A shoe includes an outsole, a first upper portion, a second upper portion, a rotary dial mounted to the first upper portion, and first and second lace portions coupled between the rotary dial and the second upper portion. The first lace portion aligns with a heel region of the shoe, the second lace portion aligns with a pedal region of the outsole, and a closure center line aligns with a medial arch region of the outsole. The second upper portion includes first and second lace guides. The first upper portion includes a third lace guide between the first and second lace portions. The first and second lace portions define a unitary lace extending from the rotary dial, through the first, second, and third lace guides, and back to the rotary dial. No portion of the lace member crosses over another portion of the lace member outside of the rotary dial.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a structure for attaching a shoelace winding apparatus in which a shoelace winding apparatus can be easily and firmly attached to a shoe and can be stably operated, and maintenance, such as the replacement of parts, is also easy. The present invention pertains to a structure for attaching a shoelace winding apparatus (1). The structure is provided with: a reel (4) that winds a shoelace by being rotated by an operation handle (6); a ratchet pawl (51) that limits rotation of the reel (4); and a base member (3) including a substantially cylindrical body (31), which has one closed end and accommodates the reel (4). The base member has an inner circumferential surface including an annular gear (34) with teeth that engages with the ratchet pawl (51). The structure for attaching a shoelace winding apparatus (1) includes a base-member attachment cover (9). and a flange portion (92). The cover (9) includes a substantially cylindrical cover portion (91) with a closed end. The cover portion (91) is allowed to secure the base member such that the base member is directly attachable and detachable from an outside of an upper section and held in the cover portion (91). The flange portion (92) protrudes from the circumference of the cover portion (91) and conforms to the shape of the shoe.

A detachable lace tightening system for existing footwear, said footwear including a boot having first and second opposing sides configured to fit around a foot, a plurality of eyelet members are positioned on the opposing sides from a lower end to an upper end, a footwear tongue extending from boot between the opposing sides, the system comprising: a rotatable spool detachably secured to the tongue of the footwear, a braided nylon cable insertable into the guide members having a first end and a second end; the first and second ends extend outwardly from the guide members at the upper end of the opposing sides and the first and second ends are removably secured with respect to the rotatable spool; a tightening control knob upon said spool for winding the cable around the spool to place tension on the cable in a first direction, thereby pulling opposing sides of the footwear towards each other; and a releasable lock provided for preventing rotation of the spool in the second direction whereby releasing the lock permits the spool to rotate in the second direction to release the tension in the cable and allow removal of the boot.

A lace-receiving assembly includes a substrate, a first sheet, and a lace guide. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first sheet includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The third surface is bonded to the first surface to define a channel extending between the substrate and the first sheet. The lace guide is disposed within the channel.

Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.

Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine are discussed. In this example, the lace guide is deformable to assist in facilitating automated lace tightening. The lace guide can include a middle section, a first extension and a second extension. In this example, the lace guide can be configured to define a first route for a lace cable, the first route including receiving the lace cable along the first incoming lace axis and expelling the lace cable along the first outgoing lace axis. In this example, the lace guide can also deflect, in response to tension on the lace cable, resulting in defining a second route for the lace cable, the second route including receiving the lace cable along a second incoming lace axis and expelling the lace cable along a second outgoing lace axis.

A closure system including a body for receiving an object. An activation device is connected to a base structure, and is activated by placement of the object within the closure system. The activation device operates between a raised or depressed configuration, depending on the position of the object within the closure system. A tightening mechanism is responsive to the operation of the activation device. When the activation device is in the raised configuration, the tightening mechanism is loose. When the user depresses the activation device, the tightening mechanism tightens around the object. A movable displacer in a locking device for locking the configuration of the closure system and removably insertable into a recess helps better control tension within the tightening mechanism and improves comfort by disengaging the activation device from the tightening mechanism. A lace lock for locking a lace is disclosed. A lace tension distributor is also disclosed.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for convenient tightening and loosening of strings such as those found in shoelaces of footwear. The apparatus includes a rotating portion within a base portion. A cover portion, when operated in a first position, provides a ratchet movement that allows rotation in a tightening direction while preventing movement in a loosening direction. When the cover is moved to a second position, the ratchet mechanism disengages, and the strings can then be easily loosened.

A shoelace winding reel for a shoelace winding device that is compact and light weight, with superior durability and assembly workability. The shoelace winding reel is housed in a reel storing section of a base member and is configured to be rotatively driven by a dial. The shoelace winding reel includes a rotation shaft portion arranged on an inner side of the shoelace winding drum and an annular portion configured to connect an inner circumferential surface of the shoelace winding drum and an outer circumferential surface of the rotation shaft portion. An annular groove portion is configured to sandwich a tip end portion of the shoelace.

According to an embodiment, a method of assembling a reel includes coupling a drive component with a tightening component and coupling the tightening component with a top end of a housing. A spool component is then inserted within a bottom end of the housing so that the spool component is positioned within the housing's interior region and faces a bottom surface of the drive component. An attachment component is then coupled with the bottom end of the housing. The attachment component includes a coupling member that couples with the drive component. Coupling of the coupling member with the drive component operationally couples the drive component and the spool component so that operation of the tightening component causes the spool component to rotate within the housing in a first direction while preventing rotation of the spool component in a second direction.