a foot of a wearer, and a plurality of a first shoe replacement overlay attachments; and a shoe lace replacement overlay having a top side and a bottom side, wherein the top side of the shoe lace replacement overlay includes a shoe lace replacement overlay base having a first edge and a second edge, a plurality of eyelet strips, a plurality of eyelets, an elastic member located substantially between the plurality of eyelet strips, and wherein the bottom side of the shoe lace replacement overlay includes a plurality of a second shoe replacement overlay attachments such that the first shoe replacement overlay attachments and the second shoe replacement overlay attachments interact with each other in order to retain the shoe lace replacement overlay on the shoe lace region.

A shoe lace replacement overlay system, including a shoe, wherein the shoe includes a shoe base, a shoe lace region, a notch area/tongue opening such that the notch area/tongue opening includes an elastic member/shoe tightener for retaining the shoe on a foot of a wearer, and a plurality of a first shoe replacement overlay attachments; and a shoe lace replacement overlay having a top side and a bottom side, wherein the top side of the shoe lace replacement overlay includes a shoe lace replacement overlay base having a first edge and a second edge, a plurality of eyelet strips, a plurality of eyelets, an elastic member located substantially between the plurality of eyelet strips, and wherein the bottom side of the shoe lace replacement overlay includes a plurality of a second shoe replacement overlay attachments such that the first shoe replacement overlay attachments and the second shoe replacement overlay attachments interact with each other in order to retain the shoe lace replacement overlay on the shoe lace region.

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 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.

An article of footwear includes an upper defining an interior void and a first cable movable in a tightening direction to move the upper into a tightened state and movable in a loosening direction to move the upper into a loosened state. The article of footwear also includes a tightening grip operable to be moved away from the upper in a first direction to move the first cable in the tightening direction and a cable lock operable in a locked state to restrict movement of the first cable in the loosening direction and operable in an unlocked state to permit movement of the first cable in the loosening direction. A release grip is operable to be moved away from the upper in a second direction to move the cable lock from the locked state to the unlocked state, whereby the release grip is separate from the tightening grip.

An article of footwear includes an upper defining an interior void and a first cable movable in a tightening direction to move the upper into a tightened state and movable in a loosening direction to move the upper into a loosened state. The article of footwear also includes a tightening grip operable to be moved away from the upper in a first direction to move the first cable in the tightening direction and a cable lock operable in a locked state to restrict movement of the first cable in the loosening direction and operable in an unlocked state to permit movement of the first cable in the loosening direction. A release grip is operable to be moved away from the upper in a second direction to move the cable lock from the locked state to the unlocked state, whereby the release grip is separate from the tightening grip.

A shoe that contains two zippers or two series of hook and loop strips as well as two tongues is disclosed. The zippers or two series of hook and loop strips are positioned in the location where one would typically see the eyelets from shoes located. The two tongues are present both for comfort and for aesthetics.