Methods and devices for retrofitting footwear to include a reel based closure system

A footwear tensioning system that is removably coupleable with footwear, the tensioning system comprising:

• a frame that is separate from the footwear and positionable over at least a portion of the footwear, the frame including:
• a first side portion that is positionable on a medial side of the footwear;
• and
• a second side portion that is positionable on a lateral side of the footwear;
• a tension member that is coupled with the first side portion and the second side portion so that when the frame is positioned over the at least a portion of the footwear, the tension member is routed about a portion of a tongue of the footwear;
• and
• a tensioning mechanism that is coupled with the tension member, the tensioning mechanism being operable to tension the tension member to tighten the first side portion about the medial side of the footwear and to tighten the second side portion about the lateral side of the footwear and thereby tighten the footwear about a user's foot.

A footwear tensioning system that is removably coupleable with footwear, the tensioning system comprising:

• a frame that is separate from the footwear and that is positionable over and about at least a portion of the footwear, the frame including:
• a bottom portion that is positionable about a bottom surface of a sole of the footwear;
• and
• opposing side portions that are positionable on opposite sides of the footwear, the opposing side portions being attached to the bottom portion of the frame;
• a tension member that is coupled with the opposing side portions via one or more guides that are configured to guide or direct the tension member about a lace path such that when the frame is positioned over and about the at least a portion of the footwear, the tension member is routed about a portion of an upper of the footwear;
• and
• a tensioning mechanism that is coupled with the tension member and that is operable to tension the tension member in order to tighten the frame about the at least a portion of the footwear and thereby secure the frame to the footwear.

A method for removably coupling a footwear tensioning system with footwear, the method comprising:

• providing a footwear tensioning system that includes a frame, a tension member, and a tensioning mechanism, wherein the frame is separate from the footwear and the frame includes a bottom portion and opposing side portions that are attached to the bottom portion, wherein the tension member is coupled with the opposing side portions of the frame, and wherein the tensioning mechanism is operationally coupled with the tension member in order tension the tension member;
• and
• positioning the frame over and about at least a portion of the footwear so that the bottom portion of the frame is positioned about a bottom surface of a sole of the footwear and the opposing side portions of the frame are positioned on opposite sides of the footwear with the tension member routed about a portion of an upper of the footwear;
• wherein tensioning of the tension member tightens the frame about the at least a portion of the footwear and thereby secures the frame to the footwear.