An article of footwear is configured to be worn so as to at least partially cover a wearer's foot. The footwear includes at least one optical fiber on an internal surface of the footwear. The at least one optical fiber is configured to project radiation having a therapeutic wavelength through the at least one optical fiber and toward at least one of the wearer's foot, ankle or leg when the footwear is being worn so as to at least partially cover the wearer's foot.

According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing, and a stop mechanism. The device is configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the housing that incrementally tensions a tension member and thereby tightens the article. The device is also configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally loosens the tension member's tension. The stop mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the tension member's tension achieves or falls below a tension threshold.

According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing, and a stop mechanism. The device is configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the housing that incrementally tensions a tension member and thereby tightens the article. The device is also configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally loosens the tension member's tension. The stop mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the tension member's tension achieves or falls below a tension threshold.

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.

An apparatus has a shoe. Further, the apparatus has a support structure positioned within the shoe. Additionally, the apparatus has a rechargeable power supply that is operably attached to the support structure. Further, the apparatus has a force-to-energy conversion device that is operably attached to the support structure. The force-to-energy conversion device receives one or more external forces from an environment external to the shoe. Further, the force-to-energy conversion device converts the one or more external forces to electrical energy. Moreover, the force-to-energy conversion device transfers the electrical energy to the rechargeable power supply for storage in the rechargeable power supply.

Described herein is a graphene-enhanced triboelectric nanogenerator with magnetically levitated suspension in the form of a shoe insole insert producing energy from the rise and fall of a human heel when walking in shoes for the mobile charging of small to medium-sized electronic devices.

An article of footwear and methods include an insole, an upper configured to form a space between the upper and the insole configured to admit and secure a foot of a wearer, and a rotatable conveyor element. The rotatable conveyor element is seated in at least one of the insole and the upper. The rotatable conveyor element is configured to rotatably engage a body part of the wearer as the foot enters the space and draw the foot into the space.

An article of footwear and methods include an insole, an upper configured to form a space between the upper and the insole configured to admit and secure a foot of a wearer, and a rotatable conveyor element. The rotatable conveyor element is seated in at least one of the insole and the upper. The rotatable conveyor element is configured to rotatably engage a body part of the wearer as the foot enters the space and draw the foot into the space.

Systems and methods are disclosed for recommending products or services by receiving a three-dimensional (3D) model of one or more products; performing motion tracking and understanding an environment with points or planes and estimating light or color in the environment; and projecting the product in the environment.

A dynamic pressure controlling footwear is disclosed and includes a main body, a control box and plural dynamic pressure controlling components. The main body includes a vamp disposed on an airbag. The control box includes a microprocessor and is disposed on a top surface region of the vamp. Each dynamic pressure controlling component is positioned on the airbag and includes an actuating pump and a pressure sensor packaged on a substrate by a semiconductor process. The substrate is positioned on the airbag and electrically connected to the microprocessor of the control box through a conductor. The actuating pump is in fluid communication with the airbag for inflating the airbag. The pressure sensor detects an inner pressure of the airbag to generate a pressure information. The microprocessor enables or disables the actuating pump according to the pressure information, so that the inner pressure of the airbag is adjusted.