A swimming/scuba diving fin having a blade, a shoe open at the rear, an adjustable elastic strap engageable around the heel of the scuba diver, and two buckles at opposite ends of said adjustable elastic strap connected to two opposed side walls of said shoe, where at least one said buckle has a shaped hollow body forming integrally a portion connecting to said side wall, a channel for the axial sliding of the adjustable elastic strap, and a releasable fastening clamp of the adjustable elastic strap, where such an axial sliding channel has a hole for the inlet of the adjustable elastic strap, a hole for the outlet of the adjustable elastic strap and a deflection angle of the adjustable elastic strap positioned between such an inlet hole and such an outlet hole.

A swimming/scuba diving fin having a blade, a shoe open at the rear, an adjustable elastic strap engageable around the heel of the scuba diver, and two buckles at opposite ends of said adjustable elastic strap connected to two opposed side walls of said shoe, where at least one said buckle has a shaped hollow body forming integrally a portion connecting to said side wall, a channel for the axial sliding of the adjustable elastic strap, and a releasable fastening clamp of the adjustable elastic strap, where such an axial sliding channel has a hole for the inlet of the adjustable elastic strap, a hole for the outlet of the adjustable elastic strap and a deflection angle of the adjustable elastic strap positioned between such an inlet hole and such an outlet hole.

A fastening system for use in shoes and articles of clothing that includes a fastening strap with openings on each side of the strap and a rivet. The rivet has a button and a retainer. The button includes a base with a recess on a first side and a stem on a second side of the base. The stem extends from the base. The button also includes a top portion. The top portion diameter is larger than the stem diameter. The retainer has a shank extending from a clamping head. The shank is being configured to fasten within the recess of the button, while the retainers extend through two opposite holes of a shoe or an article of clothing for fastening with the buttons. The openings of the fastening strap are adapted to fit over the top portion of each of the button.

Fastening devices and systems and methods thereof. Fastening devices and systems and methods thereof can include a unitary or one-piece body having first and second ends configured and operative to be coupled together or to be coupled to their respective complement in another of said fastening devices. The first end can include a ring or annular portion and a projection that are sized and shaped to fit around an anchor and in an orifice, respectively, of the second end. Fastening devices and systems and methods thereof according to embodiments may be used with items, including footwear, apparel, luggage, a backpack, a bag, a purse, a boxing glove, a punching bag, football or lacrosse shoulder pads, or the like.

Fastening devices and systems and methods thereof. Fastening devices and systems and methods thereof can include a unitary or one-piece body having first and second ends configured and operative to be coupled together or to be coupled to their respective complement in another of said fastening devices. The first end can include a ring or annular portion and a projection that are sized and shaped to fit around an anchor and in an orifice, respectively, of the second end. Fastening devices and systems and methods thereof according to embodiments may be used with items, including footwear, apparel, luggage, a backpack, a bag, a purse, a boxing glove, a punching bag, football or lacrosse shoulder pads, or the like.

Footwear, including athletic footwear, opens very wide, e.g., by moving an ankle containing portion of a footwear upper laterally/sideways with respect to the sole structure or a base portion of the upper (e.g., rotate it to the lateral side). In effect, the ankle containing portion may move/rotate sideways with respect to the sole structure/base portion via a connecting member (e.g., moving akin to rotation on a hinge type structure) to open in somewhat of a clamshell fashion. The rear of the upper base portion in this open condition may appear somewhat as an open backed slipper or slide type shoe. These actions and features open the rear heel area of the upper wide and low to enable easy insertion of a foot into the interior chamber, generally from the rear of the footwear structure. One or more straps can be used to secure the upper to the foot.

Footwear, including athletic footwear, opens very wide, e.g., by moving an ankle containing portion of a footwear upper laterally/sideways with respect to the sole structure or a base portion of the upper (e.g., rotate it to the lateral side). In effect, the ankle containing portion may move/rotate sideways with respect to the sole structure/base portion via a connecting member (e.g., moving akin to rotation on a hinge type structure) to open in somewhat of a clamshell fashion. The rear of the upper base portion in this open condition may appear somewhat as an open backed slipper or slide type shoe. These actions and features open the rear heel area of the upper wide and low to enable easy insertion of a foot into the interior chamber, generally from the rear of the footwear structure. One or more straps can be used to secure the upper to the foot.

A footwear securement system employs a plurality of elastic, stretchable elongated tubes, each of which extend through opposed corresponding openings of the footwear. Retainers are slidably receivable on the tubes and releasably engageable against opposed sides of the footwear so as to secure the footwear to a wearer. The retainers are preferably lock washers. One end of each of the tubes is preferably tapered.

A fastening device for connecting identified openings, including: an elongated main body member defining a longitudinal axis, the main body member having a first end portion and a second end portion at opposite ends of the longitudinal axis; first and second tip end members located at the first end portion and second end portion of the body, respectively, the first and second tip end members each adapted to fit through one of the identified openings; and a first deformable interference portion located between the main body member and the first tip end member, and a second deformable interference portion located between the main body and the second tip end member; where the first and second deformable interference portions are each normally located in a rest state where they define an outer dimension that prevents their passage through one of the identified openings. Other embodiments, features and methods are also described.

A fastening device for connecting identified openings, including: an elongated main body member defining a longitudinal axis, the main body member having a first end portion and a second end portion at opposite ends of the longitudinal axis; first and second tip end members located at the first end portion and second end portion of the body, respectively, the first and second tip end members each adapted to fit through one of the identified openings; and a first deformable interference portion located between the main body member and the first tip end member, and a second deformable interference portion located between the main body and the second tip end member; where the first and second deformable interference portions are each normally located in a rest state where they define an outer dimension that prevents their passage through one of the identified openings. Other embodiments, features and methods are also described.