LACE ADJUSTER

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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a lace adjuster, more particularly to a lace adjuster for adjusting a length of a lace easily.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional lace for a shoe has two opposite tagged ends and a fixed length. Therefore, the length of the conventional lace cannot be adjusted according to the number of the eyelets and the size of the shoe.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional adjustable lace assembly disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. I250854 includes a tubular member 1, and a first lace segment 2 and a second lace segment 3 strung through the tubular member 1. The tubular member 1 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and includes a plurality of first stop anchors 101 extending inclinedly from an inner surface thereof in a first direction and a plurality of second stop anchors 102 extending inclinedly from the inner surface in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The first lace segment 2 and the second lace segment 3 are strung through the tubular member 1 along a first stringing direction (X′) and a second stringing direction (X″) opposite to the first stringing direction (X′), respectively, and are stopped by the first stop anchors 101 and the second stop anchors 102, respectively.

Although the lengths of the lace segments 2, 3 are adjustable, the aforesaid prior art still has the following disadvantages:

1. When the first lace segment 2 is strung through the tubular member 1 in the first stringing direction (X′), it may be obstructed by the second stop anchors 102. Likewise, when the second lace segment 3 is strung through the tubular member 1 in the second stringing direction (X″), it may be obstructed by the first stop anchors 101.

2. Since the first and second stop anchors 101, 102 are formed by directly puncturing the tubular member 1, it is difficult to form the first and second stop anchors 101, 102 with sharp ends. Furthermore, the first and second stop anchors 101, 102 are relatively proximate to the inner surface of the tubular member 1. Therefore, the anchoring effect of the first and second stop anchors 101, 102 is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a lace adjuster which is simple in structure, which is easy to operate, and which has an improved anchoring effect.

Accordingly, the lace adjuster of this invention includes a tubular member, at least one stop anchor, and a separating member. The tubular member is adapted to permit passage of the lace and 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 of the surrounding wall of the tubular member, and an inclining portion that extends inclinedly from the fixing portion toward the axis and that has a sharp free end portion proximate to the axis and pointing toward one of the open ends of the tubular member. 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary partly sectional view of an adjustable lace assembly disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. I250854;

FIG. 2 is a partly sectional view of a first preferred embodiment of a lace adjuster for adjusting a length of a lace according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary partly sectional view illustrating the first preferred embodiment assembled to the lace;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary partly sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of a lace adjuster for adjusting a length of a lace according to this invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a shoe that incorporates the second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary partly sectional view illustrating the second preferred embodiment assembled to a lace;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary partly sectional view similar to FIG. 11, illustrating removal operation of a separating member; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary partly sectional view similar to FIG. 12, but illustrating a state after removal of the separating member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first preferred embodiment of a lace adjuster 100 according to this invention is used to adjust a length of a lace 140. The lace 140 includes a tagged end portion 142 having a tagged end 143, and a stringing end portion 141 opposite to the tagged end portion 142.

The lace adjuster 100 is to be assembled to the stringing end portion 141 of the lace 140, and includes a tubular member 10, a stop anchor 20, and a separating member 40.

The tubular member 10 is adapted to permit passage of the lace 140, and is formed in a tubular configuration. The tubular member 10 includes a surrounding wall 12 which has a first open end 121, a second open end 122, and an inner surface 123 extending between the first and second open ends 121, 122 and bounding a through hole 11 that has an axis (L). The tubular member 10 further includes two retaining rings 13 and a push element 14, which are formed by punching. The retaining rings 13 are provided proximate to the first open end 121. Each of the retaining rings 13 projects from the inner surface 123 of the surrounding wall 12 toward the through hole 11, and has a retaining hole 131 axially extending and aligned with that of the other one of the retaining rings 13. The push element 14 protrudes inwardly from the inner surface 123 of the surrounding wall 12.

The stop anchor 20 includes a fixing portion 21 and an inclining portion 22. The fixing portion 21 is fixed on a first part 124 of the inner surface 123 of the surrounding wall 12, and is received and retained in the retaining holes 131 of the retaining rings 13. The inclining portion 22 extends inclinedly from the fixing portion 21 toward the axis (L), and has a sharp free end portion 23 proximate to the axis (L) and pointing toward the second open end 122 of the tubular member 10. The inclining portion 22 of the stop anchor 20 is pushed by the push element 14 to bend toward the axis (L) from the fixing portion 21 of the stop anchor 20.

