A reel based closure device includes a housing, a spool positioned within the housing, and a knob that is operably coupled with the spool so that an operation of the knob causes the spool to rotate in a first direction within the housing. The spool has an upper flange, a lower flange, and a cylindrical wall disposed between the upper flange and the lower flange. The spool is rotatable in the first direction to wind a tension member about the spool's cylindrical wall when the spool is rotated in the first direction. The tension member has a first end and a second end positioned opposite the first end. The cylindrical wall has three holes through which the first end of the tension member is inserted to secure the first end of the tension member to the spool.

An article of footwear is disclosed that includes a cinching apparatus that is configured to move the upper between an open position and a closed position. The cinching apparatus includes a spring pad with a first, second, and third portion. The third portion is elastic and configured to deform elastically from a first position toward a second position. The third portion is configured to move the first portion relative to the second portion generally in the longitudinal direction as the third portion deforms between the first position and the second position. Also, the cinching apparatus is configured to move the upper from the open position toward the closed position as the third portion of the spring pad moves from the first position toward the second position.

An article of footwear, lacing engine, and method includes a motor, a transmission operatively coupled to the motor, and a lace spool. The lace spool is operatively coupled to the transmission and includes a top lace groove in a top surface of the lace spool and a circumferential channel, wherein the lace is configured to be inserted in the top lace groove and be taken up around the circumferential channel based on a turning of the lace spool from action by the motor and transmission. A fastener is configured to couple the lace spool to the transmission and is inserted into the lace spool via the top surface, the fastener having a head having a head width sufficient to partially cover the top lace groove, leaving a top gap having a gap width less than a thickness of the lace.

An article of footwear includes a motorized tensioning system, sensors, and a gesture control system. Based on information received from one or more sensors the gesture control system may detect a prompting gesture and enters an armed mode for receiving further instructions. In the armed mode the system may detect a variety of different control gestures that correspond to different tensioning commands.

Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine are discussed. In an example, a modular footwear apparatus including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a lacing engine is described. The upper portion can include a lace to adjust fit of the upper portion against a foot, the lace adjustable between a first position and a second position based at least in part on manipulation of an effective length of the lace. The lower portion can include a mid-sole and an out-sole, and the lower portion can be coupled to the upper portion at the mid-sole. The lacing engine can include a top-loading lace spool to engage a loop of the lace to enable manipulation of the effective length of the lace through rotation of the lace spool, the lacing engine received within a cavity in the lower portion.

The present invention provides a wire tightening device which is installed in shoes or the like and structured so that a tightening operation for tightening a wire can be performed with ease, and the position of a part winding the wire is lifted inside a housing. The present invention comprises: a winding wheel which is positioned in the inner space of the housing and has a vertical through hole formed in the center; and an ascending/descending member that is positioned in the through hole of the winding wheel and coupled to the winding wheel through ratchet coupling, and is provided with engagement teeth which are formed in the lower portion and interlock with locking teeth of the housing.

A sport shoe includes a first lacing strip, a second lacing strip, an intermediate strip and a closing device. The closing device includes a first winder and a second winder for stressing the first lacing strip and the second lacing strip so as to bring them closer together, and an actuator unit for selectively rotating the first winder or the second winder. The first winder, the second winder and the actuator unit are rotatably supported on a single support unit. The shoe further also includes a plug-in member of the support unit on the intermediate strip.

A closure system for an article of footwear includes a track, a knob, and a cord that is configured to be operably engaged with an upper of the footwear. The cord is attached to the knob and the knob is configured to be moved within the track to tighten and loosen the footwear.

A closure system for an article of footwear includes an actuation mechanism, a release mechanism, a closure mechanism, and a cord. The cord is configured to be operably engaged with an upper of the footwear. The actuation mechanism is configured to be pulled to actuate the closure system to adjust the footwear from a loosened configuration to a tightened configuration. In addition, the release mechanism is configured to adjust the footwear from the tightened configuration to the loosened configuration.

A closure system for an article of footwear includes a reel and a cord that is configured to be operably engaged with an upper of the footwear. A first segment of the cord is attached to the reel, and the reel is configured to be actuated by pulling the first segment of the cord to tighten the footwear.