Footwear lacing system

A closure system to draw first and second sides of an article of footwear towards each other to tighten the footwear around a foot, comprising: a rotatable spool (282) to receive a bead (23), the rotating coil a first direction to tension and take up lace and a second direction to release tension on the cord; a knob (274) movable between a position causing coupling between the knob and the spool and a position that makes the knob and spool to be disengaged, so that in the coupled position the spool can be rotated in the first direction in response to rotation of the knob; and means for preventing rotation of the coil (282) in the second direction when the knob (274) is coupled, characterized in position because the locking system further comprises means for keeping the knob in the uncoupled position to allow coil rotate in the second direction in response to tension in the cord, and that the knob (274) is movable between the positions causing coupling and uncoupling between the knob (274) and the coil (282) by pulling the knob out of the coil.