Abstract:
A clasp for clasping the end sections of a shoelace for tightening a shoe is configurable between an open position for receiving the end sections and a closed position clasping the end sections. The clasp is connected to a shoe and generally includes a base and a cover hingedly connected to the base. The base includes two elongate channels for receiving the shoelace ends. The cover closes over the base and the received laces. The cover and base include cooperating ratchet teeth that allow the laces to be tightened but not loosened without opening the cover.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates in general to a clasp for clasping the ends of a shoelace to keep the lace in tension and that allows the laces to be easily tightened. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is well known that shoelaces require tying and untying the two ends thereof at every use. Many times the laces come undone prematurely which, of course, is not desired. Knots and bows are subject to problems caused by ice, mud, and snags on debris or bushes. 
     Also, tying of shoelaces is difficult or impossible for some wearers. For example, parents may be required to spend time and exertion tying young children&#39;s laces. Once tied, children may play with the knot, step on a lace end, or otherwise cause the laces to work free through normal walking. For children and adults, laces which come undone prematurely represent at best more work to retie and at worst an opportunity for a tripping accident. 
     Also, persons with problems with manual dexterity, such as arthritis sufferers, may find tying shoelaces to be difficult if not impossible. 
     There might be disastrous results if a loose shoelace became entangled in a bicycle chain. 
     A variety of devices has been developed for locking shoelaces without requiring the tying thereof. For the most part, these devices are overly complicated such that they are not practical. 
     Another problem with previous shoelace locks is that those that are not integral with the shoe may easily come entirely separated from the shoe when not in use. 
     Another shortcoming of some prior art devices is the laces cannot be retightened without once again going through the entire clamping procedure. 
     Therefore it is desirable to have an improved shoelace fastening device that users can operate with much less effort, dexterity and time than is necessary for tying laces and which eliminates the possibility of premature unfastening. 
     It is further desirable that the device is easily attachable to a shoe without detracting from its utility, ease of use, and appearance. 
     It further desirable that the shoelace fastening device provide for fast and easy re-tightening of a shoelace. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is a clasp for clasping the end sections of a shoelace for tightening a shoe. The clasp is configurable between an open position for receiving the end sections and a closed position clasping the end sections. The clasp is connected to a shoe and generally includes a base and a cover hingedly connected to the base. The base includes two elongate channels for receiving the shoelace end sections. The cover closes over the base and the received laces. The cover and base include cooperating ratchet teeth that allow the laces to be tightened but not loosened while the cover is closed. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, the hinge is a flexible band that forms an arc in the closed position such that a tunnel is created between the hinge and the base and cover. The loose ends of the shoelace may be placed in the tunnel. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the last lacing anchors, usually the uppermost anchors, are lacing hooks instead of eyelets. 
     The clasp of the invention is applicable to a wide variety of footwear including casual, athletic and bicycle shoes and work, hiking, and military boots. 
     The features and advantages of the invention will be readily understood when the detailed description thereof is read in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the shoelace clasp of the invention attached to a shoe and clasping the shoelace; the shoe being partially cut away. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the shoelace clasp of the invention attached to a boot and clasping the shoelace; the boot being partially cut away. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged left, front, top, perspective view of the clasp of  FIG. 1  in an open position. 
         FIG. 4  is a left side elevation view of the clasp in an open position. 
         FIG. 5  is a left side elevation view of the clasp in the closed position. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken on line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5  further including a shoelace. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the shoelace clasp  10  of the invention in use attached to footwear  70 , such as shoe  70 A, shown partially cut away, and clasping a shoelace  90 . 
