An article of footwear can include provisions for improving the operation and use of various systems associated with the article. A control device included in the article can be configured to allow manual control of a system by a user. A lockout feature that can disable manual control may be included. During periods of competitive activity, the manual controls may be disabled to allow a user wearing the article to engage in different activities without inadvertent activation of a system. In some cases, the control device and lookout feature can be used in conjunction with a motorized tensioning system.

Systems and apparatus related to an automated footwear platform including an actuator assembly for controlling a footwear lacing apparatus are discussed. In an example, an actuator assembly can include an actuator frame with a plurality of integrated actuators. The actuator frame is adapted to interconnect elements of the actuator assembly, the actuator frame including a width, a length, and a thickness where the width and length form an exterior surface and an interior surface separated by the thickness. The plurality of actuators are integrated into the actuator frame, each actuator of the plurality of actuators including an actuator head extending from the exterior surface and a button interface extending from the backside of the actuator head through the interior surface.

A shoe may include a sole and an upper. The upper may have a medial side and a lateral side that each have an edge positioned on opposing side of the shoe's tongue. The upper's medial side and/or the upper's lateral side may include stiffened regions and flexible regions with each stiffened region being disposed between two flexible regions so that the stiffened regions are moveable relative to one another upon tensioning of the medial and lateral sides of the upper. The opposing edges of the upper's medial and lateral sides may be substantially linear or straight prior to tensioning of the upper's medial and lateral sides and may be substantially uneven or nonlinear subsequent to tensioning of the upper's medial and lateral sides due to relative movement of the stiffened regions.

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.

The invention relates to a method for fastening a shoe (1), having an upper part (2) and a sole (3) connected thereto, a rotary closure (4) for fastening the shoe (1) on the wearer's foot by means of at least one tensioning element (5), the rotary closure (4) having a rotatably arranged tensioning roller (6), and the tensioning roller (6) being driven by means of an electric motor (7), and a switching element (8), which is connected to control means (9), wherein the switching element (8) and the control means (9) can actuate the electric motor (7), wherein the operation of fastening the shoe (1) takes place by virtue of the person using the shoe (1) using a finger (15) to actuate the switching element (8). In order for it to be possible for the shoe to be fastened on the wearer's foot in a particularly straightforward and reproducible manner, the invention provides for the switching element (8) to have a number of touch-sensitive sensors (10) which are arranged one beside the other and form a surface (11) which is accessible to a user's finger (15), wherein the method comprises the following steps: The finger (15) is passed over the surface (11) of the touch-sensitive sensors (10) in a first direction (R1), the control means (9) detects the signal from the touch-sensitive sensors (10) and the control means (9) and the electric motor (7) cause the shoe to be fastened on the wearer's foot with a first level of fastening force. The invention also relates to a shoe.

A fastener device includes a first fastener part and a second fastener part which can be mounted on one another along a closing direction and are held against one another in a closed position, and are releasable from one another in order to open the fastener device. The second fastener part has a winding element on which a tension element can be arranged and which is rotatable relative to the first fastener part in order to wind up the tension element on the winding element in a winding direction.

A fastening device including a case unit, a spool, a driving unit, a knob and a connecting unit is provided. The case unit has a radial direction and an axial direction and includes an annular wall. The annular wall surrounds an inner space. The spool is within the inner space and includes an axial space including a large-diameter segment and a small-diameter segment, and the small-diameter segment is connected to the large-diameter segment along the axial direction. The driving unit is disposed above the spool along the axial direction, and the driving unit selectively prohibits the spool from rotating in a loosening direction. The knob is disposed above the driving unit along the axial direction, and the knob is coupled to the driving unit. The connecting unit is connected to the knob, and the connecting unit is disposed within the axial space and limited within the large-diameter segment.

A dial-type wire tightening device is provided. The device is capable of being manufactured to be miniaturized and, by widening contact areas between elements provided to prevent reverse rotation when the wire is being tightened, has improved durability. The dial-type wire tightening device includes a lower cover, a reel part, a housing part, an intermediate cover, a stopper unit, a pawl part, and an upper cover.

A tightening device for tightening a ski boot includes an elongate panel having a proximal end and a distal end. The elongate panel is positioned about the ski boot's shell between opposing sides of the shell. A tensioning mechanism is coupled with the proximal end of the elongate panel. A tension member is operably coupled with the tensioning mechanism so that an operation of the tensioning mechanism adjusts a tension of the tension member. At least one guide member is coupled with, or positioned on, the proximal end of the elongate panel adjacent to the tensioning mechanism. The tension member is coupled with the guide member to route or direct the tension member between the opposing sides of the shell and along a portion of the elongate panel.

Articles of footwear, systems, and methods include an upper portion, a lower portion, secured to the upper portion, the lower portion including an out-sole and an airbag assembly. The airbag assembly includes a first sheet and a second sheet forming a seal therebetween around a perimeter of the first and second sheets. The airbag assembly further includes an electronic assembly, comprising a circuit board and electrical conductors disposed on the circuit board, wherein an internal portion of the electronic assembly is disposed between the first and second sheets and within the seal formed therebetween and an external portion of the electronic assembly is disposed outside of the seal.