A string fastening device which may be used for easily winding and fastening strings provided in shoes, bags, clothes, or the like is provided. The string fastening device includes a base; a fixation member coupled to the base to maintain state in which the bobbin is stored in the base; a rotational member coupled to the fixation member and rotating the bobbin; and a string suspension member provided in the bobbin and fixing a string.

An article includes a cord, a cord winding device that tightens and loosens the cord, a drum including a winding portion around which the cord is wound, a drum retainer that accommodates the drum in a rotatable manner, and two cord exits formed in a wall of the drum retainer to guide the cord out of the cord winding device. When the two cord exits and a center of the drum retainer are not located on a single straight line, even if the cord is rewound by a full extent and drawn out from one of the cord exits when the cord is loosened, fatigue that would be caused by kinks reversing a winding direction of the cord or repetitive bending of the cord does not occur at a connecting-fixing portion of the cord and the winding portion corresponding to the other one of the cord exits.

A reel based tensioning device includes a housing, a spool that is rotatably positioned within the housing, and a knob member that is operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate in a first direction within the housing and thereby wind a tension member about the spool. The reel based tensioning device also includes a load holding mechanism that is coupled with the spool and that is configured to rotate the spool in the first direction within the housing and to prevent rotation of the spool in a second direction to prevent unwinding of the tension member from about the spool. The reel based tensioning device further includes an audible component that is configured to produce an audible noise responsive to operation of the knob member to signal an adjustment of the tension member.

A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a spool system that can be engaged or disengaged from a driveshaft through the use of a cam device. The motorized tensioning device includes a torque transmitting system that allows for incremental tightening incremental loosening and full loosening of the tensile element.

An article of footwear may include a motorized tensioning system. The tensioning system may include a tensile member and a motorized tightening device configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear. The tensioning system may further include a power source configured to supply power to the motorized tightening device. The tensile member, the motorized tightening device, and the power source may be configured to be removably attached to the article of footwear.

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.

An article of footwear with various types of guide elements is disclosed. The article of footwear provides a set of tensile elements that can be moved through the guide elements to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The tensile elements may be routed through a guide element associated with the upper that can provide compressive strength and support.

A lace tensioning device includes a housing component having an interior region, a first aperture, and a second aperture, and a spool component that is rotatably positionable within the interior region of the housing component. The spool component has a central cylindrical member and a lumen that extends through the central cylindrical portion. The spool component is rotatable within the interior region of the housing component to align one end of the lumen with the first aperture and to align an opposite end of the lumen with the second aperture to enable a lace to be inserted through the first aperture, the lumen, and the second aperture so that opposing ends of the lace are positioned exterior to the housing component. A knot may then be tied in the lace and the lace retracted to couple the lace with the housing component and spool component.

A tension member guide that is configured to direct or route a tension member about a path of an article includes a cover member and a guide member that is partially covered by the cover member. The cover member is attachable to the article and includes a pair of slits or incisions. The guide member is folded along a longitudinal length to form a loop or channel within which the tension member may be inserted. The guide member is positioned in relation to the cover member so that opposing end portions of the loop or channel are inserted through the slits or incisions such that the opposing end portions are positioned on an opposite side of the cover member from a remainder of the guide member.

A tensioning system for articles of footwear 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.