Patent Publication Number: US-2023148711-A1

Title: Tension-retaining system for a wearable article

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 17/063,960 filed Oct. 6, 2020, which claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/939,732, filed Nov. 25, 2019, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a tension-retaining system for retaining tension in a tensioning cord of a closure system of a wearable article, and to a wearable article having the tensioning-retaining system, such as an article of footwear. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Wearable articles such as footwear, garments, headwear, other apparel, and carry bags may include a closure system that adjusts the fit of the wearable article to the body. For example, a closure system for an article of footwear may include a tensioning cord to tighten an upper around a foot. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only, are schematic in nature, and are intended to be exemplary rather than to limit the scope of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a medial side of an article of footwear having a closure system with a tensioning cord and a tension-retaining system for the tensioning cord. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of a lateral side of the article of footwear of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a fragmentary perspective view of the article of footwear of  FIG.  1    with the tension-retaining system in a disengaged state. 
         FIG.  4    is a rear perspective fragmentary view of the article of footwear of  FIG.  1    with the tension-retaining system in an engaged state. 
         FIG.  5    is another rear perspective view of the article of footwear of  FIG.  1    with a hook-and-loop fastener on a pull cord in a secured state. 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  1    in an engaged state. 
         FIG.  7    is a top view of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  8    is a cross-sectional view of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  1    taken at lines  8 - 8  in  FIG.  7   . 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of an inner side of an anchor of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of a top side of the anchor. 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective view of an outer side of a wedge of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  12    is another perspective view of the outer side of the wedge. 
         FIG.  13    is a top view of the wedge. 
         FIG.  14    is a rear view of the wedge. 
         FIG.  15    is a perspective view of a lateral side of an article of footwear having a closure system with a tensioning cord and a tension-retaining system for the tensioning cord in an engaged state. 
         FIG.  16    is a perspective view of a lateral side of an article of footwear having a closure system with a tensioning cord and a tension-retaining system for the tensioning cord in a disengaged state. 
         FIG.  17    is a perspective view of the lateral side of the article of footwear of  FIG.  16    with the tension-retaining system moved to an engaged state. 
         FIG.  18    is a bottom view of a wedge of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  17   . 
         FIG.  19    is a bottom view of the wedge of  FIG.  18    with a tensioning cord and a pull cord extending through the wedge and under tension. 
         FIG.  20    is a bottom perspective view of the wedge, tensioning cord, and pull cord of  FIG.  19    with the wedge being aligned with a notch in an anchor of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  17   . 
         FIG.  21    is a bottom view of the wedge and anchor of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  17    in an engaged state. 
         FIG.  22    is a rear view of the wedge and anchor of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  21   . 
         FIG.  23    is a cross-sectional view of the wedge and anchor of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  17    taken at lines  23 - 23  in  FIG.  21   . 
         FIG.  24    is a side view of an inner side of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  17   . 
         FIG.  25    is a perspective view of the anchor of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  17    showing the notch in the anchor. 
         FIG.  26    is a cross-sectional view of the anchor of  FIG.  17    taken at lines  26 - 26  in  FIG.  25   . 
         FIG.  27    is a cross-sectional view of the wedge and anchor of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  17    taken at lines  27 - 27  in  FIG.  22   . 
         FIG.  28    is a cross-sectional view of the wedge and anchor of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  22    taken at lines  28 - 28  in  FIG.  22   . 
         FIG.  29    is a perspective view of an outer side of an alternative tension-retaining system in an engaged state. 
         FIG.  30    is a top view of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  29   . 
         FIG.  31    is a rear view of an anchor of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  29   . 
         FIG.  32    is a top view of the anchor of  FIG.  31   . 
         FIG.  33    is a perspective view of an inner side of the anchor of  FIG.  31   . 
         FIG.  34    is a perspective view of the outer side of a wedge of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  29   . 
         FIG.  35    is a cross-sectional view of the wedge of  FIG.  34    taken at lines  35 - 35  in  FIG.  34   . 
         FIG.  36    is a cross-sectional view of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  30    taken at lines  36 - 36  in  FIG.  30   . 
         FIG.  37    is a perspective view of an outer side of an alternative tension-retaining system in an engaged state. 
         FIG.  38    is a top view of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  37   . 
         FIG.  39    is a top view of an anchor of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  37   . 
         FIG.  40    is a perspective view of the anchor of  FIG.  39   . 
         FIG.  41    is a side view of an outer side of a wedge of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  37   . 
         FIG.  42    is a top view of the wedge of  FIG.  41   . 
         FIG.  43    is a perspective view of the outer side and a rear of the wedge of  FIG.  41   . 
         FIG.  44    is another perspective view of the outer side and the rear of the wedge of  FIG.  41   . 
         FIG.  45    is a cross-sectional view of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  37    taken at lines  45 - 45  in  FIG.  38   . 
         FIG.  46    is a perspective view of an outer side of an alternative tension-retaining system in an engaged state. 
         FIG.  47    is a top view of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  46   . 
         FIG.  48    is a perspective view of an anchor of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  46   . 
         FIG.  49    is a cross-sectional view of the anchor of  FIG.  48    taken at lines  49 - 49  in  FIG.  48   . 
         FIG.  50    is a perspective view of an outer side of a wedge of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  46   . 
         FIG.  51    is a perspective view of an inner side of the wedge of  FIG.  50   . 
         FIG.  52    is a cross-sectional view of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  46    taken at lines  52 - 52  in  FIG.  47   . 
         FIG.  53    is a perspective view of an outer side of an alternative tension-retaining system in an engaged state. 
         FIG.  54    is a perspective view of an outer side of a wedge of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  53   . 
         FIG.  55    is a top view of the wedge of  FIG.  53   . 
         FIG.  56    is a cross-sectional view of the tension-retaining system of  FIG.  53    taken at lines  56 - 56  in  FIG.  53   . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     A tension-retaining system for retaining tension in a tensioning cord of a closure system of a wearable article enables quick and secure engagement to retain tension in the tensioning cord. Additionally, the tension-retaining system may be configured to automatically center a wedge to an anchor of the tensioning-retaining system during engagement and distribute force associated with the tension over a relatively large surface area. 
     In an example, a tension-retaining system for retaining tension in a tensioning cord of a wearable article may comprise a retainer including an anchor and a wedge. The anchor may define a notch. The wedge may define a tensioning cord coupling feature. The wedge may have an engagement portion that fits within the notch with the engagement portion disposed further in the notch than the tensioning cord coupling feature. Tension in the tensioning cord thus tends to bias the engagement portion into the notch, helping to retain the wedge in the notch. In an example, the anchor may be coupled to a wearable article, and the tensioning cord coupling feature may couple the tensioning cord to the wedge. 
     In an aspect, the tension-retaining system may include a holding mechanism holding the wedge in the notch when the engagement portion of the wedge is fit within the notch. The holding mechanism may include a first holding component disposed on the anchor and a second holding component disposed on the wedge and interfitting with the first holding component. In one example, the holding mechanism is magnetic, the first holding component includes one of a magnet or a ferromagnetic material, and the second holding component includes the other of the magnet and the ferromagnetic material. The magnet is magnetically attractive to the ferromagnetic material. In another example in which the holding mechanism is magnetic, the first holding component includes a first magnet, the second holding component includes a second magnet, and the first magnet is magnetically attractive to the second magnet. In another example, the holding mechanism is a snap, the first holding component is one of a socket or a stud that snaps within the socket, and the second holding component is the other of the socket or the stud. In still another example, the holding mechanism is a frictional fit mechanism, the first holding component is one of a contoured surface or a detent that fits to the contoured surface, and the second holding component is the other of the contoured surface or the detent. A variety of configurations of holding mechanisms may be implemented, each configured to releasably secure the engagement portion of the wedge in the notch of the anchor to supplement any biasing force of the tensioning cord. For example, the holding mechanism may be configured to releasably hold the engagement portion of the wedge in the notch even when the biasing force of the cord is minimal or nonexistent. 
     In an implementation, the wedge may define a pull cord coupling feature that receives a pull cord. The tensioning cord coupling feature may be disposed between the engagement portion and the pull cord coupling feature. The tensioning cord coupling feature may be a tensioning cord passage extending through the wedge. The pull cord coupling feature may be a pull cord passage extending through the wedge. The pull cord passage and the tensioning cord passage may be non-intersecting (e.g., the passages may not intersect with one another). For example, a longitudinal center axis of the pull cord passage may be parallel with a longitudinal center axis of the tensioning cord passage. 
     In some configurations, the tensioning-retaining system may be configured so that pulling on the pull cord when moving the tensioning-system to an engaged state tends to tip the wedge inward toward the notch (e.g., the front of the wedge at the engagement portion tips in toward the notch) to help align the wedge with the anchor. For example, the wedge may have an inner wall, an outer wall, an upper surface between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a lower surface between the inner wall and the outer wall. The inner wall may be between the wearable article and the outer wall when the anchor is coupled to the wearable article and the wedge is in the notch. The tensioning cord passage and the pull cord passage may extend through the wedge from the upper surface to the lower surface. A longitudinal center axis of the pull cord passage may be a first distance from the inner wall, a longitudinal center axis of the tensioning cord passage may be a second distance from the inner wall, and the second distance may be greater than the first distance. 
     In an implementation, the anchor may have a base, and the wedge may have an inner wall that seats against the base when the engagement portion of the wedge is in the notch. In an aspect, the anchor may have an outer wall diverging outward from the base. The outer wall may extend to an edge defining an outer extent of the notch. For example, the outer wall may diverge outward from the base at an acute angle. 
     In a configuration, the wedge may have an outer wall that defines a lip. The lip may engage the edge of the outer wall of the anchor when the engagement portion of the wedge is in the notch. The outer wall of the wedge may be flush with the outer wall of the anchor when the engagement portion of the wedge is in the notch. 
     In an example, the anchor may have a convex engagement surface in the notch, with the convex engagement surface extending toward the engagement portion of the wedge. The engagement portion of the wedge may have a concave engagement surface that abuts the convex engagement surface of the anchor when the engagement portion of the wedge is in the notch. 
     In another example, the anchor may have a concave engagement surface in the notch, with the concave engagement surface extending away from the engagement portion of the wedge. The engagement portion of the wedge may have a convex engagement surface that abuts the concave engagement surface of the anchor when the engagement portion of the wedge is in the notch. 
     In some implementations, the engagement surface of the wedge may be concave in a first direction and convex in a second direction. The engagement surface of the anchor may be convex in the first direction and concave in the second direction. 
