Locking Shoe Fastening Device and Method

Abstract

A locking system for quick tying laces. Locking system includes a quick connect connector that is connected between the bottom portion of the laces and the top portion of the laces where a tension releasing system is located. The tension releasing system can release and retain the tension on laces after the shoe has been put on, the top portion of the laces which has the tension releasing system, can be secured to the bottom portion of the laces to prevent dangling of laces.

Description

This application claims priority from provisional No. 63/002,931, filed Mar. 31, 2020, the entire contents of which are herewith incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

A conventional way of securing a shoe to a foot is via shoelaces. The shoelaces typically wind through a series of openings or “eyelets” in the shoe, and are pulled tight and tied in order to hold the shoe on the foot.

There are shoes without laces which use an elastic system to hold the shoe on the foot.

In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,548 (herein, 548) describes a system of using an elastic shoelace, with a spring-loaded fastener to hold the shoelaces into place.

The elastic lace system such as described in 548 results in the front part of the laces left typically to dangle, which can cause a tripping or entanglement hazard during activities such as hiking, sports activity and hunting. When used for cycling, the laces can become entangled in the pedals.

SUMMARY

The inventor recognized a number of drawbacks with laces or self securing laces of the type described by 548. The inventor recognized that because the fastener is not secured to the shoelaces, there is a possibility of the fastener coming free from the laces, making them unusable. In addition, there has been a dangling part even after the laces are secured.

According to the present application, the top part of the laces has a tension providing system, attached to the top of the laces, which in a first position maintains the tension on the laces and in the second position releases the tension on the laces thus enabling the laces to be tightened and loosened. The tension providing system can be a fastener button, held to a top portion of the laces, enabling tightening the laces by pressing the fastener button, to release pressure or tension on the laces, and then pulling the laces tight. At that point the fastener button is released, thus locking the tension.

The fastener button is connected to one side of a locking mechanism.

The other side of the locking mechanism is connected to the bottom part of the laces. Hence, the fastener button, and locking mechanism, is held tight once fully connected. This provides a secure and aesthetically finished look.

Embodiments describe a retaining part that is secured to the laces at both the top and the bottom of the lacing structures, and where the top and the bottom interlock to avoid dangling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which show aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a front on view of an embodiment of the lace holding system, showing the system unconnected with the lace top part not connected to the lace bottom part;

FIG. 2 shows a front on view with the lace holding system connected;

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment where two different shoes are connected together by their lace system, to enable easier transport; and

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of the lace holding system on a bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present application describes a system for securing footwear and laces in a way that is wholly different from the prior art. An embodiment uses a shoelace, a cord fastener on the shoelace, and a locking mechanism.

In an embodiment, the locking mechanism as described herein has a separate male 100 and female 110 quick release locking mechanism as shown with reference to the drawings. One side of the quick release is attached to the top portion of the laces, and the other side is attached to the bottom portion of the laces.

The quick connect/release connector can be any connector that allows a tool-less connect and disconnect between two parts. The two parts are referred to herein as being male and female parts, however it should be understood that any connection between any 2 parts can be used in this way. Preferably, the connector is one which makes a audible sound, e.g. a “click” when connected.

In the illustrated embodiment, the male side 100 of the quick release mechanism is held to the top portion of the laces, and the female side 110 is held to the bottom portion of the laces. Of course, those of ordinary skill in the art certainly recognize that this can be reversed.

In an embodiment, the shoe 99 is laced as normal with elastic laces 105, with the laces 105 being laced through the eyelets as conventional. A bottom portion of the laces extend between the left side of the shoe and the right side of the shoe. The laces 105 then pass through the eyelets, between left side of the shoe and right side of the shoe, ending at the top portion of the shoe where the top portion 109 of the laces.

The laces pass through eyelets 102 in the shoe 99, as conventional as they are threaded from the bottom portion 101 to the top portion, 109.

The bottom most portion 101 of the laces is connected to the female portion 110 of a quick connect locking mechanism. In the embodiment, that bottom most portion 101 of the laces passes through a retaining hole 111 in the bottom of the female quick connect portion 110.

The top portion 109 of the laces 105 are held to one another through a push cord fastener button 130 that provides tension against the laces. The fastener 130 is normally holding tension to the laces, keeping them tight. When the button 130 is pressed, the tension is released enabling the laces 105 to be tightened and loosened relative to the push cord fastener button 130.

The push cord fastener button 130 is connected to the male end 100 of the locking mechanism.

The push cord fastener button 130 can be pressed to release tension on the elastic laces 105 while sliding the fastener.

Once the shoe is on the user's foot, the button is released, and tension is restored.

The male portion 100 of the locking mechanism (attached to the top portion of the laces), is then connected to the female portion 110 of the locking portion (attached to the bottom portion of the laces), as shown in FIG. 2. This holds together the laces and avoids the risk of any part of the slack in the laces dangling. This also provides an additional closure mechanism.

In operation, the laces are loosened by:

first separating the male portion 100 of the quick connect connector from female 110 portion.

Then, the user holds the male portion 100 of the locking mechanism and pushes the push fastener button 130 to release the tension on the laces. The push cord fastener 130 is then slid towards the male portion 100, to provide more slack in the laces. Then the user can insert their foot into the shoe.

Correspondingly and conversely, once the user's foot is in the shoe, and in order to tighten the laces, the user pulls up on the male portion 100 of the locking mechanism, presses the button on the push cord fastener 130 to release tension on the elastic laces, while sliding the fastener toward the foot, thus tightening the laces and securing the footwear in place. The button is released to again lock the tension.

Once tightened, the male portion 100 of the locking mechanism is inserted into the female portion 110, until the quick connect portion makes a click sound. The locking mechanism is then locked and secured, as shown in FIG. 2, and there are no open and dangling portions.

