Abstract: A valve and tether fixation mechanism includes an anchor, a tether, and a prosthetic heart valve. The anchor may be for anchoring a prosthetic heart valve in a native heart valve. The tether may have a distal end coupled to the anchor. The tether may extend proximally from the anchor and connect to a tensioning mechanism. The prosthetic valve may be configured to translate along the tether. The valve may have a tether connecting portion configured to allow for adjustment of the tension in the tether and affix the prosthetic valve to the tether at a desired tension.

Abstract: A tissue anchor assembly comprises a tissue anchor; a suture; and an adjustment button coupled with the suture. The adjustment button is adapted to adjust tension relative in the suture. When tension is applied to a second suture section trailing away from the tissue anchor, the adjustment button is engaged with the second suture section through locking splines and the adjustment button slides along a portion of the suture to increase a distance between the adjustment button and the tissue anchor. When tension is applied to a first suture section trailing away from the tissue anchor, the adjustment button moves in a direction towards the tissue anchor to reduce a distance between the adjustment button and the tissue anchor.

Abstract: A lace guide for an article of footwear comprises a base, a body protruding from the base, and an enlarged head at a distal end of the body. The body, the base, and the enlarged head define an external channel that extends at least partially around the body to receive and retain a lace. The base may be a heel counter, and the lace guide and the heel counter may be an integral, one-piece component. Alternatively, the base of the lace guide may be a wing extending along a side of the upper, or may be secured to a footwear upper.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wire tightening device for improving the convenience of use by readily providing the device in shoes, comprising: a housing part fixed to the tongue of shoes to provide a ratchet-type gear in the inner circumference thereof, and having a cylindrical inner surface; a reel part rotatably arranged inside the housing part and providing tensile force to a wire for tightening both side covers of the shoes as the wire is wound; and a rotary cover for selectively rotating the reel part, wherein the housing part provides a coupling part placed on the top surface of the tongue in a position corresponding to a provision hole formed in the tongue, and a pressing surface part for pressing the bottom surface of the tongue according to the coupling, to the coupling part, of the coupling bar protruding from one surface for clamping and fixing the tongue by penetrating through the provision hole.

Abstract: A lace guide for an article of footwear comprises a base, a body protruding from the base, and an enlarged head at a distal end of the body. The body, the base, and the enlarged head define an external channel that extends at least partially around the body to receive and retain a lace. The base may be a heel counter, and the lace guide and the heel counter may be an integral, one-piece component. Alternatively, the base of the lace guide may be a wing extending along a side of the upper, or may be secured to a footwear upper.

Abstract: A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a tensioning member that is tightened or loosened using a motorized tensioning device for winding and unwinding the tensioning member on a spool. The motorized tensioning device includes a torque transmitting system that allows for incremental tightening, incremental loosening and full loosening of the tensioning member.

Abstract: A footwear hanger including a bracing member, a lace-clamping member and an interconnecting member. The bracing member includes a first elongated side wall and a second elongated side wall. The bracing member is configured to be bracingly attached to a strap, such as a backpack shoulder strap or a belt, between the first elongated side wall and the second elongated side wall. The lace-clamping member includes a clamping mechanism and an inner wall surface, wherein at least one shoe lace can be removably clamped by the clamping mechanism. The interconnecting member securely attaches the external surface of the second elongated side wall and the inner wall surface of the lace-clamping member, forming a lacing gap between the second elongated side wall and the inner wall surface of the lace-clamping member. Thereby, facilitating wrapping of the at least one shoe lace onto the interconnecting member.

Abstract: A cycling shoe can include a hook that, when used together with another device, such as with a rubber band, can position the shoe on a bicycle in a desired position. The shoes can be clipped into pedals on the bicycle, and the hook and rubber band can be used to position the shoes and crank arms of the bicycle in the position desired by the user. The hook can be on the arch side of the shoe. The hook can be separate from the tightening system.

Abstract: A clasp for clasping the end sections of a shoelace for tightening a shoe is configurable between an open position for receiving the end sections and a closed position clasping the end sections. The clasp is connected to a shoe and generally includes a base and a cover hingedly connected to the base. The base includes two elongate channels for receiving the shoelace ends. The cover closes over the base and the received laces. The cover and base include cooperating ratchet teeth that allow the laces to be tightened but not loosened without opening the cover.

Abstract: A binding assembly has a binding frame, a pulling tie and a tightening tie. The binding frame has a base, a pressing member, two tie fastening holders and two separating members. The tie fastening holders are connected pivotally to the base and each has a pulling tie hole and a tightening tie hole. Each separating member divides the corresponding tightening tie hole into a first hole segment and a second hole segment. The pulling tie is mounted through and compressed by the pressing member and has two ends mounted respectively through the pulling tie holes. The tightening tie has two ends mounted respectively through the first hole segments along a first direction, mounted respectively over the separating members and mounted respectively through the second hole segments along a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A device for locking strands of laces, including a hollow body demarcating a cavity, the cavity defining at least one passageway for passage of the lace strands, the locking device including a locking member, the locking member being movable between a locking position and a release position, the locking device operating via cooperation of the locking member with each passageway to lock each lace strand by a wedging effect, an elastic mechanism biasing the locking member towards the locking position. The locking device acts for at least three lace strands, and at least one passageway is adapted to receive two superposed lace strands.