     A wearable article may comprise a body at least partially defining an interior cavity and a closure system for tightening the body around the interior cavity. The closure system may comprise a tensioning cord having a proximal portion operatively secured to the body, and a tension-retaining system that retains tension in the tensioning cord when a distal portion of the tensioning cord is pulled away from the proximal portion. The tension-retaining system may comprise a retainer including an anchor and a wedge. The anchor may be coupled to the body and may define a notch opening away from the proximal portion of the tensioning cord. The wedge may define a tensioning cord coupling feature with the distal portion of the tensioning cord coupled to the wedge at the tensioning cord coupling feature. The wedge may have an engagement portion that fits within the notch with the engagement portion disposed further in the notch than the tensioning cord coupling feature so that tension in the tensioning cord biases the engagement portion of the wedge into the notch. 
     In an aspect, the wedge may define a pull cord coupling feature and the tensioning cord coupling feature may be disposed between the engagement portion and the pull cord coupling feature. The tension-retaining system may further comprise a pull cord coupled to the wedge at the pull cord coupling feature. The closure system may further comprise a first hook-and-loop fastener component coupled to the pull cord and a second hook-and-loop fastener component secured to a surface of the body with the anchor between the proximal portion of the tensioning cord and the second hook-and-loop fastener component. The first hook-and-loop fastener component may releasably engage with the second hook-and-loop fastener component. 
     In an example, the wearable article may be an article of footwear and the body may be a footwear upper. In other examples, the wearable article may be a garment, headwear, other apparel, a carry bag such as a backpack, purse, duffel bag, fanny pack, or other portable containment structure intended to be worn on a human body. 
     The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present teachings are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the modes for carrying out the present teachings when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components throughout the views,  FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a wearable article  10 , which in the embodiment shown is an article of footwear  10 . The article of footwear  10  has a closure system  12  with a tensioning cord  14  and a tension-retaining system  16  for the tensioning cord  14 . As further described herein, the tension-retaining system  16  is quickly and securely engaged to retain tension in the tensioning cord  14 , thereby tightening a body  18  of the article  10 , where the body is an upper  18  of the footwear  10 , to a foot of a wearer. As used herein, a wearable article is an article that is configured to be worn on a human body. Non-limiting examples of wearable articles include footwear, a garment, headwear, other apparel, a carry bag such as a backpack, purse, duffel bag, fanny pack, or other portable containment structure intended to be worn on a human body. In the examples shown, the wearable article is an article of footwear and the body is a footwear upper. The upper  18  may be a variety of materials, such as leather, textiles, polymers, cotton, foam, composites, etc. The article of footwear  10  herein is depicted as an athletic shoe or a leisure shoe, but the present teachings also include an article of footwear that is a work shoe, a dress shoe, a sandal, a slipper, a boot, or any other category of footwear. 
     As used herein, a tensioning cord, such as tensioning cord  14 , is a flexible, resiliently elastic or inelastic, elongated tensile element, and is a structure capable of withstanding a tensile load and may include, but is not limited to, a lace, a strand, a wire, a cord, a thread, or a string, among others. A loop portion such as loop portion  14 A is a portion that is continuous, and may form a curve but need not be circular or semicircular. For example, a loop portion may be configured as two end portions of the tensioning cord  14  secured to one another. 
     The tension-retaining system  16  includes a retainer  15  including an anchor  19  and a wedge  21 . As is evident in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , an anchor  19  and a wedge  21  is disposed at both the medial side  32  and the lateral side  34  of the article of footwear  10 . Stated differently, the tension-retaining system  16  includes two anchors  19  and two wedges  21 . The discussion herein of the anchor  19  and the wedge  21  applies to both the anchor  19  and wedge  21  at the medial side  32 , and the anchor  19  and wedge  21  at the lateral side  34 . The anchor  19  is coupled to a rear upper portion  18 B of the upper  18 . The anchor  19  includes a body  23  and a base  25  from which the body  23  extends. The base  25  is secured to the rear upper portion  18 B by thermal bonding, adhesive, stitching or otherwise, or may be coupled to a rear sole portion  20 B of the footwear  10  and juxtaposed at an outer surface of the rear upper portion  18 B. In  FIG.  1   , the base  25  is shown having an inner side coupled to the rear upper portion  18 B and also extending downward and coupled to the rear sole portion  20 B. The base  25  may be another configuration or shape than shown in  FIG.  1   , such as the configuration and shape of the smaller base  25 A represented in  FIG.  6   . 
     The anchor  19  defines a notch  27 . The notch  27  is best shown in  FIG.  2    or  FIG.  10    where the wedge  21  is not shown engaged with the anchor  19 . The tensioning cord  14  has a proximal portion  14 B operatively secured to the upper  18  at a front upper portion  18 A by cord guides  40  as further discussed herein. The tensioning cord  14  also has a distal portion  14 C on the medial side  32  shown in  FIG.  1   , a distal portion  14 D on the lateral side  34  shown in  FIG.  2   , and a loop portion  14 A. The notch  27  opens away from the proximal portion  14 B of the tensioning cord  14 . For example, the notch  27  opens in a generally rearward direction (e.g., toward a heel region  24  of the article of footwear  10 ). The tension-retaining system  16  is configured to retain tension in the tensioning cord  14  when the distal portion  14 C and/or  14 D of the tensioning cord  14  is pulled away from the proximal portion  14 B and the wedge  21  is engaged with the anchor  19  in the notch  27  as further discussed herein. 
     In the embodiment shown, the article of footwear  10  is configured to enable easy donning and removal of the footwear  10  from the foot, and quick and easy adjustment of the fit of the upper  18  to the foot. For example, the footwear upper  18  is configured as a divided footwear upper that includes the front upper portion  18 A and the rear upper portion  18 B. Additionally, the article of footwear  10  includes a sole structure  20  movable between an access position and a use position (shown). The sole structure  20  has a front sole portion  20 A and the rear sole portion  20 B. The rear sole portion  20 B is pivotable relative to the front sole portion  20 A between the use position and an access position for ease of access. 
     The front upper portion  18 A is fixed to the front sole portion  20 A and defines a forefoot region  22  and most of a midfoot region  26  of the footwear  10 . The rear upper portion  18 B is fixed to the rear sole portion  20 B and defines the heel region  24  of the footwear  10 . The midfoot region  26  of the article of footwear  10  is disposed between the forefoot region  22  and the heel region  24 . In the use position, the front upper portion  18 A and the rear upper portion  18 B together define an ankle opening  28  and an interior cavity  30 . The ankle opening  28  leads into the interior cavity  30 . A wearer&#39;s foot (not shown) is disposed in the interior cavity  30  during use, and the closure system  12  ensures that the footwear upper  18  is tightened around the interior cavity  30  and is secured around the foot with a fit selected by the wearer according to the tension of an adjustment cord  14  as retained by the tension-retaining system  16 . Alternatively, articles of footwear that include the tension-retaining system  16  may include a unitary, undivided upper and/or sole structure. For example, the front upper portion  18 A and the rear upper portion  18 B may be portions of a unitary, undivided upper such as a sock upper or an upper with a throat and a tongue, and/or the sole structure  20  may be a unitary, non-pivoting sole structure. 
     The heel region  24  generally includes portions of the article of footwear  10  corresponding with rear portions of a human foot, including the calcaneus bone, when the human foot of a size corresponding with the article of footwear  10  is disposed in the interior cavity  30  and is supported on the sole structure  20 . The forefoot region  22  of the article of footwear  10  generally includes portions of the article of footwear  10  corresponding with the toes and the joints connecting the metatarsals with the phalanges of the human foot (interchangeably referred to herein as the “metatarsal-phalangeal joints” or “MPJ” joints). The midfoot region  26  of the article of footwear  10  generally includes portions of the article of footwear  10  corresponding with an arch area of the human foot, including the navicular joint. The footwear  10  has the medial side  32  shown in  FIG.  1   , and the lateral side  34  shown in  FIG.  2   . Both the medial side  32  and the lateral side  34  extend from the heel region  24  to the forefoot region  22  and are generally opposite sides of the footwear  10  divided by a longitudinal axis LM, which may be a longitudinal midline of the footwear  10 . 
     The rear sole portion  20 B pivots relative to the front sole portion  20 A at a transverse groove  17  at the bottom of the sole structure  20 . The transverse groove  17  is between and is defined by and between the adjacent sole portions  20 A,  20 B. In the access position, the sole structure  20  is lifted away from a ground surface at the groove  17 , which closes or substantially closes the access position. This causes the front upper portion  18 A to separate from the rear upper portion  18 B, widening the ankle opening  28  to ease foot insertion into the interior cavity  30 . For example, in the access position, when the sole structure  20  is on a level ground plane, the sole structure  20  will rest on the front of the front sole portion  20 A and on the rear of the rear sole portion  20 B, with the midfoot region  26  lifted above the ground plane, the groove  17  closed or substantially closed, and the front sole portion  20 A inclining from the front of the front sole portion  20 A to the groove  17 , and the rear sole portion inclining from the rear of the rear sole portion  20 B to the groove  17 . 
     In addition to the cord  14  and the tension-retaining system  16 , the closure system  12  includes cord guides  40  anchored to the front upper portion  18 A. The cord guides  40  are depicted as flexible but relatively non-elastic loops, and may be a woven or mesh nylon material, or may be other materials or configurations such as webbing, rigid hooks, or eyelets. The adjustment cord  14  is operatively secured to the front upper portion  18 A by the cord guides  40 . Stated differently, the proximal portion  14 B of the adjustment cord  14  is fixed to the front upper portion  18 A at the cord guides  40 . The cord guides  40  are sleeves through which the cord  14  extends and may slide. Accordingly, the cord  14  is operatively secured to the outer surface of the front upper portion  18 A in an indirect manner via the cord guides  40  through which the cord  14  may slide. The cord  14  could instead be operatively secured to the front upper portion  18 A indirectly by extending through apertures in the front upper portion  18 A, or around hooks secured to the front upper portion  18 A. Alternatively, the cord  14  could be stitched or otherwise operatively secured directly to the front upper portion  18 A such that it is fixed to the front upper portion  18 A in a manner in which it is not slidable relative to the front upper portion  18 A. 
     In some embodiments, the cord  14  may extend from the front upper portion  18 A, to the tension-retaining system  16 , and then from the tension-retaining system  16  back to the front upper portion  18 A where it extends through one or more additional cord guides or is otherwise operatively secured to the front upper portion  18 A. In the embodiment of  FIG.  1   , however, in addition to the cord  14 , the tension-retaining system  16 , and the cord guides  40 , the closure system  12  also includes medial and lateral cord locks  42  to which the adjustment cord  14  may be locked. Locking the cord  14  to the cord locks  42  is done by simply pulling the adjustment cord  14 , such as a loop portion  14 A of the adjustment cord  14 , to tension the cord  14 , and pivoting the loop portion  14 A of the cord  14  from a first position (an untensioned state, shown in phantom in  FIG.  1   ) to a second position (a locked position, shown in solid lines  FIG.  1   ). Pulling the loop portion  14 A concurrently pulls or cinches the upper  18  to adjust its fit over a portion of a wearer. Moving the loop portion  14 A to the second position while maintaining the pulling force locks the cord  14  to the lock  42 , which retains tension in the cord  14  (e.g., in the portion of the cord  14  between the engaged tension-retaining system  16  and the cord lock  42 ) even when the pulling force is removed. In other embodiments, the portion  14 A need not be a continuous loop, and may instead include a medial end portion of the cord  14  extending through the lock  42  at the medial side  32 , and a lateral end portion of the cord  14  extending through the lock  42  at the lateral side  34 . 
