Abstract: An automatic lacing system for an article of footwear includes a motor, a gear train coupled to the motor, a speaker, and a speaker controller in communication with the speaker and the motor. The speaker controller is configured to instruct the speaker to output a damping sound wave in response to activation of the motor to reduce or cancel sound generated by the motor or the gear train.

Abstract: An article of footwear is provided that includes a sole structure and an upper attached to the sole structure. The upper includes an exterior layer and a base layer, and the exterior layer includes a biodegradable layer and a biologically active agent capable of biodegrading the biodegradable layer.

Abstract: A bioindicator assembly for determining a level of CO2 in a surrounding environment includes an article and a bioindicator component applied to the article. The bioindicator component includes a composite fabric that has a substrate, wherein a biodegradable material is applied to the substrate, a membrane that is coupled with the composite fabric to define an interior cavity, the membrane being semi-permeable, a bioindicator that changes color, form, shape, or texture when exposed to CO2, and an attachment mechanism coupled to a rear side of the composite fabric.

Abstract: A garment includes a substantially seamless base layer made from a compressive material, an outer layer positioned outward of at least a portion of the compressive material, and seam tape coupling the outer layer to the base layer. The outer layer is configured to cover less than an entire circumference of a wearer of the garment, and the base layer extends around at least a portion of the circumference not covered by the outer layer. For example, the outer layer may not cover a wearer's lateral thigh region, minimizing the availability of non-taut material in that region that may be subject to easier grabbing or manipulation by an opponent.

Abstract: A method for putting on or taking off a piece of clothing or for closing, putting on, opening, or taking off a piece of luggage, including the steps of tightening or loosening by means of a tensioning element driven by a driven tension roller and a switching element. The tightening or loosening takes place by actuation of the switching element. The switching element has a number of contact-sensitive sensors which are arranged adjacent to one another and form a surface accessible to the user of the piece of clothing or of the piece of luggage. The method includes the steps of scanning the surface of the sensors by the user in a first direction, detecting the signal of the sensors by a controller, and causing a first tensioning force level or a first closing path of the tensioning element to be initiated by the controller and the electric motor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of a shoe (1), especially of a sports shoe. To provide an effective and cost-efficient method for the shoe production, the invention comprises the steps: a) Production of a shoe upper (2) and of a shoe sole (3); b) Joining of the shoe upper (2) and the shoe sole (3) and inserting the joined shoe upper (2) and the shoe sole (3) into a flexible container element (4) which can be closed in an air-tight manner; c) Air-tight closing of the container element (4) and evacuating of the container element (4), so that the container element (4) presses together the joined shoe upper (2) and the shoe sole (3) within the container element (4); d) Connecting the shoe upper (2) and the shoe sole (3) within the container element (4) with another; e) Venting of the container element (4) and taking out the connected shoe upper (2) and shoe sole (3).

Abstract: An example system to measure strain in an article includes a camera, a processor, and memory. The camera is to capture a plurality of images of the article. The processor and the memory are in selective communication with the camera. The processor and the memory are configured to determine strain in a region of the article based on a plurality of reference marks shown in the plurality of images.

Abstract: A garment, especially to a sports garment, including a textile substrate which covers a part of the body of the wearer of the garment, wherein at least a section of the textile substrate is coated with at least two different Phase Change Materials, wherein a first Phase Change Material is arranged which has a phase transition temperature between 27° C. and 29° C., wherein a second Phase Change Material is arranged which has a phase transition temperature between 35° C. and 37° C., wherein both of the Phase Change Materials are in thermal contact with at least one thermochromic dye. By doing so, an improved thermal regulation during sporting activities is obtained which can be controlled visually.