Lacing engine systems, apparatus, and methods of operation are discussed. In an example, a lacing engine apparatus can include a housing, a drivetrain, and a lace take-up mechanism for retracting a length of lace cable upon activation. The drivetrain can include various reduction gears to reduce rotational speed out of the motor and power the lace take-up mechanism. The lace take-up mechanism can include structures such as a double-yoke, a radial pulley including an outer rotating disc and an inner stationary disc, a variable take-up spool, or a zip-strip mechanism.

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 specification discusses various lacing engine configurations for use in an automated footwear platform. For example, lacing engines with mechanisms to detect lace cable position and/or lace cable tensions are discussed. In an example, the lacing engine can include a housing, a lace spool and a detection mechanism. The lace spool can be at least partially disposed within the housing, and be adapted to collect a portion of the lace cable in response to rotation in a first direction during tightening of the footwear platform. The detection mechanism can detect a state of the lace cable manipulated by the lacing engine.

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 stopper for securing an end of a lace in an article having at least one eyelet, the stopper comprising a body member having first and second sides and first, second, and third through openings. The second through opening is located a spaced distance from the first opening. The third through opening being located on a side of the first through opening opposite the second through opening and being sized and dimensioned to spread at portion of the lace in the third through opening into a flattened form. The lace engaging edge on the body member located on a side of the second through opening generally opposite the first through opening for passage of the lace thereover from the second through opening to the third through opening.

A stopper for securing an end of a lace in an article having at least one eyelet, such as a shoe, without having to form an exposed knot. A thin, rigid body includes a series of openings arranged in a row, including a first, middle opening through which the lace is routed from the eyelet, a second opening proximate one end through which the lace is routed from the middle opening, and a third opening proximate an opposite through which the lace is routed from the second opening via the first end of the body, the third opening having a slot-shaped configuration. When tension is applied to the lace, as by a foot being inserted into a shoe, a locking engagement is formed between the lace and stopper and the stopper reacts against the eyelet. The stopper may be hidden from view behind the eyelet stay of a shoe.

A wire tightening apparatus includes a housing having a ratchet gear formed in its inner periphery in a circumferential direction. A winding member is rotatably inserted into the housing, with a wire being wound therearound. A support part radially protrudes from the upper portion of a coupling shaft coupled to the housing. An intermediate member includes an engagement restriction part that is engaged with the ratchet gear and is restricted from rotating. The intermediate member has a resilient coupling hole in its center, with a resilience restriction part on the periphery thereof. The engagement restriction part is provided on an end of a blade extending from a body and having a resilient support force. The resilience restriction part is elevated by an external force coupled to the upper portion of the winding member and is supported by the outer periphery of the support part in lifted and lowered states.

A fastener assembly is provided including a fastener body having at least one aperture and a cavity formed at a top portion. A cap is provided configured to be removably inserted into the cavity. A method for fastening an article is provided including providing an article having holes in opposing edges of an article opening and a lace passed through said holes. At least one fastener body is provided having an attachment point, wherein the lace is secured to the attachment point, forming at least one slack portion. Each slack portion is pulled through a set of holes in the opposing edges of the article to form lace loop(s). Each lace loop is overlapped over the at least one fastener body.

A device for connecting up two string ends, having a base element and at least one locking element which are hinged and can be click-fitted together. The base element has at least one opening for introducing the string ends and passing them through, and an insertion groove for each string end. Each insertion groove has a way, for example barb elements, for preventing the string end from sliding in said insertion groove. The locking element has a pressure part which is configured to cooperate with the respective insertion groove in such a manner that the string end is pressed into said insertion groove and remains pressed into said insertion groove after the base element and locking element have been click-fitted together.

A stopper for securing an end of a lace in an article having at least one eyelet is disclosed. The stopper comprises: a body member including: a series of through openings formed in said body member, said through openings being arranged generally in a row and including: a first opening for passage of said lace therethrough from said eyelet; and a second opening located a spaced distance from said first opening for passage of said lace therethrough from said first opening, and an edge on said body member located on a side of said second opening generally opposite said first opening for passage of said lace thereover from said second opening in said body member