RELEASABLE FASTENER SYSTEM FOR FOOTWEAR
A releasable fastening system for footwear features a plurality of fastening clips. Each fastening clip includes an elongate, longitudinally elastic strap and a pair of opposing hooks secured to respective ends of the strap. The opposing hooks of each slip releasably engage a respective pair of positionally corresponding eyelets on opposing flaps of the footwear. This secures the clip to the footwear to extend across the tongue. Each clip is releasably connected to an opposing pair of positionally corresponding eyelets and thereby secured to the footwear to pull the flaps together and tighten the footwear.
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/927,479, filed on Nov. 16, 2010.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a releasable fastening system for footwear and, more particularly, to a fastening system that replaces conventional shoelaces with improved fastening clips that are releasably attached with the conventional eyelets of the footwear. Not only do the clips securely yet comfortably fasten the shoe to the wearer's foot, they are aesthetically attractive and can serve as a novelty or collectable item.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONConventional footwear, including but not limited to shoes, boots, sneakers, and a wide variety of other athletic footwear, commonly utilize shoelaces to tighten the footwear and secure it to the wearer's foot. Conventional laces have long exhibited a number of disadvantages. They tend to loosen quite easily and can require frequent retightening or retying. This is a particular problem for athletic footwear where vigorous physical activity can cause the shoelaces to become prematurely loosened or untied.
Even when tied, standard shoelaces often do not provide the wearer an optimally snug and comfortable fit. Lower laces are apt not to be tightened sufficiently. This can cause the shoes to bulge and buckle. Improperly tied footwear can present a particular problem for competitive athletes engaged in running, turning, jumping, or other vigorous physical activity. Loose or improperly tightened shoes can seriously interfere with an athlete's performance. Improperly tightened shoes can also be quite uncomfortable to wear.
Loose or untied shoelaces also present a sloppy appearance. Sloppy and/or dangling laces are not only aesthetically unattractive, they can also drag in the dirt, as well as along unsanitary surfaces such as restroom and locker room floors. Loose or untied shoelaces also present a common and serious tripping hazard.
Alternative footwear fastening systems have been introduced. For example, Velcro™ straps have been integrated into children's shoes. Various other types of fasteners have been developed, such as shown by Gentry, U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,439. However, these devices tend to be fairly intricate and awkward to both manufacture and use. For example, Gentry utilizes elastic fastening strips that are designed to remain permanently attached to the shoe. Those strips are not readily and releasably engagable with the footwear only as needed and instead are intended to remain an integral part of the shoe. In addition, conventional fastening strips feature a uniform length and do not allow for proper tightening or an optimally snug and comfortable fit. By the same token, Gentry features contiguous strips that largely obscure the tongue of the footwear. This is apparently for the purpose of printing an unbroken ornamental design across the strip. A much more effective, convenient and aesthetically attractive fastening system is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved, releasable fastening system for footwear that overcomes the problems exhibited by conventional shoelaces, as well as other prior footwear fastening systems.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a releasable fastening system for footwear that allows the wearer to quickly and conveniently achieve a snug, uniform, comfortable and effective footwear fit.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a fastening system that eliminates frustrating and inconvenient loosening and the need for retying, which typically accompany the use of shoelaces.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a releasable fastening system for footwear that is both ergonomic and aesthetically attractive.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a footwear fastening system employing a unique releasable fastening clip that can be printed with various types of indicia, colors and other printed matter.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a footwear fastening system employing aesthetically attractive fastening clips that can serve as novelty, collectible, and/or trading items.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a releasable fastening system for footwear, which is particularly effective for use in athletic footwear and which provides an improved fit and which resists loosening during sports and other vigorous activities so that the wearer's comfort and athletic performance are significantly improved.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a footwear fastening system that may be used effectively on virtually any type of footwear featuring conventional flap mounted or loop-type eyelets.
This invention features a releasable fastening system for footwear of the type including an upper portion having a pair of flaps respectively positioned on opposing sides of a tongue. Each flap has a series of spaced apart eyelets. Each eyelet in one of the series positionally corresponds to respective eyelet in the other series. The system includes a plurality of fastening clips. Each fastening clip features an elongated, longitudinally elastic strap and a pair of opposing hooks secured to respective ends of the strap. The opposing hooks releasably engage a respective pair of positionally corresponding eyelets on the opposing sides of the tongue to secure the clip to the footwear with the strap extending across the tongue. Each clip is connected to an opposing pair of positionally corresponding eyelets and thereby secured to the footwear to pull the flaps together and tighten the footwear.
