Device for Tightening Shoelace

Abstract

Disclosed is a device for tightening a shoelace, the device comprising a shoe main body formed with an opening and a tongue finishing an inside of the opening; a shoelace connecting opposite sides of the opening; a handle connected to at least one of shoelaces connecting the opposite sides of the opening; and a hook formed in rear of the shoe main body and holding the shoelace pulled by the handle.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0061905 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jul. 7, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for tightening a shoelace, and more particularly to a device for conveniently and quickly tightening a shoelace that connects opposite sides of an opening in zigzags.

(b) Description of the Related Art

As a general tightening structure for a shoe, there has been known a shoe wearing structure where a plurality of holes are punched at opposite sides of an opening formed over the mouth of a shoe, the shoelace passes through the holes to repetitively cross each other and is pulled and tightened to fit with a wearer's foot, and end parts thereof are knotted.

Such a tightening structure for a shoe using a shoelace has been employed in most of shoes regardless of the length of an ankle portion, from sneakers or mountain-climbing boots with a low or no ankle portion to boots with a high ankle portion, military boots, or the like.

Meanwhile, such a tightening structure tightens in order from the instep of the foot. However, in the case of a shoe with an upside of the ankle portion high enough to reach a shin like a snowboard boot, there is inconvenience that a strong force is needed in tightening from the instep to the shin; a long time is taken in wear; the shoelace becomes loosened in a part corresponding to the instep while tightening up to the shin; and so on.

Further, there is inconvenience that the knot is spontaneously untied while moving with wearing a shoe; and to take off or wear the shoe, the shoelaces crossed each other have to be repetitively and simultaneously pulled only when the shoelace is set.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is conceived to solve the foregoing problems, and an aspect of the present invention is to provide a device for conveniently and quickly tightening and undoing a shoelace, in which a user pulls the shoelace at opposite sides using a handle connected to the shoelace crossed each other in an upper region of an opening and puts the shoelace on hooks formed in rear opposite sides of a shoe main body.

Also, it is to provide a device for tightening a shoelace, in which a plurality of hooks are provided in rear opposite sides of the shoe main body, so that a tightened length of the shoelace can be conveniently adjusted to fit with a figure of a user.

Further, it is to provide a device for tightening a shoelace, in which the shoelace can be additionally tightened as being pulled in lateral directions and held at rear opposite sides, and thus firmly tightened.

Further, it is to provide a device for tightening a shoelace, in which a tightened length of a shoelace connecting opposite sides of an opening is practically tightened more than double a length of a pull wire to be pulled by a user for tightening a shoelace, so that the shoelace can be conveniently tightened.

Further, it is to provide a device for tightening a shoelace, in which an exposed length of a pull wire is so short that a finish can be easy, and the pull wire exposed to the outside is wound around a winding guide plate provided in front of a stopper so that the pull wire can be prevented from being spontaneously released from a wound state.

Further, it is to provide a device for tightening a shoelace, in which upper and lower regions different in a tightened length of the shoelace can be tightened simultaneously by pulling one pull wire.

Further, it is to provide a device for tightening a shoelace, in which a support roller is provided in a part where the shoelace to be pulled by a pull wire and a lateral wall are in contact with each other, so that a force for pulling the shoelace can be minimized.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a device for tightening a shoelace, the device comprising a shoe main body formed with an opening and a tongue finishing an inside of the opening; a shoelace connecting opposite sides of the opening; a handle connected to at least one of shoelaces connecting the opposite sides of the opening; and a hook formed in rear of the shoe main body and holding the shoelace pulled by the handle.

Here, the handles may be respectively connected to the shoelaces crossed each other at the opposite sides of the opening, and the hooks may be respectively provided on rear opposite sides of the shoe main body.

The device for tightening a shoelace in this exemplary embodiment may further include a tightening unit installed in the tongue and tightening the shoelace.

The tightening unit may comprise a lateral wall formed with at least one through hole through which the shoelace connecting the opposite sides of the opening passes and installed at front opposite sides of the tongue, a pull wire having a first end part connected to the shoelaces passed through the through holes of the lateral wall and crossed between the lateral walls and a second wire exposed to an upper end part of the tongue, and a stopper installed in the upper end part of the tongue and selectively holding the pull wire.

Also, the lateral wall may be formed with the through holes at positions corresponding to the shoelace connecting the opposite sides of the opening.

