Abstract: A shoelace retainer is provided for use with a shoe. The shoelace retainer generally includes a base defining at least one channel for receiving a first portion of a shoelace therein while the shoelace is coupled to a shoe, thereby coupling the shoelace retainer to the shoe, and a cap associated with the base and defining at least one receptacle relative to the base where the at least one receptacle is configured to receive a second portion of the shoelace when the base is coupled to the shoe.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a string collecting device and an article having a string, wherein the string collecting device includes a rotating part and a string winding part configured to wind a string; the rotating part is provided with at least one movable part that is capable of moving; the movable part is configured to be engaged with the string winding part when the rotating part is rotated towards a string collecting direction, and wherein when the movable part is engaged with the string winding part, the three, namely, the rotating part, the movable part and the string winding part, are connected in synchronous rotation.

Abstract: An eyelet for an article of footwear includes an eyelet body configured to slidably couple a first string to a second string. The eyelet body defines a first arc-shaped aperture and an opposing, second arc-shaped aperture. The first arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the first string, and the second arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the second string. The eyelet may be disposed over (but not necessarily attached to) an upper of an article of footwear.

Abstract: A reel for tightening an article includes a housing and a spool positioned within the housing. A knob is coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing and thereby wind a tension member about a central post of the spool. A load holding mechanism is coupled with the spool and the housing and includes a first friction element and a second friction element that are frictionally engageable to prevent rotation of the spool in a second direction to prevent unwinding of the tension member from the spool's central post. Rotation of the knob in a first direction reduces frictional engagement of the friction elements to enable rotation of the spool in the first direction and tension in the tension member biases the spool toward rotation in the second direction which increases the frictional engagement of the friction elements.

Abstract: A lace routing pattern for a lacing system for an article of footwear is described. The lacing system is moved between opened and closed positions by applying tension to segments of a lace connected to a tensioning assembly of a tensioning system. Each of the lace segments are arranged to extend between opposite sides of a lacing area according to a different lace routing pattern. The lace routing patterns have equal total closure distances for each of the lace segments so that tension applied by the tensioning system will be uniformly distributed through the lacing system and the article of footwear.

Abstract: A rope locking device which cooperates with the yoke on an archery wrist strap is used to lock a rope which connects an archery release with the wrist strap. The locking device includes a generally cylindrical body portion having a longitudinal axis and a contoured outer surface. At one end of the body portion is a head portion containing a pair of openings for receiving the rope. The rope passes through the openings and along the contoured outer surface of the locking device body portion. When the locking device is wedged into an opening in the yoke, the rope is cinched between the locking device and the yoke to lock the rope in place.

Abstract: A rotary closure for a shoe, especially for a sports shoe, including a housing which can be attached to the shoe, a tensioning roller which is rotatably supported around an axis in the housing, wherein a tensioning element can be spooled during lacing of the shoe on the tensioning roller and a rotary knob which is arranged rotatable around the axis at the housing to turn the tensioning roller. The rotary closure furthermore includes an intermediate carrier, wherein the intermediate carrier has at least one pawl which engages in a first blocking gearing of the housing and at least one locking lever which is arranged in or at the intermediate carrier, wherein a first and a second control element which co-operate with first and second crank section of the locking lever, are disposed on the rotary knob.

Abstract: In a fastening tool, a male member is combined to a female member such that the male member can be pushed to at least a predetermined position of the female position against urging force. The fastening tool is fastened to the string body that is inserted through a side through-hole of the male member and a side through-hole of the female member that communicate with each other at the predetermined position by releasing the push-in state of the male member. The male member includes an attaching portion of an operating elongated member, and the operating elongated member is operated to move the male member to the predetermined position against the urging force. A positioning device to a fitting object is formed on the female member.

