Abstract:
The shoe tongue centralizer assembly includes a binding post and a centralizer band which, together prevent the tongue of any type of laced shoe, boot or other footwear from significant movement either laterally or longitudinally in the footwear.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/589,659 filed on Oct. 27, 2009 by James C. Walker. The content of this prior application is fully incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This intent of this invention is to provide an improved method of maintaining the free end of the tongue of a shoe, boot, skate or other type of laced footwear (collectively referred to herein as shoe) that utilizes a tongue, centered between the upper ends of the two vamps. In the conventional shoe, the tongue is attached to the lower part of the vamp, leaving the upper end of the tongue to move freely. Due to the shape of the foot, the tendency of the upper portion of the tongue is to drift outward and sometimes downward, causing discomfort and an esthetically unappealing visual projection of the shoe. Other attempts at securing the tongue from lateral or longitudinal movement include slits in the tongue for the laces to pass through, which limit, but not prevent, movement and other mechanical devices to secure the tongue to the vamps or laces. These methods proved to be either inadequate, or inconvenient in the normal process of manufacturing and or putting on, wearing or taking off the shoe. 
     SUMMARY 
     The Shoe Tongue Centralizer assembly maintains the shoe tongue in the center of the opening between the two upper vamps while inserting the foot into the shoe and while the shoe is being worn. The Shoe Tongue Centralizer allows movement of the tongue as a result of movement of the foot while the shoe is being worn, yet maintains the relative centralization of the tongue in relation to the vamps. 
     In the present assembly, the shoe includes the conventional sole, side quarters, vamps and tongue and a centralizer assembly for maintaining the tongue in the center of the vamps. The centralizer assembly secures the tongue to the right and left upper vamps by means of an elastic centralizer band anchored in upper eyelets and a binding post mounted to the center of the upper portion of the tongue. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one shoe type utilizing the Shoe Tongue Centralizer Assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross section of the shoe depicted in  FIG. 1  utilizing the Shoe Tongue Centralizer Assembly, showing the Binding Post and Elastic Centralizer Band. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged cross section of a shoe tongue, showing the penetration of the Binding Post through the tongue material. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross section of a Binding Post showing one method of fastening the top part of the Binding Post to the bottom part of the Binding Post; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the Binding Post top surface showing a possible decorative emblem. 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of one type of elastic centralizer band showing the binding post loop and end anchors. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a second embodiment of elastic centralizer band showing a single end anchor with both ends of the elastic band secured to the end anchor. In this embodiment, two centralizer bands would be used on each shoe. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Although there are many possible embodiments of this invention, specific embodiments are shown in the drawings and will be described herein. The embodiments described are to be considered an example of the concepts of the invention and not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments as described herein and depicted in the figures. The shoe tongue shown in the Figures generally is representative of the type of tongue in an athletic or “tennis” shoe. However, the invention can be used in all types of footwear, including ice and roller skates, hiking boots and virtually all types of laced footwear where the tongue is anchored at the vamp. 
     There are several advantages of the present invention. The first advantage is to keep the shoe tongue centered in the opening between the upper vamp ends. For any lace type of footwear, the central function of the shoe tongue is to provide a buffer between the foot and laces. The tongue on many types of shoe, tends to free float and move outward, or to the right on the right foot and to the left on the left foot. The shifting of the tongue can cause discomfort and even medical maladies for the wearer. The second advantage is apparent when the tongue is severely out of position. In this instance, the tongue will no longer protect the wearer from the laces contacting the upper portion of the foot. The third advantage of the tongue being centered is the aesthetic appeal. Finally, the surface of the binding post allows for the display of an endless number of symbols, logos or other decorative display. 
       FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of the invention on an athletic shoe. The shoe has side quarters  19  and Front Toe  11  attached to sole  10 . Vamp  15  is attached to the side quarters  19 , with eyelets  21  attached to vamp  15 . Laces  22  are threaded through eyelets  21  for securing the shoe to the wearer&#39;s foot. The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  shows binding post top  24  and elastic centralizer band  27 .  FIG. 2  shows the binding post top  24  secured to binding post bottom  25 , which penetrate tongue upper end  13  and pass through elastic centralizer band loop  28 . Elastic centralizer band  27  is secured to Vamp Upper End  17  by elastic centralizer band anchors  29  which pass through the uppermost eyelets  21 .  FIG. 3  shows a cross section of tongue  12  with the binding post top  24  penetrating the tongue upper end  13  and threaded into binding post bottom  25 . 
     The binding post top  24  can have a smooth plain surface, or a logo or emblem  26  on the surface as show in  FIG. 5 . The binding post top  24  is secured to the binding post bottom  25  by a male threaded post on the binding post bottom  25  that threads into the female threaded binding post top  24  as shown in  FIG. 4 . This allows the end user to change the binding post should a different logo be desired. 
       FIG. 6  show the elastic centralizer band  27 , which will be available in various lengths to accommodate various shoe sizes and tightness levels for the end user. For a given shoe size, longer bands  27  will allow more flexibility. The end user will be able to easily change bands by slipping the elastic centralizer band loop  28  over the binding post top  24  and slipping elastic centralizer band anchors  29  out of eyelets  21 . Elastic centralizer bands  27  will also be available in multiple colors, so that the end user can customize their shoes. 
     A second embodiment of the elastic centralizer band  27  is shown in  FIG. 7 . This embodiment forms the elastic centralizer band loop by attaching the two ends of the elastic centralizer band  27  to one end anchor  29 . In this embodiment, two elastic centralizer bands assemblies will be used on each shoe.