Further, the shoelace may be connected to the handle via the through hole formed on the pair of lateral walls arranged in front of the tongue while being connected to one side of the opening in a certain region, and be then connected again to one side of the opening via the through hole formed in the pair of lateral walls.

Meanwhile, the lateral walls may be respectively formed with the through holes through which the shoelace passes in upper and lower end parts.

Also, the first end part of the pull wire may be connected to the shoelace crossed via the lower through hole of the lateral wall.

Further, the tightening unit may further include a first connecting member which is arranged in an upper region between the lateral walls, through which the shoelace crossed in the upper end part of the lateral wall passes horizontally, and through which the pull wire passes vertically.

Furthermore, the tightening unit may include a roller for supporting the pull wire in a curved portion of the lateral wall bent along a curved surface of the tongue.

Also, the stopper is formed in front of a winding guide plate around with an exposed part of the pull wire is wound.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a device for tightening a shoelace according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the device for tightening a shoelace according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIGS. 3 to 6 are views showing operation of the device for tightening a shoelace according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views showing operation of the device for tightening a shoelace according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 9 is a front view of a device for tightening a shoelace according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 10 is a lateral view of the device for tightening a shoelace according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIGS. 11 to 14 are views showing operation of the device for tightening a shoelace according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 15 is a side-sectional view showing operation of the device for tightening a shoelace according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 16 is a front view of a device for tightening a shoelace according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 17 is a view showing a lateral view of a shoelace support roller in a device for tightening a shoelace according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. 18 is a front view showing operation of the device for tightening a shoelace according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

For description, like elements will be described using like numerals representatively in a first exemplary embodiment, and only elements different from those of the first exemplary embodiment will be described in other embodiments.

Hereinafter, a device for tightening a shoelace according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a device for tightening a shoelace according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the device for tightening a shoelace according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown therein, the device for tightening a shoelace according to the first exemplary embodiment includes a shoe main body 110, a shoelace 120, a handle 130, a hook 140, a tightening unit 150, and a stopper 160.

The shoe main body 110 is formed with an opening 111 at one side, and a tongue 112 finishing an inside of the opening 111.

The shoelace 120 connects opposite sides of the opening 111 in zigzags, one end part of which repeats in a zigzag form and connects the opposite sides of the opening 111 from one upper end part and connects the other upper end part of the opening 111 again in the zigzag form a lower end part the opening 111, so that the shoelace 120 can be repetitively crossed each other in the form of “X” in front of the opening 111.

The handles 130 are respectively connected to the shoelace 120 crossed each other at the opposite sides of the opening 111 so that a user can easily pull the shoelace 120 in lateral directions.

The hooks 140 are respectively formed at rear opposite sides of the shoe main body 110 and hold the shoelace 120 pulled by the handles 130. To adjust a holding position, a plurality of hooks 140 are spaced at predetermined intervals.

The tightening unit 150 includes a pair of lateral walls 151 respectively formed with through holes 152 at positions corresponding to the shoelace 120 connecting the opposite sides of the opening 111 and installed at the opposite sides in front of the tongue 112; a first connecting member 153 passing through the through hole 152 of the lateral wall 151 at an upper end part and connecting with the shoelace 120 crossed each other between the lateral walls 151; a second connecting member 154a passing through the through hole 152 of the lateral wall 151 at a lower end part and connecting with the shoelace 120 crossed each other between the lateral walls 151; a pull wire 154 having a first end part connected to the second connecting member 154a and a second end part passed through the first connecting member 153 and exposed to an upper end part of the tongue 112; and a grip 154b formed in the second end part of the pull wire 154 exposed to an upper end part of the tongue 112. Meanwhile, the lateral wall 151 in this embodiment is installed in an upper region of the tongue 112 corresponding to a front part of a shin not to interfere with movement of an ankle part.

The shoelace 120 connecting the opening 111 in the form of “X” as described above is connected to the handle 130 via the through holes 152 formed on the pair of lateral walls 151 at a certain region so that the shoelace 120 can be easily pulled using the handle 130, and then connected again to the opening 111 via the through holes 152 formed on the pair of lateral walls 151.

At this time, the handle 130 may be placed in an upper region of the opening 111 where a tightened length of the shoelace 120 is relatively longer than that in a lower region of the opening 111. In the meantime, the handle 130 and the hook 140 may be formed in plural along a lengthwise direction of an ankle portion in the case that the ankle portion of the shoe main body 110 is relatively long like boots.

