Abstract:
A resilient securing, fastening or gripping means for eyelets of shoes for men, women and children replacing ordinary shoe laces.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to resilient securing, fastening or gripping means which fits between the eyelets of men, women and children&#39;s shoes to replace the ordinary shoe laces. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Although the prior art has disclosed resilient fastening means for use between eyelets of a shoe thereby replacing the ordinary shoe laces, none of the known art have disclosed a resilient gripping means that is adaptable at the time of installation by the wearer to fit his particular shoes whether man, woman or child, and also fit to his or her satisfaction the particular size of eyelets in question. It should be realized that the span between each pair of eyelets may be and probably is different even on the same shoe and the diameter of the eyelet may be different on different shoes. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 562,114 discloses a shoe fastening means which embodies two pre-bent hooks interconnected by an elastic band. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 794,128 discloses an elastic lace or cord having metallic catches at opposite ends employing tubular clamps in which the ends of the cord are inserted. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,966,135 discloses a resilient grip member for shoes having a disc at each end of the grip member adapted to rest against the material around the eyelet in the shoe. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,289,225 discloses an elastic strand having integral ball heads on the ends of the strands and a bendable hook projecting from one of the heads and engageable in an eyelet in a shoe. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,572 discloses a stretchable shoe string. 
     This application discloses an improvement over the subject matter in applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 904,572, filed May 10, 1978 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,621 and entitled ADJUSTABLE RESILIENT EYELET CLAMP FOR SHOES. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the invention claimed, an improved resilient or elastic shoe fastener is disclosed employing metallic or plastic plates on a common side and at each end of the fastener. This fastener forms at like ends of the plates a gap between the resilient or elastic member of the fastener and each of the plates for receiving in each of the gaps a portion of one of two associated spaced eyelets of the shoe so as to hold the fastener tightly to the shoe. 
     It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide an improved resilient shoe fastening means which tightly adheres to the associated eyelets of the shoe. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide an improved resilient shoe fastening means for spanning the gap between a given pair of eyelets which together with other similar fastening means when individually fitted to extend between other pairs of eyelets of that shoe replace the ordinary shoe lace. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide a resilient shoe fastening means adaptable to all shoes regardless of the diameter of the eyelet. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide an improved ornamental shoe fastening means which when properly fitted between given pairs of eyelets conceal the adjustable gripping means arranged at the ends of the resilient spanning member. 
     A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved resilient shoe fastening means which employs novel gripping means at each of its ends for gripping the associated eyelets of the shoes on which it is applied. 
     A still further object of this invention is to provide a durable, inexpensive and still attractive resilient shoe fastener which may be manufactured in various colors to fit any color shoe. 
     These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent as the description is given and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The present invention may be more readily described by reference to the accompanying drawing of which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe showing a plurality of the disclosed fastening means extending between given sets of eyelets and embodying the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2--2; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the fastening means shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the fastening means shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening means shown in FIGS. 1-4; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlargement of the circled area 6 shown in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 6 with the resilient member shown separated from a part of its end member to form a gap for receiving a part of an associated eyelet therebetween; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the circled area 8 shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modification of the fastening means shown in FIGS. 1-8 wherein the plates on the ends of the resilient member comprises bifurcated configurations; and 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a still further modification of the fastening means shown in FIGS. 1-9 wherein the plates comprise tabs the lose ends of which extend outwardly of the associated resilient member. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring more particularly to the drawing by characters of reference, FIG. 1 discloses a conventional shoe 10 which is representative of any style for man, woman or child. The shoe is provided with the usual pairs of lace receiving eyelets 11. In accordance with the teachings of this invention, an improved clamping, gripping or fastening means 12 is provided to extend between any pair of eyelets 11 whether in the manner shown on the shoe of FIG. 1 or any other combination of given pairs of eyelets in the shoe. 
     Each fastening means comprises a resilient member 13 extending substantially the full length of the fastening means formed out of any suitable material which will be elastic enough to firmly hold its position when adjusted to fit between a given set of eyelets but comfortable when the wearer of the shoe bends or twists his or her foot. This resilient member may be formed of material which is precolored to match the color of the shoe or formed to provided a pleasing color combination with it. 
     FIGS. 1-8 illustrate that the fastening means are provided with eyelet gripping means or plates such as plastic or metallic ends 14, 14&#39; which are bonded in some suitable way such as, for example, by gluing or vulcanizing along a part of their lengths to the resilient member 13 which comprises a rubber-like material. The thickness of the metallic or plastic ends of the fastening means may be greater than, equal to or less than the thickness of the associated resilient member 13 bonded thereto. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5-8, the metallic or plastic ends 14, 14&#39; are intentionally unattached, i.e. not bonded along at least a part of their lengths at their juxtapositioned ends 14A, 14A&#39; leaving a gap 15 at these ends between the gripping means or plates 14, 14&#39; and the resilient member 13. 
     With this form of connection of ends 14, 14&#39; to resilient member 13, the ends 14, 14&#39; of the fastening means 12 can be inserted through the eyelets 11 of the shoe 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the ends 14A and 14&#39;A of metal ends 14, 14&#39; sliding under the metal eyelets 11. Since member 13 is resilient, the ends 14, 14&#39; of this fastening means draws the unfastened portion of the ends 14, 14&#39; toward and underneath the metal eyelets 11. 
     As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 when the fastening means 12 is pushed through the eyelet 11 it is forced under the eyelet 11 in a direction away from the associated eyelet at the other side of the shoe. The same eyelet inserting action is undertaken for the other end of the fastening means through the associated eyelet. When the pressure is released on the fastening means during the eyelet insertion action the unfastened ends 14A, 14&#39;A of the fastening means slides under a part of the periphery of the eyelets in the manner shown in FIG. 8 to tightly but in a detachable manner anchor the resilient member 13 to the shoe 10. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a modification of the resilient members shown in FIGS. 1-8 wherein the resilient member 17 is provided with a plurality of gripping means or plates 18, 18&#39; bonded thereto one at each end thereof. Each gripping means is provided with an unbonded bifurcated end such as ends 19, 19&#39; which may be preformed to lie against the common surface of resilient member 17 or bend slightly to form a small acute angle therewith. This gripping means may have a width the same or smaller than the width of the resilient member 17 at any point along its length. 
     It should be noted that when the plates 18, 18&#39; of the gripping means are forced through the eyelets 11 of the shoe 10, that the bifurcated or notched ends 19, 19&#39; may be biased toward each other so as to easily pass through the eyelet. After the bifurcated ends are through the eyelet they may then reassume their unbiased position thereby forming a larger gripping area on the periphery of the eyelet and aid in keeping the fastener secured to the shoe. 
     FIG. 10 discloses a further modification of the fastening members shown in FIGS. 1-9 wherein the elongated resilient fastening member 21 is provided with gripping means or plates 22, 22&#39;, bonded one at each end thereof on a common side thereof. The gripping means or plates 22, 22&#39; have unbonded tabs 23, 23&#39; at common juxtapositioned ends thereof. These tabs may be wedge shaped, as shown by the general configuration of ends 19, 19&#39; of the plates 18, 18&#39; of fastening member 17 of FIG. 9 or may be of the rectangular configuration shown in FIG. 10. 
     Each of the gripping means 22, 22&#39; and their associated tabs grip a portion of the periphery of the eyelets in the same manner as disclosed and described for the structures shown in FIGS. 1-9. 
     As noted from FIGS. 9 and 10 each of the tabs forming the unbonded portion of the gripping means is flexible and small enough to be pulled through the smallest diameter eyelet of the shoes found in the market place. 
     Although more than one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.