Abstract: Shoe Laces and locking apparatus for locking laces without trying the laces, the apparatus including an opening for holding a lace or laces in a locked configuration. The apparatus may include a slit for passing a lace into the locking opening.

Abstract: A blocking device adapted to act on at least one lace or strand, the blocking device including a body, a first cavity defining a first pathway for the strand, the device including a first blocking member, a first guide for guiding the first blocking member relative to the body, and first elastic member to bias the first blocking member in a direction to press the strand against a surface of the pathway, the device functioning by cooperation of a first blocking member with the first pathway for blocking the strand by a wedging effect. The first cavity is open, so as to enable the strand to be inserted and disengaged in a direction other than that of the pathway.

Abstract: Clamping device (1) for shoelaces (2) or the like lacing devices with clamping jaws, between which the shoelace (2) can be locked in a closed position and moved back and forth in an open position, wherein the clamping device (1) is engageable in an open position wherein the engagement in an open position of the clamping device (1) is releasably by a movement of the shoelace (2) to be locked in a direction out of the pulling direction of the shoelace (2) as well as a shoe with a clamping device (1) in accordance to the invention.

Abstract: The automatic shoe lace tightening system or power lace has a switch on the shoe upper to activate a small battery powered slow speed motor fixed into a recess in the heel which winds in onto the winder spool the smooth plastic or wire lacing cord passing through guiding tubes positioned across the shoe tongue and down the side of the shoe through to the motor housing upon which the tightening cord draws together the lace loop plates fixed either side of the shoe's upper adjacent to the tongue by passing in a zig-zag through cord loops fixed to and along the lace plates with the end of the cord attached to the bottom of one of the plates and the desired tension of the cord and shoe fit is automatically held in place as the cord passes through a sprung loaded clamp which can then be manually released to loosen the shoe.

Abstract: A footwear item including an upper portion; at least one lace passing through eyelets arranged along the edges of an opening on the front the upper portion, and that tightens, thereby drawing the edges of the opening closer to each other, when pulled in a fastening direction; a string locking arrangement, provided in the upper portion having one or more passages in which the at least one lace is inserted and is capable of sliding when the wearer pulls it, while being capable of being retained there by a lock when it is at rest. The lock including an oscillating locking member in contact with the at least one lace to slide when the latter is pulled in the fastening direction, and which gets attached onto the at least one lace and locks it in position when the latter undergoes a tension in a direction opposite to the fastening direction.

Abstract: A shoe fastening device includes a body having two open ends and two push members are movably inserted in the body from the two open ends and a spring is connected between the two push members. Two ends of a string extend through two passages in the two push members and two holes in the body. A side frame extends from an outer periphery of the body and includes a space defined therethrough. Two apertures are defined through the side frame and communicate with the space. A rib extends from an inside of an inside of the space and is located between the two apertures. A positioning member is removably connected to the side frame via the two apertures and the two ends of the string is positioned at the clamp portions of the positioning member.

Abstract: A cordage for threading through an opening. An elastic cord is provided with an elongated shank component and at least one outwardly expandable component. When the cord is under tension, the expandable component shrinks to a diameter which is sufficient to enable its movement through an opening, such as an eyelet of a shoe. In response to the tension being released, the expandable component enlarges to a diameter which is sufficiently large to resist movement through the opening.

Abstract: A retaining clip for holding shoelaces and replacing standard footwear eyelets including one integral member formed with a base attached to the shoe upper with a curved member extending upwardly therefrom and an upper member extending back across the base. An abutment member extends outwardly from the upper member toward the base member to be in abutment therewith for retaining a shoelace therewithin and a prying tab extends upwardly from the abutment member. The shoelace when urged against the prying tab will cause the abutment member to separate from the base allowing the shoelace to snap into place. When the shoelace is pulled against the opposite side of the abutment member, release is achieved. The footwear construction includes a shoelace securement means having a cam cleat for firmly gripping of the shoelaces and facilitating extremely rapid operation of the overall footwear closure construction.

Abstract: The invention provides a fastening device for releasably securing two lace ends (3) together. The fastening device comprises a body including first and second members (11, 12) having a passage through which the lace ends can pass. The passage may include aperture means (25). The device also comprises a gripping means associated with the passage for gripping the lace ends in a manner which allows movement of the lace ends through the passage but selectively resists reverse movement. The gripping means are typically defined by the first and second members (11, 12).