A footwear item including an upper portion; at least one lace passing through eyelets arranged along the edges of an opening on the front the upper portion, and that tightens, thereby drawing the edges of the opening closer to each other, when pulled in a fastening direction; a string locking arrangement,...http://www.google.com/patents/US8141273?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8141273 - Shoe with directional conditioning device for laces or the like
