The invention relates to a shoe (1), especially to a sports shoe, with a shoe upper (2) and a sole (3) connected with the shoe upper (2), wherein the shoe (1) comprises a central fastener (4) for lacing the shoe (1) at the foot of a wearer, wherein the central fastener (4) comprises at least one tensioning element (5) which is arranged on or in a region of the shoe upper (2) by which a lacing force can be exerted onto the region of the shoe upper (2) and at least one gear element (6) driven by an electric motor (7), wherein a section (8) of the tensioning element (5) can be pulled against a fixed location (9) of the shoe (1) by means of the gear element (6) to create a tensioning force for lacing the shoe (1) at the foot of the wearer. To provide a compact central closure system the invention proposes that the section (8) of the tensioning element (5) is a strap which comprises a gearing (10) or a profile, wherein the gear element (6) comprises a worm (11) which engages into the gearing (10) or profile to pull the strap (8) in a translational direction (T) at the rotation of the worm (11).

An article of footwear can include a ferromagnetic body disposed in the article, and a magnetometer to measure a strength or direction of a magnetic field that is influenced by a position of the ferromagnetic body. One of the ferromagnetic body and the magnetometer can be configured to move relative to the other one of the ferromagnetic body and the magnetometer, for example according to movement of a foot in the article. In an example, the ferromagnetic body is disposed in a compressible insole and the ferromagnetic body moves in response to compression or relaxation of the insole. The magnetometer can be disposed in a platform or sole portion of the article that is relatively stationary compared to the ferromagnetic body. Rate of change information about the magnetic field can be used to control article functions or to provide information about a foot strike or step rate.

The original abstract is amended to “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 lacing system for an article of footwear includes a sole structure, an upper attached to the sole structure, the upper comprising a lateral side, a medial side, and an instep region, a housing disposed adjacent the instep region, wherein a first lace and a second lace extend through a plurality of eyelets along the upper and into the housing, a motor disposed within the housing, the motor comprising a motor shaft and a motor gear, and a gear train in communication with the motor gear. When the motor shaft rotates, the first lace and the second lace are drawn into the housing via a wheel gear that is in communication with the gear train.

A rotary closure with a latching system that latches together the components of the rotary closure in a snap-fit engagement is disclosed. The latching system includes a latching extension defining first and second legs each defining a respective tang configured for coupling the latching extension to the distal-most keyway for assembling the components of the rotary closure together.

A lacing system for an article of footwear includes a sole structure, an upper attached to the sole structure, the upper comprising a lateral side, a medial side, and a tongue, and a housing disposed adjacent the tongue. A plurality of lateral eyelets are disposed along the lateral side of the upper and a plurality of medial eyelets are disposed along the medial side of the upper. A first lace extends from the housing through the plurality of lateral eyelets, and a second lace extends from the housing through the plurality of medial eyelets.

The present disclosure provides a string collecting device and an article having a string, wherein the string collecting device includes a rotating part and a string winding part configured to wind a string; the rotating part is provided with at least one movable part that is capable of moving; the movable part is configured to be engaged with the string winding part when the rotating part is rotated towards a string collecting direction, and wherein when the movable part is engaged with the string winding part, the three, namely, the rotating part, the movable part and the string winding part, are connected in synchronous rotation.

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.

Presented are intelligent electronic footwear and apparel with controller-automated features, methods for making/operating such footwear and apparel, and control systems for executing automated features of such footwear and apparel. A method for operating an intelligent electronic shoe (IES) includes receiving, e.g., via a controller through a wireless communications device from a GPS satellite service, location data of a user. The controller also receives, e.g., from a backend server-class computer or other remote computing node, location data for a target object or site, such as a virtual shoe hidden at a virtual spot. The controller retrieves or predicts path plan data including a derived route for traversing from the user's location to the target's location within a geographic area. The controller then transmits command signals to a navigation alert system mounted to the IES's shoe structure to output visual, audio, and/or tactile cues that guide the user along the derived route.

Provided is an apparatus for tightening wire, comprising: a housing (10); a spool (20) mounted to the housing to wind a wire; a winder (30) that engages with the spool to wind the wire or disengages from the same to unwind the wire; a ratchet (40) that allows axial rotation in one direction in which the wire is tightened; a spiral cam (50) where the winder and the ratchet are mounted; and a dial (60) mounted to the spiral cam to axially rotate the winder. The apparatus provides an engagement and disengagement structure that allows the spool and the winder to engage or disengage, so that, by forward and backward rotations, only the wire is wound when the spool and the winder engage and the wire is unwound when the spool and the winder disengage, thereby allowing the winding and unwinding of the wire by simple forward and backward rotating operation.