Described herein is a flexible but resilient material comprising a soft outside shell and an internal flexible but resilient support core, as well as a method for constructing such a flexible but resilient material that can have multiple applications, including being used to manufacture an improved shoelace to help young children, individuals who are physically challenged, and/or who have a limiting physical disability.

Fastening devices and systems and methods thereof. Fastening devices and systems and methods thereof can include a unitary or one-piece body having first and second ends configured and operative to be coupled together or to be coupled to their respective complement in another of said fastening devices. The first end can include a ring or annular portion and a projection that are sized and shaped to fit around an anchor and in an orifice, respectively, of the second end. Fastening devices and systems and methods thereof according to embodiments may be used with items, including footwear, apparel, luggage, a backpack, a bag, a purse, a boxing glove, a punching bag, football or lacrosse shoulder pads, or the like.

A lace fitting structure for fitting an upper 3 wrapping around an instep of a foot to the instep, the structure including: a medial side portion 31 covering the instep and a medial side surface of a big toe; a lateral side portion 32 covering the instep and a lateral side surface of a little toe; first shoelace means 1 placed to extend in a longitudinal direction Y of the foot and engaged with the medial side portion 31 and the lateral side portion 32 along central edge portions 33 of the medial side portion 31 and the lateral side portion 32; placement means for placing a portion of the first shoelace means 1 so that the first shoelace means 1 is exposed in a plurality of exposed areas 1.sub.i, which are separated from one another in the longitudinal direction Y; and second shoelace means 2 engaging, in a transverse direction X of the foot, with the first shoelace means 1 in the plurality of exposed areas 1.sub.i so as to bring the medial side portion 31 and the lateral side portion 32 closer to each other, wherein a length L of the exposed areas 1.sub.i in the longitudinal direction Y is greater than a thickness and a width of the second shoelace means 2.

A lace fitting structure for fitting an upper 3 wrapping around an instep of a foot to the instep, the structure including: a medial side portion 31 covering the instep and a medial side surface of a big toe; a lateral side portion 32 covering the instep and a lateral side surface of a little toe; first shoelace means 1 placed to extend in a longitudinal direction Y of the foot and engaged with the medial side portion 31 and the lateral side portion 32 along central edge portions 33 of the medial side portion 31 and the lateral side portion 32; placement means for placing a portion of the first shoelace means 1 so that the first shoelace means 1 is exposed in a plurality of exposed areas 1.sub.i, which are separated from one another in the longitudinal direction Y; and second shoelace means 2 engaging, in a transverse direction X of the foot, with the first shoelace means 1 in the plurality of exposed areas 1.sub.i so as to bring the medial side portion 31 and the lateral side portion 32 closer to each other, wherein a length L of the exposed areas 1.sub.i in the longitudinal direction Y is greater than a thickness and a width of the second shoelace means 2.

A retention system for footwear can include opposed closure elements and a tensioner configured to urge the opposed closure elements toward each other in response to a tensile force applied to the tensioner. Opposed first and second anchors can be spaced from the tensioner. A retainer can have opposed first and second retainer couplers. The first retainer coupler can operatively engage the first anchor and the second retainer coupler can operatively engage the second anchor such that a tensile load applied to one or both of the first and second retainer couplers urges the retainer toward one or both of the first and second anchors. Each of the retainer couplers can be operatively engaged with the tensioner such that a tensile load applied to the tensioner urges the first retainer coupler and the second retainer coupler into tension and thereby urges the retainer toward one or both of the anchors.

A retention system for footwear can include opposed closure elements and a tensioner configured to urge the opposed closure elements toward each other in response to a tensile force applied to the tensioner. Opposed first and second anchors can be spaced from the tensioner. A retainer can have opposed first and second retainer couplers. The first retainer coupler can operatively engage the first anchor and the second retainer coupler can operatively engage the second anchor such that a tensile load applied to one or both of the first and second retainer couplers urges the retainer toward one or both of the first and second anchors. Each of the retainer couplers can be operatively engaged with the tensioner such that a tensile load applied to the tensioner urges the first retainer coupler and the second retainer coupler into tension and thereby urges the retainer toward one or both of the anchors.

A shoe fastening device and/or technique used to fasten a shoe is disclosed herein. A shoelace can be laced into a shoe in any number of lacing patterns. The two ends of the shoelace may be secured to the shoe. An overhand knot may be present when the shoelace is in a loosened configuration.

A shoestring made from elastically deformable silicone defines a constant taper between opposite end portions and a center portion, is narrowest at the center portion, and increases in size in an axial direction between the center portion and each end portion. The center portion may be configured with a length which is approximately one half of the total length of the shoestring. The end portions may each be configured with a length which is approximately one quarter of the total length of the shoestring. Each end portion may also define a convex end with a tapering cross-section in an axial direction away from the center portion, and may be colored differently than the center portion.

A lace (200) for a shoe (C), consisting of an elongate elastic band (2) made entirely of silicone, said band having elastic properties according to which, when at least one segment of said band is selected, said segment having a constant cross-section and a rest length of 5.0 centimetres, when said segment is stretched to a stretched length of 10.0 centimetres and then released, said segment contracts and reaches a first released length of between 5.6 and 7.0 centimetres after a first period of between 0.1 and 1 second after the release, and reaches a second released length of between 5.0 and 5.6 centimetres after a second period of between 15 and 25 seconds after the release. The invention is particularly applicable in the field of sports shoes, and in particular running shoes, to prevent any compression and thus allow good blood circulation while holding the foot comfortably.

A lace (200) for a shoe (C), consisting of an elongate elastic band (2) made entirely of silicone, said band having elastic properties according to which, when at least one segment of said band is selected, said segment having a constant cross-section and a rest length of 5.0 centimetres, when said segment is stretched to a stretched length of 10.0 centimetres and then released, said segment contracts and reaches a first released length of between 5.6 and 7.0 centimetres after a first period of between 0.1 and 1 second after the release, and reaches a second released length of between 5.0 and 5.6 centimetres after a second period of between 15 and 25 seconds after the release. The invention is particularly applicable in the field of sports shoes, and in particular running shoes, to prevent any compression and thus allow good blood circulation while holding the foot comfortably.