The separating member 40 is a sheet made of a polyvinyl chloride material having good stiffness and flexibility, extends axially through the through hole hand the first and second open ends 121, 122, and is adapted to partition off the stop anchor 20 from the lace 140 moving past the stop anchor 20. The separating member 40 axially divides the through hole 11 into two parts. One of the parts forms a passage 112, and the other one of the parts receives the stop anchor 20. The passage 112 is partitioned from the stop anchor 20 and permits insertion of the lace 140 therethrough without interference with the stop anchor 20. The separating member 40 further includes two opposite pulling portions 43 axially extending outside the tubular member 10 and respectively formed with directional indicators 44. Each of the pulling portions 43 is larger in cross section than the tubular member 10. The separating member 40 is removable from the tubular member 10 to permit the stop anchor 20 to engage the lace 140 after a desired length of the lace 140 has moved past the stop anchor 20.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, when the lace adjuster 100 is to be assembled to the lace 140, the separating member 40 is disposed in the through hole 11 so that the separating member 40 axially divides the through hole 11 into two parts and that the separating member 40 cooperates with a second part 125 of the inner surface 123 to define the passage 112 that is partitioned from the stop anchor 20. The stringing end portion 141 of the lace 140 is strung through the passage 112 along a direction (X), and the length of the lace 140 can be adjusted through the passage 112 without interference with the stop anchor 20. When the lace 140 is adjusted to a desired length, the separating member 40 is removed from the tubular member 10 to expose the stop anchor 20 to the passage 112. The stringing end portion 141 of the lace 140 is pulled along a direction opposite to the direction (X) so that the stringing end portion 141 of the lace 140 is stopped by the stop anchor 20 and that the excess part of the stringing end portion 141 of the lace 140 can be cut.

In view of the above description, the lace adjuster 100 of the present invention has the following advantages:

1. Since the passage 112 for stringing the stringing end portion 141 of the lace 140 is partitioned from the stop anchor 20, the stringing end portion 141 of the lace 140 can be strung through the passage 112 and the length of the lace 140 can be adjusted without interference with the stop anchor 20.

2. Since the free end portion 23 of the stop anchor 20 is sharp and relatively proximate to the axis (L) the stringing end portion 141 of the lace 140 can be anchored and stopped effectively by the stop anchor 20.

It should be noted that the tubular member 10 can be configured to have the same color and shape as the tagged end 143.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8, the second preferred embodiment of a lace adjuster 100′ according to this invention is used to adjust a length of a lace including a first lace segment 110 and a second lace segment 120. The first and second lace segments 110, 120 are strung through two rows of eyelets 210 of a shoe 200. Each of the first and second lace segments 110, 120 includes a first end portion 110′, 120′ having a tagged end 130, and a second end portion 110″, 120″ opposite to the first end portion 110′, 120′.

The lace adjuster 100′ is disposed between the two rows of the eyelets 210, and includes a tubular member 10′, a pair of stop anchors (i.e., a first stop anchor 20′ and a second stop anchor 30′), and a separating member 40′.

The tubular member 10′ is formed in a tubular configuration and is adapted to permit passage of the lace. The tubular member 10′ includes a surrounding wall 12′ which has a first open end 121′, a second open end 122′, and an inner surface 123′ extending between the first and second open ends 121′, 122′ and bounding a through hole 11′ that has an axis (L). The tubular member 10′ further includes a pair of first retaining rings 13′, a first push element 14′, a pair of second retaining rings 15′, and a second push element 16′, which are formed by punching. The first retaining rings 13′ and the first push element 14′ are provided on a first part 124′ of the inner surface 123′ of the surrounding wall 12′, and the second retaining rings 15′ and the second push element 16′ are provided on a second part 125′ of the inner surface 123′ of the surrounding wall 12′. The first retaining rings 13′ are provided proximate to the second open end 122′. Each of the first retaining rings 13′ projects from the inner surface 123′ of the surrounding wall 12′ toward the through hole 11′, and has a retaining hole 131′ axially extending and aligned with that of the other one of the first retaining rings 13′. The first push element 14′ is provided proximate to the first retaining rings 13′ and protrudes inwardly from the inner surface 123′ of the surrounding wall 12′. The second retaining rings 15′ are provided proximate to the first open end 121′ and are radially opposite to the first retaining rings 13′. Each of the second retaining rings 15′ projects from the inner surface 123′ of the surrounding wall 12′ toward the through hole 11′, and has a retaining hole 151′ axially extending and aligned with that of the other one of the second retaining rings 15′. The second push element 16′ is provided proximate to the second retaining rings 15′ and is radially opposite to the first push element 14′, and protrudes inwardly from the inner surface 123′ of the surrounding wall 12′. The tubular member 10′ further includes two pairs of anchoring holes 17′. The anchoring holes 17′ in each pair are proximate to a corresponding one of the first and second open ends 121′, 122′.

