Abstract:
An improved guide for securing a lace, rope or other material, which enables the material to be tightened and secured with ease is disclosed. The guide allows the material to slide through a buckle allowing a user to tighten the material and lock the buckle without the loss of tension in the material. The guide is implemented on footwear, watch bands, luggage and backpack straps, ropes for tents, boats and other structures, and any other buckling or line securing apparatus.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/867,065 filed Jan. 24, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to fastening devices, more specifically to an improved buckling system for securing a length of a material. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Traditional lacing systems for footwear typically include a body having eyelets through which a lace is passed and subsequently secured for purposes of retaining the footwear in snug engagement with a wearer&#39;s foot. In a typical footwear lacing system, groups of eyelets are disposed along opposite sides of an opening, which is provided in an upper portion of the footwear and arranged to extend along the footwear in overlying relation to a tongue. A lace of desired cross sectional shape, such as round, oval or rectangular, is threaded through the eyelets typically from a point adjacent the toe portion and finally tied in a knot at a point typically adjacent the upper foot to maintain a desired tension in the lace and resultant snugness of the footwear against a wearer&#39;s foot. 
         [0004]    Problems from excessive tension applied to the lace and securing knots can sometimes put unwanted and harmful pressure on the wearer&#39;s foot. Traditional systems and methods of tying of a round, oval or flat lace often come undone or loosen during movement or activity by the wearer. In certain systems this pressure on the wearer&#39;s foot can be reduced by the increasing the thickness of the shoe&#39;s tongue, however such remedies can lead to increased weight and bulk of the footwear. Such characteristics may be undesirable in footwear designed for active wearers (i.e., hikers, runners, cross-trainers, exercisers, athletes, etc.) 
         [0005]    Additionally, some traditional footwear utilize buckles having a heel portion to bind and tighten the lace in use to prevent movement. In order to release the tension of a tightened lace, the wearer must pull the top flap of the buckle all the way up to release the tension on the heel area. Further to tighten the lace, the wearer must put the buckle into an open position, pull the lace through the buckle and securely close the buckle while still maintaining a pulling force on the lace such that the lace does not slacken or become loose while the wearer closes the buckle. Such cumbersome, time-consuming and ineffective movements in tightening and loosening the lace of the footwear may be undesirable. 
         [0006]    In addition to footwear, similar undesirable qualities exist in other strapping or security applications. For example, watch bands, luggage and backpack straps, ropes for tents, boats and other structures, and any other buckling or line securing apparatuses all suffer from the same undue pressure and cumbersome tightening requirements. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a safe, quick, efficient and effective system to tighten a securing length of material such as a lace, rope, cord, strap or string. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Embodiments of the present invention include an improved guide for securing a lace, rope or other material, which enables the material to be tightened and secured with ease. Embodiments of the invention allow a material to slide through a buckle allowing a user to tighten the material and lock the buckle without the loss of tension in the material. Embodiments of the invention may be implemented on footwear, watch bands, luggage and backpack straps, ropes for tents, boats and other structures, and any other buckling or line securing apparatuses. 
         [0009]    Embodiments of the invention include a buckle guide system comprising a base and a flap pivotally attached to the base creating a first opening when the flap is in an open position. A guide is disposed on the flap and creates a second opening near the distal end of the flap. A foot is also disposed on the flap. A lace extends through the first and second opening in which the guide is in frictional engagement with the lace and the foot and the guide securely engage the lace when the flap is in a closed position. 
         [0010]    Another embodiment of the invention includes a restraint buckle for minimizing and preventing movement of a material passing therethrough. The restraint buckle comprises a base portion and a top portion pivotally attached to the base. The top portion defines a slot near a proximal end of the buckle when the buckle is in an open position. A foot is disposed near the proximal end of the top portion of the buckle and a guide is disposed near a distal end of the top portion of the buckle. The guide defines a second slot. The material passes through the first slot and the second slot wherein, in the open position the foot and the guide provide a frictional engagement with the material preventing free travel of the material and the foot and the guide lock the material in a fixed position in the closed position. 
         [0011]    Yet another embodiment includes a method of restraining the movement of a material through a buckle having open and closed positions in which the material is passed through a first slot of the buckle in an open position. The first slot is defined between a base and a top portion pivotally attached to a base. The material is passed over a foot disposed on a proximal end of the top portion of the buckle. The material is passed through a guide disposed on the distal end of the top portion of the buckle providing a friction engagement with the material and preventing free movement of the material when the buckle is in an open position. The top portion of the buckle is clamped against the base locking the material in place between the top portion and the base by the foot and the guide. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    These embodiments and other aspects of this invention will be readily apparent from the detailed description below and the appended drawings, which are meant to illustrate and not to limit the invention, and in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a guide system in an open position in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a guide system in a closed position in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a top view of an implementation of a guide system on a shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a top view of an implementation of a plurality of guides on a shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The invention will be more completely understood through the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the attached drawings. Detailed embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the invention in virtually any appropriately detailed embodiment. 
         [0018]    Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a buckle guide system  100  in an open position is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The buckle guide system  100  includes a flap or top portion  2  pivotally attached to a base portion  8 . In one embodiment the top portion  2  is attached to the base portion  8  via a hinge  12 . In operation, the top portion  2  of the buckle pivots on the hinge  12  to move between open and closed positions. A first opening is created between the top portion  2  and the base  8  underneath the hinge  12  when the buckle is in the open position. The top portion  2  further includes a guide  4  near the distal end of the top portion  2  spanning two flanges extending from the top portion  2 . A guide opening is formed between the guide  4  and the top portion  2 . A foot  6  is attached to the top portion  2  near the hinge  12 . A lace  10  is woven through the first opening between the top portion  2  and the base  8  and through the second opening formed by the guide  4  at the distal end of the top portion  2 . In one embodiment the guide opening is substantially the same size as the lace  10 . As explained below, this engagement provides a friction engagement with the lace  10  preventing free travel. 
