An article of footwear and related method includes a midsole, an upper secured with respect to the midsole, and a lace extending through the upper. A motorized lacing system positioned within the midsole, configured to engage with the lace to increase and decrease tension on the lace. The motorized lacing system includes a motor, including a motor shaft, a spool, coupled to the motor shaft, configured to spool and unspool the lace based on the turning of the motor shaft, a processor circuit, and an optical encoder. The optical encoder comprises a three-dimensional encoder defining a major axis and having a surface having a first plurality of segments positioned between a second plurality of segments, and an optical sensor, positioned within optical range of the cylindrical encoder, configured to output a signal to the processor circuit indicative of a detected one of a first and second plurality of segments.

An article of footwear and related method includes a midsole, an upper secured with respect to the midsole, and a lace extending through the upper. A motorized lacing system positioned within the midsole, configured to engage with the lace to increase and decrease tension on the lace. The motorized lacing system includes a motor, including a motor shaft, a spool, coupled to the motor shaft, configured to spool and unspool the lace based on the turning of the motor shaft, a processor circuit, and an optical encoder. The optical encoder comprises a three-dimensional encoder defining a major axis and having a surface having a first plurality of segments positioned between a second plurality of segments, and an optical sensor, positioned within optical range of the cylindrical encoder, configured to output a signal to the processor circuit indicative of a detected one of a first and second plurality of segments.

A shoe tying device that includes a female member having a first female member end, a second female member end, at least one female engagement section, and two cut-out portions. The shoe tying device further includes a male member having a male member top face, a first male member end, and a second male member end. One of the male and female members includes two pillars that project from the member top face, and at least one engagement member that extends from one of the members. The at least one female engagement section and the at least one male engagement section selectively engageable with each other creating an opening from the alignment of the cut-out portions of the of the female member and the cut-out portions of the male member.

The present application relates to a quick string-tying device including a first case body provided with a first bottom portion, a first open end, and a first sidewall extending and formed from the first bottom portion towards the first open end, the first bottom portion and the first sidewall forming a first accommodation space, the first bottom portion being provided with a first string-passing opening for two free ends of a string to pass therethrough, a slit formed on the first sidewall and extending from the first open end towards the first bottom portion, the slit being used to clamp the two free ends of the string which enter into the slit. The quick string-tying device is suitable for use on various items that require tying of a string, and can achieve quick tying and loosening of a string. A method for tying a string is also disclosed.

An article of footwear and related method includes a midsole, an upper secured with respect to the midsole and forming a throat, and a plurality of laces extending across the throat of the upper. A motorized lacing system is positioned within the midsole and is configured to engage with a primary lace to increase and decrease tension on the primary lace. The motorized lacing system includes a motor, a lace spool, operatively coupled to the motor, configured to spool and unspool the primary lace based, and an elongate spool, the primary lace coupled to the elongate spool, configured to spool and unspool the plurality of laces based on operation of the motor and via the primary lace, each of the plurality of laces spaced along the elongate spool from one another.

A system includes an article of footwear and a remote system. The article of footwear includes an adaptive configured to be adjusted to one of a plurality of configurations based on a command received from a processor circuit. The remote system includes an electronic data storage, configured to store a user profile including the plurality of configurations, and a processor configured to prompt, on a user interface, a user to put on the article of footwear, receive, via a wireless transceiver, a signal from the article of footwear indicating that the article of footwear has been placed on the foot of a wearer, access, one of the plurality of configurations based on a user selection, and transmit the one of the plurality of configurations as selected. The processor circuit causes the adaptive component to be configured according to the one of the plurality of configurations.

A lace securement device prevents laces on a shoe from coming untied. The device includes a head, a first arm coupled to and extending from an edge of the head, and a second arm coupled to and extending from the edge of the head. The second arm is couplable to the first arm in spaced relationship to the head defining a closed position forming a loop extending from the edge of the head for receiving laces on a shoe therethrough. The first arm and the second arm are positioned adjacently for abutting and securing the laces such that the loop prevents the laces from coming untied.

Provided are, among other things, shoes having elastic tongue-securing straps. In one representative embodiment, a shoe includes: (a) a sole; (b) an upper, extending above the sole, that includes a front section, a left side, a right side, a rear section, and a tongue that originates from the front section and extends rearwardly between the left side and the right side; (c) a left elastic strap that extends from a left side of the tongue and: (1) extends through a loop that is securely attached to the left side of the upper and has a distal end securely attached to the sole, and/or (2) has its distal end securely attached to the left side of the upper; and (d) a right elastic strap that extends from a right side of the tongue and: (1) extends through a loop that is securely attached to the right side of the upper and has a distal end securely attached to the sole, and/or (2) has its distal end securely attached to the right side of the upper, with the left elastic strap having a proximal end fixedly attached to the left side of the tongue and the right elastic strap having a proximal end fixedly attached to the right side of the tongue.

A retainer assembly for securing a knot defined by a pair of shoelaces of a shoe includes a base member, a clamping member, and a clip member. The clamping member is engaged with the base member and telescopically moves relative to the base member between an extended position and a retracted position. The clamping member includes a clasp. Moreover, the clip member is pivotally coupled to the base member and is adapted to engage with the clasp when the clamping member is arranged in the retracted position to secure the knot between the clip member and the clamping member

A system includes an article of footwear and a remote system. The article of footwear includes an adaptive configured to be adjusted to one of a plurality of configurations based on a command received from a processor circuit. The remote system includes an electronic data storage, configured to store a user profile including the plurality of configurations, and a processor configured to prompt, on a user interface, a user to put on the article of footwear, receive, via a wireless transceiver, a signal from the article of footwear indicating that the article of footwear has been placed on the foot of a wearer, access, one of the plurality of configurations based on a user selection, and transmit the one of the plurality of configurations as selected. The processor circuit causes the adaptive component to be configured according to the one of the plurality of configurations.