According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing, and a stop mechanism. The device is configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the housing that incrementally tensions a tension member and thereby tightens the article. The device is also configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally loosens the tension member's tension. The stop mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the tension member's tension achieves or falls below a tension threshold.

An article of protective wear such as a boot (10) includes a flexible shell (14) with an opening (16) extending between two parts (20, 22) of the shell that (14) can move relative to each other to open or close the opening (16). The boot (10) has one or more releasable closure elements (24) for holding the first and second parts (20, 22) closed and a mechanical tightening mechanism (28, 30) that allows tightening of the first and second parts (20, 22), but resists separation between them. The boot (10) also includes a one-way hook-and-loop fastening system (38, 40) attached to the first and second parts (20, 22) that is configured to resist relative sliding between the first and second parts (20, 22) to a looser condition, but to allow relative sliding between the first and second parts (20, 22) to a tighter condition.

A closure mechanism is moveable between unlocked and locked positions and includes a locking element coupled to the first portion of the upper and a non-deflecting projection coupled to the second portion of the upper. The locking element is configured to receive the non-deflecting projection and comprises one or more deflecting abs. The projection is moveable in a first direction relative to the locking element to engage with the locking element, thereby moving the closure mechanism to the locked position and moving the upper to the closed configuration. The projection is moveable in the first direction relative to the locking element to disengage with the locking element, thereby moving the closure mechanism to the unlocked position and allowing the upper to return to the open configuration.

According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing, and a stop mechanism. The device is configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the housing that incrementally tensions a tension member and thereby tightens the article. The device is also configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally loosens the tension member's tension. The stop mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the tension member's tension achieves or falls below a tension threshold.

A cycling shoe has a sole and an upper attached to the sole. An adjustable closure panel extends across an opening in the upper. A lever assembly is exposed at an outer, rear surface of the upper, and is movable about a hinge between a first position and a second position. One or more passages extend through the cycling shoe to accommodate one or more cables to connect the lever assembly to the adjustable closure panel. The lever assembly is configured such that moving the lever assembly between the first position and the second position causes the one or more cables, if connected between the lever assembly to the adjustable closure panel, to tighten or loosen the closure panel relative to the upper.

Described is a portable footwear tightener lace replacement (mechanism) for use with an ice skate, sports shoe, work boot, sneaker or other footwear that has eyelets or lace hooks and normally uses laces for tightening. The portable footwear tightener includes an inside strap having a tooth or ribbed top side, an inside strap footwear attachment structure, an outside strap having a ratchet or clasp/buckle mechanism, an outside strap footwear attachment structure. Each of the inside strap and the outside strap is attached to the footwear through the eyelets, hooks or hoops by the inside strap footwear attachment structure and the outside footwear attachment structure, respectively, and the ribbed or toothed portion of the inside strap is connectable to ratchet or clasp/buckle mechanism of the outside strap into a snug arrangement.

A lace tensioning system (10) has sliding assemblies (11), and a ratcheted track slide (12). The ratcheted track slide has first and second slots (25), ratcheted tracks (13) on a predetermined side of, and on opposing edges of, the ratcheted track slide, the slots are separated by a divider (24). A sliding assembly is slidingly attached to the track slide and has a lace aperture (43) and ratcheted tracks (14). The ratcheted tracks of the sliding assembly are releasably and slidingly engaged with the ratcheted tracks of the ratcheted track slide. A sliding assembly is responsive to a force impressed upon an actuator button (16) to separate the ratcheted tracks of the sliding assembly from the ratcheted tracks of the ratcheted track slide to allow the sliding assembly to move freely along the slot. A sliding assembly can be moved toward the divider without pressing the actuator button.

The invention relates to a quick lacing system (10) for releasably fixing at least one shoelace (20) to a housing (30), which has a channel (40) for feeding through at least one shoelace (20), wherein the channel (40) is at least partly made of a movably mounted rocker (50) with a substantially concave interior (60), which is oriented in the direction of the channel (40), on a first side and at least partly of an eccentric jaw (70), which interacts with the rocker (50) at least in a closed position of the quick lacing system (10), on a second side substantially opposite the rocker. The invention also relates to a shoe equipped with such a quick lacing system (10).

The invention relates to a closure buckle for closing a ski boot, which buckle comprises a main lever (2) hinged to a base (1) and having a longitudinal notch (20) in which a tie rod (3) is mounted that is connected to a fastener hook and that has an end carrying an auxiliary lever (4), said buckle being characterized in that the main lever (2) is provided with a protective plate (21) laterally defining a housing (24) for receiving the auxiliary lever (4), and the invention also relates to a downhill ski boot equipped with such buckles.

A shoe lace securement mechanism including a spool, a threading and locking mechanism, a cap, and an ornamental casing. The mechanism is designed to maintain shoe lace tension without the need for a bow or knot and modularly applicable to a wide variety of footware.