A fastening device includes a case unit, a knob, an engaging unit and a spool. The case unit has an axial direction and includes a plurality of mounting teeth. The knob covers on the case unit along the axial direction. The engaging unit is coupled to the knob and includes an engaging portion. The spool is configured for a lace to wind therearound. The engaging unit is driven by the knob to switch between a first position and a second position along the axial direction. When the engaging unit is in the first position, the engaging unit prohibits the spool from releasing the lace. When the engaging unit is in the second position, the engaging portion is engaged with at least one of the mounting teeth, and the engaging unit does not prohibit the spool from releasing the lace. Therefore, the reliability can be improved.

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.

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.

A rope adjustor and a wearable item. The rope adjustor includes a base, a rope reel, a first linkage portion is arranged on the rope reel; a rotation-stopping tray, the rotation-stopping tray is arranged on and connected to the base, and the rope reel is arranged inside the rotation-stopping tray, a first rotation-stopping portion is arranged on one side of the rotation-stopping tray away from the base; and a rotatable cover, the rotatable cover is arranged on and rotationally connected to the rotation-stopping tray, and the rotatable cover is insertably connected to the rope reel, and one side of the rotatable cover facing the rotation-stopping tray is provided with a second linkage portion and a second rotation-stopping portion, the first linkage portion is cooperated with the second linkage portion, and the first rotation-stopping portion is cooperated with the second rotation-stopping portion.

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.

Articles of footwear having an upper and a sole structure are described, as well as methods of making the articles. The upper includes an adjustment system having a base element, a fluid-filled chamber, an adjusting element, an anchoring element, and a tensile strand. The adjusting element is positioned outward from the fluid-filled chamber. The anchoring element is secured to the base element and is spaced from the adjusting element. The tensile strand extends between the adjusting element and the anchoring element. The adjusting element is operable to change a tension placed upon the tensile strand.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure attached to the upper. The article of footwear also includes a cable lock disposed within the sole structure adjacent to a bottom surface of the sole structure. The article of footwear includes a first cable having a first section extending from the cable lock to a first anchor point on the upper and a second section extending from the cable lock to a second anchor point on the upper. The article of footwear further includes a second cable having a first section extending from the cable lock to a grip and a second section extending from the cable lock to the grip, whereby the cable lock is operable to retract the first section and the second section of the first cable when the first section and the second section of the second cable are extended.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to adjustable closure devices. One embodiment has a strap, a connector attached to a strap end, a chafe mounted on the strap behind the connector, and a hinged handle on the chafe. The chafe has a two outer bars and a central bar, these bars defining strap through-paths. The strap end-region has path segments arranged, directionally from the strap's central region toward the strap end at the chafe, or, in embodiments that configure the strap as a pulley, at the connector. An adjustable length region of the strap spans between the chafe and the connector. An elevatable handle configuration allows a user to pull the chafe to which it is connected along the strap, away from connector. As the chafe moves along the strap, the strap can transition between a large circumference configuration and small circumference. Some embodiments have a strap friction-locking mechanism associated with the handle and the chafe.

According to an embodiment, a component for attachment to an article includes an upper component that is made of a thermoplastic material having a first melting temperature and a flange member that is molded onto the upper component and made of a thermoplastic elastomer material having a second melting temperature that is lower than the first melting temperature of the upper component. The flange member extends laterally from a bottom end of the upper component so that a bottom surface of the flange member is flush with or positioned axially below a bottom surface of the upper component. The melting temperature of the thermoplastic elastomer material enables the flange member to be directly coupled to the article via heat welding and the like without substantially affecting the upper component.

An article of footwear may include an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper including one or more elastic portions and one or more substantially inelastic portions. The footwear may further include a plurality of lace receiving members fixedly attached to an outer surface of the upper on the inelastic portions of the upper. Also, the footwear may include a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper. In addition, the footwear may include a motorized tensioning system including a motorized tightening device and a tensile member extending through the plurality of lace receiving members, the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear by drawing two or more of the plurality of lace receiving members closer to one another.