Abstract:
An educational system uses bi-colored shoe laces on specially marked shoes along with an instructional video to teach manipulative skills required to tie shoes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the general art of education and demonstration, and to the particular field of teaching manipulative skills. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Tying shoes is a difficult and frustrating skill for a young child to learn. Teaching a child to tie his or her shoes is often a difficult and frustrating time for a teacher. For these reasons, many children&#39;s shoes are not tie-type shoes or have snaps or the like on them. 
     However, tying their shoes is a very important skill for a child to learn. Not only is the skill, itself, important, the dexterity learned is very important. Furthermore, the boost in self-image gained from learning such a difficult and complex skill is also very valuable. Therefore, children need to learn to tie their shoes. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an educational system for teaching a person, such as a child, how to tie their shoes. 
     Any system used to teach a child to tie their shoes should be appealing as well as effective. If the system is appealing, the child will be encouraged to attempt and practice the skill. Furthermore, if the system is appealing, the final result, i.e., a tied shoe, will be appealing both aesthetically and psychologically. Every time the child notes his or her tied shoes, that child will receive positive reinforcement. If the system is visually and aesthetically appealing, the positive reinforcement will be enhanced. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an educational system for teaching a person, such as a child, how to tie their shoes that is visually appealing. 
     If the tied shoes are visually distinctive, the child&#39;s attention will be drawn to the tied shoes. His or her friends will also notice the tied shoes. This will enhance the positive effects of the educational system. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an educational system for teaching a person, such as a child, how to tie their shoes that is visually distinctive. 
     The positive results obtained by actually doing a task to learn and practice the task are much greater than if the learning or practice is simulated. Thus, to learn to tie one&#39;s shoes, it is best and most effective if the learning is done on an actual shoe that is actually on the learner&#39;s foot as opposed to a model that may be resting on a desk or the like. It is different tying a shoe that is on the learner&#39;s foot than tying a model that is resting in front of the learner because, among other things, the view and perspective of the actual shoe on the learner&#39;s foot will be far different from the view and perspective of a model that is not on the learner&#39;s foot. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an educational system for teaching a person, such as a child, how to tie their shoes that uses a shoe that is actually being worn by the learner. 
     PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a main object of the present invention to provide an educational system for teaching a person, such as a child, how to tie their shoes. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an educational system for teaching a person, such as a child, how to tie their shoes that is visually appealing. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an educational system for teaching a person, such as a child, how to tie their shoes that is visually distinctive. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an educational system for teaching a person, such as a child, how to tie their shoes that uses a shoe that is actually being worn by the learner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These, and other, objects are achieved by an educational system that includes bi-colored laces that fit through the eyelets on tie-type shoes so that one of the colors is located on the right side of both shoes and the other color is located on the left side of both shoes when the laces are threaded through the eyelets of the shoes. A right hand marker is located on the right shoe of the shoes and has a shape of a right hand and has the color of the bi-colored laces that is located on the right hand side of the shoes. A left hand marker is located on the bottom of the outsole of the left shoe and has the color of the bi-colored laces that is located on the left hand side of the shoes. The quarter panels of each shoe also have colors thereon that match the right hand and left hand colors of the laces and the colors of the markers to further reinforce the right hand/left hand aspects of the educational system of the present invention as well as to further reinforce the shoe lace-tying lessons associated with the educational system of the present invention. 
     The system of the present invention makes the shoes distinctive and attractive when the shoes are worn. Every time a child looks at his or her shoes, he or she will be reminded that he or she tied his or her own shoes thereby providing positive reinforcement for the child. The colors of the system are distinctive and attractive so the shoes will be aesthetically pleasing for the child. Also, every time the child looks at the shoes, he or she will be reminded of which shoe is the left shoe and which shoe is the right shoe, again providing reinforcement for the learning process. 
     The system of the present invention also includes an instructional video so the child can learn at his or her own pace and convenience. 
     Since the learner is learning on a shoe that is actually being worn by the learner, the learning process teaches actual and practical knowledge and the learning is done from the perspective of an actual operation. Simulations are not as effective in this process as are actual situations. There is not as much self-satisfaction in successfully tying a simulated shoe as there is in successfully tying a shoe that is actually being worn at the time the shoe is tied. Even after a person learns to tie a simulated model, the person still has more learning to do to translate that learned process into a practical application of tying a shoe that is actually on the learner&#39;s foot. The system embodying the present invention makes this last step of translating learned knowledge into practical applications superfluous and is thereby much more efficient. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a right shoe used in the educational system embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a left shoe used in the educational system embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows a bi-colored shoe lace used in the educational system embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a video used in the educational system embodying the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in an educational system  10  for teaching a person how to tie shoes. System  10  allows the person to learn and practice on actual shoes as opposed to learning or practicing on some model. The system embodied in the present invention will provide a tied shoe that will positively reinforce the child for his or her efforts and achievements thus enhancing the overall results associated with the educational system. 
