Configurations for footwear employing reel based closure systems

A shoe comprising:

• a sole;
• an upper that is attached to the sole, the upper defining a first side of the shoe and a second side of the shoe;
• a first strap or panel that is attached to the first side of the shoe so that a body of the first strap or panel extends in a longitudinal direction over the upper toward the second side of the shoe, the longitudinal direction being defined as a direction from the first side of the shoe toward a second side of the shoe;
• a second strap or panel that is attached to the first side of the shoe so that a body of the second strap or panel extends in a longitudinal direction over the upper toward the second side of the shoe;
• a tension member that is guided or directed about a path along the shoe and that is coupled with the first strap or panel and the second strap or panel;
• and
• a tightening mechanism that is operable with the tension member to effect tensioning of the tension member upon operation of the tightening mechanism;
• wherein the first strap or panel includes a first guide and a second guide and wherein the tension member is routed through both the first guide and the second guide of the first strap or panel;
• wherein the first guide and the second guide are aligned in the longitudinal direction along the body of the first strap or panel such that the first guide is positioned proximally of the second guide in the longitudinal direction along the body of the first strap or panel;
• wherein the first guide is attached to the first strap or panel so that the tension member exits from opposing sides of the first guide and forms a first angle;
• wherein the second guide is attached to the first strap or panel so that the tension member exits from opposing sides of the second guide and forms a second angle;
• wherein an entire length of the tension member that is routed through the second guide is positioned between the first angle formed by the tension member exiting from opposing sides of the first guide;
• and
• wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle.

A strap or panel for use in tightening a shoe, the strap or panel comprising:

• a main body having:
• a proximal end that is attachable to a first side of the shoe;
• and
• a distal end that is configured to extend in a longitudinal direction over the shoe toward an opposite side of the shoe when the strap or panel is attached to the shoe, the longitudinal direction being defined as a direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the main body;
• a first guide through which a tension member is insertable, the first guide being configured to route or direct the tension member along a first path about the shoe;
• and
• a second guide through which the tension member is insertable, the second guide being configured to route or direct the tension member along a second path about the shoe;
• wherein the first path is different than the second path;
• wherein the first guide and second guide are aligned along the main body such that the first guide is positioned proximally of the second guide along the main body in the longitudinal direction;
• wherein the first guide and the second guide are the only guides coupled with the main body;
• wherein the first guide is configured so that when attached to the shoe, the tension member exits from opposing sides of the first guide and forms a first angle;
• wherein the second guide is configured so that when attached to the shoe, the tension member exits from opposing sides of the second guide and forms a second angle;
• and
• wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle.