An automated tightening and loosening shoe with rigid, semi-rigid or flexible polymer bands functioning as laces, and a tightening mechanism which operates in one direction to cause automatic tightening of the rigid, semi-rigid or flexible polymer bands to tighten the automated tightening and loosening...http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US6032387?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6032387 - Automated tightening and loosening shoe