     Each lock  42  includes a lock body  44  and a flange  46  integral with the lock body  44  as a unitary component. For example, the bodies  44  and flanges  46  may include a thermoplastic material such as Nylon 12 (PA), also referred to as Nylon polyamide 12 or Nylon (PA12) available from Arkema Inc. in King of Prussia, Pa. USA. Additionally, the thermoplastic material may be reinforced, such as with glass, or may not be reinforced. As another alternative, the bodies  44  and flanges  46  may include a molded rubber material. The flanges  46  are stitched, adhered, thermally bonded, or otherwise secured to the front upper portion  18 A. 
     The cord  14  may be an elastic cord that resiliently stretches to a greater overall length when tensioned, simultaneously reducing in thickness, and then returns to an untensioned thickness and length when tension is released. For example, the cord  14  may include an elastic core of rubber or other resiliently stretchable material that stretches to a greater length as the cord  14  is tensioned. In other examples, the cord  14  may be relatively inelastic such that it does not stretch in overall length when tensioned with the wedge  21  disposed in the notch  27 . For example, an inelastic cord  14  may be tensioned and may lock to the lock  42  by a friction fit to the lock body  44 , such as by compressing when manually moved in the lock body  44 . In the untensioned state of the cord  14  shown in  FIG.  1   , the cord  14  may have a uniform thickness or diameter both in the loop portion  14 A and in the remaining portions  14 B,  14 C, and  14 D. The cord  14  may be a hollow, solid, or stranded core cable. The cord  14  may have a circular cross-section or may have a non-circular cross-section with a cross-sectional area equal to that of a circular cross-section. For example, the cord  14  may be round with a round cross-section, or may be “flat”, e.g., with a rectangular cross-section, or may have another cross-sectional shape. In embodiments in which the cord  14  is flat, for example, it may be manually folded along its length at the loop portion  14 A when pivoted to a locked position in the cord lock  42 . Such a flat cord  14  may be elastic or inelastic. 
     In  FIG.  1   , the cord  14  is shown in an untensioned state, as the loop portion  14 A of the cord  14  extends through a first passage (e.g., a through hole) in each of the lock bodies  44  from an entrance opening  48  to a first exit opening  50 . The loop portion  14 A may be pivoted upward to the position shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2    (in solid) so that the loop portion  14 A extends through a second passage in the lock body  44 , the second passage extending from the first passage and exiting the lock body  44  at the second exit opening  54 . The lock body  44  has a slot extending through its outer surface between the first exit opening  50  and the second exit opening  54  and extending to the passages to enable pivoting of the loop portion  14 A to the locked position. After pivoting, when the force pivoting the loop portion  14 A is released, the cord  14  is biased to return to its untensioned state, e.g., a slack state, including returning to its full diameter if the cord  14  is elastic. The second passage including the second exit opening  54  is smaller in diameter than the first passage and the first exit opening  50 . Accordingly, in the tensioned and locked state of  FIG.  1   , the cord  14  locks to the bodies  44  by filling the second passage. 
     The cord  14  may be locked to the lock bodies  44  before or after the tension-retaining system  16  is engaged at each of the medial and lateral sides  32 ,  34 . The cord  14  is effectively fixed at the cord guides  40  and the locked lock bodies  44  at the front upper portion  18 A, and the tension-retaining system  16  provides a connection to the rear upper portion  18 B so that the tension in the cord  14  helps to retain the rear upper portion  18 B and the front upper portion  18 A together in the use position and closed around a foot in the interior cavity  30 . Because the cord  14  effectively zig-zags over the upper  18 , extending from the forefoot region  22  at the cord guides  40 , to the tension-retaining system  16  at the medial and lateral sides  32 ,  34  of the heel region  24 , and then through the lock bodies  44  generally in the midfoot region  26  forward of the tension-retaining system  16  and higher on the footwear  10  than the cord guides  40 , the tightening effect of the tensioned cord  14  is distributed over the upper  18  both front to rear and top to bottom. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , which shows the tension-retaining system  16  in the disengaged state, the wedge  21  defines a tensioning cord coupling feature  56  by which the tensioning cord  14  is coupled to the wedge  21 . In the embodiment shown, the tensioning cord coupling feature is a tensioning cord passage  56  that extends through the wedge  21  as a through hole. The distal portion  14 D of the tensioning cord  14  extends through the tensioning cord passage  56 . In other embodiments, the tensioning cord coupling feature could be adhesive or a fastener, such as a pin, that couples the tensioning cord  14  to the wedge  21 . 
     The wedge  21  has an engagement portion  76  that fits within the notch  27  of the anchor  19 . When the tension-retaining system  16  is in the engaged state as shown in  FIG.  4   , the engagement portion  76  is disposed further in the notch  27  than the tensioning cord coupling feature (e.g., the engagement portion  76  is further toward the front of the notch  27  than is the tensioning cord passage  56 ) so that tension in the tensioning cord  14 , represented by forces F, biases the engagement portion  76  of the wedge  21  into the notch  27 . The engagement portion of the wedge  21  is that portion of the wedge  21  that is in contact with the anchor  19  when the wedge  21  is in the notch  27  in the engaged state. 
     In order to releasably hold the wedge in the notch even in the absence of any biasing force of the cord  14 , the tension-retaining system  16  and/or any of the other tensioning-retaining systems  116 ,  216 ,  316 ,  416 , and  516  described herein may include a holding mechanism holding the wedge in the notch when the engagement portion of the wedge is fit within the notch. The holding mechanism is described with respect to the tension-retaining system  16 , but the description applies equally to tension-retaining systems  116 ,  216 ,  316 ,  416 , and  516 . The holding mechanism may include a first holding component disposed on the anchor  19  and a second holding component disposed on the wedge  21  and interfitting with the first holding component. In one example, the holding mechanism is magnetic, the first holding component includes one of a magnet or a ferromagnetic material, and the second holding component includes the other of the magnet and the ferromagnetic material. The magnet is magnetically attractive to the ferromagnetic material. In another example in which the holding mechanism is magnetic, the first holding component includes a first magnet, the second holding component includes a second magnet, and the first magnet is magnetically attractive to the second magnet. In another example, the holding mechanism is a snap, the first holding component is one of a socket or a stud that snaps within the socket, and the second holding component is the other of the socket or the stud. In still another example, the holding mechanism is a frictional fit mechanism, the first holding component is one of a contoured surface or a detent that fits to the contoured surface, and the second holding component is the other of the contoured surface or the detent. A variety of configurations of holding mechanisms may be implemented, each configured to releasably secure the engagement portion of the wedge  21  in the notch  27  of the anchor  19  to supplement any biasing force of the tensioning cord  14 . For example, the holding mechanism may be configured to releasably hold the engagement portion  76  of the wedge  21  in the notch  27  even when the biasing force of the cord  14  is minimal or nonexistent. 
       FIGS.  3  and  4    also show that the wedge  21  defines a pull cord tensioning feature  62  by which a pull cord  64  is coupled to the wedge  21 . In the embodiment shown, the pull cord tensioning feature is a pull cord passage  62  extending through the wedge  21  as a through hole. The pull cord passage  62  receives a pull cord  64 , which extends through the pull cord passage  62  and may be considered part of the tension-retaining system  16 . In other embodiments, the pull cord coupling feature could be adhesive or a fastener, such as a pin, that couples the pull cord  64  to the wedge  21 . The tensioning cord passage  56  is disposed between the engagement portion  76  and the pull cord passage  62 . The pull cord  64  may be easier for a wearer to manipulate as opposed to directly gripping the wedge  21 , and a wearer can grab the pull cord  64  and pull rearward and then slightly inward toward the rear upper portion  18 B (after the engagement portion  76  clears an edge  72  of the anchor  19  at the notch  27 ) to guide the wedge  21  into the notch  27 . The relative positions of the tensioning cord passage  56  and the pull cord passage  62  and their ability to ease engagement of the wedge  21  with the anchor  19  is discussed further with respect to  FIG.  13   . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the closure system  12  includes a first hook-and-loop fastener component  66 A coupled to the pull cord  64  such as by stitching a backing  68 A of the fastener component  66 A around the pull cord  64 . A second hook-and-loop fastener component  66 B has a backing  68 B secured to a rear-facing surface  69  of the rear upper portion  18 B. The first hook-and-loop fastener component  66 A releasably engages with the second hook-and-loop fastener component  66 B. For example, the first hook-and-loop fastener component  66 A includes a plurality of hooks  67 A and the second hook-and-loop fastener component  66 B includes a plurality of loops  67 B. When the first hook-and-loop fastener component  66 A is manually pressed against the second hook-and-loop fastener component  66 B with the hooks  67 A contacting the loops  67 B, the hooks  67 A engage with the loops  67 B as shown in  FIG.  5   . The first hook-and-loop fastener component  66 A could instead include a plurality of loops and the second hook-and-loop fastener component  66 B could include a plurality of hooks, or both fastener components  66 A,  66 B could include both hooks and loops to enable the first hook-and-loop fastener component  66 A to releasably engage with the second hook-and-loop fastener component  66 B. 
     The engagement of the hook-and-loop fastener components  66 A,  66 B wraps the pull cord  64  close against the rear upper portion  18 B to prevent it from dangling and possibly inadvertently catching on an object when the footwear  10  is worn. Additionally, because the anchor  19  is between the proximal portion  14 B of the tensioning cord  14  and the second hook-and-loop fastener component  66 B, with the distal portion  14 C of the tensioning cord  14  (where it extends through the tensioning cord passage  56 ) between the anchor  19  and the second hook-and-loop fastener component  66 B, the engaged fastener components  66 A,  66 B act as a backup to the engaged wedge  21  and anchor  19  to retain tension in the tensioning cord  14 . For example, if the wedge  21  was inadvertently removed from the notch  27  during wear, the engaged fastener components  66 A,  66 B would prevent the cord  14  from releasing tension and returning toward the front upper portion  18 A. 
