Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper defining an interior void and a first cable movable in a tightening direction to move the upper into a tightened state and movable in a loosening direction to move the upper into a loosened state. The article of footwear also includes a tightening grip operable to be moved away from the upper in a first direction to move the first cable in the tightening direction and a cable lock operable in a locked state to restrict movement of the first cable in the loosening direction and operable in an unlocked state to permit movement of the first cable in the loosening direction. A release grip is operable to be moved away from the upper in a second direction to move the cable lock from the locked state to the unlocked state, whereby the release grip is separate from the tightening grip.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved carabiner system, including an impact-dampening cushion around the external surface of the frame for cushioning damage during a fall or collision and to reduce sound from loose or swinging carabiner collisions. Additional surface routing and through holes provide improved register between the carabiner frame and the over-molded cushion layer.

Abstract: A slider, includes a slider base, a pull-tab, a connecting shaft and a spring; the slider base includes an upper blade, a lower blade, and a connecting pin connecting the upper blade and the lower blade; said pull-tab is integrated with the connecting shaft; the pull-tab includes a pull-tab body, with a spring mounting part and a locking part set at the anterior-end-face of the pull-tab body; the anterior-end-face of the pull-tab body is set as a locking vertical plane and the bottom of the pull-tab body is set as cambered surface; the connecting shaft is fixed to the anterior-end of the pull-tab body and the length of the connecting shaft is larger than the width of the anterior-end-face of the pull-tab body; the connecting shaft runs through the spring mounting part and the locking part and extends to both sides of the anterior-end of the pull-tab body.

Abstract: A watch clasp with a finely adjustable watch strap length includes: a watch clasp sliding holder, located on a back surface of a watch clasp case; a sliding stop module, fixing the watch clasp sliding holder to the back surface of the watch clasp case through engagement, where the sliding holder can slide between the watch clasp case and the sliding stop module; a stop spring bar, fixed to the watch clasp case, and an unlock module, fixed to the watch clasp case where the unlock module is engaged with the sliding stop module, and the stop spring bar and the unlock module are respectively located on two sides of the sliding stop module; and an extension latch assembly, where one end of the extension latch assembly is fixed to the watch clasp case, and another end of the extension latch assembly is fixed to an elastic fine-adjusting assembly.

Abstract: Connecting device allowing a releasable connection between a bracelet strap and a folding clasp including at least two articulated arms and two fastening portions capable of reversibly cooperating with each other. The connecting device includes a first connecting piece capable of being secured to the free end of the bracelet strap and a second connecting piece capable of being mounted on the fastening portion. The first connecting piece and the second connecting piece are configured to reversibly cooperate with each other between a first, open position allowing separation of the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece and a second, closed position in which the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece are locked together.

Abstract: Provided is a snap button in which a swaged portion of a to-be-swaged pin is not visible from users. The snap button comprises a snap button body and a cap to be connected to the snap button body with a cloth interposed between them. The snap button body includes a base; a pin to be swaged, which protrudes from an inner surface of the base, the inner surface being placed to face the cloth; and an engaging portion provided on an outer surface opposite to the inner surface of the base. The cap comprises a cap body including a cap base; and a metal eyelet attached to an inner surface of the cap base, the inner surface being placed to face the cloth. The eyelet comprises a cylindrical portion for receiving the pin which has pierced the cloth and swaging the pin on the inner surface of the cap base.

Abstract: Tie-down assemblies and methods of their use are provided. In one embodiment, a tie-down assembly may include a buckle, a first strap, and a second strap. The buckle may include a frame, a handle pivotably attached to the frame and configured to pivot about a first axis between an open position and a closed position, and a drum rotatably attached to the handle and configured to rotate about a second axis, wherein the second axis is spaced apart from and extends parallel to the first axis. The first strap may be attached to the frame, and the second strap may be configured to removably attach to the drum.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a closed loop elastic strap having at least a primary thickness, a width and an adjustable length. The length is adjustable by feeding the elastic strap through a buckle with one end of the elastic strap attached to a loop with another portion of the elastic strap fed through the same loop and the other end of the elastic strap attached to a portion of the same buckle. The closed loop elastic strap can be stretched around (but not limited to) the end of a picnic table to hold a tablecloth in place or around the top of (but not limited to) a beach chair or lounge chair to hold a towel in place during windy or adverse conditions.

Abstract: The fixing buckle includes first and second securing parts provided with coupling elements one of which defines a hook. A closure system is configured to define a first position preventing extraction of the first coupling elements from the second coupling elements and a second position allowing insertion and extraction of the first coupling elements. The closure system includes first and second closure plates each having a first position obstructing the hook and a second position configured to remove the first coupling elements. The first position of the first closure plate is configured to prevent movement of the second closure plate from its first position to its second position. The second closure plate separates the first coupling elements and the first closure plate along an extraction channel defined by the hook.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing, and a stop mechanism. The device is configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the housing that incrementally tensions a tension member and thereby tightens the article. The device is also configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally loosens the tension member's tension. The stop mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the tension member's tension achieves or falls below a tension threshold.

