Shoelace Locking Apparatus

Abstract

A shoelace locking apparatus includes an elongated body having an exterior and a channel. The channel has a diameter sized to receive a shoelace in friction fit relation. A tab is secured to and projects outwardly from the exterior sidewall of the body. The tab has an aperture. The aperture has a diameter sized to receive a shoelace in friction fit relation and is oriented crosswise to the channel. A force in a first direction that would otherwise be sufficient to dislodge the shoelace from the aperture is resisted with the shoelace held fast in the channel. A force in a second direction that would otherwise be sufficient to dislodge the shoelace from the channel is resisted with the shoelace held fast in the aperture.

Description

FIELD

There is described an apparatus that locks shoelaces in a selected position.

BACKGROUND

A number of shoelace locking apparatus have been proposed. U.S. Patent Publication 2012/0284976 (Cox 976) titled “Shoelace Apparatus and Locking Mechanism” discloses a disc having a slit for passing a shoelace into a locking opening. U.S. Patent publication 2015/0223569 (Cox 569) titled “Shoelace Apparatus and Locking Mechanism” discloses a similar disc having a blind bore opening to receive an end of a shoelace.

SUMMARY

There is provided a shoelace locking apparatus which includes an elongated body having an exterior sidewall, a first end, a second end and a channel that extends between the first end and the second end. The channel has a diameter sized to receive a shoelace in friction fit relation. A tab is secured to and projects outwardly from the exterior sidewall of the body. The tab has a first face, a second face and an aperture that extends between the first face and the second face. The aperture has a diameter sized to receive a shoelace in friction fit relation and is oriented crosswise to the channel.

As will hereinafter be further described with reference to the drawings, a shoelace is threaded first through the aperture and then through the channel. Both the aperture and the channel hold the shoelace by force of friction. It is to be noted that the aperture is oriented crosswise to the channel. This crosswise orientation means that a force required to dislodge a shoelace from the aperture must be exerted in a first direction and a force required to dislodge a shoelace from the channel must be exerted in a second direction. The requirement for sequential forces from different directions does not present a barrier to the intentional removal of the shoelace from the shoelace locking apparatus. However, the need for sequential forces from different directions, means that it is most unlikely that the shoelace will be released by accident from the shoelace locking apparatus. A force in a first direction that would otherwise be sufficient to dislodge the shoelace from the aperture is resisted with the shoelace held fast in the channel. A force in a second direction that would otherwise be sufficient to dislodge the shoelace from the channel is resisted with the shoelace held fast in the aperture.

The friction exerted by the aperture and the channel can be controlled by selection of materials or the use of friction enhancing coatings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoelace locking apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shoelace locking apparatus of FIG. 1 in use locking a shoelace of a running shoe in a selected position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A shoelace locking apparatus generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

Structure and Relationship of Parts:

Referring to FIG. 1, shoelace locking apparatus 10 includes an elongated body 12 having an exterior sidewall 14, a first end 16, a second end 18 and a channel 20 that extends between first end 16 and the second end 18. Channel 20 has a diameter sized to receive a shoelace 100 (see FIG. 2) in friction fit relation. A tab 22 is secured to and projects outwardly from exterior sidewall 14 of body 12. Tab 22 has a first face 24, a second face 26 and an aperture 28 that extends between first face 24 and second face 26. Aperture 28 has a diameter sized to receive a shoelace 100 (See FIG. 2) in friction fit relation and is oriented crosswise to channel 20. The cross-wise orientation is illustrated as being 90 degrees. It does not have to be 90 degrees, as long as it still functions as described below.

The proto-type for shoelace locking apparatus 10 had a body 12 was made out of polymer plastic and was coated with a rubberized coating 30 to enhance friction. It will be appreciated that the friction exerted by aperture 28 and channel 20 can be controlled by selection of materials or the use of friction enhancing coatings.

Operation:

Referring to FIG. 2, shoelace locking apparatus is placed beside a shoe and shoelace 100 is threaded first through aperture 28 and then through channel 20. With any excess length of shoelace 100 extending from channel 20. Both aperture 28 and channel 20 hold the shoelace 100 by force of friction. It is to be noted that aperture 28 is oriented crosswise to channel 20. This crosswise orientation means that a force required to dislodge shoelace 100 from aperture 28 must be exerted in a first direction and a force required to dislodge shoelace 100 from channel 20 must be exerted in a second direction. The requirement for sequential forces from different directions does not present a barrier to the intentional removal of shoelace 100 from shoelace locking apparatus 10. However, the need for sequential forces from different directions, means that it is most unlikely that shoelace locking apparatus will be released by accident. A force in a first direction that would otherwise be sufficient to dislodge shoelace 100 from aperture 28 is resisted with shoelace 100 held fast in channel 20. A force in a second direction that would otherwise be sufficient to dislodge shoelace 100 from channel 20 is resisted with shoelace 100 held fast in aperture 28.

In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

The scope of the claims should not be limited by the illustrated embodiments set forth as examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with a purposive construction of the claims in view of the description as a whole.

Claims

1. A shoelace locking apparatus, comprising:

an elongated body having an exterior sidewall, a first end, a second end and a channel that extends between the first end and the second end, the channel having a diameter sized to receive a shoelace in friction fit relation;

a tab secured to and projecting outwardly from the exterior sidewall, the tab having a first face, a second face and an aperture that extends between the first face and the second face, the aperture having a diameter sized to receive a shoelace in friction fit relation, the aperture being oriented crosswise to the channel.

2. The shoelace locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body has a friction enhancing coating.

3. The shoelace locking apparatus of claim 2, wherein the friction enhancing coating is rubber.