Abstract: A cord lock includes a male tool and a female tool that receives a part of the male tool by pressing the male tool against a biasing force of a biasing device, and so as to match cord eyelets formed in sides of the male tool and the female tool each other at a predetermined pressing position of the male tool. An engaging part that is engaged with an engaged part of the female tool by the biasing force of the biasing device to prevent the male tool from slipping out of a position before the pressing operation, is formed on a side of the male tool intersecting a direction in which the eyelet passes through, and at a position closer to a pressing backward side than a hole edge located on a pressing forward side of the eyelet.

Abstract: The device to secure the shoelace knot has flexible upper member and flexible lower member attached preferably using eyelet kind of part at equally spaced lateral apertures of upper member and lower member in a manner where upper member's top surface attaches to lower member's top surface so that shoelace can be inserted through apertures of upper member and a lower member to tie a knot over upper member's bottom surface. After tying regular shoelace bow knot over upper member's bottom surface, the upper member's body is folded at imaginary center axis to fasten the hook and loop ends while securing knot in bigger knot receiving aperture of upper member while lower member rests on shoe's surface providing extra support even when shoe is being used in regress sports activities and ensuring that knot remains tied.

Abstract: A binding assembly has a binding frame, a pulling tie and a tightening tie. The binding frame has a base, a pressing member, two tie fastening holders and two separating members. The tie fastening holders are connected pivotally to the base and each has a pulling tie hole and a tightening tie hole. Each separating member divides the corresponding tightening tie hole into a first hole segment and a second hole segment. The pulling tie is mounted through and compressed by the pressing member and has two ends mounted respectively through the pulling tie holes. The tightening tie has two ends mounted respectively through the first hole segments along a first direction, mounted respectively over the separating members and mounted respectively through the second hole segments along a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A shoelace tightening device. A housing has a base plate affixed to the tongue of a shoe, and a side wall formed on the base plate. A rotation member has a rotator seated on the side wall of the housing and formed with a ratchet gear on its inner surface, and a bobbin formed on the lower surface of the rotator. A cover is placed on the ratchet gear. A stopper has a head which can slide on the cover, a bridge which extends downward from the head, and a pawl member which is formed on the lower end of the bridge. A coupling shaft is coupled to the base plate and has a stopper housing. The pawl member is received in the stopper housing. A spring is interposed between the inner surface of the stopper housing and an end of the pawl member.

Abstract: A shoelace with a shoelace fastener includes a first retaining base at an end of a first lace and/or a second retaining base at another end of the first lace, and a ratchet and an elastic clipping element are disposed in the first retaining base and the second retaining base respectively, such that the ratchet can be pressed at an end of the elastic clipping element, and the ratchet is pressed by the elastic clipping element into a normal slantingly pressed down status. When use, a fabric shoelace or a serrated plastic groove is passed into the retaining base, and ends of the ratchets are provided for clamping a surface of the fabric shoelace or plastic shoelace to facilitate adjusting the tightness of the shoelace.

Abstract: Self-locking devices for locking cords against longitudinal movement and maintaining the cords in a locked position even with no tension on the cords. A cord locking device includes a body and a slide piece for locking two cord segments. The body includes a housing, and the slide piece slides within the housing. The slide piece includes two ears, each having a cord channel through which one of the cord segments may pass, and two arms extending toward the housing, with a substantially upwardly extending tab at the free end of each arm. The cord segments pass through the housing and between the inside surface of the housing and a toothed wedge at a lower end of the slide piece. The toothed wedge grips the cord segments and locks them in place when they are pulled downwardly in the direction that the wedge is tapered.

Abstract: Shoe Laces and locking apparatus for locking laces without trying the laces, the apparatus including an opening for holding a lace or laces in a locked configuration. The apparatus may include a slit for passing a lace into the locking opening.

