Tightening mechanisms and applications including the same

A reel based closure device comprising:

• a housing having an interior region;
• a spool positioned within the interior region of the housing, the spool being rotatable in a first direction to wind a tension member about the spool and the spool being rotatable in a second direction to unwind the tension member from about the spool;
• and
• a knob that is operably coupled with the spool so that an operation of the knob causes the spool to rotate in the first direction within the interior region of the housing;
• wherein:
• the spool has an upper flange, a lower flange, and a cylindrical wall between the upper flange and the lower flange;
• the tension member is wound about the cylindrical wall when the spool is rotated in the first direction;
• and
• the cylindrical wall has three holes through which the tension member is inserted to secure the tension member to the spool.

A spool that is positionable in an interior region of a housing of a reel based closure device, the spool being rotatable in a first direction upon an operation of a knob of the reel based closure device to wind a tension member about the spool, the spool comprising:

• an upper flange;
• a lower flange;
• a cylindrical wall between the upper flange and the lower flange;
• and
• a plurality of holes defined within the cylindrical wall;
• wherein:
• the tension member is windable about the cylindrical wall when the spool is rotated in the first direction;
• and
• the tension member is insertable through the plurality of holes in the cylindrical wall to secure the tension member to the spool.