     The anchor  19 , wedge  21 , pull cord  64  and first fastener component  66 A are described with respect to these components on the lateral side  34  of the footwear  10  in  FIGS.  2 - 4   . The tension-retaining system  16  may include an anchor  19 , wedge  21 , pull cord  64  and first fastener component  66 A disposed at the medial side  32  of the footwear  10  in the same manner as those on the lateral side  34 , as shown in  FIG.  1   . The description of the components of the tension-retaining system  16  applies to components of the tension-retaining system  16  on the lateral side  34  and to components of the tension-retaining system  16  on the medial side  32 . As shown in  FIG.  5   , the second fastener component  66 B is sufficiently long that both of the first fastener components  66 A (e.g., the first fastener component  66 A at the medial side  32  and the first fastener component at the lateral side  34 ) can be releasably engaged with the second fastener component  66 B at the same time. 
       FIG.  6    is a perspective view of the tension-retaining system  16  in an engaged state with the tensioning cord  14  and the pull cord  64  not shown for clarity. The alternate base  25 A is shown, and the description applies equally to base  25 . As shown in  FIG.  7   , the anchor  19  has an outer wall  70  and an inner wall  71 . The outer wall  70  diverges outward from the base  25 A at an acute angle A. The outer wall  70  extends to an outer edge  72  that defines an outer extent of the notch  27 . As shown in  FIG.  7   , the wedge  21  has an outer wall  74  and an inner wall  75 . A forward extent of the outer wall  74  is flush with the outer wall  70  of the anchor  19  when an engagement portion  76  of the wedge  21  (described with respect to  FIG.  11   ) is in the notch  27  and engaged with the anchor  19 . 
     The top view of  FIG.  7    shows an upper surface  77  of the anchor  19  extending between the inner wall  71  and the outer wall  70 . An upper surface  79  of the wedge  21  extends between the inner wall  75  and the outer wall  74 . The inner wall  71  of the anchor  19  is between the rear upper portion  18 B and the outer wall  70  when the anchor  19  is coupled to the rear upper portion  18 B. The inner wall  75  of the wedge  21  is between the inner wall  71  of the anchor  19  and the outer wall  74  of the wedge  21  when the wedge  21  is in the notch  27 . The inner wall  75  seats against the base  25 A when the engagement portion  76  of the wedge  21  is in the notch  27 . For example, as shown in  FIG.  7   , the inner wall  75  and the base  25 A are both relatively planar where the inner wall  75  seats against the base  25 A. When secured to the rear upper portion  18 B, the base  25  or  25 A may be flexible to conform to a curvature of the rear upper portion  18 B, as shown in  FIG.  1   . The inner wall  75  of the wedge  21  may have a curvature that enables it to be coincident with the curvature of the base  25  or  25 A. 
       FIG.  8    is a cross-sectional view of the tension-retaining system taken at lines  8 - 8  in  FIG.  7   .  FIG.  8    shows a lower surface  81  of the anchor  19  that extends between the inner wall  71  and the outer wall  70  of  FIG.  7   , and a lower surface  82  of the wedge  21  that extends between the inner wall  75  and the outer wall  74  of  FIG.  7   .  FIG.  8    best shows that both the tensioning cord passage  56  and the pull cord passage  62  (indicated with hidden lines) as through holes that extend completely through the wedge  21  from the upper surface  79  to the lower surface  82  (e.g., opening at the upper surface  79  and at the lower surface  82 ). Additionally, the tensioning cord passage  56  and the pull cord passage  62  are straight, cylindrical passages and are non-intersecting (e.g., they do not intersect with one another). A longitudinal center axis A 1  of the tensioning cord passage  56  and a longitudinal center axis A 2  of the pull cord passage  62  are parallel with one another. 
     Referring to  FIG.  13   , the longitudinal center axis A 2  of the pull cord passage  62  is a first distance D 1  from the inner wall  75  of the wedge  21 , and the longitudinal center axis A 1  of the tensioning cord passage  56  is a second distance D 2  from the inner wall  75  (with the first distance D 1  and the second distance D 2  measured parallel to one another). The second distance D 2  is greater than the first distance D 1 . Due to this differential offset in the axes A 1 , A 2  from the inner wall  75 , a tensile force (e.g., tensile force F in  FIG.  20   ) in the distal portion  14 C of the cord  14  created in reaction to a force pulling on the pull cord  64  (e.g., force F 1  in  FIG.  20   ) will align with the opposing pull cord force F 1  when moving the tensioning-retaining system  16  to an engaged state by tipping the wedge  21  inward toward the notch  27  (e.g., the front of the wedge  21  at the engagement portion  76  automatically tips in toward the notch  27  and the inner wall  71 ) to help align the wedge  21  with the anchor  19 . The tipping movement is discussed in further detail with respect to the tensioning-retaining system  216  of  FIGS.  17 - 28    and applies equally to the tension-retaining system  16 . 
     In addition to the automatic tip in of the wedge  21 , the tension-retaining system  16  has other features configured to ensure quick and accurate engagement of the wedge  21  with the anchor  19 . For example, as shown in  FIG.  8   , the anchor  19  has a concave engagement surface  84  in the notch  27 . The engagement portion  76  of the wedge  21  has a convex engagement surface  85  that abuts the concave engagement surface  84  of the anchor  19  when the engagement portion  76  of the wedge  21  is in the notch  27 . The concave engagement surface  84  extends away from the engagement portion  76  of the wedge  21 . As best shown in  FIGS.  8 ,  11  and  13   , the convex engagement surface  85  is convex in two directions: in a direction from the upper surface  79  to the lower surface  82  of the wedge  21 , and in a direction from the inner wall  75  to the outer wall  74  of the wedge  21 . This creates a peak on the wedge  21 . As best shown in  FIGS.  8  and  10   , the concave engagement surface  84  is likewise concave in two directions: in a direction from the inner wall  71  to the outer wall  70  of the anchor  19 , and in a direction from the upper surface  77  to the lower surface  81  of the anchor  19 . The concave engagement surface  84  and the convex engagement surface  85  are thus configured to automatically center the wedge  21  to the anchor  19  during engagement. Stated differently, the tensioning force on the wedge  21  will tend to cause the wedge  21  to slide its peak toward the center of the notch  27  so that the engagement surfaces  84 ,  85  are fully in contact with one another. Forces associated with the tension of the tensioning cord  14  biasing the wedge  21  against the anchor  19  in the notch  27  are distributed over a relatively large surface area due to the mating concave and convex shapes. Stated differently, the surface areas of the concave engagement surface  84  and the convex engagement surface  85  are larger than if the engagement surfaces of the wedge  21  and the anchor  19  were planar, and were not concave or convex in either of the two directions in which the surfaces  84  and  85  are concave and convex, respectively. 
     Another feature that helps with accurate and secure engagement of the wedge  21  to the anchor  19  is a lip  86  in the outer wall  74  of the wedge  21  that fits to and engages the outer edge  72  of the outer wall  70  of the anchor  19 . The concave shape of the surface  84  of the notch  27  inward of the outer edge  72  and the convex shape of the surface  85  of the engagement portion  76  ensures that the engagement portion  76  extends past the outer edge  72  in the notch  27  (e.g., further toward the forefoot region  22  of the footwear  10  than the outer edge  72 ). The biasing force of the tensioning cord  14  in combination with the outer edge  72  extending further back than and partially wrapping around the engagement portion  76  will help to prevent the wedge  21  from slipping out of the notch  27  during wear of the footwear  10 . 
       FIG.  9    is a perspective view of an inner side of an anchor  19  of the tension-retaining system  16 . The inner wall  71  is shown having a recess  87  where the outer wall  70  angles outward from the base  25 A. The recess  87  helps to reduce the weight and material used for the anchor  19  in comparison to an anchor without a recess in the location shown. 
       FIG.  10    is a perspective view of a top side of the anchor  19  showing the upper surface  77  and indicating the concavity of the notch  27  between the upper surface  77  and the lower surface  81 .  FIGS.  11  and  12    are different perspective views of an outer side of the wedge  21  (e.g., showing the outer wall  74 ) of the tension-retaining system  16 .  FIG.  12   , for example, illustrates that the upper surface  79  and the lower surface  82  are generally flat and parallel with one another until they converge with a rear wall  88 . Stated differently, the edges of the wedge  21  between the upper surface  79  and the rear wall  88 , and between the lower surface  82  and the rear wall  88 , are rounded.  FIGS.  13  and  14    show that the rear wall  88  is generally planar and  FIG.  13    shows that the rear wall  88  diverges from the inner wall  75  at an acute angle A 3 . As shown in  FIG.  13   , a portion of the tensioning cord passage  56  extends past the lip  86  toward the engagement portion  76 . Stated differently, at least a portion of the tensioning passage  56  is further rearward than the lip  86 . This helps to ensure continuous engagement of the engagement portion  76  with the notch  27  when the tensioning cord  14  biases the wedge  21  against the notch  27 . The longitudinal center axis A 2  of the tensioning cord passage  56  is rearward of the lip  86  (e.g., further toward the rear wall  88  than the lip  86 ). Accordingly, when an opposing force is applied to the pull cord  64  (e.g., a force like force F 1  in  FIG.  20   ), the rear edge  89  of the wedge  21  will tip away from the base  25  or  25 A (in an opposite rotation from the tip in of the front of the wedge  21  at the engagement portion  76  discussed herein) and the lip  86  will roll outward along the outer edge  72  to assist the user in pulling the wedge  21  out of the notch  27 . 
       FIG.  15    is a perspective view of a lateral side of another embodiment of an article of footwear  110  having a closure system  112  with a tensioning cord  14  and a tension-retaining system  116  for the tensioning cord  14 , with the tension-retaining system  116  in an engaged state. The article of footwear  110 , closure system  112 , and tensioning-retaining system  116  including a retainer  115  are alike in all aspects to footwear  10 , closure system  12 , tension-retaining system  16  and retainer  15  described with respect to  FIGS.  1 - 5    except that the anchor  19  includes the base  25 A of  FIG.  6    coupled to (e.g., stitched to) the rear upper portion  18 B instead of extending downward to the rear sole portion  20 B, the wedge  21  has a pull cord passage  162  that intersects with and is partially open at the rear wall  88 , there are no fastener components  66 A,  66 B to releasably engage and connect the pull cord  64  to the rear upper portion  18 B, the cord  14  has ends knotted together at the pull loop portion  14 A, and each pull cord  64  has ends knotted together. 
       FIG.  16    is a perspective view of a lateral side  34  of another embodiment of an article of footwear  210  having a closure system  212  with a tensioning cord  14  and a tension-retaining system  216  for the tensioning cord  14 , with the tension-retaining system  216  shown in a disengaged state. The article of footwear  210  includes a sole structure  220  with a front sole portion  220 A and a rear sole portion  220 B pivotable at a transverse groove  17  from the use position shown to an access position, as described with respect to the sole structure  20  of the article of footwear  10 . The article of footwear  210  includes a front upper portion  218 A secured to the front sole portion  220 A, and a rear upper portion  218 B secured to the rear sole portion  220 B. The front upper portion  218 A and the rear upper portion  218 B together define an ankle opening  228  and an interior cavity  230 . A foot attached to the leg  111  shown is received through the ankle opening  228  and is supported on the sole structure  220  in the interior cavity  230 . 