The stopper 160 is installed in an upper end part of the tongue 112 and selectively holds the pull wire 154 exposed to the upper end part of the tongue 112. In this embodiment, a wedge 162 protruding in an inclined direction is formed in between a pair of plates 161 arranged to have a narrow gap at one side but a wide gap at the other side, so that the pull wire 154 is locked when moving toward the narrow gap but released when moving toward the wide gap.

According to this embodiment, in the state that the pull wire 154 is locked to one of the foregoing stoppers 160 arranged at opposite sides, the pull wire 160 is changed in a direction and doubly locked to the opposite stopper 160 in the opposite direction, so that the pull wire 154 can be prevented from being spontaneously released from the locking state.

Also, a winding guide plate 163 is formed in front of the stopper 160 so that a user can wind an exposed part of the pull wire 154 around the outside of the stopper 160 in order to prevent the pull wire 154 exposed to the upper end part of the tongue 112 from standing in his/her way.

Particularly, a gap between the winding guide plate 163 and the tongue 112 is formed to insert the grip 154b of the tightening unit 150 therein.

FIGS. 3 to 6 are views showing operation of the device for tightening a shoelace according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing that the opening 111 is opened toward opposite sides and the shoelace 120 is undone to easily wear or take off a shoe, in which one end part the shoelace 120 connecting the opposite sides of the opening 111 is held by a first side of the opening 111, and the other end part continues to be connected to a second side of the opening 111 via the through holes 152 formed on the lateral wall 151 of the tightening unit 150 and connected again to the first side of the opening 111 via the through hole 152 formed on the pair of lateral walls 151, thereby connecting both sides of the opening 111. Further, the shoelace 120 connected to the opposite side in a lower end part connects both sides of the opening 111 in zigzags as going again toward an upper end part.

Thus, the shoelace 120 connecting the opening 111 in the form of “X” is connected to the handle 130 via the through hole 152 formed on the pair of lateral walls 151 so that the shoelace 120 can be readily pulled by the handle 130 in lateral directions, and then connected again to the opening 111 via the through hole 152 formed and adjacent to the pair of lateral walls 151, thereby connecting both sides of the opening 111 in zigzags.

Meanwhile, the pair of shoelaces 120 crossed each other via the upper through hole 152 of the lateral wall 151 is provided with the first connecting member 153, and the pair of shoelaces 120 crossed each other via the lower through hole 152 of the lateral wall 151 is provided with the second connecting member 154a.

Also, the pull wire 154, of which the lower end part will be connected to the first connecting member 154a, vertically passes through the first connecting member 153 and is exposed toward the upper end part of the tongue 112.

Here, the pull wire 154 exposed to the upper end part of the tongue 112 is selectively held by the stopper 160 formed on the upper end part of the tongue 112, and the exposed pull wire 154 is wound on the winding guide plate 163 formed in front of the stopper 160 and at the same time the grip 154b formed at the upper end part of the pull wire 154 is inserted between the winding guide plate 163 and the tongue 112 to thereby prevent the pull wire 154 from standing in a user's way.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing that the handles 130 are pulled at opposite sides to tighten the shoelace 120. As shown therein, if the handle 130 placed at both sides of the lateral walls 151 are respectively pulled toward the lateral directions and thus the shoelace 120 connected to the handle 130 are drawn out in the lateral directions along the handle 130, the opening 111 are tightened as upper and lower shoelaces 120 with respect to the shoelace 120 positioned connecting with the handle 130 are pulled.

Then, the shoelace 120 pulled using the handle 130 are put on and held by the hooks 140 respectively formed on the rear opposite sides of the shoe main body 110. At this time, since the plurality of hooks 140 are spaced at predetermined intervals, it is possible to put the shoelace on the proper hook 140 in accordance with a pulled length of the shoelace 120 (refer to FIG. 2).

FIG. 5 is a front view showing that the shoelace 120 is tightened in a lower region by pulling the pull wire 154 of the tightening unit 150, in which if the pull wire 154 exposed to the upper end part of the tongue 112 is pulled, the second connecting member 154a connected to the shoelace 120 crossed each other via the through hole 152 at opposite sides of the lower end part of the lateral wall 151 moves upward along with the pull wire 154, and thus the shoelace 120 connected to the second connecting member 154a is pulled, thereby closing both sides of the opening 111 corresponding to the lower end part of the lateral walls 151.