The first and second stop anchors 20′, 30′ are proximate to the second open end 122′ and the first open end 121′ of the tubular member 10′, respectively. The first stop anchor 20′ includes a fixing portion 21′ and an inclining portion 22′ The fixing portion 21′ of the first stop anchor 20′ is fixed on the first part 124′ of the inner surface 123′ of the surrounding wall 12′ and is received and retained in the retaining holes 131′ of the first retaining rings 13′. The inclining portion 22′ of the first stop anchor 20′ extends inclinedly from the fixing portion 21′ of the first stop anchor 20′ toward the axis (L) and has a sharp free end portion 23′ proximate to the axis (L) and pointing toward the first open end 121′ of the tubular member 10′. The inclining portion 22′ of the first stop anchor 20′ is pushed by the first push element 14′ to bend toward the axis (L) from the fixing portion 21′ of the first stop anchor 20′. Likewise, the second stop anchor 30′ includes a fixing portion 31′ and an inclining portion 32′. The fixing portion 31′ of the second stop anchor 30′ is fixed on the second part 125′ of the inner surface 123′ of the surrounding wall 12′, and is received and retained in the retaining holes 151′ of the second retaining rings 15′. The inclining portion 32′ of the second stop anchor 30′ extends inclinedly from the fixing portion 31′ of the second stop anchor 30′ toward the axis (L), and has a sharp free end portion 33′ proximate to the axis (L) and pointing toward the sharp free end portion 23′ of the first stop anchor 20′. That is, the sharp free end portions 23′, 33′ of the first and second stop anchors 20′, 30′ point in two opposite directions and towards the first and second open ends 121′, 122′ of the tubular member 10′, respectively. The inclining portion 32′ of the second stop anchor 30′ is pushed by the second push element 16′ to bend toward the axis (L) from the fixing portion 31′ of the second stop anchor 30′.

The separating member 40′ is made of a polyvinyl chloride material, extends axially through the through hole 11′ and the first and second open ends 121′, 122′, and is adapted to partition off the stop anchors 20′, 30′ from the lace moving past the stop anchors 20′, 30′. The separating member 40′ includes a primary separating element 41′, and two secondary separating elements 42′, 43,′ respectively connected to two opposite sides of the primary separating element 41′. The primary separating element 41′ includes a middle portion 411′ axially extending in the tubular member 10′, and two pulling end portions 412′ oppositely and tearably connected to the middle portion 411′. The pulling end portions 412′ axially extend outside the tubular member 10′ when the separating member 40′ is assembled in the tubular member 10′. The separating member 40′ further includes two direction indicators 413′ provided respectively on the pulling end portions 412′ of the primary separating element 41′. The middle portion 411′ of the primary separating element 41′ includes two pairs of anchoring studs 414′ respectively engaging the anchoring holes 17′. Each of the secondary separating elements 42′ 43′ includes a ring portion 421′ 431′ connected to a corresponding one of the pulling end portions 412′ of the primary separating element 41′, and a guiding sheet portion 422′, 432′ connected to the ring portion 421′, 431′ and extending axially over and covering a corresponding one of the first and second stop anchors 20′, 30′. The ring portion 421′, 431′ of each of the secondary separating elements 42′, 43′ has a slit 423′, 433′ extending axially. The primary separating element 41′ divides axially the through hole 11′ into two parts which receive the secondary separating elements 42′, 43′, respectively. The first and second stop anchors 20′, 30′ are mounted on the inner surface 123′ within the two parts, respectively.

Referring once again to FIGS. 5 and 7, when the lace adjuster 100′ is to be assembled with the first and second lace segments 110, 120, the separating member 40′ is disposed between the first stop anchor 20′ and the second stop anchor 30′ in the through hole 11′ so that the primary separating element 41′ cooperates with the secondary separating elements 42′, 43′ to respectively define a first passage 111′ and a second passage 112′ and that the two direction indicators 413′ correspond to the first and second passages 111′, 112′, respectively. The first and second passages 111′, 112′ are partitioned from the first and second stop anchors 20′, 30′, respectively, by the guiding sheet portions 422′, 432′ of the secondary separating elements 42′, 43′.

Referring to FIG. 9, the first end portion 110′ of the first lace segment 110 is strung through the ring portion 421′ and the first passage 111′ along a direction (X′) extending from the first open end 121′ toward the second open end 122′ and indicated by the direction indicators 413′ until a desired length of the first end portion 110′ of the first lace segment 110 relative to the tubular member 10′ is obtained.