     The closure system  212  includes the cord guides  40  as described, and a cord lock  242  having a slightly different shape but functioning identically as described with respect to cord lock  42 . The tensioning-retaining system  216  includes a retainer  215  that includes an anchor  219  and a wedge  221 . The anchor  219  is coupled to the rear upper portion  218 B. The wedge  221  has a tensioning cord coupling feature  256  and a pull cord coupling feature  262 . In the embodiment shown, the tensioning cord coupling feature  256  is a tensioning cord passage  256  and the pull cord coupling feature  262  is a pull cord passage  262  both of which extend through the wedge  221  as non-intersecting through holes. The tensioning cord  14  passes through the tensioning cord passage  256  and the pull cord  64  passes through the pull cord passage  262 . In other embodiments, either or both of the tensioning cord coupling feature  256  and the pull cord coupling feature  262  could be adhesive or a fastener, such as a pin, that couples the tensioning cord  14  to the wedge  221  and the pull cord to the wedge  221 , respectively. The tension-retaining system  216  includes another cord lock  242 , anchor  219 , wedge  221 , and pull cord  64  disposed at the medial side (not shown) of the article of footwear  210  and arranged relative to one another as the corresponding components shown on the lateral side  34 . 
       FIG.  17    is a perspective view of the lateral side  34  of the article of footwear  210  of  FIG.  16    with the tension-retaining system  216  moved to an engaged state in which an engagement portion  276  (see  FIG.  18   ) of the wedge  221  is received within a notch  227  (see  FIG.  20   ) of the anchor  219  to retain tension in the tensioning cord  14 . A hand  113  is shown pulling on the pull cord  64  to tension the cord  14  and guide the wedge  221  into the notch  227  of the anchor  219 . 
       FIG.  18    is a bottom view of the wedge  221 . The longitudinal center axis A 2  of the pull cord passage  262  is a first distance D 1  from the inner wall  275  of the wedge  221 . The longitudinal center axis A 1  of the tensioning cord passage  256  is a second distance D 2  from the inner wall  275 . The second distance D 2  is greater than the first distance D 1 . As shown in  FIG.  20   , a tensile force F in the distal portion  14 C of the cord  14  created in reaction to a force F 1  pulling on the pull cord  64  (see  FIG.  19   ) will align with the opposing pull cord force F shown in  FIG.  20    (placing the center axes A 1 , A 2  also in alignment with the forces F, F 1 ) when moving the tensioning-retaining system  216  to an engaged state, and due to the differential in the offset of the axes A 1 , A 2  from the inner wall  275 , causes tipping of the wedge  221  inward toward the notch  227  (e.g., the front of the wedge  221  at the engagement portion  276  tips in toward the inner wall  271  in the notch  227 , rotating inward from a position like that of  FIG.  18    to a position like that of  FIG.  19  or  20   , as illustrated by the rotational arrow A 4  in  FIG.  20   ), which helps align the wedge  221  with the notch  227  of the anchor  219 . 
       FIG.  21    is a bottom view of the tension-retaining system  216  of  FIG.  17    in an engaged state with the tensioning cord  14  and the pull cord  64  not shown for clarity. The anchor  219  has an outer wall  270  and an inner wall  271 . The outer wall  270  extends to an outer edge  272  that defines an outer extent of the notch  227 . The wedge  221  has an outer wall  274  and an inner wall  275 . The outer wall  274  is flush with the outer wall  270  of the anchor  219  when the engagement portion  276  of the wedge  221  is in the notch  227  and engaged with the anchor  219 . The wedge  221  has a back wall  288  that is generally rounded both from an upper surface  279  of the wedge  221  to a lower surface  282  of the wedge  221  (see  FIG.  27   ) and from the inner wall  275  to the outer wall  274  (see  FIG.  21   ). 
       FIG.  22    shows an upper surface  277  of the anchor  219  extending between the inner wall  271  and the outer wall  270 . The upper surface  279  of the wedge  221  extends between the inner wall  275  and the outer wall  274 . The inner wall  271  of the anchor  219  is between the rear upper portion  218 B and the outer wall  270  when the anchor  219  is coupled to the rear upper portion  218 B. With reference to  FIGS.  20 - 21   , the inner wall  275  of the wedge  221  is between the inner wall  271  of the anchor  219  and the outer wall  274  of the wedge  221  when the wedge  221  is in the notch  227 . The inner wall  275  seats against an outer surface  273  of the inner wall  271  (see  FIG.  23   ) when the engagement portion  276  of the wedge  21  is in the notch  227 . The inner wall  275  and the inner wall  271  are both relatively planar where the inner wall  275  seats against the inner wall  271 . The inner wall  271  of the anchor  219 , shown in  FIG.  24   , is directly coupled to the rear upper portion  220 B as in  FIG.  17   . 
       FIG.  23    shows that the wedge  219  has a lip  286  in the outer wall  274  that fits to and engages the outer edge  272  of the outer wall  270  of the anchor  219 . The biasing force of the tensioning cord  14  in combination with the outer edge  272  extending further back than and partially wrapping around the engagement portion  276  will help to prevent the wedge  221  from slipping out of the notch  227  during wear of the footwear  210 . Additionally, to release the tensioning system  216 , when a rearward and outward force is applied to the pull cord  64  disposed in the pull cord passage  262 , the lip  286  of the wedge  221  will pivot against the outer edge  272  and the back wall  288  of the wedge  221  will tip away from the inner wall  271  of the anchor  219 , the outer edge  272  providing leverage for the lip  286  rolling outward along the outer edge  272 , assisting the user in pulling the wedge  221  out of the notch  227 . 
       FIG.  25    is a perspective view of the anchor  219  of the tension-retaining system  216  of  FIG.  17    showing the notch  227  in the anchor  219 . The anchor  219  has a concave engagement surface  284  in the notch  227 . The concave engagement surface  284  is concave in two directions: in a direction from the inner wall  271  to the outer wall  270  of the anchor  219 , and in a direction from the upper surface  277  to the lower surface  281  of the anchor  219 . As shown in  FIG.  27   , the engagement portion  276  of the wedge  221  has a convex engagement surface  285  that abuts the concave engagement surface  284  of the anchor  219  when the engagement portion  276  of the wedge  221  is in the notch  227 . As best shown in  FIGS.  20  and  27   , the convex engagement surface  285  is convex in two directions: in a direction from the upper surface  279  to the lower surface  282  of the wedge  221 , and in a direction from the inner wall  275  to the outer wall  274  of the wedge  221 . The concave engagement surface  284  extends away from the engagement portion  276  of the wedge  221 . The concave engagement surface  284  and the convex engagement surface  285  are thus configured to automatically center the wedge  221  to the anchor  219  during engagement and distribute force associated with the tension of the tensioning cord  14  biasing the wedge  221  against the anchor  219  in the notch  227  over a relatively large surface area. Stated differently, the surface areas of the concave engagement surface  284  and the convex engagement surface  285  are larger than if the engagement surfaces of the wedge  221  and the anchor  219  were planar, and/or were not concave or convex in either of the two directions in which the surface  284  and  285  are concave and convex, respectively. 
       FIG.  28    best shows that both the tensioning cord passage  256  and the pull cord passage  262  extend through the wedge  221  from the upper surface  279  to the lower surface  282  as through holes. Additionally, the tensioning cord passage  256  and the pull cord passage  262  are straight, cylindrical passages and are non-intersecting (e.g., they do not intersect with one another). The longitudinal center axis A 1  of the tensioning cord passage  256  and the longitudinal center axis A 2  of the pull cord passage  262  are parallel with one another. 
       FIG.  29    is a perspective view of an outer side of an alternative tension-retaining system  316  in an engaged state. The tension-retaining system  316  may be used for retaining tension in a cord used to tighten a wearable article, such as in place of the tension-retaining systems shown on any of the articles of footwear  10 ,  110 , or  210 . The tensioning-retaining system  316  includes a retainer  315  that includes an anchor  319  and a wedge  321 . The anchor  319  may be coupled to the rear upper portion  18 B or  218 B shown herein. The anchor  319  defines a notch  327  (see  FIG.  31   ) and has an outer wall  370  and an inner wall  371 . The outer wall  370  extends to an outer edge  372  (see  FIG.  30   ) that defines an outer extent of the notch  327 . The wedge  321  has a tensioning cord coupling feature  356  that couples the tensioning cord  14  to the wedge  321 . In the embodiment shown, the tensioning cord coupling feature  356  is a tensioning cord passage  356  that is a through hole in the wedge  321  and through which the tensioning cord  14  of  FIG.  1    may pass. In other embodiments, the tensioning cord coupling feature  356  could be adhesive or a fastener, such as a pin, that couples the tensioning cord  14  to the wedge  321 . The tensioning cord  14  is not shown for clarity. The rear wall  388  of the wedge  321  is arcuate, e.g., shaped as a segment of a circle. The wedge  321  does not include a pull cord coupling feature, such as the pull cord passage  62  described with respect to wedge  21 . The absence of a pull cord passage enables the rear wall  388  of the wedge  321  to be substantially flush with an outer edge  372  of the anchor  319 , as shown in a top view in  FIG.  30   , rather than rearward of an outer edge of the anchor  319 . Stated differently, in such embodiments, the wedge  321  need not be sized to extend rearward of the outer edge  372  to fit a pull cord passage. When a convex surface  385  of an engagement portion  376  of the wedge  321  is received within the notch  327  of the anchor  319  in order to retain tension in a tensioning cord extending through the tensioning cord passage  356 , the convex engagement surface  385  rests against a concave engagement surface  384  of the anchor  319 . The notch  327  extends from an upper surface  377  to a lower surface  381  of the anchor  319 , which is shown in a rear view in  FIG.  31    without the wedge  321  in the notch  327 . The biasing force of a tensioning cord in the passage  356  in combination with the outer edge  372  extending back to the rear wall  388  and wrapping around the entire outer side of the engagement portion  376  will help to prevent the wedge  321  from slipping out of the notch  327 . 
     The anchor  319  includes a base  325  establishing an inner wall  371  of the anchor  319 , and an outer wall  370  diverging from the base  325  at an acute angle A shown in the top perspective view of  FIG.  32   .  FIG.  33    is a perspective view of an inner side of an anchor  319  of the tension-retaining system  316 . The inner wall  371  is shown having a recess  387  where the outer wall  370  angles outward from the base  325 . The recess  387  helps to reduce the weight and material used for the anchor  319  in comparison to an anchor without a recess in the location shown. 