Abstract: A lace adjuster (10) that selectively adjusts and secures a shoelace (770) of a shoe (772) includes an inner frame (12), an outer frame (14), a resilient member (16), and a bracket (18). The outer frame (14) receives at least a portion of the inner frame (12). The resilient member (16) is secured to the inner frame (12) and the outer frame (14), and allows the inner frame (12) and the outer frame (14) to move relative to each other between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration. The bracket (18) is movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The bracket (18) is adapted to receive a portion of the shoelace (770) when the bracket (18) is in the open configuration, and the bracket (18) is adapted to retain a portion of the shoelace (770) when the bracket is in the closed configuration.

Abstract: A footwear item including an upper portion; at least one lace passing through eyelets arranged along the edges of an opening on the front the upper portion, and that tightens, thereby drawing the edges of the opening closer to each other, when pulled in a fastening direction; a string locking arrangement, provided in the upper portion having one or more passages in which the at least one lace is inserted and is capable of sliding when the wearer pulls it, while being capable of being retained there by a lock when it is at rest. The lock including an oscillating locking member in contact with the at least one lace to slide when the latter is pulled in the fastening direction, and which gets attached onto the at least one lace and locks it in position when the latter undergoes a tension in a direction opposite to the fastening direction.

Abstract: A blocking device adapted to act on at least one lace or strand, the blocking device including a body, a first cavity defining a first pathway for the strand, the device including a first blocking member, a first guide for guiding the first blocking member relative to the body, and first elastic member to bias the first blocking member in a direction to press the strand against a surface of the pathway, the device functioning by cooperation of a first blocking member with the first pathway for blocking the strand by a wedging effect. The first cavity is open, so as to enable the strand to be inserted and disengaged in a direction other than that of the pathway.

Abstract: A draw cord adjuster includes a closure member having a first end and a second end. At least one locking member is anchored to one of the first end and the second end of the closure member. At least one anchoring member is positioned proximate the one of the first end and the second end of the closure member to which a corresponding locking member is anchored, with each anchoring member being movably secured to the corresponding locking member.

Abstract: A shoelace fastening device includes a main part having two openings perpendicularly defined therethrough and a passage transversely defined through the main part. Two sliding members are slidably inserted into the passage from two ends of the main part and each sliding member has an enclosed hole and an opened recess. A first hole and a second hole are formed by the separation portion in each of the openings. The first and second holes have substantially the same diameters. Two end member are connected on two ends of the two sliding members and each end member has a stop located on an inside thereof and the stop is engaged with an inside of the passage to prevent the sliding member from sliding within the passage. The main part includes a notch defined in an underside thereof so as to partially accommodate the shoelaces.

Abstract: A lace adjuster includes a tubular member, a stop anchor, and a separating member. The tubular member includes a surrounding wall which has two open ends and an inner surface bounding a through hole that has an axis. The stop anchor includes a fixing portion fixed on a part of the inner surface, and an inclining portion extending inclinedly from the fixing portion toward the axis and having a sharp free end portion proximate to the axis. The separating member extends axially through the through hole and said open ends, and is adapted to partition off the stop anchor from the lace moving past the stop anchor. The separating member is removable from the tubular member to permit the stop anchor to engage the lace after a desired length of the lace has moved past the stop anchor.

Abstract: A device for securing shoelaces that includes a member for encapsulating free ends of a shoelace, the member has a pair of openings positioned within a rear wall of the member. Further, a reinforcement area is included along the rear wall of the member. A slit is extended along the length of the top part of the member. Lastly, a shoelace storage compartment formed within the member and receives the free ends of the shoe lace after one of each of the free ends has passed through at least one of the pair of openings.

Abstract: Clamping device (1) for shoelaces (2) or the like lacing devices with clamping jaws, between which the shoelace (2) can be locked in a closed position and moved back and forth in an open position, wherein the clamping device (1) is engageable in an open position wherein the engagement in an open position of the clamping device (1) is releasably by a movement of the shoelace (2) to be locked in a direction out of the pulling direction of the shoelace (2) as well as a shoe with a clamping device (1) in accordance to the invention.

