A worm drive fit system is provided, including a yoke member and a drive assembly, the drive assembly including a dial housing having an exterior and interior surface, wherein the interior surface includes a dial gear in operable engagement with a pinion gear. The drive assembly further includes a worm gear in operable engagement with the pinion gear, a spool gear in operable engagement with the worm gear, and a spool attached to the spool gear, wherein the spool is rotatably mounted to the yoke and configured to receive a filament to be tightened around the spool.

An adapter is arranged to secure to a rotary device. The adapter includes a handle rotatable about an axis, and a coupler extending from and coaxial with the handle. The coupler is adapted to engage the rotary device via traction elements for simultaneously rotating the rotary device and the handle.

Systems and apparatus related to automated tightening of a footwear platform including a footwear lacing apparatus are discussed. In an example, a footwear lacing apparatus can include a housing structure, a spool, and a drive mechanism. The housing structure can include a top section and a bottom section. The spool can include a superior surface, a lace spool under the superior surface and a spool shaft with a keyed connection pin. The spool can also be integrated into the top section of the housing structure. The drive mechanism can couple with the spool via the keyed connection pin on the spool shaft. The drive mechanism can be adapted to rotate the spool to tighten or loosen a lace cable integrated into the footwear.

The present invention discloses a rotary self-lock catch. As a rope penetrates into the take-up cavity of the take-up reel and a tail end of the rope is limited at a boundary between a through hole and a hollowed cavity, when the rotary knob is rotated, the take-up reel can be driven to rotate together, so that the rope is wound in the take-up cavity by the take-up reel, and the rotary knob is allowed to rotate along one direction, so that an effect of tightening the rope can be realized.

A tensioning system for articles of footwear (100) and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a tensioning member that is tightened or loosened using a motorized tensioning device for winding and unwinding the tensioning member on a spool. The motorized tensioning device includes a torque transmitting system that allows for incremental tightening, incremental loosening and full loosening of the tensioning member.

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, and the sensor is configured to sense changes in a foot proximity to the sensor in footwear. Information about the sensed proximity can be used to determine a foot velocity characteristic, which in turn can be used to update an automated footwear function, such as an automatic lacing function, or can be used to determine a step count, foot strike force, a rate of travel, or other information about a foot, about an activity, or about the footwear.

An article of footwear or an article of apparel can include provisions for facilitating the use of a sensor device and protecting the sensor device from external particles or fluid. The sensor device can include a conduit for moving air through the sensor device from one portion of the sensor device to another portion of the sensor device. An elastic membrane can be attached to an opening formed in the sensor device. The elastic membrane can deform in response to changes in air pressure within the sensor device.

Presented are intelligent electronic footwear with controller automated features, methods for making/using such footwear, and control systems for executing automated features of intelligent electronic footwear. An intelligent electronic shoe includes an upper that attaches to a user's foot, and a sole structure attached to the upper for supporting thereon the user's foot. A collision threat warning system, a detection tag, a wireless communications device, and a footwear controller are all mounted to the sole structure/upper. The detection tag receives a prompt signal from a transmitter-detector module and responsively transmits thereto a response signal. The footwear controller receives, through the wireless communications device, a pedestrian collision warning signal generated by the remote computing node responsive to the response signal. Responsively, the footwear controller transmits a command signal to the collision threat warning system to generate a visible, audible and/or tactile alert warning the user of an impending collision with a vehicle.

A latching system used for a rotary closure of a shoe.

A hallux valgus sandal for treating at least great toe malpositions, having a sole element with an outsole and a footbed, with a great toe strap section for the lateral positional fixing of the great toe and with a holding strap section, which holds the sandal on the foot when the sandal is worn. The wrap length of the great toe strap section can be changed in such a way that an adjustable corrective force can be exerted on the great toe. A metatarsus strap section is also provided, the wrap length of which can be changed, wherein both strap sections can be coupled to each other such that a metatarsus corrective force acting laterally on the metatarsal bone can be varied to press the metatarsal bone on the foot inner side in the lateral direction towards the foot outer side. As a result of said metatarsus corrective force, a hallux corrective force in the direction toward the foot inner side can be exerted, wherein the great toe strap section is guided backwards from the great toe at an angle and enters a channel on the inside of the sole element that is arranged in the metatarsus region of the sandal.