At this time, since a part of the shoelace 120 crossed in the form of “X” is pulled by the pull wire 154, a pulled length of the shoelace 120 is longer by about four times than the pulled length of the pull wire 154.

In the mean time, while the opening 111 is tightened by pulling the shoelace 120 in the lower end part of the lateral wall 151 as the pull wire 154 is pulled, if the second connecting member 154a connected to the lower end of the pull wire 154 is interfered in the first connecting member 153 installed in the shoelace 120 crossed in the upper end part of the lateral wall 151, the shoelace 120 is also pulled in the upper end part of the lateral wall 151.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing that the shoelace 120 in the upper region is tightened by additionally pulling the pull wire 154 of the tightening unit 150. While the pull wire 154 is pulled as described above, the second connecting member 154a connected to the lower end part of the pull wire 154 is interfered in the first connecting member 153.

Since the shoelace 120 passed through the first connecting member 153 and placed in the upper end part of the lateral wall 151 is pulled upward while the first connecting member 153 moves upward along with the second connecting member 154a as the pull wire 154 is pulled, both sides of the opening 111 corresponding to the upper end part of the lateral wall 151 are tightened.

That is, the shoelaces 120 in both the lower and upper end parts of the lateral wall 151 are simultaneously tightened by pulling one pull wire 154.

Here, the upper region is more opened than the lower region when the opening 111 is opened, and the tightened length in the upper region is longer than that in the lower region when a user wears the shoe. Accordingly, a position where the second connecting member 154a is interfered in the first connecting member 153 may be set to a position spaced by a tightened distance of the upper region from the state that the lower region of the opening 111 is fully tightened. (In this embodiment, the first connecting member 153 is moved as the second connecting member 154a connected to the lower end part of the pull wire 154 is interfered in the first connecting member 153, but not limited thereto. Alternatively, a separate holding member to be interfered in the first connecting member 153 on the pull wire 154 may be additionally installed to adjust the tightened distance of the shoelace 120.)

In particular, the tightened length of the shoelace 120 has not much margin in the upper region of the opening 111 tightened by pulling the handle 130, while the tightened length of the shoelace 120 has a margin in the lower region. Thus, the shoelace 120 in the lower region of the opening 111 is fully tightened by pulling the pull wire 154 as described above, and then the shoelace 120 in the upper region is tightened, thereby tightening the whole regions of the opening 111 with relatively uniform pressure.

Also, a finish is easy since the shoelace 120 is tightened by about four times the length of the pull wire 154 pulled by a user and the exposed length of the pull wire 154 is shortened. Further, it is convenient since the shoelaces 120 in both the upper and lower regions are simultaneously tightened as one pull wire 154 is pulled.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views showing operation of the device for tightening a shoelace according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As described above, in the state that the pull wire 154 is pulled to fully tighten the shoelace 120, the pull wire 154 is locked to one of the pair of stoppers spaced at predetermined intervals and arranged at the opposite sides in the upper end part of the tongue as shown in FIG. 7, and then changed in a direction and locked to the opposite stopper 160 in the opposite direction, thereby doubly locking the pull wire 154.

Specifically, the foregoing stopper is as follows. If the pull wire 154 is moved in a direction where a gap between the pair of plates 161 becomes narrower, the pull wire 154 is fitted and locked to the wedge 162 protruding from the inside of the pair of plates 161.

Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the wedge 162 is arranged and inclined down toward the direction where the gap between the plates 161 becomes narrower. Accordingly, the pull wire 154, on which a pulling force from a downside acts, moves toward a locking direction along the inclined wedge 162 and locked not to be spontaneously released.

Meanwhile, in the state that the pull wire 154 is pulled in a tightening direction and locked to the stopper 160, the pull wire 154 stands in a user's way since it is extended as much as the pulled length and exposed toward the upper end part of the tongue 112. Thus, the pull wire 154 is wound several times around the outside of each stopper 160, so that the winding guide plate 163 formed in front of the stopper 160 can prevent the pull wire 154 from being spontaneously released.

On the other hand, in the case of releasing the pull wire 154 from the locking state, the pull wire 154 is moved in a direction where the gap between the plates 161 becomes wider, so that the pull wire 154 can come out of the wedge 162, thereby releasing the pull wire 154 from the stopper 160.

