A lace-tightening device for a shoe lace in a shoe comprises a rotating cam within a housing disposed within the shoe. The cam is connected to the opposite ends of the shoe lace and includes an outer surface for receiving the shoe lace as the cam rotates to pull the lace. A driven gear disposed is rotatably coupled to the cam through a one-way clutch configured so that rotation of the driven gear in one direction rotates the cam in the one direction, thereby tightening the shoe lace connected to the rotating cam. A ratchet arm is slidably disposed within the housing and includes linear teeth arranged to engage the teeth of the driven gear as the ratchet arm translates in a linear direction. to rotate the gear in the one direction. The ratchet arm is pulled by at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) wire attached at one end to the ratchet arm and at its opposite end to a controller. The controller is configured to execute a power cycle to energize and deenergize the SMA wire so that the wire sequentially shrinks and returns to its original length to thereby sequentially translate the ratchet arm in the linear direction, and ultimately to incrementally pull and tighten the shoe lace. The controller repeats the cycle a number of times until the lace reaches a tightness desired by the user.

A footwear article is provided herein. The footwear article may include a sole coupled to a cord structure. The cord structure may include interconnected bights in a vamp cord and a rand cord forming a loop line extending along at least a portion of the footwear article.

A footwear article is provided herein. The footwear article may include a sole coupled to a cord structure. The cord structure may include interconnected bights in a vamp cord and a rand cord forming a loop line extending along at least a portion of the footwear article.

A protective footwear includes a foot engagement portion, a lower-leg engagement portion, and a cable closure system. The lower-leg engagement portion defines a cable end interface and a buckle interface. The cable closure system is configured to facilitate at least partially securing the protective footwear to a leg of a wearer. The cable closure system includes a buckle assembly configured to releasably couple to the buckle interface and a cable extending between the cable end interface and the buckle assembly. The cable has a first end coupled to the cable end interface and an opposing second end coupled to the buckle assembly.

A protective footwear includes a foot engagement portion, a lower-leg engagement portion, and a cable closure system. The lower-leg engagement portion defines a cable end interface and a buckle interface. The cable closure system is configured to facilitate at least partially securing the protective footwear to a leg of a wearer. The cable closure system includes a buckle assembly configured to releasably couple to the buckle interface and a cable extending between the cable end interface and the buckle assembly. The cable has a first end coupled to the cable end interface and an opposing second end coupled to the buckle assembly.

A footwear article is provided herein. The footwear article may include a sole coupled to a cord structure. The cord structure may include interconnected bights in a vamp cord and a rand cord forming a loop line extending along at least a portion of the footwear article.

A footwear article is provided herein. The footwear article may include a sole coupled to a cord structure. The cord structure may include interconnected bights in a vamp cord and a rand cord forming a loop line extending along at least a portion of the footwear article.

A footwear article is provided herein. The footwear article may include a sole coupled to a cord structure. The cord structure may include interconnected bights in a vamp cord and a rand cord forming a loop line extending along at least a portion of the footwear article.

A footwear article is provided herein. The footwear article may include a sole coupled to a cord structure. The cord structure may include interconnected bights in a vamp cord and a rand cord forming a loop line extending along at least a portion of the footwear article.

A lace-tightening device for a shoe lace in a shoe comprises a rotating cam within a housing disposed within the shoe. The cam is connected to the opposite ends of the shoe lace and includes an outer surface for receiving the shoe lace as the cam rotates to pull the lace. A driven gear disposed is rotatably coupled to the cam through a one-way clutch configured so that rotation of the driven gear in one direction rotates the cam in the one direction, thereby tightening the shoe lace connected to the rotating cam. A ratchet arm is slidably disposed within the housing and includes linear teeth arranged to engage the teeth of the driven gear as the ratchet arm translates in a linear direction. to rotate the gear in the one direction. The ratchet arm is pulled by at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) wire attached at one end to the ratchet arm and at its opposite end to a controller. The controller is configured to execute a power cycle to energize and deenergize the SMA wire so that the wire sequentially shrinks and returns to its original length to thereby sequentially translate the ratchet arm in the linear direction, and ultimately to incrementally pull and tighten the shoe lace. The controller repeats the cycle a number of times until the lace reaches a tightness desired by the user.