Abstract: A securing device (10) for securing a first object (320) relative to a second object (322) includes a device body (12) having a cross-sectional area, and which is formed from a material so that the device body (12) exhibits elongation of between six hundred percent and eight hundred percent. A ratio of the elongation (in percent) to the cross-sectional area (in square millimeters) is between approximately 5:1 and 10:1. The device body (12) is also formed from the material so that the device body (12) exhibits a tensile strength of between four thousand five hundred kPa and nine thousand three hundred kPa. A ratio of the tensile strength (in kPa) to the cross-sectional area (in square millimeters) is between approximately 50:1 and 85:1. The material that forms the device body (12) has an average kinetic coefficient of friction of between approximately 1.35 and 1.60 relative to itself. The material that forms the device body (12) can include thermoplastic elastomers, and can further include styrene.

Abstract: A device for attachment with a structure such as a rope, bar, cord, pole or the like includes a loop arrangement having a first attachment portion and a second loop portion and a retainer located between the first attachment portion and the second loop portion. The loop arrangement is adapted to be movable between a non-furled condition, in which respective first and second ends of the first attachment portion and the second loop portion are located away from one another, and a furled condition, in which the second loop portion is wrapped around the rope to form a wrapped section with the first attachment portion fitted through the second loop portion and extending laterally of the rope and with the second end of the second loop portion being retained by the retainer thereby maintaining the furled condition. A retainer and an associated method of use is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bungee bead apparatus includes a bead and elastic cord with first and second ends fixedly secured in proximity to, or in contact with, each other at one end of the bead to form a loop. A circumferential recess formed between first and second sides of the bead extends from the bead's first end to its second end, having a cross-sectional height and width to receive the loop of the elastic cord therethrough. The orifice extends at an acute angle, positioned midway between the bead's first and second sides, and begins at the bead's first end in proximity to the first side, and transects the circumferential recess at its second end. The circumferential recess is annular with a depth of about one-half the diameter of the cylindrical elastic cord to receive only a portion therein. The recess and orifice permit two (or more) such apparatus to be linked together.

Abstract: A sleeve for use in an assembly for coupling a wristworn device to a first end of a strap. The sleeve has a first end dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the first lug of a wristworn device, an inner cavity dimensioned to receive therein the first end of a conventional spring bar, and a retractor coupled to the sleeve for urging the first end of the spring bar towards the second end of the spring bar. The second end of the spring bar is coupled to the second lug, the spring bar is coupled to the strap, the first end of the spring bar is positioned in the inner cavity of the sleeve and the first end of the sleeve is coupled to the first lug. A removable retractor for use with a spring bar, which allows for the use of a plurality of spring bars and therefore, lends itself to widespread use and retrofitting of an assembly that couples a strap to a wristworn device, is also provided.

Abstract: A reusable closure system for providing easy closure and opening of an object such as a sheet forming a barrier. The reusable closure system generally includes a backing member adapted to be secured to an object, such as by an adhesive. A closure member may be connected to the backing member, with the closure member including a first portion which is removably connected to a second portion by one or more magnets. An optional outer closure member may be connected to the closure member, with the outer closure member including a zipper. Thus, the reusable closure system may be secured to various objects to allow for selective opening or closing of the objects in a versatile, user-selected manner.

Abstract: A belt clip is adapted for storing a belt. The belt clip includes a first clip member and a second clip member that mechanically and removably attaches to the first clip member. The first clip member and the second clip member collectively form an elongated tunnel through which a belt can be looped.

Abstract: A pin and grommet fastener includes a grommet that defines a central aperture and includes at least two adjacent longitudinally extending leg members that each include a frame, a knuckle and a tether. The knuckle is connected to the frame at a hinge region that is designed to permit the knuckle to move relative to the frame. The tether connects the knuckle to a base surface of grommet in order to limit movement of the knuckle relative to the frame. The fastener includes a pin that has a first locking member to retain the pin in a first position relative to the grommet in which the longitudinally extending leg members are in a laterally unexpanded state. The pin also has a second locking member to retain the pin in a second position relative to the grommet in which the longitudinally extending leg members are in a laterally expanded state.

Abstract: Adjustable connectors disclosed herein are adapted to connect webbing, e.g., urethane coated webbing, to a buckle. The adjustable connector includes a baseplate, a tongue at a front end of the baseplate, a webbing aperture within the baseplate, and first and second walls extending perpendicularly from the baseplate. In certain embodiments, the adjustable connector includes a rotatable lock bar including a central portion having an outer surface and first and second tabs. In certain embodiments, a front edge of the webbing aperture comprises an arced front edge extending between side edges of the webbing aperture such that a distance between a center of the arced front edge of the webbing aperture and a back edge of the webbing aperture is greater than a respective distance between each of the ends of the arced front edge and the back edge of the webbing aperture.

Abstract: A closure device for connecting two parts includes a first closure part which includes a first surface with an arrangement of first structure elements arranged thereon and a second closure part which includes a second surface with an arrangement of second structure elements arranged thereon. The first closure part and the second closure part are to be positioned together in such a manner that the first surface of the first closure part faces the second surface of the second closure part such that the first structure elements and the second structure elements engage in one another in such a manner that movement of the closure parts relative to one another along a load direction is blocked.

Abstract: A locking buckle system having a locking work piece formed as a plate. The plate has at least a first pair of opposing channels. An elastomeric cord with a first portion of the elastomeric cord coupled to the plate. A second portion of the cord extends from the first portion and is stretched and held in tension and wrapped around one or more objects to form a bundle. A second portion of the cord is held in tension and compressed as it passes through a first channel in the plate. The elastomeric cord is stretched and forced to pass through a second of the first pair of opposing channels or through a first channel of the second opposing pair of channel. the remaining fourth portion of the elastomeric cord being forced to pass through a remaining unoccupied opposing channel.