Abstract: An article of footwear facilitates relatively easy donning and removal, and secure adjustment. The article of footwear comprises a sole structure, an upper secured to the sole structure, and a plurality of tensioning cables having proximal ends fixed to at least one of the upper or the sole structure and extending out of the upper. A strap has a proximal end connected to distal ends of the plurality of tensioning cables, and has a distal end releasably securable to the upper to tighten the tensioning cables. A webbed spacer is secured to the plurality of tensioning cables. The webbed spacer extends between adjacent ones of the plurality of tensioning cables, and the adjacent ones of the plurality of tensioning cables spaced apart from one another by the webbed spacer.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a medial portion, a lateral portion, a plurality of first lace-receiving members on the medial portion, and a plurality of second lace-receiving members on the lateral portion. The first and second lace-receiving members are movable along the respective medial and lateral portions from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: A quick tightening system for a shoe comprises at least two shoelace segments, a pull-tab having a first side of a hook-and-loop fastener on a bottom surface of the pull-tab, and a second side of the hook-and-loop fastener. The at least two shoelace segments each includes an aglet at a distal end of the shoelace segment, each of the at least two shoelace segments coupled to the first side of the shoe at a proximal end of the shoelace segment and extending through the eyelets on the first side of the shoe. The pull-tab includes aglet channels. The aglet channels each is sized to removably receive at least a portion of one of the aglets into one of the aglet channel while each of the at least two shoelace segments extends from the aglet channels into the eyelets on the first side of the shoe. The second side of the hook-and-loop fastener is disposed on an outer surface of the second side of the shoe.

Abstract: Uppers for articles of footwear (or foot-covering members for other foot-receiving devices) include: (a) an upper member including medial and lateral side portions, each side portion including at least one pair of slots spaced in a top-to-bottom direction and (b) a first strap portion that extends between and through each of the medial slots and the lateral slots such that the first strap portion is exposed between the pair of medial slots and between the pair of lateral slots and such that the first strap portion extends across the instep opening. One, two, or more other “strap portions” may be provided, e.g., that extend between additional pairs of medial and lateral slots and across the instep opening. A shoe lace may be provided to extend through and between areas defined by the strap portions and the pairs of medial and lateral slots.

Abstract: A shoe quick tightening system includes two shoelace segments with aglets at the ends threaded through openings on the shoe, a pull-tab is connected to an aglet clip with at least two aglet channels to receive the two shoelace segments and aglets, and a clip cover engaged with the clip and enclosing the aglets within the clip and cover, the pull tab including hook and loop fastener portion adapted to couple with a mating hook and loop fastener portion on a surface of the shoe.

Abstract: A clamping device includes first and second clamping members. Each of the first and second clamping members has a handle and a jaw. A bend is formed between two ends of the jaw of the first clamping member, and a first angle between the jaw and the handle of the first clamping member is smaller than 180°. Another bend is formed between two ends of the jaw of the second clamping member, and a second angle between the jaw and the handle of the second clamping member is equal to the first angle. The clamping device can be used to clamp a pipe. When the second clamping member is moving from a release position to the clamping position, two clamping portions respectively of the jaws remain parallel to each other such that force is evenly applied to two sides of the pipe.

Abstract: The invention provides an operational mechanism for a movable body in which, after a movable body is in an opened state, the movable body can return to a closed position, including a movable body rotatably attached to a support and rotatable between an engaged position, a closed position, and an open position; a rotating member rotatably attached to the support, that rotates due to movement of the movable body to the engaged position; a biasing member, one end of which is attached to the movable body, and the other end of which is attached to the rotating member; and an operation member, which rotates the rotating member, changes the biasing position of the biasing member with respect to the center of rotation of the movable body, and generates in the biasing member a rotational force that moves the movable body to the closed position or the open position.

Abstract: A securing apparatus is provided. The securing apparatus may include a first base portion; a second base portion pivotally coupled to the first base portion; a first side support member may include a plate portion and a pivot pin extending therefrom, the first side support member may be pivotally coupled to the first base portion; and a second side support member may include a plate portion and a pivot pin extending therefrom, the second side support member may be pivotally coupled to the base plate portion.