Abstract: A restraining device configured to inhibit the removal of an article of footwear to which the restraining device is attached is provided. The restraining device will prevent footwear from being removed regardless of the type of fastening means used to secure the footwear to the foot of a wearer and whether the fastening means are fastened. In some embodiments, the restraining device is configured to be permanently attached to an article of footwear. In other embodiments, the restraining device is configured to be removably attached to an article of footwear. In some embodiments, the restraining device generally includes a ring-shaped member, a tightening means, and a locking mechanism. In other embodiments, the restraining device generally includes a restraining strap and a unique locking mechanism.

Abstract: An adjustable device with a hook structure is provided, including: two plate bodies, for being oppositely disposed on an article, at least one said plate body integrally formed with at least one hook structure protrusively on a surface thereof, the hook structure formed with a receiving slot and including an engaging portion, the engaging portion including a free end, the free end and the surface of the plate body formed with a passage therebetween, the passage communicated with the receiving slot, a width of the passage smaller than a width of the receiving slot; a connecting portion, connected between the two plate bodies, at least a part of the connecting portion received in the receiving slot, the connecting portion for being selectively operated to link the two plate bodies.

Abstract: A composite sole structure for an article of footwear includes a bottom component and an intermediate component. Each of the intermediate component and the bottom component includes a protruding portion that forms a concave contour on the top surface and a corresponding convex contour on the bottom surface of the component, where the protruding portion includes at least a first portion that forms a continuous trough at least from a medial side of the forefoot region, e.g., from a medial side of a toe split, to a lateral side of the heel region, e.g., a heel strike region. The bottom component further includes a variable thickness profile that forms a continuous ridge on the bottom surface, the ridge extending from the medial side of the forefoot region to the lateral side of the heel region, the ridge being substantially aligned with the first portion of the protruding portion of the intermediate component and the bottom component.

Abstract: A shoe lacing system is provided that can include a shoelace attachment portion disposed on a tongue of the shoe lacing system between a pair of shoelace receivers, the shoelace attachment portion includes notches disposed on the shoelace attachment portion to receive and couple the shoelace. The shoe lacing system can include a pair of sliding members coupled underneath a pair of shoelace receivers that are adapted to move along a track underneath the pair of sliding members, the ends of each of the loop segments are coupled to either one of the pair of shoelace receivers or one of the pair of sliding members. The shoe lacing system can include shoelace loops that are tensioned by pulling each of the shoelace loops and crossing and coupling each of the shoelace loops to notches disposed outside of each of the pair of shoelace outlets.

Abstract: A lace fitting structure for fitting an upper 3 wrapping around an instep of a foot to the instep, the structure including: a medial side portion 31 covering the instep and a medial side surface of a big toe; a lateral side portion 32 covering the instep and a lateral side surface of a little toe; first shoelace means 1 placed to extend in a longitudinal direction Y of the foot and engaged with the medial side portion 31 and the lateral side portion 32 along central edge portions 33 of the medial side portion 31 and the lateral side portion 32; placement means for placing a portion of the first shoelace means 1 so that the first shoelace means 1 is exposed in a plurality of exposed areas 1i, which are separated from one another in the longitudinal direction Y; and second shoelace means 2 engaging, in a transverse direction X of the foot, with the first shoelace means 1 in the plurality of exposed areas 1i so as to bring the medial side portion 31 and the lateral side portion 32 closer to each other, wherein a

Abstract: A lacing system for an article of footwear may include a lateral series of lace-receiving elements and a medial series of lace-receiving elements. A first lace extends consecutively through a first lateral lace-receiving element, a second lateral lace-receiving element, a fourth medial lace-receiving element, a fifth lateral lace-receiving element, a third medial lace-receiving element, and again through the first lateral lace-receiving element. A second lace extends consecutively through a first medial lace-receiving element, a second medial lace-receiving element, a fourth lateral lace-receiving element, a fifth medial lace-receiving element, a third lateral lace-receiving element, and again through the first medial lace-receiving element.

Abstract: Fastening system for shoes which are fastened by way of fastening laces. An insert opening has interengaging tabs which have end-mounted deflection elements for guiding the shoelace. The laces are organized so that no crossover or overlapping shoe laces are present in the instep and ball region of the foot.

Abstract: An instructional shoelace tying system. Identical identifiers are positioned on a right free end of a shoelace. Different identical identifiers are then positioned on the left free end of the shoelace. Another identifier might be positioned between the first set of identifiers. Kids can utilize such generally elongated hollow identifiers to quickly learn how to tie their shoelaces.

Abstract: A device for tying a shoelace includes a planar-shaped body member including a first opening, a second opening, a third opening, and a fourth opening. Each of the openings is configured to allow the shoelace to be inserted there through. The first, second, third and fourth openings may be arranged in a two-by-two array, wherein the first and second openings form a first row of the array, and wherein the third and fourth openings form a second row of the array. The first and fourth openings may be coupled to one another by a first slit, and the second and third openings may be coupled to one another by a second slit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for tightening a shoelace, the device comprising a shoe main body formed with an opening and a tongue finishing an inside of the opening; a shoelace connecting opposite sides of the opening; a handle connected to at least one of shoelaces connecting the opposite sides of the opening; and a hook formed in rear of the shoe main body and holding the shoelace pulled by the handle.

Abstract: A shoelace fastening assembly includes a fastening device fixed on the tongue of a shoe and includes a main part which has a tubular member and a shoelace is wrapped on the tubular member. A knob is rotatably engaged with the main part and drives the tubular member to rotate in one direction. At least one intermediate member is fixed on the tongue and has a cruciform slot so that the shoelace is movably engaged with the cruciform slot. At least two hook members are respectively fixed on two flaps of the shoe and each hook member has an engaging groove with which the shoelace is movably engaged. The shoelace can be easily connected with the intermediate member and the hook members.

Abstract: A heel for a shoe includes a first relatively flat surface for contacting the ground when one is walking while wearing a shoe having the heel and a second relatively flat surface for contacting the ground when one is dancing and wearing a shoe having the heel. A pair of shoes can have one or two such heels. Preferably, there is a lower-friction portion on the second relatively flat surface. The second relatively flat surface allows one to relatively easily spin while dancing, as compared to dancing with shoes having normal heels.

Abstract: A structure of a U-shaped lace buckle is disclosed. The U-shaped lace buckle comprises a shallow trench located at a central region. A releasing hole and a fastening hole are disposed within the central hollow region. The dimension of the releasing hole is larger than that of fastening hole. The releasing hole and the fastening hole are connected by a gradually tapering hole, wherein the dimension of the tapering hole connecting with the releasing hole is larger and the dimension of the tapering hole connecting with fastening hole is smaller. And the fastening hole comprises a plurality of protruded elements projecting from the inner surface. Further, the lace buckle comprises a through channel that passes from one end to the other end and connected through an arch-shaped groove located in between said two ends.

Abstract: A lace device for tightening or closing an article such as a boot upper, garment, or backpack including a lace and at least two series of at least one guide for said lace, the sub-assembly constituted by the guides and the lace(s) defining a lacing zone, in the vicinity of which a blocking zone is located, in the area where the lace(s) extends from the lacing zone, the device further including a blocking element, a pocket adapted to receive the blocking element, the pocket being located in the blocking zone, and the pocket including passage(s) for the lace enabling the penetration of the lace between its exit from the lacing zone and its entry into the blocking element.

Abstract: After purchase of a footwear article of manufacture, such as a sneaker, boot or the like, the substitution for the traditional lacing-up of the article of studs and lace of elastomeric construction material in a criss cross pattern to facilitate the fitting on and removal of the article from a user's foot.