Abstract: A stopper for securing an end of a lace in an article having at least one eyelet, such as a shoe, without having to form an exposed knot. A thin, rigid body includes a series of openings arranged in a row, including a first, middle opening through which the lace is routed from the eyelet, a second opening proximate one end through which the lace is routed from the middle opening, and a third opening proximate an opposite through which the lace is routed from the second opening via the first end of the body, the third opening having a slot-shaped configuration. When tension is applied to the lace, as by a foot being inserted into a shoe, a locking engagement is formed between the lace and stopper and the stopper reacts against the eyelet. The stopper may be hidden from view behind the eyelet stay of a shoe.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for gripping and tightening laces for proper functioning of footwear, the apparatus comprising a lace with an outer surface, a first end, and a second end, wherein the outer surface at each end may be covered by an aglet, and the outer surface between each aglet has at least an aperture, each aperture forming a closed loop extending through the lace and normal to the outer surface, said aperture sized such as to allow for the insertion of at least one finger into each aperture. The method of using the apparatus comprising the steps of selecting the corresponding apparatus length based upon desired application; threading the apparatus through lacing guides; inserting at least one finger through at least one aperture in the apparatus; and pulling on the apparatus; whereby tensioning the apparatus to the desired tightness for proper functioning of the footwear has been accomplished.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved shoe lace comprised of a plurality of bendable support elements permanently held within a limp material at each of the two end tips by a sleeve, whereby the lace enables children, and persons with physical disabilities, to more easily tie their shoes, as well as staying tied while wearing the improved shoe laces.

Abstract: A shoe lace includes a lace body having a first end provided with a first connecting member and a second end provided with a second connecting member, and a third connecting member mounted on the second connecting member and detachably combined with the first connecting member. Thus, the two ends of the shoe lace can be combined with each other, so that a user needs not to bind the shoe lace, thereby facilitating the user wearing the shoes by the shoe lace. In addition, the two ends of the shoe lace can be detached from each other easily and rapidly, thereby facilitating the user releasing the shoe lace.

Abstract: A material is used to form a stop at the end of a lashing string. The material is made of a plastic material and takes the form of a long strap, which is rolled up and is provided in two long sides with a plurality of ridges and grooves. The ridges and the grooves are alternately arranged to form a plurality of lashing portions, with each being adhered to the end of the lashing string to form the stop serving to prevent the lashing string from slipping out of a string hole of the paper bag and the like.