After the release all I see is the spring. Not exactly rocket science. I am puzzled though, here there are 2 people whose opinion has weight with me saying these are the trick.

Either the expectation level is different, the laces are different or these are the "new and improved version" (outsourced to China).

They worked acceptably well on round light hiking boot laces but I can't imagine heading into combat with these. Naturally the finest fighting force in the world will improvise with what they are given.