Abstract: A shoelace tightening device. A housing has a base plate affixed to the tongue of a shoe, and a side wall formed on the base plate. A rotation member has a rotator seated on the side wall of the housing and formed with a ratchet gear on its inner surface, and a bobbin formed on the lower surface of the rotator. A cover is placed on the ratchet gear. A stopper has a head which can slide on the cover, a bridge which extends downward from the head, and a pawl member which is formed on the lower end of the bridge. A coupling shaft is coupled to the base plate and has a stopper housing. The pawl member is received in the stopper housing. A spring is interposed between the inner surface of the stopper housing and an end of the pawl member.

Abstract: A fastener for fastening together two lace segments includes a base, a pull unit, and two clamp units. The base has an intermediate portion, and two openings disposed on two opposite sides of the intermediate portion. Each of the openings is adapted to permit one of the lace segments to extend therethrough. The pull unit includes a middle portion fixed to the base, and two opposite pull members extending outwardly from the middle portion. The clamp units are respectively connected to the pull members and are disposed above the openings. Each of the clamp units defines a through hole adapted to permit one of the lace segments to extend therethrough. The clamp units are movable toward the openings to effect clamping and are movable away from the openings when the pull members are pulled away from the base.

Abstract: A fastener for a lace includes a metal base, two clamp assemblies, a pull unit, and an anchoring member. Each of the clamp assemblies includes a substantially U-shaped member which has two opposite arms pivotally connected to the metal base, a U-bend connected to the arms opposite to the metal base, and a clamp member connected between and transverse to the arms. The pull unit includes a middle portion disposed over the metal base, and two opposite pull members extending from the middle portion and connected respectively to the U-shaped members. The anchoring member is made of metal, and has a press part pressing the middle portion of the pull unit against the metal base, and a plurality of anchoring legs extending from the press part, penetrating the middle portion of the pull unit, and welded to the metal base.

Abstract: A lace adjuster (10) that selectively adjusts and secures a shoelace (770) of a shoe (772) includes an inner frame (12), an outer frame (14) and a resilient member (16). The outer frame (14) receives at least a portion of the inner frame (12). The resilient member (16) is secured to the inner frame (12) and the outer frame (14), and allows the inner frame (12) and the outer frame (14) to move relative to each other between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration. The inner frame (12) includes a first inner frame aperture (36A) and a spaced apart second inner frame aperture (36B), and the outer frame (14) includes a first outer frame aperture (44A) and a second outer frame aperture (44B). A first end (770A) of the shoelace (770) is threaded through the first inner frame aperture (36A) and the first outer frame aperture (44A) when the inner frame (12) and the outer frame (14) are in the unlocked configuration.

Abstract: A string fastener including a fastener body and two positioning units is provided. The fastener body has two first holes and two sliding tracks. The first holes are defined completely through a top to a bottom of the fastener body. The sliding tracks are respectively defined in the opposite sides, extended toward a bar portion, forming between the first holes, and communicated with the first holes. The positioning units respectively have a bulge, an opening, an indentation and an operating portion. The bulge can be held in the first holes to locate the positioning unit. A block portion is formed between the opening and the indentation. The operating portion is connected to the positioning unit body outside the fastener body. Therefore, multiple spaces for the string to pass through are provided with the block portions of the position units and the bar portion of the fastener body.

Abstract: A fastener for a shoelace includes a longitudinal shoelace clamp and a longitudinal pull unit. The shoelace clamp includes a base and two clamp rings extending longitudinally and oppositely from two sides of the base. Each of the clamp rings has a ring opening and a clamp piece extending across the ring opening. The pull unit includes a middle portion disposed over the base, two opposite pull members extending oppositely from the middle portion and disposed respectively over the clamp rings, and a joining unit. The joining unit includes a plurality of string members fixed to the pull unit and extending oppositely from the middle portion to the pull members along a longitudinal direction of the pull unit. The string members have fixed sections embedded within the middle portion and the pull members, and string rings exposed from the pull members and connected to the shoelace clamp.

