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.

The present invention discloses a string tightening device that can easily adjust the characteristics of the string, such as the length or tension of the string used in various wearing products or household items, including shoes, bags, clothing, and the like.

A string tightening device of the present invention includes: a base having a space therein and including a first projection portion; a lower rotation member that is disposed in the base and moves a predetermined distance in a direction of separation from the base or the opposite direction thereof, an upper rotation member coupled to the lower rotation member, including a second locking portion corresponding to the first locking portion, and rotating only in one direction when the first locking portion and the second locking portion are closely attached; and an inner housing portion provided in the lower rotation member or the upper rotation member and wound therearound.

A lace closure system may include a low friction guide that defines the turning radius and direction of a lace which, though tension, pulls two or more panels toward each other. The lace closure system may include a fixator that defines a slot into which the lace is led, containing multiple engagement surfaces that, when the lace is wrapped into the slot, serve to engage the lace preventing unwanted loosening. The lace closure system may include a ring onto which the lace is attached, to assist in applying manual tension to the lace. The ring may be shaped and sized to removably attach to an outer perimeter of the fixator after excess lace has been wrapped into the slot.

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 lace holder (LH) to assist in the tying of shoe laces (L) and to prevent shoe laces inadvertently coming undone during use is disclosed. The shoelace holder includes a unitary body having top and bottom surfaces defined by a front edge, a back edge and side edges. The body includes at least one first hole (7) and at least one second hole (8), two slots (3, 4), which extend in opposite directions relative to each other, and at least two further holes (11, 12) spaced apart from each other. The holes allow a shoe lace to pass through, and the slots are adapted to engage a portion of the shoe lace there in. When attached to a shoe a shoe's laces are interwoven through the respective holes and slots to prevent the lace inadvertently untying in use. A method of securing a shoe lace to the shoe lace holder is also disclosed.

A shoe lace holder to assist in the tying of shoe laces and to prevent shoe laces inadvertently coming undone during use is disclosed. The shoelace holder includes a unitary body having top and bottom surfaces defined by a front edge, a back edge and side edges. The body includes at least one first hole and at least one second hole, two slots, which extend in opposite directions relative to each other, and at least two further holes spaced apart from each other. The holes allow a shoe lace to pass through, and the slots are adapted to engage a portion of the shoe lace there in. When attached to a shoe a shoe's laces are interwoven through the respective holes and slots to prevent the lace inadvertently untying in use. A method of securing a shoe lace to the shoe lace holder is also disclosed.

In an example, a lacing engine apparatus can include a housing and a drivetrain. The housing can be securable within a footwear article. The drivetrain can include a motor, a sun gear, a planet gear, a rotating ring gear, and a spool. The spool can be secured to the ring gear and can be rotatable therewith. The spool can be configured to control a lace of the footwear article and can be configured to wind the lace as the ring gear rotates in a first direction.

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 structure for attaching a shoelace winding apparatus in which a shoelace winding apparatus can be attached to a shoe is provided. The structure includes a reel that winds a shoelace by being rotated by an operation handle, a ratchet pawl that limits rotation of the reel, and a base member including a substantially cylindrical body that accommodates the reel. The base member includes an annular gear with teeth that engages with the ratchet pawl. The structure includes a base-member attachment cover and a flange portion. The cover includes a substantially cylindrical cover portion with a closed end. The cover portion secures the base member such that the base member is directly attachable and detachable from an outside of an upper section and held in the cover portion. The flange portion protrudes from the circumference of the cover portion and conforms to the shape of the shoe.

A fastener with one or more movable locking continuous or discontinuous (c-shaped) bands in a drawstring of sweatpants. The body of the fastener is made out of a material, such as highly dense polyurethane foam, that is strong, yet flexible, or of a rigid plastic, that is strong, yet flexible. The drawstring to be fastened passes through one or more gripping and/or locking holes in the fastener body. When the shoelace is passed through the gripping and/or locking holes, the dense polyurethane foam grips the lace tightly. The free ends are pulled through one or more peripheral slits extending towards, but not all the way to, the gripping and/or locking holes and then bent against the upper outer surface of the disk and locked in place in the respective one or more peripheral locking slits. Flexible and/or rigid bands encircling over the fastener drawstrings further secure the drawstrings in a locked position.