Footwear having motorized adjustment system and elastic upper

A footwear assembly comprising:

• a footwear upper including a first inelastic portion, a second inelastic portion, and an elastic member, the upper forming a toe box portion, a medial side, a lateral side, and a heel portion, the medial side and the lateral side each extending proximally from the toe box portion to the heel portion, wherein the first and second inelastic portions are substantially laterally offset with respect to the elastic member, wherein the elastic member has a tensioned state and a relaxed state;
• a lace cable with a first end anchored along a distal outside portion of the medial side and a second end anchored along a distal outside portion of the lateral side;
• a plurality of lace guides distributed along the medial side and the lateral side, each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides adapted to receive a length of the lace cable, wherein the lace cable extends through each of the plurality of lace guides to form a pattern along each of the medial side and lateral side of the footwear, wherein a first lace guide of the plurality of lace guides is secured to the first inelastic portion, a second lace guide of the plurality of lace guides is secured to the second inelastic portion, and the elastic member extends between the first and second lace guides;
• a medial proximal lace guide of the plurality of lace guides routing the lace cable from the pattern formed by a medial portion of the plurality of lace guides into a position allowing the lace cable to engage a motorized tensioning system disposed within a mid-sole portion;
• and
• a lateral proximal lace guide of the plurality of lace guides to route the lace cable out of the position allowing the lace cable to engage the motorized tensioning system into the pattern formed by a lateral portion of the plurality of lace guides.

A footwear assembly comprising:

• a sole structure;
• a footwear upper including a first inelastic portion, a second inelastic portion, and an elastic member, the upper defining a toe box portion, a medial side, a lateral side, and a heel portion, the footwear upper connected to the sole structure to form an interior space for receiving a foot, the footwear upper forming a collar to permit access to the interior space, wherein the first and second inelastic portions are substantially laterally offset with respect to the elastic member, wherein the elastic member has a tensioned state and a relaxed state;
• a motorized tensioning system disposed proximate the sole structure;
• a lacing system comprising:
• a lace cable having medial and lateral ends anchored to the footwear upper and a middle portion passing through the motorized tensioning system;
• and
• a plurality of lace guides for routing the lace cable along the footwear upper between the medial and lateral ends and the motorized tensioning system, wherein a first lace guide of the plurality of lace guides is secured to the first inelastic portion, a second lace guide of the plurality of lace guides is secured to the second inelastic portion, and the elastic member extends between the first and second lace guides
• wherein the elastic member functions to smooth out a torque versus lace displacement curve during tightening of the lace cable.