Abstract: A display system for an article of footwear includes a display device, a control module, and a power source. The display device includes an optoelectronic display. The control module is configured to communicate with the display device. The power source is embedded within a plate of the article of footwear. The plate includes carbon fiber and conductive filaments embedded within a substrate.

Abstract: A method for fastening a shoe is disclosed. The shoe has an upper part connected to a sole and a rotary closure that fastens the shoe using at least one tensioning element. The rotary closure has a rotatably arranged tensioning roller, and the tensioning roller is driven by an electric motor and a switching element. The switching element is connected to a controller, and includes touch sensitive sensors which form a surface that is accessible to the wearer. The switching element and the controller are configured to actuate the motor, and operation of fastening the shoe takes place by the controller detecting a first swipe signal over the touch sensitive sensors, and causing the fastening of the shoe at a first level of fastening force by the controller and the electric motor.

Abstract: A display system for an article of footwear includes a display device with an optoelectronic display, a control module that is configured to communicate with the display device, and a power source. The display device is configured to be removably received within a receptacle formed in the article of footwear such that the optoelectronic display is visible from an outside of the article of footwear when the display device is received within the receptacle.

Abstract: A display system for an article of footwear includes a display device with an optoelectronic display, a control module that is configured to communicate with the display device, and a power source. The display system has a visual characteristic that is configured to correspond with a gait cycle of a user wearing the article of footwear.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper attached to a sole structure and a display system disposed on the upper. The display system includes a display portion, a control module, and a power source. The display portion includes a plurality of optoelectronic fibers. The control module is configured to communicate with the display portion. The power source provides electrical current to the control module and the plurality of optoelectronic fibers. The plurality of optoelectronic fibers each include a fabric layer disposed between a core electrode and an optoelectronic layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fastening a shoe (1), having an upper part (2) and a sole (3) connected thereto, a rotary closure (4) for fastening the shoe (1) on the wearer's foot by means of at least one tensioning element (5), the rotary closure (4) having a rotatably arranged tensioning roller (6), and the tensioning roller (6) being driven by means of an electric motor (7), and a switching element (8), which is connected to control means (9), wherein the switching element (8) and the control means (9) can actuate the electric motor (7), wherein the operation of fastening the shoe (1) takes place by virtue of the person using the shoe (1) using a finger (15) to actuate the switching element (8).

Abstract: The invention relates to a shoe (1), especially to a sports shoe, with a shoe upper (2) and a sole (3) connected with the shoe upper (2), wherein the shoe (1) comprises a central fastener (4) for lacing the shoe (1) at the foot of a wearer, wherein the central fastener (4) comprises at least one tensioning element (5) which is arranged on or in a region of the shoe upper (2) by which a lacing force can be exerted onto the region of the shoe upper (2) and at least one gear element (6) driven by an electric motor (7), wherein a section (8) of the tensioning element (5) can be pulled against a fixed location (9) of the shoe (1) by means of the gear element (6) to create a tensioning force for lacing the shoe (1) at the foot of the wearer.

Abstract: A lacing system for an article of footwear has a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The system includes a sole structure, an upper attached to the sole structure, the upper having a lateral side, a medial side, and a tongue, a housing that is disposed along the tongue and entirely within the midfoot region, and an electronics assembly enclosed entirely within the housing. The electronics assembly includes at least a motor and a gear assembly. A first lace extends from the housing through a first aperture and a second aperture, and the first lace is drawn into the housing when the motor is activated by a user.

Abstract: A lacing system for an article of footwear includes a sole structure, an upper attached to the sole structure with a lateral side, a medial side, and a tongue, and a housing disposed on the tongue. A lateral side flap extends from the sole structure along the lateral side of the upper toward the tongue having an upper end next to the tongue. A medial side flap extends from the sole structure along the medial side of the upper toward the tongue having an upper end being next to the tongue. A plurality of lateral lace retainers is disposed along the upper end of the lateral side flap, and a plurality of medial lace retainers is disposed along the upper end of the medial side flap. A lace extends from the housing through the plurality of lateral and medial lace retainers in a crisscrossing manner across the tongue.

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: 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: An article of footwear includes an upper, a heel element, a sole structure, a medial side, and a lateral side. The upper includes an outer surface that defines a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The upper includes a membrane layer and a material layer. The material layer includes a knit fabric and defines a first knit zone and a second knit zone. The first knit zone has a tighter knit than the second knit zone.

Abstract: A shoe is disclosed that includes an upper having a closure mechanism that is arranged for lacing the shoe by at least one tensioning element, a rotatably arranged tensioning roller disposed within the closure mechanism, the tensioning roller being driven by an electric motor, and a closing button in communication with a control system for generating a closing signal that is configured to actuate the electric motor to lace the shoe. The closure mechanism is configured to tighten the shoe with a first level of lacing power when a first closing signal is generated and tighten the shoe with a second level of lacing power when a second closing signal is generated.

Abstract: A footwear assembly includes at least one article of footwear with an upper, a sole structure coupled with the upper, a housing that houses a motor, a gear train that is configured to be driven by the motor, and a spool that is configured to loosen or tighten a first lace, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are disposed under a cover of the housing, and a control printed circuit board (PCB) having a wireless communication module. The footwear assembly further includes an electronic device wirelessly coupled with the wireless communication module. The first lace can be incrementally tightened or loosened by tapping a region of the at least one article of footwear to initiate a tighten command or a loosen command.

Abstract: A footwear assembly includes at least one article of footwear having an upper and a housing disposed along the upper. A first lace extends along portions of the upper and into the housing through a first lateral aperture or a first medial aperture. The housing defines a swipe panel, a sole structure coupled with the upper, and a control PCB comprising a wireless communication module. The footwear assembly further includes an electronic device wirelessly coupled with the wireless communication module. The first lace can be incrementally tightened or loosened by swiping the swipe panel or via an input on a display screen of the electronic device.

Abstract: A lacing system for an article of footwear has a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The system includes a sole structure, an upper attached to the sole structure, the upper having a lateral side, a medial side, and a tongue, a housing that is disposed along the tongue and entirely within the midfoot region, and an electronics assembly enclosed entirely within the housing. The electronics assembly includes at least a motor and a gear assembly. A first lace extends from the housing through a first aperture and a second aperture, and the first lace is drawn into the housing when the motor is activated by a user.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for a high-voltage test system has an electronic power converter unit for generating an excitation AC voltage. The AC voltage has an adjustable fundamental frequency and a frequency spectrum. The amplitudes in the frequency spectrum within a given frequency range are lower than a predefinable amplitude limit.

Abstract: A lacing system for an article of footwear includes a sole structure, an upper attached to the sole structure, the upper comprising a lateral side, a medial side, and an instep region, a housing disposed adjacent the instep region, wherein a first lace and a second lace extend through a plurality of eyelets along the upper and into the housing, a motor disposed within the housing, the motor comprising a motor shaft and a motor gear, and a gear train in communication with the motor gear. When the motor shaft rotates, the first lace and the second lace are drawn into the housing via a wheel gear that is in communication with the gear train.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shoe (1), especially to a sports shoe, with a shoe upper (2) and a sole (3) connected with the shoe upper (2), wherein the shoe (1) comprises a central fastener (4) for lacing the shoe (1) at the foot of a wearer, wherein the central fastener (4) comprises at least one tensioning element (5) which is arranged on or in a region of the shoe upper (2) by which a lacing force can be exerted onto the region of the shoe upper (2) and at least one gear element (6) driven by an electric motor (7), wherein a section (8) of the tensioning element (5) can be pulled against a fixed location (9) of the shoe (1) by means of the gear element (6) to create a tensioning force for lacing the shoe (1) at the foot of the wearer.