     As shown in  FIG.  34   , the wedge  321  has an outer wall  374  and an inner wall  375 . The outer wall  374  is entirely covered by the outer wall  370  of the anchor  319  when the engagement portion  376  of the wedge  321  is in the notch  327  and engaged with the anchor  319 . The tensioning cord passage  356  extends entirely through the wedge  321  as a through hole between the outer wall  374  and the inner wall  375  as shown in  FIG.  34   . As best shown in  FIG.  35   , the tensioning cord passage  356  is a straight, cylindrical passage with a longitudinal center axis A 1 . 
       FIG.  31    shows an upper surface  377  of the anchor  319  extending between the inner wall  371  and the outer wall  370 . An upper surface  379  of the wedge  321  extends between the inner wall  375  and the outer wall  374 , and a lower surface  382  of the wedge  321  extends between the inner wall  375  and the outer wall  374 , as shown in  FIG.  34   . The inner wall  371  of the anchor  319  is between the rear upper portion  18 B or  218 B and the outer wall  370  when the anchor  319  is coupled to the rear upper portion  18 B or  218 B. The inner wall  371  of the anchor  319  may be directly secured to the rear upper portion  18 B or  218 B. As shown in  FIG.  30   , the inner wall  375  of the wedge  321  is between the inner wall  371  of the anchor  319  and the outer wall  374  of the wedge  321  when the wedge  321  is in the notch  327 . The inner wall  375  seats against an outer surface of the inner wall  371  when the engagement portion  376  of the wedge  321  is in the notch  327 . The inner wall  375  and the inner wall  371  are both relatively planar where the inner wall  375  seats against the inner wall  371 . 
       FIG.  37    is a perspective view of an outer side of an alternative tension-retaining system  416  in an engaged state. The tension-retaining system  416  may be used for retaining tension in a cord used to tighten a wearable article, such as in place of the tension-retaining systems shown on any of the articles of footwear  10 ,  110 , or  210 . The tensioning-retaining system  416  includes a retainer  415  that includes an anchor  419  and a wedge  421 . The anchor  419  may be coupled to the rear upper portion  18 B or  218 B shown herein. As shown in  FIG.  38   , the anchor  419  defines a notch  427  and has an outer wall  470  and an inner wall  471 . The outer wall  470  extends to an outer edge  472  that defines an outer extent of the notch  427 . The wedge  421  has a tensioning cord coupling feature  456 . In the embodiment shown, the tensioning cord coupling feature  456  is a tensioning cord passage  456  which extends through the wedge  221  as a through hole and through which the tensioning cord  14  passes. In other embodiments, the tensioning cord coupling feature  456  could be adhesive or a fastener, such as a pin, that couples the tensioning cord  14  to the wedge  421 . The tensioning cord  14  is not shown for clarity. The wedge  421  does not include a pull cord passage. This enables the rear wall  488  of the wedge  421  to be substantially flush with the outer edge  472  of the anchor  419  as shown in the top view of  FIG.  38    when an engagement portion  476  of the wedge  421  is received within the notch  427  of the anchor  419  in order to retain tension in a tensioning cord extending through the tensioning cord passage  456 . Stated differently, the wedge  421  need not be sized to extend rearward of the outer edge  472  to fit a pull cord passage. The notch  427  extends from an upper surface  477  to a lower surface  481  of the anchor  419 , which is shown in different perspective views in  FIGS.  39  and  40    without the wedge  421  in the notch  427 . The anchor  419  includes a base  425  establishing the inner wall  471  of the anchor  419 , and the outer wall  470  diverges from the base  425  at an acute angle A shown in the top view of  FIG.  38   . 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS.  39  and  40   , the anchor  419  has an engagement surface  484  in the notch  427  that extends toward the engagement portion  476  of the wedge  321  as shown in  FIG.  45   . The engagement surface  484  in the notch  427  is convex in a direction from the upper surface  477  of the anchor  419  to the lower surface  481  of the anchor  419  as shown in  FIGS.  40  and  45   . In a direction from the inner wall  471  to the outer wall  470 , the engagement surface  484  is concave, as best shown in  FIG.  39   . 
       FIG.  41    is a side view of an outer side of the wedge  421  showing an outer wall  474 . The engagement surface  485  of the engagement portion  476  is concave in a direction from the upper surface  479  to the lower surface  482  of the wedge  421 . As best indicated by the combined views of  FIGS.  42 - 44   , the surface  485  of the engagement portion  476  is convex in a direction from the inner wall  475  to the outer wall  474 . Additionally, the rear wall  488  is shaped as a segment of a circle (e.g., is arcuate). The cord passage  456  extends completely through the wedge  421  from the upper surface  479  to the lower surface  482  as a through hole and is arcuate, generally following the shape of the concave surface  485  in that direction. A longitudinal center axis A 5  of the cord passage  456  is shown in  FIGS.  41  and  43 - 45   . 
     As best shown in  FIG.  45   , the engagement surface  485  of the engagement portion  476  of the wedge  421  abuts and is biased against the engagement surface  484  of the anchor  419  when the engagement portion  476  of the wedge  421  is in the notch  427  and the tensioning cord  14  (not shown) extends through the cord passage  456 . The concavity of the engagement surface  484  of the wedge  421  in the direction from the upper surface  479  to the lower surface  482  matches the convexity of the engagement surface  485  of the anchor  419  from the upper surface  477  to the lower surface  481 . Additionally, the convexity of the engagement surface  485  of the wedge  421  in the direction from the inner wall  475  to the outer wall  474  matches the concavity of the engagement surface  484  of the anchor  419  from the inner wall  471  to the outer wall  470 . The engagement surface  484  and the engagement surface  485  are thus configured to automatically center the wedge  421  to the anchor  419  during engagement and distribute force associated with the tension of the tensioning cord biasing the wedge  421  against the anchor  419  in the notch  427  over a relatively large surface area. The surface areas of the engagement surfaces  484  and  485  are larger than if the engagement surfaces of the wedge  421  and the anchor  419  were planar, and were not concave or convex in either of the two directions in which the surfaces  484  and  485  are concave or convex, as described. 
       FIG.  39    shows the upper surface  477  of the anchor  419  extending between the inner wall  471  and the outer wall  470 . The upper surface  479  of the wedge  421  extends between the inner wall  475  and the outer wall  474  as shown in  FIGS.  42  and  43   . The inner wall  471  of the anchor  419  is between the rear upper portion  18 B or  218 B and the outer wall  470  when the anchor  419  is coupled to the rear upper portion  18 B or  218 B. The inner wall  471  of the anchor  419  may be directly secured to the rear upper portion  18 B or  218 B. As shown in  FIG.  38   , the inner wall  475  of the wedge  421  is between the inner wall  471  of the anchor  419  and the outer wall  474  of the wedge  421  when the wedge  421  is in the notch  427 . The inner wall  475  seats against an outer surface of the inner wall  471  when the engagement portion  476  of the wedge  421  is in the notch  427 . The inner wall  475  and the inner wall  471  are both relatively planar where the inner wall  475  seats against the inner wall  471 . 
       FIG.  46    is a perspective view of an outer side of an alternative tension-retaining system  516  in an engaged state. The tension-retaining system  516  may be used for retaining tension in a cord used to tighten a wearable article, such as in place of the tension-retaining systems shown on any of the articles of footwear  10 ,  110 , or  210 . The tensioning-retaining system  516  includes a retainer  515  that includes an anchor  519  and a wedge  521 . The anchor  519  may be coupled to the rear upper portion  18 B or  218 B shown herein. As shown in  FIG.  47   , the anchor  519  defines a notch  527  and has an outer wall  570  and an inner wall  571 . The outer wall  570  extends to an outer edge  572  that defines an outer extent of the notch  527 . The notch  527  extends from an upper surface  577  to a lower surface  581  of the anchor  519 , which is shown in  FIGS.  48  and  49    without the wedge  521  in the notch  527 . The anchor  519  includes a base  525  establishing the inner wall  571  of the anchor  419 , and the outer wall  570  diverging from the base  525  at an acute angle A shown in the top view of  FIG.  47   . The lower surface  581  and the upper surface  577  of the anchor  19  extend between the inner wall  571  and the outer wall  570 . 
     An engagement portion  576  of the wedge  521  is received within the notch  527  of the anchor  519  in order to retain tension in a tensioning cord (not shown) extending through a tensioning cord coupling feature  556  of the wedge  521 . In the embodiment shown, the tensioning cord coupling feature  556  is a tensioning cord passage  556 . The wedge  521  also has a pull cord coupling feature  562 . The pull cord coupling feature  562  is a pull cord passage  562 . In other embodiments, either or both of the tensioning cord coupling feature  556  and the pull cord coupling feature  562  could be adhesive or a fastener, such as a pin, that couples the tensioning cord  14  to the wedge  521  and the pull cord to the wedge  521 , respectively. Both of the passages  556 ,  562  extend through the wedge  221  as through holes and through which the tensioning cord  14  and the pull cord  64  pass, respectively. The tensioning cord passage  556  extends through the wedge  521  from an upper surface  579  of the wedge  521  to a lower surface  582  of the wedge  521  as a through hole as best shown in  FIG.  52   .  FIGS.  47 ,  51  and  52    best show that both the tensioning cord passage  556  and the pull cord passage  562  extend through the wedge  521  from the upper surface  579  to the lower surface  582 . Additionally, the tensioning cord passage  556  and the pull cord passage  562  are straight, cylindrical passages and are non-intersecting (e.g., they do not intersect with one another). A longitudinal center axis A 1  of the tensioning cord passage  556  and a longitudinal center axis A 2  of the pull cord passage  562  are parallel with one another. The lower surface  582  and the upper surface  579  of the wedge  521  extend between the inner wall  575  and the outer wall  574  of the wedge  521 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  47   , the longitudinal center axis A 2  of the pull cord passage  562  is a first distance D 1  from the inner wall  575  of the wedge  521 , and the longitudinal center axis A 1  of the tensioning cord passage  556  is a second distance D 2  from the inner wall  575 . The second distance D 2  is greater than the first distance D 1 . Due to this differential offset in the axes A 1 , A 2  from the inner wall  575 , a tensile force F on a tensioning cord extending through the cord passage  556  created in reaction to a force pulling on a pull cord extending through the pull cord passage  562  will align with the opposing pull cord force when moving the tensioning-retaining system  516  to an engaged state by tipping the wedge  521  inward toward the notch  527  (e.g., the front of the wedge  521  at the engagement portion  576  tips in toward the inner wall  571  in the notch  527 ) to help align the wedge  521  with the anchor  519 , as discussed with respect to the tensioning-retaining system  216  of  FIGS.  18 - 20    and which discussion applies equally to the tension-retaining system  516 . 
