A shoelace tightening device includes a main ratchet gear and an auxiliary ratchet gear, which allows a stopper unit to be coupled so as to have a clearance such that the stopper accurately engages with the main ratchet gear. The shoelace tightening device further includes: a lower cover having a receiving recess within a top portion of the lower cover; a reel rotatably inserted into the receiving recess of the lower cover, wherein the reel includes a gear coupling portion provided on a top portion of the reel such that a wire is wound on the reel when the reel is rotated; a housing accommodating the reel inside the housing, wherein a bottom end portion of the housing is fixed to the receiving recess of the lower cover to be integrally fixed to the lower cover.

A lace routing pattern for a lacing system for an article of footwear is described. The lacing system is moved between opened and closed positions by applying tension to segments of a lace connected to a tensioning assembly of a tensioning system. Each of the lace segments are arranged to extend between opposite sides of a lacing area according to a different lace routing pattern. The lace routing patterns have equal total closure distances for each of the lace segments so that tension applied by the tensioning system will be uniformly distributed through the lacing system and the article of footwear.

A lace routing pattern for a lacing system for an article of footwear is described. The lacing system is moved between opened and closed positions by applying tension to segments of a lace connected to a tensioning assembly of a tensioning system. Each of the lace segments are arranged to extend between opposite sides of a lacing area according to a different lace routing pattern. The lace routing patterns have equal total closure distances for each of the lace segments so that tension applied by the tensioning system will be uniformly distributed through the lacing system and the article of footwear.

A lace routing pattern for a lacing system for an article of footwear is described. The lacing system is moved between opened and closed positions by applying tension to segments of a lace connected to a tensioning assembly of a tensioning system. Each of the lace segments are arranged to extend between opposite sides of a lacing area according to a different lace routing pattern. The lace routing patterns have equal total closure distances for each of the lace segments so that tension applied by the tensioning system will be uniformly distributed through the lacing system and the article of footwear.

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 homing mechanism within a drive mechanism of a lacing engine for an automated footwear platform can include an indexing wheel, a plurality of Geneva teeth and a stop tooth. The plurality of Geneva teeth can be distributed around a portion of a perimeter of the indexing wheel. Each Geneva tooth of the plurality of Geneva teeth can include side profiles conforming to a first side profile that generates a first force when engaged by an index tooth on a portion of the drive mechanism. The stop tooth can be located along the perimeter of the indexing wheel between two Geneva teeth. Additionally, the stop tooth can include side profiles conforming to a second side profile that generates a second force when engaged by the index tooth.

A shoelace tightening device includes a main ratchet gear and an auxiliary ratchet gear, which allows a stopper unit to be coupled so as to have a clearance such that the stopper accurately engages with the main ratchet gear. The shoelace tightening device further includes: a lower cover having a receiving recess within a top portion of the lower cover; a reel rotatably inserted into the receiving recess of the lower cover, wherein the reel includes a gear coupling portion provided on a top portion of the reel such that a wire is wound on the reel when the reel is rotated; a housing accommodating the reel inside the housing, wherein a bottom end portion of the housing is fixed to the receiving recess of the lower cover to be integrally fixed to the lower cover.

Foot support systems (and articles of footwear including them) include: (a) a medial side member having one or more medial side supports (e.g., ribs); (b) a lateral side member having one or more lateral side supports (e.g., ribs); and (c) structure (such as a hinge system) configured to move the foot support system (e.g., the medial side support(s) with respect to the lateral side support(s)) between: (a) a foot-insertion configuration and (b) a foot-containing configuration. In moving from the foot-insertion configuration to the foot-containing configuration, the foot support system can be changed between an open condition and a closed condition.

A fastening device is provided. The fastening device is composed of a case, a spool, a knob and a locking unit. The case includes a mounted portion. The spool is disposed at the case and a lace is wound around the spool. The knob includes an engaged portion for engaging with the mounted portion such that the knob is coupled to the case. The locking unit is coupled to the knob and is driven by the knob. The locking unit is switched from a first position to a second position by rotating the knob relative to the case. When the locking unit is at the first position, the locking unit is coupled to the spool to prohibit the spool from rotating toward a loosening direction. When the locking unit is at the second position, the spool is allowed to be rotated toward the loosening direction.

An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper that includes a heel end, a toe end, a medial side, and a lateral side. The upper defines a throat opening between the medial and lateral sides, and the sole and the upper jointly defining a foot cavity. The article of footwear further includes a support member extending from a first side of the article of footwear to a second side of the article of footwear, and an actuator fixedly attached to the support member at the first side of the article of footwear. A securing strap extends across the throat opening and has a first end operably connected to the actuator and a second end fixedly connected to the second side of the article of footwear.