Abstract: A footwear article includes a heel structure that is conducive to hands-free donning to secure the wearer's foot during wear. A footwear article capable of hands-free donning comprises a sole, an upper having an ankle region and a heel region, and a heel structure. The heel structure is a coupled with the upper in the ankle region and the heel region between an exterior layer of the upper and an inner lining of the upper. The heel structure is formed from a material having a greater stiffness than the upper in at least the heel region and the heel structure has a curved profile in a medial to lateral direction of the footwear article in the heel region.

Abstract: A footwear article includes a collar slide that is conducive to hands-free donning to secure the wearer's foot during wear. A footwear article capable of hands-free donning comprises a sole including a ground-contacting surface and a foot-facing surface and an upper having a heel region. The footwear article also includes a strobel, the strobel affixed to the foot-facing surface of the sole and a collar elevator comprising a heel structure, the collar elevator connected with the strobel and coupled with the upper in the heel region. The collar elevator includes a collar slide forming a ramp interface during a donning operation.

Abstract: A footwear article includes a collar elevator that is conducive to hands-free donning to secure the wearer's foot during wear. A footwear article capable of hands-free donning includes a sole and an upper having a heel region. The upper includes an inner material layer and an outer material layer. The footwear article also includes a collar elevator positioned between the inner material layer and the outer material layer in the heel region. The collar elevator, in an example, comprises a strand-receiving aperture through which a stitch extends attaching the collar elevator to the upper.

Abstract: A traction system for an ambulatory support such as a prosthetic foot blade or a crutch includes a sole plate, a latch assembly, and a strap. The sole plate is couplable to a distal end of the ambulatory support to extend under a bottom side of the ambulatory support and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a front catch and a rear catch both fixable at a top side of the ambulatory support with the front catch nearer to the distal end of the ambulatory support than the rear catch, and a lever having a front end and a rear end, the front end releasably latchable to the front catch and the rear end releasably latchable to the rear catch when the lever is pivoted about the latched front end. The strap is secured to the lever and to the sole plate.

Abstract: A track and field shoe can include an upper, a sole structure, and a toe plate. The upper includes a medial side portion, a lateral side portion, and a toe box portion. The sole structure is attached to the upper and includes a spike plate. The spike plate has an anterior portion, a posterior portion, and a plurality of spikes. The spikes are configured for penetrating a track surface. The toe plate is attached to an anterior portion of the toe box portion of the upper. One or more portions of the toe plate are exposed from an exterior surface of the upper. The spikes are spaced apart from the toe plate such that the spikes disengage the track surface when the toe plate contacts the track surface.

Abstract: An adaptive support garment integrating directional fabrics to assist in providing adaptive support to select portions of the garment is discussed herein. The adaptive support garment can include a first directional fabric, a second direction fabric, and a tension device. The first directional fabric includes first directional fibers, and the first directional fabric can be coupled to a fixed portion of the adaptive support garment. The second directional fabric includes second directional fibers, and the second directional fabric can be coupled to a movable control structure portion of the adaptive support garment. The tension device can be coupled to the movable control structure and configured to apply a tension in a first direction on the movable control structure. In operation, the first directional fibers can engage with the second directional fibers to resist movement in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A control system for use within an adaptive support garment is discussed herein. The control system can include a lace spool, a ratchet mechanism, an actuator, and a control circuit. The lace spool can include a lace groove adapted to accumulate a portion of a lace cable coupled to a support structure within the adaptive support garment. The ratchet mechanism can be configured to control rotation of the lace spool during operation of the control system. The actuator can be adapted to control engagement of the ratchet mechanism. The control circuit electrically can be coupled to the actuator and can be configured to operate the actuator to engage or disengage the ratchet mechanism. In operation, rotation of the lace spool controls an effective length of the lace cable to provide adaptive support.

Abstract: A control system for controlling tension applied to a lace cable coupled to a support structure of an adaptive support garment is discussed herein. The control system can include a lace spool, a damper mechanism, and a locking ring. The lace spool can include a lace groove to receive the lace cable and a rotary bias member to apply rotational tension to resist extension of the lace cable out of a housing holding the control system. The damper mechanism is engagable with the lace spool to generate an additional rotational tension resisting extension of the lace cable out of the housing. The locking ring is frictionally coupled to the lace spool, and the locking ring can include a lock wedge adapted to disengage the damper mechanism upon rotation into a pre-determined rotational position relative to the damper mechanism.

Abstract: An article of apparel providing dynamic support for an appendage of a person is discussed herein. The article of apparel can include a support garment control device configured to provide dynamic support. The support garment control device can include a control lace coupled to a support portion of the article of apparel. In an example, the support garment control device configured to apply a first tension on the control lace, lock the support garment control device at the first tension to inhibit movement of the control lace in response to detecting a change in movement of the person, and unlock the support garment control device after a pre-determined event subsequent to the change in movement of the person.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure attached to the upper. The article of footwear also includes a cable lock disposed within the sole structure adjacent to a bottom surface of the sole structure. The article of footwear includes a first cable having a first section extending from the cable lock to a first anchor point on the upper and a second section extending from the cable lock to a second anchor point on the upper. The article of footwear further includes a second cable having a first section extending from the cable lock to a grip and a second section extending from the cable lock to the grip, whereby the cable lock is operable to retract the first section and the second section of the first cable when the first section and the second section of the second cable are extended.