     In addition to the automatic tip in of the wedge  521 , the tension-retaining system  516  has other features configured to ensure quick and accurate engagement of the wedge  521  with the anchor  519 . For example, as shown in  FIGS.  48 - 49  and  52   , the anchor  519  has a concave engagement surface  584  in the notch  527 . The engagement portion  576  of the wedge  521  has a convex engagement surface  585  (best shown in  FIG.  50   ) that abuts the concave engagement surface  584  of the anchor  519  when the engagement portion  576  of the wedge  521  is in the notch  527 . The concave engagement surface  584  extends away from the engagement portion  576  of the wedge  521 . As best shown in  FIGS.  47 ,  50 , and  52   , the convex engagement surface  585  is convex in two directions: in a direction from the upper surface  579  to the lower surface  582  of the wedge  521 , and in a direction from the inner wall  575  to the outer wall  574  of the wedge  521 . As best shown in  FIGS.  47 - 49   , the concave engagement surface  584  is likewise concave in two directions: in a direction from the inner wall  571  to the outer wall  570  of the anchor  519 , and in a direction from the upper surface  577  to the lower surface  581  of the anchor  519 . The concave engagement surface  584  and the convex engagement surface  585  are thus configured to automatically center the wedge  521  to the anchor  519  during engagement and distribute force associated with the tension of the tensioning cord biasing the wedge  521  against the anchor  519  in the notch  527  over a relatively large surface area. Stated differently, the surface areas of the concave engagement surface  584  and the convex engagement surface  585  are larger than if the engagement surfaces of the wedge  521  and the anchor  519  were planar, and/or were not concave or convex in either of the two directions in which the surface  584  and  585  are concave and convex, respectively. 
     Similar to the lip  86  and outer edge  72  of the tension-retaining system  16 , the wedge  521  has a lip  586  in the outer wall  574  of the wedge  521  that fits to and engages the outer edge  572  of the outer wall  570  of the anchor  519 . The concave shape of the engagement surface  584  of the notch  527  inward of the outer edge  572  and the convex shape of the engagement surface  585  of the engagement portion  576  ensures that the engagement portion  576  extends past the outer edge  572  in the notch  527 . The biasing force of a tensioning cord in the cord passage  556  in combination with the outer edge  572  extending further back than and partially wrapping around the engagement portion  576  will help to prevent the wedge  521  from slipping out of the notch  527  during wear of the footwear having the tension-retaining system  516  until the wedge  521  is intentionally manually removed from the notch  527 . 
       FIG.  47    shows the upper surface  577  of the anchor  519  extending between the inner wall  571  and the outer wall  570 . The upper surface  579  of the wedge  521  extends between the inner wall  575  and the outer wall  574 . The inner wall  571  of the anchor  519  is between the rear upper portion  18 B or  218 B and the outer wall  570  when the anchor  519  is coupled to the rear upper portion  18 B or  218 B. The inner wall  571  of the anchor  519  may be directly coupled to the rear upper portion  18 B or  218 B. The inner wall  575  of the wedge  521  is between the inner wall  571  of the anchor  519  and the outer wall  574  of the wedge  521  when the wedge  521  is in the notch  527 . The inner wall  575  seats against an outer surface of the inner wall  571  when the engagement portion  576  of the wedge  521  is in the notch  527 . The inner wall  575  and the inner wall  571  are both relatively planar where the inner wall  575  seats against the inner wall  571 . The wedge  521  has a back wall  588  that is generally rounded from the upper surface  579  to the lower surface  582 . 
       FIG.  53    is a perspective view of an outer side of an alternative tension-retaining system  616  in an engaged state. The tension-retaining system  616  includes the anchor  19  and the wedge  21  including all of the features of these components and the tension-retaining system  16  as shown and described with respect to  FIGS.  1 - 14   . In addition to those features, the tension-retaining system  616  includes a holding mechanism  690  holding the wedge  21  in the notch  27  when the engagement portion  76  of the wedge  21  is fit within the notch  27 . The holding mechanism  690  includes a first holding component  691  disposed on the anchor  19  and a second holding component  692  disposed on the wedge  21  and interfitting with the first holding component  691 . In the embodiment shown, the holding mechanism  691  may be referred to as a snap or a frictional fit mechanism. The first holding component  691  is a socket (e.g., an aperture) in the outer wall  70  of the body  19  that extends through the outer wall to the notch  27 , and is referred to as socket  691 . The first holding component  691  may also be referred to as a contoured surface, as the aperture through the outer wall  70  creates a contoured surface of the outer wall  70  at the aperture. 
     The second holding component  692  is a stud that extends outward from the engagement portion  76  of the wedge  21  and is referred to as stud  692  or a detent.  FIG.  54    is a perspective view of an outer side  693  of the wedge  21  and  FIG.  55    is a top view of the wedge of  FIG.  53    both showing the stud  692  protruding outward from the wedge  21 . In the embodiment shown, the stud  692  is integral with and is a unitary, one-piece component with the wedge  21 . In other embodiments, the stud  692  may be a component that is distinct from and secured integrally to the wedge  21 , such as by adhering, thermal bonding, etc. The socket  691  is sized so that the stud  692  snaps within the socket  691  and is held to the body  19  by a friction fit of the stud  692  to the body  19 . Accordingly, the holding mechanism  690  is a frictional fit mechanism. As is evident in the cross-sectional view of  FIG.  56   , the interfitting socket  691  and stud  692  are disposed further forward in the notch  27  than the tensioning cord passage  56 . Accordingly, the holding mechanism  690  will also help to retain the wedge  21  in the notch  27 , even in the absence of any biasing forces of the tensioning cord biasing the wedge  21  into the notch  27 , until the wedge  21  is intentionally removed from the notch  27 . The material of the body  19  may have some ability to flex to allow the stud  692  to pass under the outer wall  70  and into or out of the socket  691  during insertion and removal. In an alternative embodiment, the stud  692  may be depressible to a position where it is flush with the outer side  693  of the engagement portion  76  of the stud  21 . In such an embodiment depression of the stud  692  toward the outer side  693 , such as with a pin inserted through the socket  691  or otherwise, will allow it to release from the body  19 . 
     In still other embodiments, the interfitting wedge  21  and notch  27  may be supplemented with a holding mechanism that is magnetic. For example, the body  19  may have a first holding component that includes one of a magnet or a ferromagnetic material, and the wedge  21  may have a second holding component that includes the other of the magnet and the ferromagnetic material, where the magnet is magnetically attractive to the ferromagnetic material. Alternatively, the first holding component may be a first magnet, and the second holding component may be a second magnet, with the first magnet magnetically attractive to the second magnet. 
     The following Clauses provide example configurations of a tension-retaining system for a wearable article, and of a wearable article. 
     Clause 1. A tension-retaining system for retaining tension in a tensioning cord of a wearable article, the tension-retaining system comprising: a retainer including: an anchor defining a notch; and a wedge having a tensioning cord coupling feature; wherein the wedge has an engagement portion that fits within the notch with the engagement portion disposed further in the notch than the tensioning cord coupling feature. 
     Clause 2. The tension-retaining system of clause 1, wherein the wedge defines a pull cord coupling feature; wherein the tensioning cord coupling feature is disposed between the engagement portion and the pull cord coupling feature. 
     Clause 3. The tension-retaining system of clause 2, wherein: the tensioning cord coupling feature is a tensioning cord passage extending through the wedge; the pull cord coupling feature is a pull cord passage extending through the wedge; and the pull cord passage and the tensioning cord passage are non-intersecting. 
     Clause 4. The tension-retaining system of clause 3, wherein a longitudinal center axis of the pull cord passage is parallel with a longitudinal center axis of the tensioning cord passage. 
     Clause 5. The tension-retaining system of any of clauses 3-4, wherein: the wedge has an inner wall, an outer wall, an upper surface between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a lower surface between the inner wall and the outer wall; the inner wall is between the wearable article and the outer wall when the anchor is coupled to the wearable article and the wedge is in the notch; the tensioning cord passage and the pull cord passage extend through the wedge from the upper surface to the lower surface; and a longitudinal center axis of the pull cord passage is a first distance from the inner wall, a longitudinal center axis of the tensioning cord passage is a second distance from the inner wall, and the second distance is greater than the first distance. 
     Clause 6. The tension-retaining system of any of clauses 3-5, wherein: the anchor has a base; and the wedge has an inner wall that seats against the base when the engagement portion of the wedge is in the notch. 
     Clause 7. The tension-retaining system of clause 6, wherein: a longitudinal center axis of the pull cord passage is a first distance from the inner wall; a longitudinal center axis of the tensioning cord passage is a second distance from the inner wall; and the second distance is greater than the first distance. 
     Clause 8. The tension-retaining system of any of clauses 1-7, wherein: the anchor has a base and an outer wall diverging outward from the base; and the outer wall extends to an edge defining an outer extent of the notch. 
     Clause 9. The tension-retaining system of clause 8, wherein the outer wall diverges outward from the base at an acute angle. 
     Clause 10. The tension-retaining system of any of clauses 8-9, wherein: the wedge has an outer wall that defines a lip; and the lip engages the edge of the outer wall of the anchor when the engagement portion of the wedge is in the notch. 
     Clause 11. The tension-retaining system of clause 10, wherein the outer wall of the wedge is flush with the outer wall of the anchor when the engagement portion of the wedge is in the notch. 
     Clause 12. The tension-retaining system of any of clauses 1-11, wherein: the anchor has a convex engagement surface in the notch, the convex engagement surface extending toward the engagement portion of the wedge; and the engagement portion of the wedge has a concave engagement surface that abuts the convex engagement surface of the anchor when the engagement portion of the wedge is in the notch. 
     Clause 13. The tension-retaining system of any of clauses 1-11, wherein: the anchor has a concave engagement surface in the notch, the concave engagement surface extending away from the engagement portion of the wedge; and the engagement portion of the wedge has a convex engagement surface that abuts the concave engagement surface of the anchor when the engagement portion of the wedge is in the notch. 
     Clause 14. The tension-retaining system of any of clauses 1-13, further comprising: a holding mechanism holding the wedge in the notch when the engagement portion of the wedge is fit within the notch, the holding mechanism including a first holding component disposed on the anchor and a second holding component disposed on the wedge and interfitting with the first holding component. 
     Clause 15. The tension-retaining system of clause 14, wherein the holding mechanism is magnetic, the first holding component includes one of a magnet or a ferromagnetic material, and the second holding component includes the other of the magnet and the ferromagnetic material; and wherein the magnet is magnetically attractive to the ferromagnetic material. 
     Clause 16. The tension-retaining system of clause 14, wherein the holding mechanism is magnetic, the first holding component includes a first magnet, the second holding component includes a second magnet, and the first magnet is magnetically attractive to the second magnet. 
     Clause 17. The tension-retaining system of clause 14, wherein the holding mechanism is a snap, the first holding component is one of a socket or a stud that snaps within the socket, and the second holding component is the other of the socket or the stud. 