     Shoe  70 A includes a lower, not shown, an upper  71  including, in the rear, a foot-receiving opening  75  and, in the front, a first facing  72  and a second facing  74  separated by a gap or throat  76 . Throat  76  is spanned behind by a tongue  77 . Shoe  70 A has a lacing system  80  whereby shoelace  90  adjusts the width of throat  76  to secure shoe  70 A on a user&#39;s foot. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, lacing system  80  includes lacing anchors  81 , such as lace turning anchors, such as eyelets  82  on first facing  72  and on second facing  74  on opposite sides of throat  76 , for lacing shoelace  90  or otherwise securing shoelace  90  to shoe  70 A. The upper most pair of lacing anchors  81  is typically the last lacing anchors  85 , that is, the last anchors  81  before shoelace  90  enters clasp  10 . Shoelace  90  includes free ends  97 , a midsection  92 , and end sections  94  after the last lacing anchors  85  before clasp  10 . An aglet  99  is typically attached to end section  94  adjacent each free end  97 . Shoelace  90  is laced through eyelets  82  in a desired manner. Although specific lacing anchors  81  are shown for illustrative purposes, clasp  10  is operable with most lacing systems  80 , whatever lacing anchors  81  are used. 
     Clasp  10  is attached to shoe  70 A, such as to tongue  77 . Clasp  10  has open and closed positions. Clasp  10  is shown in  FIG. 1  in a closed position clasping end sections  94  near free ends  97 . End section  94  includes a loose section  96  on the same side of clasp  10  as the respective free end  97 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the shoelace clasp  10  of the invention attached to footwear  70 , such as a boot  70 B, having a long throat  76  that is laced. Boot  70 B is shown partially cut away with only the uppermost shown. Clasp  10  clasps shoelace  90 . 
     Boot  70 B is similar to shoe  70 A except upper  71  extends above a user&#39;s ankle and includes additional lacing anchors  81 , such as lacing hooks  84 . The uppermost or last anchors  85  are hooks  84 . Typically, boot  70 B has eyelets  82  over throat  76  over the user&#39;s foot and hooks  84  over throat  76  over the ankle and shin. Shoelace  90  is laced through eyelets  82  and around hooks  84  in a desired manner. 
     Further including  FIGS. 3-6 ,  FIG. 3  is an enlarged left, front, top, perspective view of clasp  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in an open position;  FIG. 4  is a left side elevation view of clasp  10  in an open position;  FIG. 5  is a left side elevation view of clasp  10  in a closed position; and  FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken on line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 , further showing a clasped shoelace end section  94 . 
     Clasp  10 , in the closed position shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  5 , has a front side  11 , a rear side  12 , a left side  13 , a tight side  14 , a bottom  15 , and a top  16 . Clasp  10  generally includes a base  20  and a cover  50  hingedly attached to base  20 , such as with a living or flexible hinge  17 . Clasp  10  includes attachment means, such as left and right flanges  30  on base  20 , for fastening clasp  10  to footwear  70 . Flanges  30  include means, such as bores  31 , to secure base  20  to footwear  70 , such as to tongue  77  by use of fasteners such as thread or rivets. Any of many other appropriate fastening means, such as prongs or glue could also be used. 
     Preferably, clasp  10  is attached to footwear  70 , such as shoe  70 A or boot  70 B, such as to tongue  77  such that rear side  12  including hinge  17  is disposed downward or toward the toe of footwear  70  such that front side  11  of clasp  10  including a catch  60  is disposed upward such that clasp  10  opens facing the user. Clasp  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in a closed position clasping end sections  94  near free ends  97 . End section  94  includes a loose section  96  on the same side of clasp  10  as the respective free end  97 . 
     Base  20  has a front side  21 , a rear side  22 , a left side  23 , a right side  24 , a bottom  25 , and a top  26 . Base  20  includes a plurality of walls  27  defining a side-to-side, upward-opening, first channel  34  having a longitudinal axis and a side-to-side, upward opening second channel  36  having a longitudinal axis. First channel  34  has an upward facing surface  35 . Second channel  36  has an upward facing surface  37 . 