Further, if the pull wire 154 is wound several times around the outside of the stopper 160 and then the grip 154b formed in the upper end part of the pull wire 154 is inserted between the tongue 112 and the winding guide plate 163, the pull wire 154 and the grip 154b are prevented from being spontaneously released from the winding state or standing in a user's way.

Next, a device for tightening a shoelace according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the device for tightening a shoelace according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a lateral view of the device for tightening a shoelace according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown therein, in the device for tightening a shoelace according to the second exemplary embodiment, the through holes 152 of the tightening unit 150 are minimized to easily tighten the shoelace 120.

The lateral wall 151 of the tightening unit 150 is formed from the upper end part of the tongue 112 corresponding to a shin portion to the lower end part of the tongue 112 corresponding to an instep of a foot, and the through holes 152 are formed only in the upper and lower end parts of the lateral wall 151 so as to minimize resistance to the shoelace 120 and facilitate pull of the shoelace 120.

Also, a holding member 154c is formed on the pull wire 154 so that the pull wire 154 of the tightening unit 150 can be interfered in the lower end part of the first connecting member 153 while being pulled.

Further, the second exemplary embodiment is different from the first exemplary embodiment in that an approximate middle lower part of the lateral wall 151 is bent at a position corresponding to an ankle, and a roller 155 is provided to change a direction of force for pulling the pull wire 154 between the opposite lateral walls 151 at the bent position.

Meanwhile, the handles 130 are respectively connected to the shoelaces 120 crossed each other in the form of “X” in the upper end region of the opening 111.

The other elements except the tightening unit 150 are the same as those of the foregoing exemplary embodiment, and thus repetitive descriptions thereof will be omitted.

FIGS. 11 to 14 are views showing operation of the device for tightening a shoelace according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing that the opening 111 is opened toward opposite sides and the shoelace 120 is undone, in which the handles 130 are respectively connected to an intersection of the shoelace 120 placed in the upper region of the opening 111 among a plurality of intersections of the shoelace 120 in order to pull the shoelaces 120 at the opposite sides.

Also, the shoelace 120 crossed in the upper region of the opening 111 passes through the upper through holes 152 spaced at predetermined intervals and formed on the lateral wall 151 at front opposite sides of the tongue 112, and the shoelace 120 crossed in the lower region of the opening 111 passes through the lower through holes 152.

Further, the first connecting member 153 is connected to the shoelace 120 crossed between the through holes 152 in the upper region, and the second connecting member 154a is connected to the shoelace 120 crossed between the through holes 152 in the lower region.

Furthermore, the pull wire 154 includes one end part connected to the second connecting member 154a, and the other end exposed to the upper end part of the tongue 112 via the roller 155 placed between the lateral walls 151 and the first connecting member 153 and then selectively locked to the stopper 160.

FIG. 12 shows that the handles 130 are pulled at opposite sides to tighten the shoelace 120. If the handles 130 respectively connected to the shoelaces 120 crossed in the form of “X” are pulled at lateral directions, the opening 111 is tightened while the shoelace 120 connected to the handle 130 is drawn out in the lateral direction along the handle 130. Then, the shoelaces 120 pulled using the handle 130 as mentioned above are put on the hooks 140 respectively formed on the rear opposite sides of the shoe main body 110.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing that the shoelace 120 is tightened in the lower region by pulling the pull wire 154 of the tightening unit 150, in which if the pull wire 154 exposed to the upper end part of the tongue 112 is pulled, the second connecting member 154a fastened to the lower end part of the pull wire 154 moves upward and pulls the shoelace 120 connected to the second connecting member 154a, thereby tightening the opposite sides of the opening 111 corresponding to the lower end part of the lateral side 151.

Meanwhile, while the lower opposite sides of the opening 111 is tightened as the pull wire 154 is pulled as described above, if the holding member 154c formed in the pull wire 154 is interfered in the first connecting member 153 placed in the upper end part of the lateral wall 151, the upper opposite sides of the opening 111 are tightened.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing that the shoelace 120 in the upper region is tightened by additionally pulling the pull wire 154 of the tightening unit 150. While the pull wire 154 is pulled as described above, if the holding member 154c formed in the pull wire 154 is interfered in the first connecting member 153 while pulling the pull wire 154 as described above, the first connecting member 153 moves upward along with the pull wire 154 and pulls the shoelace 120, passed through the first connecting member 153 and placed in the upper end part of the lateral wall 151, in an upward direction, thereby tightening the opposite sides of the opening 111 corresponding to the upper end part of the lateral wall 151.