     Clause 18. The tension-retaining system of clause 14, wherein the holding mechanism is a frictional fit mechanism, the first holding component is one of a contoured surface or a detent that fits to the contoured surface, and the second holding component is the other of the contoured surface or the detent. 
     Clause 19. A wearable article comprising: a body at least partially defining an interior cavity; a closure system for tightening the body around the interior cavity, the closure system comprising: a tensioning cord having a proximal portion operatively secured to the body and having a distal portion; and a tension-retaining system that retains tension in the tensioning cord when the distal portion is pulled away from the proximal portion, the tension-retaining system comprising: a retainer including an anchor and a wedge; wherein the anchor is coupled to the body and defines a notch opening away from the proximal portion of the tensioning cord; wherein the wedge defines a tensioning cord coupling feature with the distal portion of the tensioning cord coupled to the wedge at the tensioning cord coupling feature; and wherein the wedge has an engagement portion that fits within the notch with the engagement portion disposed further in the notch than the tensioning cord coupling feature so that tension in the tensioning cord biases the engagement portion of the wedge into the notch. 
     Clause 20. The wearable article of clause 19, wherein the wedge defines a pull cord coupling feature and the tensioning cord coupling feature is disposed between the engagement portion and the pull cord coupling feature; and the tension-retaining system further comprising: a pull cord coupled to the wedge at the pull cord coupling feature. 
     Clause 21. The wearable article of clause 20, wherein the closure system further comprises: a first hook-and-loop fastener component coupled to the pull cord and a second hook-and-loop fastener component secured to a surface of the body with the anchor between the proximal portion of the tensioning cord and the second hook-and-loop fastener component; and wherein the first hook-and-loop fastener component releasably engages with the second hook-and-loop fastener component. 
     Clause 22. The wearable article of clause 20, wherein: the tensioning cord coupling feature is a tensioning cord passage extending through the wedge; the pull cord coupling feature is a pull cord passage extending through the wedge; and a longitudinal center axis of the pull cord passage is parallel with a longitudinal center axis of the tensioning cord passage. 
     Clause 23. The wearable article of clause 22, wherein: the wedge has an inner wall, an outer wall, an upper surface between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a lower surface between the inner wall and the outer wall; the inner wall is between the body and the outer wall when the wedge is in the notch; the tensioning cord passage and the pull cord passage extend through the wedge from the upper surface to the lower surface; and the longitudinal center axis of the pull cord passage is a first distance from the inner wall, the longitudinal center axis of the tensioning cord passage is a second distance from the inner wall, and the second distance is greater than the first distance. 
     Clause 24. The wearable article of any of clauses 22-23, wherein the pull cord passage and the tensioning cord passage are non-intersecting. 
     Clause 25. The wearable article of any of clauses 22-24, wherein: the anchor has a base coupled to the body of the wearable article; and the wedge has an inner wall that seats against the base when the engagement portion of the wedge is in the notch. 
     Clause 26. The wearable article of clause 25, wherein: the longitudinal center axis of the pull cord passage is a first distance from the inner wall; the longitudinal center axis of the tensioning cord passage is a second distance from the inner wall; and the second distance is greater than the first distance. 
     Clause 27. The wearable article of any of clauses 21-26, wherein: the anchor has a base coupled to the body of the wearable article and an outer wall diverging outward from the base; and the outer wall extends to an edge defining an outer extent of the notch. 
     Clause 28. The wearable article of clause 27, wherein the outer wall diverges outward from the base at an acute angle. 
     Clause 29. The wearable article of any of clauses 27-28, wherein: the wedge has an outer wall that defines a lip; and the lip engages the edge of the outer wall of the anchor when the engagement portion of the wedge is in the notch. 
     Clause 30. The wearable article of clause 29, wherein the outer wall of the wedge is flush with the outer wall of the anchor when the engagement portion of the wedge is in the notch. 
     Clause 31. The wearable article of any of clauses 19-30, wherein: the anchor has a convex engagement surface in the notch, the convex engagement surface extending toward the engagement portion of the wedge; and the engagement portion of the wedge has a concave engagement surface that abuts the convex engagement surface of the anchor when the engagement portion of the wedge is in the notch. 
     Clause 32. The wearable article of any of clauses 19-31, wherein: the anchor has a concave engagement surface in the notch, the concave engagement surface extending away from the engagement portion of the wedge; and the engagement portion of the wedge has a convex engagement surface that abuts the concave engagement surface of the anchor when the engagement portion of the wedge is in the notch. 
     Clause 33. The wearable article of any of clauses 19-32, further comprising: a holding mechanism holding the wedge in the notch when the engagement portion of the wedge is fit within the notch, the holding mechanism including a first holding component disposed on the anchor and a second holding component disposed on the wedge and interfitting with the first holding component. 
     Clause 34. The wearable article of clause 33, wherein the holding mechanism is magnetic, the first holding component includes one of a magnet or a ferromagnetic material, and the second holding component includes the other of the magnet and the ferromagnetic material; and wherein the magnet is magnetically attractive to the ferromagnetic material. 
     Clause 35. The wearable article of clause 33, wherein the holding mechanism is magnetic, the first holding component includes a first magnet, the second holding component includes a second magnet, and the first magnet is magnetically attractive to the second magnet. 
     Clause 36. The wearable article of clause 33, wherein the holding mechanism is a snap, the first holding component is one of a socket or a stud that snaps within the socket, and the second holding component is the other of the socket or the stud. 
     Clause 37. The wearable article of clause 33, wherein the holding mechanism is a frictional fit mechanism, the first holding component is one of a contoured surface or a detent that fits to the contoured surface, and the second holding component is the other of the contoured surface or the detent. 
     Clause 38. The wearable article of any of clauses 19-37, wherein the wearable article is an article of footwear and the body is a footwear upper. 
     To assist and clarify the description of various embodiments, various terms are defined herein. Unless otherwise indicated, the following definitions apply throughout this specification (including the claims). Additionally, all references referred to are incorporated herein in their entirety. 
     An “article of footwear”, a “footwear article of manufacture”, and “footwear” may be considered to be both a machine and a manufacture. Assembled, ready to wear footwear articles (e.g., shoes, sandals, boots, etc.), as well as discrete components of footwear articles (such as a midsole, an outsole, an upper component, etc.) prior to final assembly into ready to wear footwear articles, are considered and alternatively referred to herein in either the singular or plural as “article(s) of footwear”. 
     “A”, “an”, “the”, “at least one”, and “one or more” are used interchangeably to indicate that at least one of the items is present. A plurality of such items may be present unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. All numerical values of parameters (e.g., of quantities or conditions) in this specification, unless otherwise indicated expressly or clearly in view of the context, including the appended claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about” whether or not “about” actually appears before the numerical value. “About” indicates that the stated numerical value allows some slight imprecision (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If the imprecision provided by “about” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring and using such parameters. In addition, a disclosure of a range is to be understood as specifically disclosing all values and further divided ranges within the range. 
     The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, or components. Orders of steps, processes, and operations may be altered when possible, and additional or alternative steps may be employed. As used in this specification, the term “or” includes any one and all combinations of the associated listed items. The term “any of” is understood to include any possible combination of referenced items, including “any one of” the referenced items. The term “any of” is understood to include any possible combination of referenced claims of the appended claims, including “any one of” the referenced claims. 
     For consistency and convenience, directional adjectives may be employed throughout this detailed description corresponding to the illustrated embodiments. Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as “above”, “below”, “upward”, “downward”, “top”, “bottom”, etc., may be used descriptively relative to the figures, without representing limitations on the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims. 
     The term “longitudinal” refers to a direction extending a length of a component. For example, a longitudinal direction of a shoe extends between a forefoot region and a heel region of the shoe. The term “forward” or “anterior” is used to refer to the general direction from a heel region toward a forefoot region, and the term “rearward” or “posterior” is used to refer to the opposite direction, i.e., the direction from the forefoot region toward the heel region. In some cases, a component may be identified with a longitudinal axis as well as a forward and rearward longitudinal direction along that axis. The longitudinal direction or axis may also be referred to as an anterior-posterior direction or axis. 
     The term “transverse” refers to a direction extending a width of a component. For example, a transverse direction of a shoe extends between a lateral side and a medial side of the shoe. The transverse direction or axis may also be referred to as a lateral direction or axis or a mediolateral direction or axis. 
     The term “vertical” refers to a direction generally perpendicular to both the lateral and longitudinal directions. For example, in cases where a sole is planted flat on a ground surface, the vertical direction may extend from the ground surface upward. It will be understood that each of these directional adjectives may be applied to individual components of a sole. The term “upward” or “upwards” refers to the vertical direction pointing towards a top of the component, which may include an instep, a fastening region and/or a throat of an upper. The term “downward” or “downwards” refers to the vertical direction pointing opposite the upwards direction, toward the bottom of a component and may generally point towards the bottom of a sole structure of an article of footwear. 
     The “interior” of an article of footwear, such as a shoe, refers to portions at the space that is occupied by a wearer&#39;s foot when the shoe is worn. The “inner side” of a component refers to the side or surface of the component that is (or will be) oriented toward the interior of the component or article of footwear in an assembled article of footwear. The “outer side” or “exterior” of a component refers to the side or surface of the component that is (or will be) oriented away from the interior of the shoe in an assembled shoe. In some cases, other components may be between the inner side of a component and the interior in the assembled article of footwear. Similarly, other components may be between an outer side of a component and the space external to the assembled article of footwear. Further, the terms “inward” and “inwardly” refer to the direction toward the interior of the component or article of footwear, such as a shoe, and the terms “outward” and “outwardly” refer to the direction toward the exterior of the component or article of footwear, such as the shoe. In addition, the term “proximal” refers to a direction that is nearer a center of a footwear component, or is closer toward a foot when the foot is inserted in the article of footwear as it is worn by a user. Likewise, the term “distal” refers to a relative position that is further away from a center of the footwear component or is further from a foot when the foot is inserted in the article of footwear as it is worn by a user. Thus, the terms proximal and distal may be understood to provide generally opposing terms to describe relative spatial positions. 
     While various embodiments have been described, the description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the embodiments. Any feature of any embodiment may be used in combination with or substituted for any other feature or element in any other embodiment unless specifically restricted. Accordingly, the embodiments are not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. Also, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the attached claims. 
     While several modes for carrying out the many aspects of the present teachings have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which these teachings relate will recognize various alternative aspects for practicing the present teachings that are within the scope of the appended claims. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and exemplary of the entire range of alternative embodiments that an ordinarily skilled artisan would recognize as implied by, structurally and/or functionally equivalent to, or otherwise rendered obvious based upon the included content, and not as limited solely to those explicitly depicted and/or described embodiments.