In a preferred embodiment, a clip or channel element may receive a respective end of the strap and may also carry a respective hook. The clip or channel may include teeth for securing to the strap. The hook may be formed unitarily with the clip or channel element.
Each hook may include a flat terminal section for being received by a respective eyelet. The hook may be curved to extend substantially parallel to a longitudinal access of the strap for engaging respective eyelet formed transversely through a flap. Alternatively, the hook may be curved to extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the strap for engaging the loop-type eyelet.
The clips may include straps having different respective lengths for allowing the clips to secure to the footwear between opposing pairs of positionally corresponding eyelets which converge from a top portion to a bottom portion of the tongue. The flaps and the respective series of eyelets may converge from an upper end to a lower end thereof such that the straps of the attached clips are successively shorter in length from top to bottom. The fastening clips may include strips of differing respective lengths for providing a uniform pull across the tongue between the respective opposing pairs of positionally corresponding eyelets. The clips may be sufficiently narrow relative to the spacing between the eyelets in each series such that when the clips are connected with the respective opposing pairs of positionally corresponding eyelets, a gap is formed between each adjacent pair of the clips.
Other objects, features and advantages will occur from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which:
There is shown in
Footwear F itself features a known or standard construction. In particular, the footwear features an upper portion 12 and a conventional lower portion or sole (not shown). Upper portion 12 includes a pair of flaps 14 and 16 respectively positioned on opposing sides of a tongue 18. Each flap 14, 16 has a series of spaced apart eyelets that extend in a standard manner along adjacent respective longitudinal edges of tongue 18. In this version, the eyelets are bounded by standard grommets, although in alternative embodiments the grommets may be omitted. The eyelets may have either rounded or flat edges. In particular, footwear F includes a series of four left hand eyelets 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d formed in flap 14 and a second series of positionally corresponding eyelets 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d formed through flap 16. Both flaps 14 and 16 and their respective series of eyelets generally converge from top to bottom along tongue 18. In alternative embodiments, various other numbers of eyelets may be employed in each series. In any event, each eyelet should positionally correspond to a respective eyelet in the other series. As used herein, “positionally correspond” means that a respective eyelet in each series is formed at or approximately at the same height or relative position along a respective flap as a corresponding eyelet in the other series. Hence, eyelets 20a, 22a are positionally corresponding, as are eyelets 20b and 22b, 20c and 22c, and 20d and 22d, respectively. The positionally corresponding eyelets maintain the same relative position (e.g. the first, second, third, or fourth position) along respective flaps 14 and 16.
Fastening system 10 includes four fastening clips 24a, 24,b, 24c and 24d. As best shown in
A representative fastening clip 24 is shown in
A hook 30 is permanently secured to each end of strap 26. In particular, as best shown in
Hook 30 includes substantially planar or flat proximal and terminal portions 38 and 40, respectively. This configuration allows the hook to neatly and ergonomically engage a respective eyelet, as will be described below. The proximal and terminal ends of the hook are not rounded so that the hooks feature an attractive, low profile appearance. Moreover, they do not cause the wearer discomfort.
Clips 24a, b, c and d are attached to respective pairs of positionally corresponding eyelets 20a and 22a, 20b and 22b, 20c and 22c, and 20d and 22d in the manner shown in
The fastening clips are quick and simple to install and remove as desired by respectively hooking the clips onto and unhooking the hooks from the eyelets. No disassembly of the clips themselves is needed.
An alternative bi-fold metallic clip 32x is depicted in
Metallic clip 32x is assembled by engaging an elastic strap, analogous to previously described strap 26, with the upper surface of central plate 33x. Wings 35x and 37x are then folded, as indicated by arrows 120, over the engaged strap such that the strap is interposed between plate 33x and folded wings 35x and 37x. Teeth 36x prevent the interposed strap from being pulled and dislodged from the assembled clip 32x when hook 30x is engaged with a respective eyelet in the manner previously described.
A slightly modified version of a removable fastening clip 110 in accordance with this invention is depicted in
An alternative tri-fold metallic clip 232 is depicted in
Referring now to
An alternative rounded metallic clip 332 is depicted in
An alternative clip 432 is illustrated in
Clip 432 is assembled by aligning holes 426a of an elastic strap 426 with female member 480 and positioning cap 434 over plate 433 so that male members 482 engage female members 480 as indicated by arrow 420.
