An upper component for an article of footwear allows easy entry of the foot into the article of footwear. The upper component includes a heel body, which includes a first portion partially defining an ankle opening. The heel body further includes a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion is foldable and partially defines the ankle opening. The second portion is movable relative to the first portion between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration. The upper component includes at least one tension member coupled to the second portion. The tension member is movable relative to the first portion to move the second portion from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration. The ankle opening is larger when the second portion is in the unfolded configuration than when the second portion is in the folded configuration.

A wearable article, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the wearable article to the worn on a body, a piezoelectric generator, positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to output a voltage, a data translator, coupled to the piezoelectric generator, configured to output electronic data based on the voltage, and an electronic data storage, coupled to the data translator, configured to store the electronic data from the data translator.

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.

A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body. A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor.

A system for measuring power output of a runner is disclosed. In some embodiments the system comprises a first sensor component including a first sensor, microprocessor, and a signal transceiver; a second sensor component including a second sensor and a signal transmitter; wherein the first sensor is configured to measure a vertical velocity and horizontal velocity, the second sensor is configured to measure the slope angle of a foot of the runner during a stance phase of the foot, the signal transmitter configured to send slope angle data, the signal transceiver configured to receive the slope angle data from the signal transmitter, and the microprocessor has computing instructions configured to calculate a power output based on the vertical velocity, horizontal velocity, and slope angle data.

An insole may include an insole body in a shape receivable in a shoe; an electronic element provided in the insole body; a connection line configured to electrically connect to the electronic element and including a contact terminal exposed to the outside of the insole body; and a connector including a detachable member configured to at least partially protrude outward from the insole body and configured to support the contact terminal.

An upper component for an article of footwear allows easy entry of the foot into the article of footwear. The upper component includes a heel body, which includes a first portion partially defining an ankle opening. The heel body further includes a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion is foldable and partially defines the ankle opening. The second portion is movable relative to the first portion between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration. The upper component includes at least one tension member coupled to the second portion. The tension member is movable relative to the first portion to move the second portion from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration. The ankle opening is larger when the second portion is in the unfolded configuration than when the second portion is in the folded configuration.

A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body. A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor.

A fitness tracking system includes a shoe, a monitoring device, and a controller. The monitoring device is mounted on the shoe and includes an accelerometer configured to generate acceleration data corresponding to acceleration of a foot received by the shoe. The controller is operably connected to the accelerometer and is configured to collect sampled acceleration data by sampling the generated acceleration data, to identify foot strike data of the sampled acceleration data, to identify a local minimum of the sampled acceleration data collected prior to the foot strike data, and to determine foot strike characteristic data corresponding to the foot strike data based on an acceleration value at the local minimum.

A cycling shoe for measuring power includes a sole having a pocket in the bottom of the sole. A sensor platform having a plurality of sensors, at least one sensor on a top of the sensor platform and at least one sensor on the bottom of the sensor platform, is inserted into the pocket. A platform cover and a cleat are attached to the sole over the sensors. Force applied to a pedal clipped to the cleat is measured and processed.