Patent ID: 7779519
Filing Date: 2010-08-24
Classification: A43C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An accessory for receiving and securing the free ends of a shoelace, the accessory comprising: a single one-piece member formed of a resilient thermoplastic polymer, the member having a front wall, a rear wall, and a periphery coupling the front and rear walls, the periphery including, opposed side parts, and a top part, and a bottom part, the front, and rear walls being concave with a center of curvature beneath the member when operatively positioned upon a shoe for receiving and securing a shoelace; the front wall of the member being imperforate, the rear wall of the member having three openings, the openings including a pair of small openings and an elongated slit, the elongated slit extending across the rear wall adjacent to the top part of the member, the small openings being laterally spaced adjacent to the side parts and located beneath the elongated slit essentially midway between the top and bottom parts, the member comprising a shoelace storage compartment extending between the front wall, rear wall, side walls, bottom part and top part of the member, the compartment being of a size and shape for receiving and securing the free ends of a shoelace after one of each of the free ends has passed through a respective one of the pair of the small openings, the slit being formed with an upper edge and a lower edge normally positioned in facing contact with each other, the upper and lower edges adapted be separated by a user to provide access to the storage compartment and a shoelace therein.