Devices and methods for adjusting the fit of footwear

A lacing system for tightening an article comprising:

• a first guide member coupled with the article and positioned within a first zone of the article;
• a second guide member coupled with the article and positioned within a second zone of the article;
• a first tension member guided by the first guide member within the first zone;
• a second tension member guided by the second guide member within the second zone;
• a first tensioning mechanism coupled with the article and with the first tension member and the second tension member, the first tensioning mechanism being configured to tension the first tension member to tighten the first zone of the article and being configured to tension the second tension member to tighten the second zone of the article;
• and
• a second tensioning mechanism coupled with the article and with the first tension member and the second tension member, the second tensioning mechanism being configured to adjust a tension of the first tension member and the second tension member independently of the first tensioning mechanism to differentially tension the first tension member and the second tension member and thereby differentially tighten the first zone and the second zone of the article;
• wherein the second tensioning mechanism is configured to vary a length of the first tension member within the first zone and to vary a length of the second tension member within the second zone to differentially tighten the first zone and the second zone.

A method for coupling a lacing system to an article, the method comprising:

• coupling a first guide member with the article, the first guide member being positioned within a first zone of the article;
• coupling a second guide member with the article, the second guide member being positioned within a second zone of the article;
• coupling a first tensioning mechanism with the article, the first tensioning mechanism being configured to tension a first tension member and a second tension member;
• coupling a second tensioning mechanism with the article, the second tensioning mechanism being configured to tension the first tension member and the second tension member independently of the first tensioning mechanism;
• and
• coupling the first tension member with the first tensioning mechanism and the second tensioning mechanism such that the first tension member is guided by the first guide member within the first zone;
• and
• coupling a second tension member with the first tensioning mechanism and the second tensioning mechanism such that the second tension member is guided by the second guide member within a second zone;
• wherein the first tensioning mechanism is configured to tension the first tension member to tighten the first zone and is configured to tension the second tension member to tighten the second zone and the second tensioning mechanism is configured to differentially tension the first tension member and the second tension member to differentially tighten the first zone and the second zone.