A closure system for a boot or other footwear includes a tension member that is disposed within the boot and routed or guided about a path within the boot via one or more guides. The closure system also includes an adjustment member that is disposed within the boot and operably coupled with the tension member. The closure system further includes a reel based closure device having a knob that is operable to tension the tension member and to release tension from the tension member. Tensioning of the tension member adjusts a fit of the adjustment member about a foot within the boot to secure the foot within the boot and loosening of the tension member adjusts the fit of the adjustment member about the foot to allow the foot to be more easily removed from the boot.

A lace-tightening device for a shoe lace in a shoe comprises a rotating cam within a housing disposed within the shoe. The cam is connected to the opposite ends of the shoe lace and includes an outer surface for receiving the shoe lace as the cam rotates to pull the lace. A driven gear disposed is rotatably coupled to the cam through a one-way clutch configured so that rotation of the driven gear in one direction rotates the cam in the one direction, thereby tightening the shoe lace connected to the rotating cam. A ratchet arm is slidably disposed within the housing and includes linear teeth arranged to engage the teeth of the driven gear as the ratchet arm translates in a linear direction. to rotate the gear in the one direction. The ratchet arm is pulled by at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) wire attached at one end to the ratchet arm and at its opposite end to a controller. The controller is configured to execute a power cycle to energize and deenergize the SMA wire so that the wire sequentially shrinks and returns to its original length to thereby sequentially translate the ratchet arm in the linear direction, and ultimately to incrementally pull and tighten the shoe lace. The controller repeats the cycle a number of times until the lace reaches a tightness desired by the user.

Systems, apparatus, and methods related to an automated footwear platform including motor control techniques. The motor control techniques can include operations such as segmenting a pre-defined travel distance, defining a plurality of moves, creating a plurality of motion profiles, and commanding movements. The plurality of moves can utilize the segmented travel distance for a drive mechanism associated with the footwear platform. Each motion profile of the plurality of motion profiles can include one or more moves from the plurality of moves. Commanding movement of the drive mechanism can be based on selection of one or more motion profiles from the plurality of motion profiles.

A method of chamfering an aperture in a reel member of a tensioning system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a reel member configured to rotate about a central axis. The reel member includes a shaft and at least one flange disposed along the shaft. The flange includes an aperture extending through the flange. The aperture is configured to receive a lace. The reel member can tighten the tensioning system by winding the lace around portions of the shaft disposed on both sides of the at least one flange. The method of chamfering the aperture includes drilling through an end flange of the reel member to reach the center flange of the reel member in order to chamfer the aperture. The chamfered aperture can assist with sliding the lace through the aperture and distributing tension.

An article with an automatic tensioning system includes a lace guide assembly. The lace guide assembly includes a lower guide member and two upper guide members that include channels for routing a tensioning member. Straps of the upper are attached to the two upper guide members. As the tensioning member is pulled into a tensioning device, the two upper guide members are pulled toward the lower guide member. This pulls on the straps and acts to tighten the upper around a foot.

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 position sensing assembly for a tensioning system designed to provide tension to a lace, cord, or other type of strand is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a reel member configured to rotate about a central axis and the position sensing assembly. The position sensing assembly includes a shaft, an indicator tab, and an optical sensing unit. The position sensing assembly assists in controlling the degree to which the strand is tightened and loosened. The position sensing assembly prevents tightening of the strand when the strand is meant to be loosened.

A footwear lacing apparatus can comprise a housing structure, a spool and a drive mechanism. The housing structure can comprise a first inlet, a second inlet, and a lacing channel extending between the first and second inlets. The lacing channel can comprise a spool receptacle located between the first and second inlets, a first relief area located between the spool receptacle and the first inlet, and a second relief area located between the spool receptacle and the second inlet. The first and second relief areas can be linearly tapered between the spool receptacle and the first and second inlets, respectively. The spool can be disposed in the spool receptacle of the lacing channel. The drive mechanism can be coupled with the spool and adapted to rotate the spool to wind or unwind a lace cable extending through the lacing channel and through the spool.

Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine are discussed. In an example, a modular footwear apparatus including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a lacing engine is described. The upper portion can include a lace to adjust fit of the upper portion against a foot, the lace adjustable between a first position and a second position based at least in part on manipulation of an effective length of the lace. The lower portion can include a mid-sole and an out-sole, and the lower portion can be coupled to the upper portion at the mid-sole. The lacing engine can include a top-loading lace spool to engage a loop of the lace to enable manipulation of the effective length of the lace through rotation of the lace spool, the lacing engine received within a cavity in the lower portion.

Systems, methods, and apparatus related to a homing mechanism within a drive mechanism of a lacing engine for an automated footwear platform are described. In an example, the homing apparatus can include an indexing wheel, a plurality of Geneva teeth and a stop tooth. The plurality of Geneva teeth can be distributed around a portion of a perimeter of the indexing wheel. Each Geneva tooth of the plurality of Geneva teeth can include side profiles conforming to a first side profile that generates a first force when engaged by an index tooth on a portion of the drive mechanism. The stop tooth can be located along the perimeter of the indexing wheel between two Geneva teeth. Additionally, the stop tooth can include side profiles conforming to a second side profile that generates a second force when engaged by the index tooth.