A rotary push-pull rope retractor includes a top cover, a follower, a seat, a control member and a base. The seat is fixedly installed on the base. An upper surface of the seat is provided with an elastic member and a pawl connected with the elastic member. The follower includes a ratchet and a rope bin. The pawl is located on one side of the ratchet and engaged with the ratchet. The control member is slidably arranged on the upper surface of the seat, and the control member can push the pawl to move away from the ratchet and compress the elastic member to separate the pawl from the ratchet, so as to switch the meshing mode or the free mode of the rotary push-pull rope retractor. The top cover is arranged above the seat, and the top cover and the follower are connected in linkage.

Systems, apparatus, and methods related to an automated footwear platform including motor control techniques. The motor control techniques can include operations such as segmenting a pre-defined travel distance, defining a plurality of moves, creating a plurality of motion profiles, and commanding movements. The plurality of moves can utilize the segmented travel distance for a drive mechanism associated with the footwear platform. Each motion profile of the plurality of motion profiles can include one or more moves from the plurality of moves. Commanding movement of the drive mechanism can be based on selection of one or more motion profiles from the plurality of motion profiles.

A closure system for an article of footwear includes a closure mechanism, a securing element, and a cord that is configured to be operably engaged with an upper of the footwear. The closure mechanism is configured to be actuated to adjust the footwear from a loosened configuration to a tightened configuration, and the securing element is configured to be engaged with the closure mechanism to secure the footwear in the tightened configuration.

A closure system for an article of footwear includes a closure mechanism, a securing element, and a cord or a lace that is configured to be operably engaged with an upper of the footwear. The closure mechanism is configured to be actuated to adjust the footwear from a loosened configuration to a tightened configuration, and the securing element is configured to be engaged with the closure mechanism to removably secure the closure mechanism to the footwear.

An installing hole forming mechanism includes at least one guiding sleeve and an inserting set. The at least one guiding sleeve includes a bore. The inserting set is detachably coupled to the at least one guiding sleeve and includes at least one spike configured to couple to the bore of the at least one guiding sleeve. The at least one spike includes a tip. When the at least one spike passes through the bore of the at least one guiding sleeve, the tip exposes from the guiding sleeve, and the at least one spike and the at least one guiding sleeve are forced to puncture a shoe such that at least one installing hole is formed on the shoe.

An article of footwear with an automatic lacing system is disclosed. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper.

A method and system for activity classification. A pressure sensor receives input data resulting from physical activity of a subject performing an activity. The input data includes pressure data from at least one pressure sensor, and may include other data acquired through other types of sensors. A deep learning neural network is applied to the input data for identifying the activity. The neural network is trained with reference to training data from a training database. The training data may include empirical data from a database of previous data of corresponding activities, synthesized data prepared from the empirical data or simulated data. The training data may include data from physical activity of the subject being monitored by the system. Different aspects of the neural network may be trained with reference to the training data, and some aspects may be locked or opened depending on the application and the circumstances.

It is provided a closure device includes a first closure part and a second closure part, which can be placed against each other along a closing direction, are held against each other in a closed position, and can be detached from each other for opening the closure device. The second closure part includes a housing element with a bearing opening and a rotary element rotatably mounted in the bearing opening of the housing element. The rotary element is operatively connected to an actuator element and can be rotated with respect to the second closure part for adjusting the actuator element along a winding direction. The first closure part includes a first toothing device the second closure part includes a second toothing device, and in the closed position of the closure device the first toothing device and the second toothing device are in engagement with each other in such a way that the first closure part and the second closure part are positively held against each other along the winding direction.

Systems, methods, and apparatus related to a homing mechanism within a drive mechanism of a lacing engine for an automated footwear platform are described. In an example, the homing apparatus 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.

An article of footwear includes an intermediate covering portion with an adjustable volume. The intermediate covering portion is closed around the instep of the foot. The article also includes a tensioning system that can be used to change the volume of the intermediate covering portion. The tensioning system includes a tension balancing member to balance loads across different portions of the intermediate covering portion.