As illustrated in
The relatively flat configuration of hook 30 provides for improved wearer comfort, as previously described. It also improves the stability of the fastening device and reduces the chance that it will become disengaged during strenuous physical activity and other use.
The present invention represents a significant improvement over conventional shoelaces. The fastening clips effectively resist unintentional disengagement from the shoe and/or resultant loosening of the footwear. Indeed, the clips virtually eliminate the premature untying and loosening often exhibited by existing shoelaces. The clips do not drag through the dirt and mud commonly found on playgrounds and athletic venues. By the same token, the fastening clips are not apt to collect debris from the floors of locker rooms and rest rooms, as are conventional athletic shoelaces when they loosen. Unlike standard shoelaces, the fastening system of this invention maintains the shoes in a uniform, snug, tensioned condition so that comfort and athletic performance are improved. Uniform tensioning of the shoe resulting from the use of this invention also helps to reduce unsightly bunching and disfiguration of the footwear and increases longevity of the footwear. Such uniform tensioning also provides the shoe with a neat, smooth and aesthetically improved appearance.
Although the system of this invention has been described in conjunction with a single shoe, it should be understood that the fastening system will typically be worn on both of the wearer's shoes.
From the foregoing it may be seen that the apparatus of this invention provides for a releasable fastening system for footwear. The system eliminates shoelaces and securely and snugly fastens footwear so that footwear appearance, user comfort and footwear performance are improved. While this detailed description has set forth particularly preferred embodiments of the apparatus of this invention, numerous modifications and variations of the structure of this invention, all within the scope of the invention, will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is understood that this description is illustrative only of the principles of the invention and is not limitative thereof.
Although specific features of the invention are shown in some of the drawings and not others, this is for convenience only, as each feature may be combined with any and all of the other features in accordance with this invention.
Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims:
Claims
1. A releasable fastening system for footwear, which footwear includes an upper portion having a pair of flaps respectively positioned on opposing sides of a tongue, each flap having a series of spaced apart eyelets, each eyelet in one of the series positionally corresponding to a respective eyelet in the other series, the system comprising:
- a plurality of fastening clips, each said fastening clip including an elongate strap that is elastic along a longitudinal axis and a pair of opposing hooks secured to respective ends of said strap, said opposing hooks configured to releasably engage a respective pair of positionally corresponding eyelets on opposing sides of the tongue to secure said clip to the footwear with said strap extending across the tongue, whereby each said hook is releasably connected to an opposing pair of positionally corresponding eyelets and thereby secured to the footwear to pull the flaps together and tighten the footwear.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein each said hook includes a flat terminal section for being received by the eyelet.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said clip further includes a channel element for receiving a respective end of said strap and for carrying a respective said hook.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said channel element includes teeth for securing said channel element to said strap.
5. The system of claim 3 in which said hook is formed unitarily with said channel element.
6. The system of claim 1 in which said hook is curved to extend substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said strap for engaging a respective eyelet formed transversely through one of said flaps.
7. The system of claim 1 in which said hook is curved to extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of said strap.
8. The system of claim 1 in which each of said clips includes a respective strap having a different length for allowing said clips to secure to the footwear between opposing pair of positionally corresponding eyelets which converge from a top portion to a bottom portion of the tongue.
9. The system of claim 1 in which the flaps and the respective series of eyelets converge from an upper end to a lower end of said tongue and wherein said fastening clips include straps of differing respective lengths for providing a uniform tension across the tongue between the respective opposing pair of positionally corresponding eyelets.
10. The system of claim 1 in which said clips are sufficiently narrow relative to a space between the eyelets in each series such that when said clips are connected with the respective pairs of eyelets, a gap is formed between each adjacent pair of said clips.
11. A fastening clip for footwear, which footwear has a pair of flaps positioned on respective opposing sides of a tongue, the flaps having a pair of positionally corresponding eyelets attached respectively to the flaps, said clip comprising:
- an elongate, longitudinally elastic strap having a longitudinal axis; and
- a pair of opposing hooks secured to respective ends of said strap, said opposing hooks configured to releasably engage the positionally corresponding eyelets to releasably connect said clip to said opposing eyelets and thereby secure said clip to the footwear with said strap extending across the tongue, whereby the flaps are pulled together to tighten the footwear.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein each said hook includes a flat terminal section for being received by one of the eyelets.