Abstract: The present utility model relates to a fastener for cord comprising a cord lock mounted on a cord of an article for locking the cord, characterized in that said cord lock has a engaging portion which is provided with a hollow central zone having an inner diameter, said fastener for cord further has a base fixed on said article, a convex portion is arranged on said base for engaging with said central zone in a manner of snap-fastening, the inner diameter of said central zone is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the convex portion on said base so as to make the central zone engaged, in a manner of snap-fastening, with said base. The present utility model is available for fastening an article (such as a fixer or bottom on a cord) so as to avoid inconveniency brought to users by the article.

Abstract: A fastener for fastening together two lace segments includes a base, a pull unit, and two clamp units. The base has an intermediate portion, and two openings disposed on two opposite sides of the intermediate portion. Each of the openings is adapted to permit one of the lace segments to extend therethrough. The pull unit includes a middle portion fixed to the base, and two opposite pull members extending outwardly from the middle portion. The clamp units are respectively connected to the pull members and are disposed above the openings. Each of the clamp units defines a through hole adapted to permit one of the lace segments to extend therethrough. The clamp units are movable toward the openings to effect clamping and are movable away from the openings when the pull members are pulled away from the base.

Abstract: A footwear item including an upper portion; at least one lace passing through eyelets arranged along the edges of an opening on the front the upper portion, and that tightens, thereby drawing the edges of the opening closer to each other, when pulled in a fastening direction; a string locking arrangement, provided in the upper portion having one or more passages in which the at least one lace is inserted and is capable of sliding when the wearer pulls it, while being capable of being retained there by a lock when it is at rest. The lock including an oscillating locking member in contact with the at least one lace to slide when the latter is pulled in the fastening direction, and which gets attached onto the at least one lace and locks it in position when the latter undergoes a tension in a direction opposite to the fastening direction.

Abstract: A cord stopper (3A˜3E) comprises a locking member (10A˜10E) adapted to be normally in locking engagement with a cord (2, 2A˜2C) and, when the locking member (10A˜10E) is pressed, to come out of locking engagement with the cord (2, 2A˜2C); and a housing member (30A˜30E) including a housing member proper (31A˜31E) adapted for housing the locking member (10A˜10E) therein and attached to an article (1). The housing member proper (31A˜31E) has a housing space (37, 37E) large enough to substantially accommodate the locking member (10A˜10E). Pressure applied to the housing member proper (31A˜31E) can be transmitted to the locking member (10A˜10E) through an outer wall of the housing space (37, 37E).

Abstract: A fastener for a lace includes a metal base, two clamp assemblies, a pull unit, and an anchoring member. Each of the clamp assemblies includes a substantially U-shaped member which has two opposite arms pivotally connected to the metal base, a U-bend connected to the arms opposite to the metal base, and a clamp member connected between and transverse to the arms. The pull unit includes a middle portion disposed over the metal base, and two opposite pull members extending from the middle portion and connected respectively to the U-shaped members. The anchoring member is made of metal, and has a press part pressing the middle portion of the pull unit against the metal base, and a plurality of anchoring legs extending from the press part, penetrating the middle portion of the pull unit, and welded to the metal base.

Abstract: A shoelace management and retainment device for temporarily retaining the loop and free ends of a shoelace bow formed on a shoe when tied. An open ended cylindrical sleeve of yieldable material is attached to portions of the shoelace extending through the eyelets of the shoe. An insertion opening is formed along the longitudinal length of the device into which the bow portion and shoelace ends of the shoelace is inserted translaterally so as to be positioned therewithin and extend partially out through corresponding respective distal end thereof.