In other words, the shoelaces 120 in both the lower and upper end parts of the lateral wall 151 are simultaneously tightened by pulling one pull wire 154.

As described above, the position of the holding member 154c interfered in the first connecting member 153 may be set to a position spaced as much as the tightened distance of the upper region from the state that the lower region of the opening 111 is fully tightened.

FIG. 15 is a side-sectional view showing operation of the device for tightening a shoelace according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, the pull wire 154, of which the lower end part is connected to the second connecting member 154a connected to the shoelace 120 crossed in the lower end part of the lateral wall 151, passes through the first connecting member 153 connected to the shoelace 120 crossed in the upper end part of the lateral wall 151 and is then exposed to the upper end part of the tongue 112. Further, a middle part of the pull wire 154 is supported on the roller 155 installed in a bent part of the lateral wall 151, and the holding member 154c is formed in a position spaced at a predetermined distance from the first connecting member 153 to the downside.

At this time, if the grip 154b formed in the upper end part of the pull wire 154 is pulled upward, the second connecting member 154a fastened to the lower end part of the pull wire 154 is pulled toward the roller 155, so that the lower end part of the lateral wall 151 is prevented from getting loose upward.

Further, the roller 155 is rotatably installed between the opposite lateral walls 151 and minimizes the resistance to the pull wire 154 so that the pull wire 154 can be easily pulled.

Meanwhile, the foregoing pull wire 154 is selectively locked to the stopper 160 installed in the upper end part of the tongue 112 and the operation of the stopper 160 is the same as described above, and thus repetitive descriptions thereof will be avoided.

Then, a device for tightening a shoelace will be described according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a front view of a device for tightening a shoelace according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 17 is a view showing a lateral view of a shoelace support roller in a device for tightening a shoelace according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 18 is a front view showing operation of the device for tightening a shoelace according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, in the device for tightening a shoelace according to the third exemplary embodiment, a shoelace support roller 156 is installed to freewheel in a contact portion between the shoelace 120 pulled upward by the pull wire 154 and the lateral wall 151 so that resistance generated while pulling the shoelace 120 can be minimized.

The tightening unit 150 according to the third exemplary embodiment is different from those of the foregoing exemplary embodiments in that the shoelace support roller 156 is provided in the lower end part of the pair of lateral walls 151 arranged at opposite sides of the tongue 112. The other elements except the lateral wall 151 formed with the shoelace support roller 156 have the same configuration and operation as those of the foregoing exemplary embodiments, and thus repetitive descriptions thereof will be avoided.

In the tightening unit 150 according to this exemplary embodiment, the through holes 152 through which the shoelace 120 passes are formed in the middle and upper region of the lateral wall 151 at a position with which the shoelace 120 is crossed, and the shoelace support roller 156 is rotatably installed in the lower region of the lateral wall 151 for supporting the shoelace 120 at the position with which the shoelace 120 is crossed. The shoelace support rollers 156 are vertically spaced in the lower end part of the lateral wall 151 in order to support the shoelace 120 crossed in the from of “X” in the lower end part of the lateral wall 151.

As described above, the shoelace 120 crossed in the form of “X” in the lower end part of the lateral wall 151 connects with the first connecting member 153 fastened to one end part of the pull wire 154. In this state, if a pulling force acts on the other end of the pull wire 154 as shown in FIG. 18, the first connecting member 153 moves upward and the crossed position of the shoelace 120 is pulled upward.

At this time, the shoelaces 120 connected to the crossed positions are respectively supported on the shoelace support rollers 156 rotatably installed in the lateral walls 151, so that friction with the lateral wall 151 can be minimized while pulling the shoelace 120, thereby tightening the shoelace 120 with a small force.

Meanwhile, in the pair of shoelace support rollers 156 spaced in a vertical direction in the lower end part of the lateral wall 151, the shoelace support roller 156 placed in a lower part is arranged inwardly, but the shoelace support roller 156 placed in an upper part is arranged outwardly. Thus, the shoelace 120 supported on the lower support roller 156 and the shoelace 120 supported on the upper support roller 156 are prevented from interfering with each other when pulled together.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a user pulls shoelaces at opposite sides using handles connected to the shoelaces crossed in an upper region of an opening and puts them one hooks formed on rear opposite sides of a shoe main body, so that the shoelace can be quickly and conveniently tightened or undone. Further, a tightened length of a shoelace connecting opposite sides of an opening is practically tightened more than double a length of a pull wire pulled by a user to tighten the shoelace, thereby conveniently tightening the shoelace.

