A lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel comprising a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the reel can include a rotation limiter which can be configured to prevent over-tightening of the lacing system and/or to prevent rotation past the substantially fully loosened state.

Reel based lacing system

Lacing systems are disclosed for use with footwear or other articles. The lacing system can comprises flexible webbing lace guides. In some embodiments, a lace guide can include a first lace guide element and a second lace guide element. The lace can pass through the first and second lace guides consecutively on the first side of the article before crossing to the opposing side of the article. The first and second lace guide elements can be angled towards each other to reduce the occurrence of sharp turns in the lace path through the lace guide elements. In some embodiments, the lace guide can have a central portion that is less flexible than the end portions so as to reduce the occurrence of sharp turns in the lace path through the lace guide when tension is applied to the lace.

Guides for lacing systems

Articles of footwear may have an upper that includes a knit element and a tongue. The knit element defines a portion of an exterior surface and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot. The tongue is formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element and extends through a throat area of the upper. Methods of manufacturing a knitted component for an article of footwear may include knitting a tongue. The tongue is held on needles of a knitting machine. A first portion of a knit element is formed with the knitting machine while the tongue is held on the needles. The tongue is then joined to the first portion of the knit element. Additionally, a second portion of the knit element is formed with the knitting machine.

Article Of Footwear Incorporating A Knitted Component With A Tongue

Golf shoes include one or more of the following: (a) a foot stabilizer system that interacts with a shoe securing system to securely engage and/or wrap around a foot of a wearer; (b) a natural motion sole, optionally including flex grooves that allow a weight transfer from back-to-front and/or from side-to-side; (c) a six cleat configuration (e.g., four cleats in a forefoot region, two cleats in a heel region, and no cleats located directly under a big toe); (d) a forefoot moderator plate positioned to moderate or reduce user feel of the forefoot cleats; (e) a lateral half heel counter extending from a rear heel area to a lateral midfoot or lateral forward heel area of the shoe; and/or (f) one or more medial, forefoot, sidewall traction elements at or near a big toe area of the sole.

Golf shoe with natural motion structures

An article of footwear includes an upper with a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction The knitted component has a first edge and a second edge The knitted component also includes a base portion configured to be disposed adjacent the sole structure and to be disposed under a foot The knitted component further includes a heel portion, a forefoot portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion The knitted component additionally includes a collar with a rim The second edge is joined to the first edge at a seam The seam has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is located generally at the rim of the collar on one of the medial side and the lateral side of the upper The second end is spaced from the first end

Article Of Footwear Incorporating A Knitted Component With Integrally Knit Contoured Portion

An article of footwear includes a decoupled foot stabilizer system The foot stabilizer system is decoupled from a midfoot region of the article of footwear The foot stabilizer system includes a plurality of strap members The foot stabilizer system may optionally include a bootie The plurality of strap members extend underneath a portion of a foot of a wearer The plurality of strap members are configured to receive a lace at one end A lace running through the ends of the strap members pulls on the strap members when the lace is tightened and causes the foot stabilizer system to conform to the wearer's foot

Decoupled Foot Stabilizer System

An article of footwear including a connecting member is disclosed. The connecting member provides partial decoupling between the upper and the sole structure. The connecting member can include an upper layer and a lower layer that are attached at a central attachment portion.

Article of Footwear with Decoupled Upper

An article of footwear includes a textile component. The textile component of the upper includes a textile element and a tensile element. The tensile element defines a first segment disposed on a first side of the upper. The first segment of the tensile element is configured to attach the securement device to the textile element on the first side of the upper. The tensile element further includes a second segment that is disposed proximate the lower portion of the upper on the second side. The second segment is fixed relative to the lower portion of the upper on the second side. The tensile element further includes an intermediate segment that extends continuously from the first segment, across the heel region, to the second segment.

Article of footwear upper incorporating a textile component with tensile elements

An article of footwear has an upper and a sole structure. The upper includes a base layer and one or more tensile strands. The sole structure includes an auxetic element operable to expand in two orthogonal horizontal directions in response to a tension applied in one of the directions. Each tensile strand has at least one end secured in fixed position relative to a peripheral region of the sole structure.

Auxetic sole with upper cabling

An insert system for an article of footwear includes an outer assembly, a first insert assembly and a second insert assembly. The outer assembly is configured to interchangeably receive the first insert assembly and the second insert assembly. The first insert assembly includes a first sleeve member and a first midsole configured to provide enhanced cushioning and support. The first sleeve member includes a tongue and a fastening member that wraps around the tongue. The second insert assembly includes a second sleeve member and a second midsole configured to enhance speed.

Olivier Henrichot

Papers

Decoupled Foot Stabilizer System

Article of Footwear with Decoupled Upper

Article of footwear upper incorporating a textile component with tensile elements

Auxetic sole with upper cabling

Interchangeable insert system for footwear