Abstract: An adjustable lace assembly includes a lace, a tubular member, two stop members, and two spaced apart inserting pins. The lace is composed of two separate lace segments each having a tagged end and an opposite bent end portion. The tubular member has a passage for receiving the bent end portions. The stop members are mounted pivotally inside the tubular member at two axially spaced apart positions and span the passage. Each of the stop members has an engaging part engageable with one of the bent end portions. The inserting pins are insertable removably into the tubular member, are capable of disengaging the bent end portions, respectively, from the engaging parts of the stop members, and permit movement of the bent end portions so that a length between the tagged end of each of the lace segments and a corresponding one of the stop members can be adjusted.

Abstract: An adjustable lace assembly includes a lace, a tubular member, two stop members, and two spaced apart inserting pins. The lace is composed of two separate lace segments each having a tagged end and an opposite bent end portion. The tubular member has a passage for receiving the bent end portions. The stop members are mounted pivotally inside the tubular member at two axially spaced apart positions and span the passage. Each of the stop members has an engaging part engageable with one of the bent end portions. The inserting pins are insertable removably into the tubular member, are capable of disengaging the bent end portions, respectively, from the engaging parts of the stop members, and permit movement of the bent end portions so that a length between the tagged end of each of the lace segments and a corresponding one of the stop members can be adjusted.

Abstract: A laces tying device comprises a body (2) provided with one or more apertures (3) which receive the ends of a lace to be tied and with readily-releasable fastening means to fasten the ends of the lace in the apertures (3) of the body (2), and clip means (4) comprising a retaining arm mounted on a springloaded hinge provided on the surface of the body (2), the retaining arm serving to retain overlapped portions of the lace which, in use, extend from the apertures (3).

Abstract: A fastener for a lace includes a fastening body and a pull unit. The fastening body includes a base, and at least one clamp assembly having a substantially U-shaped member which have two pivoting ends pivotally connected to the base to define an opening with the base, and a clamp member which is attached slidably to the U-shaped member and which extends across the opening to divide the opening into a first aperture proximate to the base and a second aperture distal from the base. The U-shaped member has a U-bend cooperating with the clamp member to confine the second aperture. The clamp member is slidable along the U-shaped member between a clamping position and a releasing position. The pull unit is connected to the U-shaped member.

Abstract: A holder (4) holds a cord fastener (3) on an adhered object (1), the cord fastener (3) being equipped on a cord (2) of the adhered object (1). The holder (4) has a mounting part (40) attached to the adhered object (1), and a housing part (50) provided on the mounting part (40), and holding the cord fastener (3) so as to allow the cord fastener (3) to be housed therein. The housing part (50) holds the cord fastener (3) so as to allow the cord fastener (3) to be housed therein, with an operation part (31) of the cord fastener (3) being exposed. Also, the holder (4) has a third cord insertion hole (41, 57) which continuously communicates with a first cord insertion hole (12) of the cord fastener (3) when the cord fastener (3) is housed in the housing part (50).

Abstract: A cord lock includes a female member with a cylindrical shape, a male member movable along an axial direction of the female member and receiving a part of the female member, and an urging device for urging the male member in a direction to project from the female member. The female member and the male member have holes for passing a cord therethrough, respectively. An attaching portion made of an attachable material is disposed on the female member. The attaching portion may be provided with a thin portion, so that the cord lock is attached to an attaching object through the thin portion. Accordingly, it is easy to attach the cord lock to the attaching object.

Abstract: A device for blocking at least one strand of a lace or other filiform element, the device including a rotatable blocking member and a hollow body, the hollow body having a cavity for housing the blocking member. The blocking member is circular, freely rotatable, and elastically biased in the direction of blocking the strand(s). The device further includes an unblocking member. The unblocking member has a gripping portion located at a distance from the hollow body.