As described above, there is provided a device for conveniently and quickly tightening and undoing a shoelace, in which a user pulls the shoelace at opposite sides using a handle connected to the shoelace crossed each other in an upper region of an opening and puts the shoelace on hooks formed in rear opposite sides of a shoe main body.

Also, there is provided a device for tightening a shoelace, in which a plurality of hooks are provided in rear opposite sides of the shoe main body, so that a tightened length of the shoelace can be conveniently adjusted to fit with a figure of a user.

Further, there is provided a device for tightening a shoelace, in which the shoelace can be additionally tightened as being pulled in lateral directions and held at rear opposite sides, and thus firmly tightened.

Further, there is provided a device for tightening a shoelace, in which a tightened length of a shoelace connecting opposite sides of an opening is practically tightened more than double a length of a pull wire to be pulled by a user for tightening a shoelace, so that the shoelace can be conveniently tightened.

Further, there is provided a device for tightening a shoelace, in which an exposed length of a pull wire is so short that a finish can be easy, and the pull wire exposed to the outside is wound around a winding guide plate provided in front of a stopper so that the pull wire can be prevented from being spontaneously released from a wound state.

Further, there is provided a device for tightening a shoelace, in which upper and lower regions different in a tightened length of the shoelace can be tightened simultaneously by pulling one pull wire.

Further, there is provided a device for tightening a shoelace, in which a support roller is provided in a part where the shoelace to be pulled by a pull wire and a lateral wall are in contact with each other, so that a force for pulling the shoelace can be minimized.

While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for tightening a shoelace, the device comprising

a shoe main body formed with an opening and a tongue finishing an inside of the opening;

a shoelace connecting opposite sides of the opening; and

a tightening unit tightening opposite sides of the opening of the shoe main body by pulling at least one of shoelaces placed in the opening.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the tightening unit comprises a lateral wall formed with at least one support for supporting the shoelace connecting the opposite sides of the opening and installed in front opposite sides of the tongue, and a pull wire comprising a first end part connected to at least one of the shoelaces placed between the opposite lateral sides and a second end part exposed toward an upper end part of the tongue.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the shoelace connects the opposite sides of the opening in zigzags, is crossed between opposite lateral walls, and is provided with a first connecting member to which the first end part of the pull wire is locked in at least one intersection between the opposite lateral walls.

4. The device according to claim 3, further comprising

a handle connected to at least one among the shoelaces connecting the opposite sides of the opening; and

a hook provided in a rear of the shoe main body and holding the shoelace pulled using the handle.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the hook is provided in plural and spaced in a lateral direction.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein the lateral wall is formed with through holes penetrating the lateral wall at a position where the shoelace connecting the opposite sides of the opening and the lateral wall are crossed.

7. The device according to claim 4, wherein the lateral wall comprises through holes formed in upper and lower end parts and allowing the shoelace to pass therethrough, and the shoelace is not interfered with the lateral wall between the upper and lower end parts.

8. The device according to claim 4, wherein the lateral wall comprises a shoelace support roller to freewheel in a portion for supporting the shoelace to which the first connecting member is connected.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein the first connecting member is connected to the shoelace crossed via lower through holes on the lateral wall.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the tightening unit further comprises a second connecting member which is arranged in an upper region between opposite lateral walls, through which the shoelace crossed via an upper through holes of the lateral wall passes horizontally, and through which the pull wire passes vertically.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the tightening unit further comprises a holding member installed on the pull wire placed in the second connecting member and the first connecting member and interfered in the second connecting member while pulling the pull wire.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the tightening unit comprises a shoelace support roller to support the pull wire in a curved portion of the lateral wall bent along a curved surface of the tongue.

13. The device according to claim 12, further comprising a stopper installed in an upper end part of the tongue and selectively holding the pull wire.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the stopper is formed in front of a winding guide plate around which an exposed part of the pull wire is wound.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the stoppers are spaced in an opposite direction at opposite sides and doubly hold the pull wire.