A lighted footwear device for use with existing footwear is disclosed herein comprising: a toe section, a heel section, a pair of adjustable strap members, and a plurality of light members. The plurality of light members are each attached to an outer surfaces of one of the toe section and the heel section. Each of the plurality of light members includes a pressure switch adapted to light up the light member when pressure is applied thereto and turn off when the light member is relieved of the pressure, such that when a person wearing the footwear walks or runs upon a surface respective lights will emit light when stepped upon. The lighted footwear device is adapted to be releasably attached to outer surfaces of respective toe and heel sections of the footwear.

In an example, a wearable article includes a nonwoven textile sheet having a first portion and a second portion contiguous with the first portion. The first portion has a first density and a first modulus of elasticity. The second portion has a second density less than the first density and has a second modulus of elasticity less than the first modulus of elasticity. The first portion is shaped differently than the second portion as an integral implement of the wearable article. A method of manufacturing a wearable article may comprise thermoforming the first portion while the second portion contiguous with the thermoformed first portion is not thermoformed.

In an example, a wearable article includes a nonwoven textile sheet having a first portion and a second portion contiguous with the first portion. The first portion has a first density and a first modulus of elasticity. The second portion has a second density less than the first density and has a second modulus of elasticity less than the first modulus of elasticity. The first portion is shaped differently than the second portion as an integral implement of the wearable article. A method of manufacturing a wearable article may comprise thermoforming the first portion while the second portion contiguous with the thermoformed first portion is not thermoformed.

An article of apparel, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the article of footwear to the worn on a body. A wireless transmission circuit is included and a piezoelectric generator is positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to induce a voltage signal output. A voltage sensor is configured to sense the voltage profile and output a sensor signal indicative of the voltage profile. An electronic data storage, coupled to the voltage sensor, is configured to store voltage profile information based on the sensor data. A comparator, coupled to the electronic data storage, is configured to identify a change in the voltage profile information over time. The wireless transmission circuit is configured to transmit data indicative of a physical status of the article of footwear based on the change in the voltage profile information over time.

An article of apparel, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the article of footwear to the worn on a body. A wireless transmission circuit is included and a piezoelectric generator is positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to induce a voltage signal output. A voltage sensor is configured to sense the voltage profile and output a sensor signal indicative of the voltage profile. An electronic data storage, coupled to the voltage sensor, is configured to store voltage profile information based on the sensor data. A comparator, coupled to the electronic data storage, is configured to identify a change in the voltage profile information over time. The wireless transmission circuit is configured to transmit data indicative of a physical status of the article of footwear based on the change in the voltage profile information over time.

Systems, devices and methods for providing active and/or passive compression therapy to a body part can include a compression device worn over a compression stocking. The compression device can have a pulley based drive train that is driven by a motor to tighten and loosen compression elements, such as compression straps, in a precise, rapid, and balanced manner. Sensors can be used in the compression device and/or compression stockings to provide feedback to modulate the compression treatment parameters.

A portion of ankle movement can be harnessed into stored energy that can be released for various purposes, such as to assist in movement or to charge a battery. This harnessing can be achieved in various manners. In one example manner, an offset pulley component can transfer ankle movement to a generator in a shoe insole. In another example manner, a slider can cause a brace arch to match an ankle arch such that the movement is appropriately harnessed.

A portion of ankle movement can be harnessed into stored energy that can be released for various purposes, such as to assist in movement or to charge a battery. This harnessing can be achieved in various manners. In one example manner, an offset pulley component can transfer ankle movement to a generator in a shoe insole. In another example manner, a slider can cause a brace arch to match an ankle arch such that the movement is appropriately harnessed.

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.

A foot input device worn on a foot of a user and configured to output an operation signal used by an external apparatus includes an operation section configured to detect a state of a sole of the foot of the user and output the operation signal corresponding to the detected state of the sole of the foot. The operation section detects, as the state of the sole of the foot, a load received from the sole of the foot of the user and outputs the operation signal corresponding to the detected load.