Abstract: A shoe fastening device includes a body having two open ends and two push members are movably inserted in the body from the two open ends and a spring is connected between the two push members. Two ends of a string extend through two passages in the two push members and two holes in the body. A side frame extends from an outer periphery of the body and includes a space defined therethrough. Two apertures are defined through the side frame and communicate with the space. A rib extends from an inside of an inside of the space and is located between the two apertures. A positioning member is removably connected to the side frame via the two apertures and the two ends of the string is positioned at the clamp portions of the positioning member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fixing device for laces used in footwear, clothes, bags, and so on, and that can be configured in an extremely simple manner while maintaining the lace at a tightly fixed state when in use, without having any slip, thereby ensuring convenience of use. The present invention provides a fixing device for a lace that includes fixing plates that are extended from both sides of a curved plate thereof, so as to be applied to clothes, bags, etc., and means that is formed on elastic fixing projection pieces and a protruded part corresponding to the elastic fixing projection pieces, for preventing the lace from being moved to or deviated from one side of the elastic fixing projection pieces.

Abstract: A lacing apparatus is provided comprising a lace which maybe threaded through a plurality of apertures defined by at least two portions of an article; a connector for connecting the free ends of the lace to one another, so that when the free ends of the lace are connected to one another, the lace forms a continuous loop; and a mechanical locking device for receiving the lace and releasably locking at least two portions of the lace in proximity to one another when at least a portion of the lace has been threaded through the apertures and the free ends of the lace are connected to one another. Footwear incorporating features of this apparatus, as well as methods of releasably lacing together two or more objects, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for securing and adjusting laces, including any types of cord or string, of a wide variety of articles. The device comprises a body, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a perimeter. The top surface and the bottom surface of the device may be separated by a constant or a variable depth. The body of the device is provided with at least two “lateral” apertures positioned laterally on opposite sides of a center on the body. The body is further provided with at least one “central” aperture positioned between the lateral apertures, and preferably near the center of the body.

Abstract: A shoelace fastener for a shoe includes a clamp unit and a pull lace. The clamp unit includes at least one generally U-shaped flexible string section defining an opening, and at least one clamp member attached slidably to and extending across the flexible string section to divide the opening into a first aperture and a second aperture. The flexible string section has a U-bend cooperating with the clamp member to confine the second aperture. The clamp member is slidable along the flexible string section between a clamping position in which the clamp member moves toward the U-bend, and a releasing position in which the clamp member moves away from the U-bend. The pull lace is connected to the flexible string section for pulling the flexible string section so that the clamp member slides along the flexible string section to the releasing position.

Abstract: The brake device (30) for a lace (2), of a boot (31), sliding in a base part (1) linked to the boot (31), comprises a lever (3) articulated on the base part (1), returned by an elastic means (11) into a position of contact with the lace (2) preventing the sliding of the lace (2) in one direction by pressing action. The lever (3) has holding means (15, 16) enabling it to maintain a second, stable position allowing the sliding of the lace (2) in both directions, thus making the action required for opening the boot more convenient.

Abstract: A cord lock apparatus (100) is disclosed comprising a base (120) having a converging channel (128), and an elastically flexible locking insert (140) that is retained by the base. The locking insert defines a loop including left and right legs (146) that are generally parallel to the sidewalls (124) of the channel, and receive a cord (102) therebetween. When the locking insert is undeformed, the cord is clampingly engaged between the insert legs and the base sidewalls. The user pulls upwardly on the loop to elastically deform the insert such that the legs rotate inwardly, releasing the cord. The insert may also slide longitudinally to a limited extent in the channel. Teeth (123, 143) may be provided on the locking insert and/or the base to more securely engage the cord.

Abstract: A cord lock apparatus (100) is disclosed comprising a base (120) having a converging channel (128), and an elastically flexible locking insert (140) that is retained by the base. The locking insert defines a loop including left and right legs (146) that are generally parallel to the sidewalls (124) of the channel, and receive a cord (102) therebetween. When the locking insert is undeformed, the cord is clampingly engaged between the insert legs and the base sidewalls. The user pulls upwardly on the loop to elastically deform the insert such that the legs rotate inwardly, releasing the cord. The insert may also slide longitudinally to a limited extent in the channel. Teeth (123, 143) may be provided on the locking insert and/or the base to more securely engage the cord.