The above has described one version of the system, but it should be understood that other versions can also be provided. Different kind of clasps which can be used, including a clasp option that connects to the female portion of the locking mechanism in order to grasp the lace, or to hold other accessories, such as a key ring.

While this only shows one version of the fastener, a larger version can be used for people with reduced dexterity or for the elderly or a smaller version for children

In an embodiment, the fastener and/or locking mechanism can be retrofitted with a compass.

This fastening system can be implemented to close other containers, such as a backpack, duffle bag etc.

Regular shoelace can be interchanged with the elastic shoelaces of an embodiment.

Multiple shapes/colors/material cord fasteners can be interchanged.

This system greatly reduces trip hazards. It also greatly reduces entanglement with foreign objects. It also eliminates any possibility of forming knots in the laces.

This system provides a single point of grasping laces when securing footwear, resulting in increased ergonomics.

This provides a fastener stopper, securing the fastener to the laces.

This provides the ability to secure keyring to footwear with or without clasp on female portion of the Locking mechanism.

This also provides an Aesthetically neat finished look.

Another embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, uses these clips to clip and lock the left and right shoe together, using the fastening system, to facilitate transportation. In FIG. 3, the left shoe 300 has laces 305, connected to a male end 310 of the quick connect system. Normally, during wear, the male part 310 of the quick connect system is connected to the female part 315 of the quick connect system. Similarly, the shoe 325 has laces 330, with a male quick connect 335 and a female quick connect 340. In order to allow transporting the shoes, however, the male quick connect 310 of the left shoe 300 is connected to the female quick connect 340 of the right shoe 325; and analogously, the male quick connect 335 of the right shoe 325 is connected to the female quick connect 315 of the left shoe. This facilitates holding the shoes together for transportation in this way using the same system.

In addition, the connections can be connected to other items. For example, the quick connects can connect to a bag, such as a backpack/duffle bag or item of clothing instead of connecting to one another, to allow carrying the shoes on the backpack/duffle bag or clothing.

The use of the tension device, which increases and decreases tension, along with a connection for the slack laces created by the increase and decrease in tension can also be used on other devices, such as a bag.

FIG. 4 shows a bag 400 such as a backpack, which has laces 402. The laces 402 pass through eyelets 404 in the bag and are connected at the top to a tension maintaining and releasing device 410. The tension device has a button which is pressed to release tension on the laces 402 and when the button is not pressed, maintains the tension on the laces 402.

The lace ends 403 which have passed through the tension device 410 terminate in a first side 421 of a quick connect connector. The other side 422 of that quick connect connector is connected to the body of the backpack. In this way, this holds the slack in the laces and provides the secure an aesthetically finished look.

The previous description of the disclosed exemplary embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these exemplary embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A shoe with a tying system, comprising

a shoe having laces,

the laces having a bottom portion which extend between left and right sides of the shoe;

the laces passing between left side of the shoe and right side of the shoe, through eyelets of the shoe, from the bottom portion, to a top portion of the shoe;

the laces being tightened and loosened at the top portion of the shoe to respectively tighten and loosen tension inside the shoe,

a quick connect connector, which has a first portion and a second portion that snaps into the first portion to hold between the first and second portions while connected, and to allow a tool-less disconnect of the first and second portions, to remove the first portion from the second portion;

the first portion of the quick connect connector connected to the bottom portion of the laces;

the second portion of the quick connect connector connected to the top portion of the laces;

the quick connect connector configured to enable connecting the top portion of the laces to the bottom portion of the laces.

2. The shoe system as in claim 1 further comprising a tension providing system, attached to the top of the laces, which in a first position maintains the tension on the laces and in the second position releases the tension on the laces thus enabling the laces to be tightened and loosened.

3. The shoe system as in claim 2, wherein the tension providing system is connected to the second portion of the quick connect connector.

4. The shoe tying system as in claim 3, wherein the tension providing system comprises a button that is pressed to release the tension, the button being spring-loaded to maintain the tension.

5. The shoe tying system as in claim 4, wherein the tension providing system is adjustable with the quick connect connector connected and is also adjustable with the quick connect connector disconnected.

6. The shoe tying system as in claim 1 wherein the first portion of the quick connect portion is a female portion and the second portion is a male portion.

7. The shoe tying system as in claim 1 where the laces are elastic laces.

8. The system as in claim 4, wherein the button includes an accessory therein.

9. The system as in claim 8, wherein the accessory is a compass or a snap jewelry/button

10. A method of tying and securing an item which has laces, comprising:

attaching one side of the quick connect connector to a bottom portion of the;

at a top portion of the laces, providing a tension varying device, which has a first portion that holds tight the tension on the laces, and a second position that allows loosening the laces by releasing tension on the laces;

attaching a second side of the quick connect connector to the tension varying device;

loosensing the laces by releasing tension on the tension varying device, and then re-tightening the laces, and re-establishing tension on the tension varying device, and, securing the laces, by attaching the second side of the quick connect connector to the first side of the quick connect connector.

11. The method as in claim 10, wherein the laces are on shoes.

12. The method as in claim 11, further comprising attaching a first shoe to a second shoe by attaching the first side of the quick connect of the first shoe to a second side of the quick connect connector of the second shoe and attaching the second side of the quick connect connector of the second shoe to the first side of the quick connect connector of the first shoe.

13. The method as in claim 10, wherein the first side of the quick connect connector is a female portion of the quick connect connector and the second side of the quick connect connector is a male portion of the quick connect connector.

14. The Method as in claim 10, further comprising connecting one side of the quick connect connector to another quick connect connector that is attached to another device.

15. The method as in claim 13, where another device is wearing apparel.

16. The method as in claim 10, wherein the laces are on a bag.