The present invention discloses a string adjuster that can adjust the length of a string by winding the string. A string adjuster of the present invention includes a fixed unit and a rotation unit, in which a knob of the rotation unit includes a first extension having a counter-anti-separator formed on the interior circumferential surface and preventing separation from a housing, a second extension having a winding determination protrusion formed on the interior circumferential surface and determining winding and releasing modes, and a spacing groove formed between the first extension and the second extension.

According to one embodiment, a removable tightening device is described. The tensioning mechanism is removably coupleable with an article without damaging the article so that upon removal, the coupling of the tensioning mechanism with the article is unrecognizable or not readily detectable. The tensioning mechanism is operable with a tension member to maintain a tension of the tension member and thereby maintain a tightness of the article. The tension member is guided along a path about the article, via one or more guide members, and is tensionable, via the tensioning mechanism, to tighten the article.

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.

A reel based closure device includes a housing, a tension member, a spool that is rotatably positioned within the housing, and a tightening component that is positioned axially above the spool and that is operably coupled therewith so that an operation of the tightening component causes the spool to rotate within the housing to wind the tension member about the spool. The reel based closure device also includes a coupling component that is separate from the tension member and that frictionally engages with a distal end of the tension member so that the coupling component is removably fixed to the tension member. The spool component includes a coupling feature within which the coupling component is positioned to attach the tension member to the spool.

The present invention discloses a string tightening device that can easily adjust the characteristics of the string, such as the length or tension of the string used in various wearing products or household items, including shoes, bags, clothing, and the like.

A string tightening device of the present invention includes: a base having a space therein and including a first projection portion; a lower rotation member that is disposed in the base and moves a predetermined distance in a direction of separation from the base or the opposite direction thereof, an upper rotation member coupled to the lower rotation member, including a second locking portion corresponding to the first locking portion, and rotating only in one direction when the first locking portion and the second locking portion are closely attached; and an inner housing portion provided in the lower rotation member or the upper rotation member and wound therearound.

An article of footwear with adjustable stiffness is provided. The article of footwear in the form of a snowboard boot is provided with adjustable tensioning systems that are disposed on either side of an inner liner of the snowboard boot. The adjustable tensioning system includes a comb body structure having flex portions made of a plurality of extending fingers with a flexibility that can be controlled by the adjustable tensioning system. Depending on the level of tension applied by the tensioning system, or lack thereof, a range of flex profiles having varying amounts of stiffness are available to the wearer to adjust the overall stiffness of the snowboard boot.

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.

An article of footwear includes an upper defining an interior void and a first cable movable in a tightening direction to move the upper into a tightened state and movable in a loosening direction to move the upper into a loosened state. The article of footwear also includes a tightening grip operable to be moved away from the upper in a first direction to move the first cable in the tightening direction and a cable lock operable in a locked state to restrict movement of the first cable in the loosening direction and operable in an unlocked state to permit movement of the first cable in the loosening direction. A release grip is operable to be moved away from the upper in a second direction to move the cable lock from the locked state to the unlocked state, whereby the release grip is separate from the tightening grip.

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 automating a collaborative operation between an intelligent electronic shoe (IES) and an intelligent transportation management (ITM) system includes receiving, via a detection tag attached to the IES shoe structure, a prompt signal from a transmitter-detector module communicatively connected to a traffic system controller of the ITM system. In reaction to the received prompt signal, the detection tag transmits a response signal to the transmitter-detector module. The traffic system controller uses the response signal to determine a location of the IES's user, and the current operating state of a traffic signal proximate the user's location. The traffic system controller transmits a command signal to the traffic signal to switch from the current operating state to a new operating state.

In a fastening structure, a third guide member located on the medial side and a third guide member located on the lateral side overlap each other in a foot length direction of footwear as viewed in the foot length direction. A tightening member is guided such that intermediate portions of the tightening member, which are located on the medial and lateral sides, extend in a direction including a component of the foot length direction without crossing each other in a foot width direction of the footwear.