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.

A footwear closure system includes an article of footwear, such as a boot, having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a mid-portion that is positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion. The footwear closure system also includes a plurality of reel based closure devices that are coupled with the footwear. The plurality of reel based closure devices are configured to effect closure or tightening of the upper portion, the lower portion, and the mid-portion of the footwear. Each reel based closure device is independently operable and each reel based closure device effects closure or tightening of one of the upper portion, the lower portion, the mid-portion, or a combination thereof.

Various embodiments of an improved rotary closure to prevent jamming when rotated in a particular direction and allow de-tensioning of the spool are disclosed herein.

A lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel that includes a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing.

A footwear lacing apparatus can comprise a housing structure, a modular spool and a drive mechanism. The housing structure can comprising a first inlet, a second inlet, and a lacing channel extending between the first and second inlets. The modular spool can be disposed in the lacing channel and can comprise a lower plate including a shaft extending from the lower plate, and an upper plate including a drum portion. The upper plate can be releasabley connected to the lower plate at a connection interface. The drive mechanism can couple with the modular spool and can be adapted to rotate the modular spool to wind or unwind a lace cable extending through the lacing channel and between the upper and lower plates of the modular spool.

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 footwear assembly includes at least one article of footwear with an upper, a sole structure coupled with the upper, a housing that houses a motor, a gear train that is configured to be driven by the motor, and a spool that is configured to loosen or tighten a first lace, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are disposed under a cover of the housing, and a control printed circuit board (PCB) having a wireless communication module. The footwear assembly further includes an electronic device wirelessly coupled with the wireless communication module. The first lace can be incrementally tightened or loosened by tapping a region of the at least one article of footwear to initiate a tighten command or a loosen command.

An article of footwear can include provisions for facilitating the installation of various components. During manufacture of the article of footwear, the upper and/or sole structure can include one or more specialized compartments designed to receive the components. The components can be installed in compartments after manufacture of the article of footwear. In some cases, the components can be used to perform different functions in a motorized tensioning system.

A spool includes a shaft, a trunk portion, and an upper lid portion. The shaft rotates around a central axis extending vertically. The trunk portion has a lower portion connected with the shaft, a radially outer surface wound with a string material, and an upper surface having a groove portion disposed with the string material. The upper lid portion is disposed on the upper surface of the trunk portion. One of the trunk portion and the upper lid portion has an engagement protrusion portion protruding in an axial direction, and the other has a first recess portion which is recessed in the axial direction and engaged axially with the engagement protrusion portion disposed inside. The upper lid portion covers at least a part of the groove portion.

A spool includes a shaft, a trunk, and a connection connecting the shaft and trunk. The shaft rotates around a central axis. In the trunk, a string is wound on a radially outer surface. The trunk has a flange, and a recess recessed axially upward from a lower surface of the trunk. The flange protrudes radially outward from a lower end of the trunk. The connection is disposed inside the recess and engaged with the trunk in a circumferential direction and a lower surface is connected to the shaft. The connection has a groove recessed axially downward from an upper surface of the connection and is disposed with the string, and an engagement claw disposed in an upper end of the connection. The trunk has an engagement portion disposed on a radially inner surface of the recess and engaged axially with the engagement claw.