Patent attributes
A detachable lace tightening system for existing footwear is disclosed. The footwear includes a boot having first and second opposing sides with a plurality of eyelets and a tongue arranged between the opposing sides. The system includes a rotatable spool detachably secured to the tongue and a tightening control knob. A cable is insertable into the eyelets such that the first and second ends of the cable extend outwardly from the eyelets at the upper end of the footwear, the ends being removably secured to the spool such that rotation of the control knob in a first direction winds the cable around the spool placing the cable in tension and pulling the opposing sides together. A releasable lock prevents rotation of the spool in a second direction. Release of the lock permits the spool to rotate in the second direction releasing the tension thereby allowing removal of the footwear.
