A reel based closure device includes a housing, a spool positioned within the interior region of the housing, a knob that is operably coupled with the spool and with the housing, and a rotation control component that is operably coupled with the knob. The knob is rotatable in a tightening direction to cause the spool to rotate within the housing and thereby wind the tension member about the spool. The knob is also rotatable in a loosening direction to cause the spool to rotate in an opposite direction within the housing and thereby unwind the tension member from about the spool. The rotation control component is configured to prevent accidental loosening of the tension member by inhibiting rotation of the knob in the loosening direction until a sufficient rotational force is exerted on the knob in the loosening direction.

A shoe including a sole and an upper, the upper including a shoe opening defined by a rear part, a medial part, a lateral part and a front part, where the top portion of the rear part is curved backward and diagonally upward relative to the bottom portion of the rear part, to facilitate forward sliding of a user's foot into the shoe when the foot enters the s

Disclosed is a shoe upper with an illuminating logo. The upper includes a main body part, a logo part, and a lighting unit, in which the logo part for illumination may be formed integrally with the upper, providing the upper with an illumination feature. In this way, the upper with an illuminating logo can be manufactured with a reduced amount of time, leading to an improved manufacturing efficiency. In addition, the logo part is much less likely to come off and there is no need for an adhesive or bonding, creating an aesthetically attractive appearance from outside.

Articles of sports equipment, such as striking implements (e.g., sticks) and wearable articles (e.g., skates, helmets) for playing hockey or other activities, in which at least one of the characteristics (e.g., stiffness) of the articles of sports equipment is adaptable and can be altered during use of the sports equipment, such as by comprising an alterable component coupled to a controller, by comprising an alterable component that is autonomously alterable, and/or by an alterable component that can be altered in response to a command of a remote device.

A knitted component with a surface that includes first areas and second areas having different relative coefficient of frictions and that are formed in an alternating pattern. The first areas of the first surface are 40% to 80% of the total surface area for the first surface. The alternating pattern may be in the form of concentric shapes. The alternating pattern may have linear boundaries and curvilinear boundaries between first areas and second areas. The first areas can be formed from a first yarn having a core and a coating. The coating at least partially surrounds the core.

An article of footwear may include an upper incorporating a knitted component. An inlaid strand extends through the knitted component. A combination feeder may be utilized to inlay the strand within the knitted component. As an example, the combination feeder may include a feeder arm that reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position. In manufacturing the knitted component, the feeder inlays the strand when the feeder arm is in the extended position, and the strand is absent from the knitted component when the feeder arm is in the retracted position.

An article of footwear is provided that includes a sole structure and an upper attached to the sole structure. The upper includes an exterior layer and a base layer, and the exterior layer includes a biodegradable layer and a biologically active agent capable of biodegrading the biodegradable layer.

An adjustment element for an article of footwear includes a bladder having a barrier layer defining an interior void and a compressible component disposed within the interior void and including a lattice structure defining a plurality of reliefs formed in the lattice structure, the compressible component operable between an expanded state when the interior void includes a first pressure and a contracted state when the interior void includes a second pressure.

Footwear with integrally knit uppers having features for increasing containment around a wearer's foot, improving strength and durability, and incorporating touch feedback through increased coefficient of friction while removing weight due to traditional additional components. The knitted component may be radially knitted so that courses converge towards a common area, like the throat region of the upper. Additionally, a fusible yarn may be knit on at least the exterior-facing surface of a containment area of the knitted component to create additional lock-down along lines of containment. Further, tensile elements may be incorporated within the containment area to provide strength and lock-down along desired lines of containment. Additionally, the fusible yarn may be a grip yarn that creates areas with greater coefficients of friction.

An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper at least partially formed of a textile element. The textile element includes a yarn matrix having a plurality of interlocked strands oriented in predetermined directions. A structural element may be captured within the matrix at selected locations. In operation, the matrix is stitched onto a temporary substrate. The substrate is removed and the article coupled to a sole structure to form the article of footwear.