     Each shoelace end section  94  has an unsecured portion or loose portion  96  adjacent each free end  97 . As best seen in  FIG. 6 , first channel  34  longitudinally receives a first end section  94 A, such that lace  90  protrudes from both ends of first channel  34 . Similarly, as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , second channel  36  longitudinally receives a second end section  94 B, such that lace  90  protrudes from both ends of second channel  36   
     Cover  50  has a front side  51 , a rear side  52 , a left side  53 , a right side  54 , a bottom  55 , and a top  56 . Cover  50  includes a downward facing first surface  57  and a downward facing second surface  58 . Cover  50  is selectively movable from open positions shown in  FIG. 3  or  4  to a closed position shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5  and  6 . In the open position, lace end sections  94  may be freely placed in or removed from channels  34 ,  36  by the user. With cover  50  in the closed position as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 .  5 , and  6 , first surface  57  of cover  50  overlies surface  35  of first channel  34  and second surface  58  of cover  50  overlies surface  37  of second channel  36 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, first surface  57  of cover  50  and surface  35  of first channel  34  include a plurality of ratchet teeth  40 , such as first ratchet teeth  40 A, and second surface  58  of cover  50  and surface  37  of second channel  36  include a plurality of second ratchet teeth  40 B, such that, in the closed position, first ratchet teeth  40 A engage lace first end section  94 A in first channel  34  such that the lace first end section  94 A may be moved longitudinally to the right by pulling first loose section  96 A so as to tighten lace  90  but may not be moved to the left. Second surface  58  of cover  50  and surface  37  of second channel  36  include a plurality of second ratchet teeth  40 B; such that, in the closed position, second ratchet teeth  40 B engage the lace second end section  94 B in second channel  36  such that lace second end section  94 B may be moved longitudinally to the left by pulling second loose section  96 B so as to tighten lace  90  but may not be moved to the right. 
     Each first ratchet tooth  40 A has a left-facing, gently-sloped face  42  and a right-facing, steeply-sloped face  44  meeting at a dihedral angle  46 . Gently sloped face  42  is angled at 45° or less. Steeply sloped face  44  is greater than 75° and is preferably about 90° or more, such that dihedral angle  46  is 45° or less. 
     Clasp  10  includes retaining means  60  for selectively retaining clasp  10  in the closed position such that shoelace end sections  94  are gripped. In the exemplary embodiment, base  20  and cover  50  include interacting catch means  61  for selectively holding clasp  10  in the closed position. Front side  21  of base  20  includes a catch member, such as lip  62 , that interacts with a catch member, such as resilient hook  64 , on front side  51  of cover  50  to retain clasp  10  in the closed position. Means for aiding in the release of hook  64  from lip  62  includes a protuberance or release ridge  66  on hook  64 . A user uses thumbs and finger to push release ridge  66  away from tongue  77  to disengage hook  64  from lip  62  and open clasp  10 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 3-5 , hinge  17  may be a flexible band  18  that forms an arc in the closed position such that a tunnel  19  is created between hinge  17  and base  20  and said cover  50 . Shoelace loose sections  96  may be inserted into tunnel  19  for storage, although the clasp will function perfectly fine with short shoelace ends just, about one inch, past the sides of the clasp making storage unnecessary as shown in the drawings. 
     From the foregoing description, it is seen that the present invention provides an extremely simple, efficient, and reliable device for securing the end sections  94  of shoelace  90 . Unlike prior art devices, the invention may be made of a single piece of material, such as of plastic, such as by molding. 
     Having described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, many alterations and modifications which are within the inventive concepts disclosed herein will likely occur to those skilled in the art. For example, although a single, continuous shoelace  90  with two free ends  97  is shown and described, it is seen that clasp  10  is operable with two laces  90 , each having a free end  97  and an opposite end attached to shoe upper  71 . And although a single lace  90  is shown lacing around eyelets  82  and hooks  84 , the lace or laces  90  may be firmly anchored to shoe  70 A and need not go around an anchor  81 . Thus, two laces  90 , each with an attached end anchored to a shoe  70 A, could have their end sections  94  in clasp  10 . Also, the term “shoe”, as used in the claims is intended to cover any type of footwear including boots and sandals. 
     Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.