Abstract: A traction system for an ambulatory support such as a prosthetic foot blade or a crutch includes a sole plate, a latch assembly, and a strap. The sole plate is couplable to a distal end of the ambulatory support to extend under a bottom side of the ambulatory support and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a front catch and a rear catch both fixable at a top side of the ambulatory support with the front catch nearer to the distal end of the ambulatory support than the rear catch, and a lever having a front end and a rear end, the front end releasably latchable to the front catch and the rear end releasably latchable to the rear catch when the lever is pivoted about the latched front end. The strap is secured to the lever and to the sole plate.

Abstract: A footwear article includes a collar elevator that returns an ankle collar from a lowered state that is conducive to donning up to a raised state that secures the wearer's foot during wear. The collar elevator includes a lever arm. The lever arm may be deformable and biased towards the raised state. The lever arm may be articulated with a biasing force urging the lever arm to the raised state. The lever arm may have a variety of cross sections as well. The lever arm extends from a base, which may a sole portion of the footwear article. The lever arm and the base may be monolithic, permanently joined, removably joined, or otherwise connected.

Abstract: A track and field shoe can include an upper and a sole structure. The upper includes a medial side portion, a lateral side portion, and a toe box portion. The sole structure is attached to the upper and includes a spike plate. The spike plate has an anterior portion, a posterior portion, a plurality of spikes, and a plurality of rails. The spikes extend in an inferior direction from the anterior portion of the spike plate and are configured for engaging a track surface. The rails extend in a superior direction from the anterior portion of the spike plate and extend over an exterior surface of the toe box portion of the upper, and the rails comprise longitudinal axes that extend in a superior/inferior direction.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure attached to the upper. The article of footwear also includes a cable lock disposed within the sole structure adjacent to a bottom surface of the sole structure. The article of footwear includes a first cable having a first section extending from the cable lock to a first anchor point on the upper and a second section extending from the cable lock to a second anchor point on the upper. The article of footwear further includes a second cable having a first section extending from the cable lock to a grip and a second section extending from the cable lock to the grip, whereby the cable lock is operable to retract the first section and the second section of the first cable when the first section and the second section of the second cable are extended.

Abstract: A footwear article includes a collar elevator that returns an ankle collar from a lowered state that is conducive to donning up to a raised state that secures the wearer's foot during wear. The collar elevator includes a lever arm. The lever arm may be deformable and biased towards the raised state. The lever arm may be articulated with a biasing force urging the lever arm to the raised state. The lever arm may have a variety of cross sections as well. The lever arm extends from a base, which may a sole portion of the footwear article. The lever arm and the base may be monolithic, permanently joined, removably joined, or otherwise connected.

Abstract: A footwear article includes a tongue and a tongue reinforcer, which helps the tongue maintain a shape and position when the tongue is subjected to forces or adjustments, such as from other footwear-article elements or from a wearer. For example, the tongue reinforcer may help the tongue maintain a shape and position when a wearer is inserting his or her foot into the footwear article or when medial and/or lateral quarters press inward on the tongue.

Abstract: A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a spool system that can be engaged or disengaged from a driveshaft through the use of a cam device. The motorized tensioning device includes a torque transmitting system that allows for incremental tightening incremental loosening and full loosening of the tensile element.

Abstract: A footwear article includes a tongue and a tongue reinforcer, which helps the tongue maintain a shape and position when the tongue is subjected to forces or adjustments, such as from other footwear-article elements or from a wearer. For example, the tongue reinforcer may help the tongue maintain a shape and position when a wearer is inserting his or her foot into the footwear article or when medial and/or lateral quarters press inward on the tongue.

Abstract: A footwear article includes a tongue and a tongue reinforcer, which helps the tongue maintain a shape and position when the tongue is subjected to forces or adjustments, such as from other footwear-article elements or from a wearer. For example, the tongue reinforcer may help the tongue maintain a shape and position when a wearer is inserting his or her foot into the footwear article or when medial and/or lateral quarters press inward on the tongue.

Abstract: A traction system for an ambulatory support such as a prosthetic foot blade or a crutch includes a sole plate, a latch assembly, and a strap. The sole plate is couplable to a distal end of the ambulatory support to extend under a bottom side of the ambulatory support and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a front catch and a rear catch both fixable at a top side of the ambulatory support with the front catch nearer to the distal end of the ambulatory support than the rear catch, and a lever having a front end and a rear end, the front end releasably latchable to the front catch and the rear end releasably latchable to the rear catch when the lever is pivoted about the latched front end. The strap is secured to the lever and to the sole plate.