Referring to FIG. 10, likewise, the first end portion 120′ of the second lace segment 120 is strung through the ring portion 431′ and the second passage 112′ along a direction (X″) extending from the second open end 122′ toward the first open end 121′ and indicated by the direction indicators 413′ until a desired length of the first end portion 120′ of the second lace segment 120 relative to the tubular member 10′ is obtained.

Referring to FIG. 11, since the first and second passages 111′, 112′ are partitioned from the first and second stop anchors 20′, 30′, respectively, by the guiding sheet portions 422′, 432′ of the secondary separating elements 42′, 43′, the first end portion 110′ of the first lace segment 110 and the first end portion 120′ of the second lace segment 120 can be adjusted in length without interference with the first stop anchor 20′ and the second stop anchor 30′, respectively. Referring to FIG. 12, the pulling end portions 412′ of the separating member 40′ together with the secondary separating elements 42′, 43′ are torn and removed from the middle portion 411′ of the primary separating element 41′. Due to the presence of the slits 423′, 433′ in the ring portions 421′, 431′ which can be widened, the ring portions 421′ 431′ of the secondary separating elements 42′, 43′ can be easily removed from the second end portions 110″, 120″ of the first and second lace segments 110, 120. When the first end portion 110′ of the first lace segment 110 is pulled along the direction (X′), it would be anchored and stopped by the sharp free end portion 23′ of the first stop anchor 20′. Likewise, when the first end portion 120′ of the second lace segment 120 is pulled along the direction (X″), it would be anchored and stopped by the sharp free end portion 33′ of the second stop anchor 30′. The second end portions 110″, 120″ of the first and second lace segments 110, 120 extending outside the tubular member 10′ are cut to obtain an assembly of the lace adjuster 100′ with the first and second lace segments 110, 120, as best shown in FIG. 13.

Referring once again to FIG. 8, the assembly of the lace adjuster 100′ with the first and second lace segments 110, 120 is installed on the shoe 200 in a manner in which the lace adjuster 100′ is disposed between the two rows of the eyelets 210, and the first and second lace segments 110, 120 are strung through the eyelets 210.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A lace adjuster for adjusting a length of a lace, said lace adjuster comprising:

a tubular member adapted to permit passage of the lace and including a surrounding wall which has two open ends and an inner surface bounding a through hole that has an axis;

at least one stop anchor including a fixing portion fixed on a part of said inner surface of said surrounding wall of said tubular member, and an inclining portion that extends inclinedly from said fixing portion toward said axis and that has a sharp free end portion proximate to said axis and pointing toward one of said open ends of said tubular member; and

a separating member extending axially through said through hole and said open ends, and adapted to partition off said stop anchor from the lace moving past said stop anchor, said separating member being removable from said tubular member to permit said stop anchor to engage the lace after a desired length of the lace has moved past said stop anchor.

2. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tubular member further includes at least one retaining ring projecting from said inner surface of said surrounding wall toward said through hole, and having a retaining hole axially extending for receiving and retaining said fixing portion of said stop anchor.

3. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tubular member further includes a push element protruding inwardly from said inner surface of said surrounding wall, and pushing said inclining portion of said stop anchor to bend toward said axis from said fixing portion.

4. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said separating member axially divides said through hole into two parts, one of said parts forming a passage, the other one of said parts receiving said stop anchor.

5. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 4, wherein said separating member further includes two opposite pulling portions axially extending outside said tubular member.

6. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said pulling portions is larger in cross section than said tubular member.

7. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 3, wherein said separating member includes a primary separating element, and two secondary separating elements respectively connected to two opposite sides of said primary separating element, said primary separating element dividing axially said through hole into two parts which receive said secondary separating elements, respectively, a pair of said stop anchors being mounted on said inner surface within said two parts, respectively, said sharp free end portions of said stop anchors pointing in two opposite directions and towards said two open ends of said tubular member, respectively.

8. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 7, wherein said stop anchors are proximate to said two open ends of said tubular member, respectively.

9. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 7, wherein said primary separating element includes a middle portion axially extending in said tubular member, and two pulling end portions oppositely and tearably connected to said middle portion.

10. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of said secondary separating elements includes a ring portion connected to a corresponding one of said pulling end portions of said primary separating element, and a guiding sheet portion connected to said ring portion and extending axially over and covering one of said stop anchors.

11. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 9, wherein said separating member further includes two direction indicators provided respectively on said pulling end portions of said primary separating element.

12. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 10, wherein said ring portion of each of said secondary separating elements has a slit extending axially.

13. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 7, wherein said tubular member further includes at least one pair of anchoring holes proximate to one of said open ends, and said primary separating element of said separating member includes at least one pair of anchoring studs respectively engaging said anchoring holes.