         [0019]    While the embodiments described herein detail a hinged connection between the top portion and the base, one skilled in the art should recognize that any pivoting arrangement, such as engagements due to friction, flanges, or other connection devices may be implemented without deviating from the scope of the invention. 
         [0020]    According to the operation of one embodiment, the lace  10  may be pulled through the buckle and the buckle may be placed in a closed position to lock the lace  10  in place without losing the desired tension placed on the lace  10 . In one embodiment, the lace  10  travels through the first opening and over the foot  6 , then through the second opening of the guide  4 . If the pulling force on the lace  10  is stopped, the lace  10  is held in position. The alignment of the lace  10  against the foot  6  and the friction provided by the fit of the lace  10  through the guide  4  prevent the lace  10  from traveling in a reverse direction back towards the first opening and loosening the lace  10 . The buckle may be closed by pressing the top portion  2  down around the pivoting hinge  12  to engage the top portion  2  with the base  8 , whereby the foot  6  and the guide  4  securely lock the lace  10  in place, as shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0021]    An embodiment of the buckle guide system is shown in  FIG. 2  in a locked position  200  with the top portion  2  of the buckle in a closed position locking the lace  10  in place. The lace  10  is clamped against the base  8  of the buckle by the foot  6 , thereby closing the first opening. In the closed position the lace  10  is prevented from traveling freely or by the application of a force. In contrast, when the buckle guide system is in the open position, the lace  10  does not travel freely, but may be moved by applying a force. 
         [0022]    An embodiment of the invention provides an engagement that allows the easy securing of the lace  10  to a desired tension. As a result of the persistent tension applied to the lace  10  by the foot  6  and the guide  4 , the buckle guide system  100  prevents the reverse travel of the lace  10  once it has been tightened. In an illustrative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the guide buckle system  100  is implemented on a shoe  300 . The shoe  300  includes a lace  10  interwoven through a series of eyelets  14  running up both sides the length of the shoe  300 . The lace  10  runs through a buckle guide system  100 , shown in the closed position, near the top of the shoe  300 . The lace enters the buckle guide system  100  underneath the hinge  12  and under the foot (not shown) and continues through the friction engagement of the guide  4 . 
         [0023]    According to one embodiment, a wearer of the shoe  300 , with the lace  10  loosened and the buckle in an open position, places the shoe  300  on her foot. The wearer applies and upward pulling force to the lace  10 . The lace  10  is then pulled through the eyelets  14  thereby tightening the shoe  300  around the wearer&#39;s foot. In a traditional buckle or tying arrangement, the wearer would have to apply a constant pulling force to the lace in order to maintain the desired tightness and fit of the shoe while attempting to secure the lace by tying or buckling. According to one embodiment of the invention, the wearer may release the pulling force from the lace  10  without having the lace  10  travel in a reverse direction and loosen the fit of the shoe  300  while closing the buckle guide system. When the pulling force is stopped, the friction provided by the guide  4  and the foot  6  on the lace  10  prevents the loosening and reverse travel of the lace  10 . This allows the wearer to easily and quickly close the buckle guide system  100  by engaging the top portion  2  with the base  8 . The lace  10 , locked in place, extends out of the buckle guide system  100  and towards the bottom and heel of the shoe  300 . In one embodiment the wearer may release the buckle guide system  100  by pulling upward on the lace  10  providing a quick release. The quick release feature allows the user to avoid having to open the buckle by prying the top portion upwards with her fingertips. This arrangement is quick and efficient and is advantageous if the wearer&#39;s fingertips are covered by gloves or are sensitive from a cold environment. 
         [0024]    An alternative embodiment of the buckle guide system  100  is shown in  FIG. 4 , in which a plurality of buckle guide systems  100  is integrated into a single shoe  400 . According to the embodiment, a series of laces  10  are run through a series of eyelets  14  extending up the length of the shoe  400 . Each lace runs though an individual buckle guide system  100  located on the side of the shoe  400 . A bar  100  is affixed to the top portions  2  of the buckle guide systems  100  allowing a single actuation to open and close all of the buckle guide systems in one motion. In such an arrangement, the wearer saves time and energy that would be expended by tightening and securing each lace through each buckle guide system individually. 
         [0025]    While the embodiments and figures described herein show a substantially flat lace passing through a rectangular opening formed by the guide, one skilled in the art should recognize that any shape of lace, or other material, may be implemented (i.e., round, oval, etc.). Similarly, any shape guide opening may be formed to correspond to the shape of the lace or material in order to provide the frictional engagement of the lace with the guide through the buckle. 
         [0026]    Further, while the embodiments described herein include a buckle guide system implemented on a shoe, one skilled in the art should recognize that any structure or device requiring the securing of a length of material may be implemented. For example, the buckle guide system described above, having a round or oval guide, may be used with a rope or a cord. Any structure requiring the tightening and securing of a rope may be passed through a buckle guide system to prevent the reverse travel of the rope. Examples of such possible implementations include, without limitation, tents, boat riggings, backpacks, cargo straps, luggage, and watch bands. 
         [0027]    While the invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes, omissions and/or additions may be made and substantial equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, unless specifically stated any use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.