     Educational system  10  comprises a right foot tie-type shoe  12  which has a toe box  14 , a right side flap  16 , and a left side flap  18 . The right side flap  16  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  is spaced apart from the left side flap  18  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  and defines an opening  20  between the right side flap  16  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  and the left side flap  18  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12 , and a tongue  21  is located between the right side flap  16  and the left side flap  18  and spans opening  20 . A plurality of right-side eyelets, such as eyelet  22 , are defined through the right side flap  16  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  adjacent to the opening  20  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12 . A plurality of left side eyelets, such as eyelet  24 , are defined through the left side flap  18  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  adjacent to the opening  20  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12 . 
     The right foot tie-type shoe  12  further includes a heel  25 , a left side quarter panel  26  extending between the left side flap  18  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  and the heel  25  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  and a right side quarter panel  27  extending between the right side flap  16  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  and the heel  25  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12 . While only the right side quarter panel  27  is shown in FIG. 1, those skilled in the art will understand that the left side quarter panel  26  is substantially identical to, but a mirror image of, the right side quarter panel  27 . 
     An outsole  28  is located on the bottom of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  when the right foot tie-type shoe  12  is worn. The right foot tie-type shoe  12  is located on the right foot of a wearer when in use. 
     A left foot tie lace  30  is accommodated in all of the eyelets of a left foot tie-type shoe  50 . The left foot tie lace  30  is one-piece and monolithic and is also shown in FIG.  2 . Left foot tie lace  30  has a first end  32 , a second end  34  and a midpoint  36  located midway between the first end  32  of the left foot tie lace  30  and the second end  34  of the left foot tie lace  30 . A left hand portion  40  of the left foot tie lace  30  extends between the first end  32  of the left foot tie lace  30  and the midpoint  36  of the left foot tie lace  30 . A right hand portion  42  of the left foot tie lace  30  extends between the second end  34  of the left foot tie lace  30  and the midpoint  36  of the left foot tie lace  30 . A left hand color, such as blue  44 , is on the left hand portion  40  of the left foot tie lace  30  between the first end  32  of the left foot tie lace  30  and the midpoint  36  of the left foot tie lace  30 . A right hand color, such as red  46 , is on the right hand portion  42  of the left foot tie lace  30  between the second end  34  of the left foot tie lace  30  and the midpoint  36  of the left foot tie lace  30 . 
     System  10  includes the left foot tie-type shoe  50  that is identical to, but a mirror image of, the just-described right foot tie-type shoe  12 . Left foot tie-type shoe  50  is shown in FIG.  3 . FIG. 3 shows the bottom of shoe  50  for reasons of completeness of disclosure as well as for reasons that will be understood from the following discussion. For the sake of completeness, the left foot tie-type shoe  50  will be described, but no reference numbers will be cited as the elements that will now be described are fully disclosed for the right foot tie-type shoe  12  just described. 
     Left foot tie-type shoe  50  includes a toe box, a right side flap and a left side flap. The right side flap is spaced apart from the left side flap and defines an opening between the right side flap of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  and the left side flap of the left foot tie-type shoe  50 , and a tongue is located between the right side flap and the left side flap of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  and spans the opening of the left foot tie-type shoe  50 . 
     A plurality of right side eyelets are defined through the right side flap of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  adjacent to the opening of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  and a plurality of left side eyelets are defined through the left side flap of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  adjacent to the opening of the left foot tie-type shoe  50 . 
     The left foot tie-type shoe  50  further includes a heel, a left side quarter panel extending between the left side flap of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  and the heel of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  and a right side quarter panel extending between the right side flap of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  and the heel of the left foot tie-type shoe  50 . 
     An outsole  70  is located on the bottom of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  when the left foot tie-type shoe  50  is worn, and the left foot tie-type shoe  50  is located on the left foot of a wearer when in use. 
     As indicated in FIG. 1, a right foot tie lace  90  is accommodated in all of the eyelets  22 ,  24  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12 . The right foot tie lace  90  is one-piece and monolithic to be strong and durable as well as to be easily manipulated in the manner of a regular shoe lace by a learner, especially a young child. Right foot tie lace  90  has a first end  92 , a second end  94 , and a midpoint  96  located midway between the first end  92  of the right foot tie lace  90  and the second end  94  of the right foot tie lace  90 . A left hand portion  98  of the right foot tie lace  90  extends between first end  92  of the right foot tie lace  90  and the midpoint  96  of the right foot tie lace  90 . 
     A right hand portion  100  of the right foot tie lace  90  extends between second end  94  of right foot tie lace  90  and the midpoint  96  of the right foot tie lace  90 . A left hand color, such as blue  104 , is located on the left hand portion  98  of the right foot tie lace  90  between the first end  92  of the right foot tie lace  90  and the midpoint  96  of the right foot tie lace  90 . A right hand color, such as red  106 , is located on the right hand portion  100  of the right foot tie lace  90  between the second end  94  of right foot tie lace  90  and the midpoint  96  of the right foot tie lace  90 . 