13. The system of claim 11 wherein said clip further includes a channel element for receiving a respective end of said strap and for carrying a respective said hook
14. The system of claim 13 wherein said channel element includes teeth for securing said channel element to said strap.
15. The system of claim 13 in which said hook is formed unitarily with said channel element.
16. The system of claim 11 in which said hook is curved to extend substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said strap for engaging a respective eyelet formed transversely through a flap.
17. The system of claim 11 in which said hook is curved to extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of said strap.
18. Footwear with a releasable fastening system comprising:
- an upper footwear portion having a pair of flaps respectively positioned on opposing sides of a tongue, each said flap having a series of spaced apart eyelets, each said eyelet in one of said series positionally corresponding to a respective one of said eyelets in the other said series; and
- a plurality of fastening clips, each said fastening clip including an elongate, longitudinally elastic strap and a pair of opposing hooks secured to respective ends of said strap, said opposing hooks configured to releasably engage a respective pair of positionally corresponding eyelets on said respective flap to secure said clip to the footwear with said strap extending across said tongue, whereby each said clip is releasably connected to an opposing pair of positionally corresponding eyelets and thereby secured to the footwear to pull said flaps together and tighten the footwear.
19. The system of claim 18 in which said flaps and said respective series of eyelets converge from an upper end to a lower end thereof and wherein said fastening clips include straps of differing respective lengths for providing a uniform tension across said tongue between said respective opposing pairs of positionally corresponding eyelets.
20. The footwear of claim 18 in which said clips are sufficiently narrow relative to a space between said eyelets in each said series such that when said clips are connected with said respective opposing pairs of positionally corresponding eyelets, a gap is formed between each adjacent pair of said clips.
21. A fastening system for footwear, comprising:
- a. an elongate, longitudinally elastic strap having first and second ends and a length configured for positioning between a pair of positionally corresponding eyelets on opposing sides of a tongue of said footwear;
- b. a pair of clips, one of said clips positioned at each of said ends, each clip comprising: i. a central plate having distal and proximal portions and a surface configured to receive one of said ends of said strap, said central plate configured to fold at an interface between said portions; ii. a hook that extends longitudinally from said proximal portion, said hook configured to engage one of said positionally corresponding eyelets; iii. a first two laterally-extending, foldable wings connected to opposing edges of said proximal portion, each of said wings having a plurality of gripping teeth that project from a side of said wing that is oriented distally relative to said hook, said teeth being configured to engage a surface of said strap; and iv. a second two laterally-extending, foldable wings connected to opposing edges of said distal portion.
22. The fastening system of claim 21, wherein said first two wings are configured to be folded over said end of said strap such that said teeth engage said strap when said strap is positioned on said surface of said central plate and said central plate is folded at said interface, and wherein said second two wings are configured to be folded over said first two wings when said first two wings are folded over said end of said strap.
23. The fastening system of claim 21 wherein said central plate and said first and second wings are unitarily formed.
24. The fastening system of claim 21 wherein said central plate and said hook are unitarily formed.
25. A fastening system for footwear, comprising:
- a. an elongate, longitudinally elastic strap having first and second ends and a length configured for positioning between a pair of positionally corresponding eyelets on opposing sides of a tongue of said footwear;
- b. a pair of clips, one of said clips positioned at each of said ends, each clip comprising: i. a hook configured to engage one of said positionally corresponding eyelets; and ii. an arcuate plate attached to a proximal end portion of said hook and having an opening configured to receive said strap.
26. The fastening system of claim 25, wherein said arcuate plate includes two substantially curved portions that are separated by a substantially flat portion.
27. A fastening system for footwear, comprising:
- a. an elongate, longitudinally elastic strap having first and second ends, a plurality of holes in each of said ends, and a length configured for positioning between a pair of positionally corresponding eyelets on opposing sides of a tongue of said footwear;
- b. a pair of clips, one of said clips positioned at each of said ends, each clip comprising: i. a plate having a first plurality of engaging members positioned to substantially align with said holes of said strap and sized to fit in said holes of said strap; ii. a cap having a second plurality of engaging members positioned to substantially align with said first plurality of engaging members and configured to engage said first plurality of engaging members, wherein said strap is secured in place when said first and second engaging members are engaged; and iii. a hook extending longitudinally from said plate and configured to engage one of said positionally corresponding eyelets.
28. The fastening system of claim 27 wherein said plate and said hook are unitarily formed.
29. The fastening system of claim 27 wherein said cap and said hook are unitarily formed.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 16, 2011
Publication Date: May 17, 2012
Inventor: John M. Atamian (Naples, FL)
Application Number: 13/297,856