Speed clip

Footwear comprising:

• a lacing element;
• and
• a speed clip comprising:
• an anchor element having at least one aperture formed therethrough, the anchor element configured to be disposed on or in a portion of the footwear, wherein the at least one aperture facilitates coupling the anchor element to the footwear;
• a first retaining element disposed on or integrally formed with the anchor element, the first retaining element having a first bottom portion extending from the anchor element, the first retaining element having a first top portion coupled to the first bottom portion via a first curved portion, wherein one or more of the first top portion, the first bottom portion, and the first curved portion cooperate to define at least a first portion of a cavity configured to receive the lacing element for the footwear;
• and
• a second retaining element disposed on or integrally formed with the anchor element, the second retaining element having a second bottom portion extending from the anchor element, the second retaining element having a second top portion coupled to the second bottom portion via a second curved portion, wherein one or more of the second top portion, the second bottom portion, and the second curved portion cooperate to define at least a second portion of the cavity,
• wherein the second top portion of the second retaining element comprises an engaging surface disposed adjacent a bottom surface of the first top portion of the first retaining element when in a first position,
• wherein the second top portion of the second retaining element comprises a lip disposed at an end of the second top portion, and wherein the lip extends from the engaging surface and is angled away from the bottom surface of the first top portion relative to the engaging surface, and
• wherein at least the second curved portion facilitates a mechanical bias in the second retaining element to allow the engaging surface to be moved away from the first top portion in a biased second position under a load, and to return to the first position when the load is removed.

A speed clip comprising:

• an anchor element configured to be disposed on or in a portion of footwear;
• a first retaining element disposed on or integrally formed with the anchor element, the first retaining element having a first bottom portion extending from the anchor element and configured to define at least a first portion of a cavity to receive a lacing element for the footwear;
• and
• a second retaining element disposed on or integrally formed with the anchor element, the second retaining element having a second bottom portion extending from the anchor element to define at least a second portion of the cavity,
• wherein at least a portion of the second retaining element is mechanically biased toward the first retaining element in a first position to allow an engaging surface of the second retaining element to be moved away from first retaining element in a second position under a load, and to return to the first position when the load is removed.