     The left hand color  104  of the right foot tie lace  90  is identical to the left hand color  44  of the left foot tie lace  30  and the right hand color  106  of the right hand tie lace  90  is identical to the color of the right hand color  46  of the left hand tie lace  30 . 
     As can be seen in FIG. 1, the right foot tie lace  90  is positioned in the eyelets  22 ,  24  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  with the midpoint  96  of the right foot tie lace  90  located between and adjacent to the eyelet  120  of the right side flap  16  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  which is closest to the toe box  14  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  and the eyelet  122  of the left side flap  18  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  which is closest to the toe box  14  of the right toot tie-type shoe  12 . The left hand portion  98  of the right foot tie lace  90  extends through every other eyelet of the eyelets  22 ,  24  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12 . The left hand portion  98  of the right foot tie lace  90  extends through eyelet  124  of the left side flap  18  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  that is located farthest away from the toe box  14  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  to be positioned on the left side of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  when the right foot tie-type shoe  12  is worn. The right hand portion  100  of the right foot tie lace  90  extends through all of the eyelets  22 ,  24  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  which are not occupied by the left hand portion  98  of the right foot tie lace  90 . The right hand portion  100  of the right foot tie lace  90  extends through eyelet  126  on the right side flap  16  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  that is located farthest away from the toe box  14  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  to be positioned on the right side of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  when the right foot tie-type shoe  12  is worn. 
     The left foot tie lace  30  is identically accommodated in the left foot tie-type shoe  50  as has been described with reference to the right foot tie-type shoe  12 . Therefore, while this accommodation will be described, it will not be illustrated as those skilled in the art will be able to visualize the accommodation based on the description and teaching of the disclosure of FIG.  1 . 
     The left foot tie lace  30  is positioned in the eyelets of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  with the midpoint of the left foot tie lace located between and adjacent to the eyelet of the right side flap of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  which is closest to the toe box of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  and the eyelet of the left side flap of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  which is closest to the toe box of the left toot tie-type shoe  50 . The left hand portion of the left foot tie lace  30  extends through every other eyelet of the eyelets of the left foot tie-type shoe  50 . The left hand portion  40  of the left foot tie lace  30  extends through the eyelet on the left side flap of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  that is located farthest away from the toe box of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  to be positioned on the left side of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  when the left foot tie-type shoe  50  is worn, and the right hand portion  42  of the left foot tie lace  30  extends through all of the eyelets of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  which are not occupied by the left hand portion  40  of the left foot tie lace  30 . The right hand portion  42  of the left foot tie lace  30  extends through the eyelet on the right side flap of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  that is located farthest away from the toe box of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  to be positioned on the right side of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  when the left foot tie-type shoe  50  is worn. 
     A right hand marker  150  is located on the right side flap  16  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  to be on the right side of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  when the right foot tie-type shoe  12  is worn. The right hand marker  150  has a color that is identical to the color of the right hand portion  100  of the right foot tie lace  90 . The right hand marker  150  is in the shape of a right hand and includes an indicia  152  in the shape of an “R”. 
     A right hand color  152  is located on the right side quarter panel  27  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12 . The right hand color  152  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  is identical to the color  106  of the right hand portion  100  of the right foot tie lace  90 . A left hand color  154  is located on the left side quarter panel  26  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12 . The left hand color  154  of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  is identical to the color  106  on the left hand portion  98  of the right foot tie lace  90 . 
     A left hand marker  160  is on the outsole  70  of the left foot tie-type shoe  50 . The left hand marker  160  has a color that is identical to the color  44  of the left hand portion  40  of the left foot tie lace  30 . The left hand marker  160  is in the shape of a left hand and includes an indicia  162  in the shape of an “L”. The location of the left hand marker  160  on the outsole  70  and the right hand marker  150  on the right side flap  16  emphasizes the difference between the shoes  12 ,  50  and helps reinforce the learning of the right hand/left hand differences. 
     A right hand color is located on right side quarter panel of the left foot tie-type shoe  50 . The right hand color of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  is identical to the color of the right hand portion  42  of the left foot tie lace  30 . A left hand color is located on the left side quarter panel of the left foot tie-type shoe  50 . The left hand color of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  is identical to the color  44  on the left hand portion  40  of the left foot tie lace  30 . 
     The colors on the quarter panels of the shoes further reinforces the right hand/left hand differences and shoe-tying learning skills of educational system  10 . 
     In all respects, the left foot tie-type shoe  50  is identical to the right foot tie-type shoe shown in FIG. 1 with the exception of the outsoles. As will be understood from the foregoing discussion, the outsole  70  of the left foot tie-type shoe  50  is identical to, but a mirror image of, the outsole of the right foot tie-type shoe  12 , but includes left hand marker  160  whereas the outsole of the right foot tie-type shoe  12  does not have such a marker. 
     An instructional video  170  shows how to tie shoes using the left foot tie lace  30  and the right foot tie lace  90  as well as the right hand marker  150  and the left hand marker  160 . 
     It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.