Abstract:
A shoelace pull tab device for facilitating and teaching lace tying. The shoelace pull tab comprises a small flat beadlike device having two spaced apertures therethrough which are tapered and angled. The lace end of a lace member is threaded up through a first aperture and down through a second aperture to create a gripping pull tab which will not slide/move its position at the newly created apex of the loop in the lace. The pull tab provides a grip or pull tab for children to manipulate the laces into a bow. Indicia on the pull tabs are used as action characters or objects in a story-telling teaching method for learning shoelace tying wherein the action characters or objects engage in activities directly related to the actions necessary for tying a shoelace.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates to shoelace tying training devices and particularly to a shoelace pull tab device for facilitating and teaching lace tying, the pull tab comprising a small beadlike device having two spaced apertures therethrough which are both tapered to squeeze the lace and angled to create friction through which the lace end on lace member is threaded up through a first aperture and down through a second aperture to create a gripping tab which will not slide/move its position on the newly created end of said lace members thereby providing a grip or pull tab for children to manipulate the laces into a bow. 
         [0006]    2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
         [0007]    With the advent of hook and loop fasteners and self closing shoe systems the art of tying ones shoelaces has been lost to many children ages 3-8. As a matter of fact, 75% of children now learn to tie their shoelaces at ages 6 and above. 
         [0008]    Many prior art tying methods are approached using the “Bunny-ear or Loop” method which creates too many “holes/loops” and confuses children whose dexterity is not advanced at an early age. Many devices have been proposed to instruct a child to tie a bow in their shoelaces including dolls, books, toys, and practice boards, but none have attached devices to facilitate tying and aid in learning how to tie shoe laces, as does the device and the associated teaching method of the present invention which ultimately allows the child to create a more secure knot. 
         [0009]    Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,256, issued Jun. 24, 2003 to Liu, is for a double-bow shoe lace device for a shoe which includes a shoe lace, a clamp member, a decorative knot, and a pair of pull members. The shoe lace has a first lace segment adapted to be strung on the shoe, and a second lace segment that includes first and second lace portions. The lower ends of the lace portions are anchored on eyelet tabs of the shoe. The clamp member is sleeved slidably on the lace portions. Downward and upward movements of the clamp member along the lace portions result in tightening and loosening of the shoe. The lace portions are anchored on the clamp member to form a pair of loops. The knot is positioned on the clamp member, and has a pair of distal lace ends. Each of the pull members is mounted slidably on a respective one of the loops. 
         [0010]    Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,510, issued Dec. 13, 1994 to Stanfield, claims a shoelace tying aid comprising a combination shoelace and joining device for use by young children or the handicapped, to aid in tying a bow in a shoelace that is mounted on a shoe. The joining device has a pair of permanently connected shoelace holding portions, with a first portion substantially permanently mounted on a shoelace part and a second portion which is child-mountable on a second shoelace part to hold a shoelace end portion in a loop configuration which aids in tying a bow. Each shoelace holding portion forms a passage part through which one of the shoelace parts extends. One joining device includes a pair of clamp parts that can be clamped around the second shoelace part, and that forms the second joining portion. The device includes a flexible strip that holds the clamp parts together and that forms the first holding portion. A teaching kit includes a joining device mounted on a short teaching shoelace that is threaded on a shoe device in the form of a cardboard plate representing a shoe. 
         [0011]    Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,667, issued May 11, 1993 to Stanfield, discloses a teaching shoelace for use by young children or the handicapped, which facilitates tying of a bow by providing a moderately stiff end portion; the stiff end portion can retain a loop shape when a pair of spaced locations on the stiff end portion are temporarily fastened together as by a pair of Velcro retainers. The shoelace is formed of a flexible shoelace core with first and second opposite end portions, and with the first end portion penetrated by a solidified, originally-liquid stiffening material. The shoelace can be made only long enough to leave ends for bow tying, when it projects directly between the uppermost eyelets of a shoe, to train a child rather than to also lace his shoes. The length is small enough that the distance between the middle of the shoelace and the closest Velcro retainer is less than the distance between two Velcro retainers. A short tube is provided through which the shoelace projects, with knots tied at opposite ends of the tube and with the tube lying under the uppermost eyelets of a shoe, to assure that opposite ends of the shoelace are of equal length. The two shoelace locations can be held together by a hook device. 
         [0012]    Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 2,646,630, issued Jul. 28, 1953 to Miller, indicates an educational shoelace having spaced and fragmented pictorial representations thereon which when a bow is correctly tied will be positioned as to form a complete pictorial representation. 
         [0013]    Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,557, issued Aug. 3, 1982 to Bandar, concerns device which can be used as an educational means for teaching young children how to tie a double bow knot, particularly in their shoe laces, or as an aid to the handicapped child lacking sufficient manual dexterity in tying such a knot. Basically the device is a planar body member in which is provided two pairs of spaced-apart openings in alignment with one another, the two intermediate openings being connected by a narrow opening or slit. The device allows “bunny ear” loops to be formed in the intermediate spaced-apart openings and to form the double bow knot by making a simple overhand knot with the two “bunny ear” loops. 
         [0014]    Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,457, issued Oct. 8, 1996 to Haslam, describes a teaching aid to assist in teaching a young child or other person how to tie his or her own shoelaces by correlating the various steps of the shoelace-tying process to a story or other logical sequence of events that the child is familiar with or can quickly learn so that an adult can readily explain the steps of the process to the child and the child can more easily understand, learn and remember the process. A teaching aid according to the present invention is a special shoelace having distinguishable segments provided thereon which are arranged in a predetermined pattern and at predetermined positions on the shoelace so as to provide a guide for describing the manner in which the shoelace is to be manipulated during the tying process. 
         [0015]    What is needed is an actual attachment to each free end of a lace on one of a pair of footwear positioned at the apex of where each of the bows would normally be formed to tie the lace so that each attachment acts as a pull tab to be gripped by a child to make it easier for a child to tie the lace on the footwear by providing an easier point to push through the hole and to pull on to cinch down the bow. Thus one learns to tie the lace rapidly and easily, wherein the pull tabs remain on the laces as a decorative element so that they are always on the lace to assist the child whenever the lace needs tying until the child is ready to remove the device from the one lace first and then the second and tie on their own. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    An object of the present invention is to provide an actual attachment to each free end of a lace on one of a pair of footwear positioned at the apex of where each of the bows would normally be formed to tie the lace so that each attachment acts as a pull tab to be gripped by a child to make it easier for a child to tie the lace on the footwear by providing an easier point to push through the hole and to pull on to cinch down the bow and thereby learn to tie the lace rapidly and easily, wherein the pull tabs have indicia thereon to be used in the shoelace tying teaching method of the present invention which involves telling an action story to a child using the indicia in the action story wherein the characters and other images on the pull tabs move through motions related to the shoelace tying process, wherein the pull tabs remain on the laces as a decorative element so that they are always on the lace to assist the child whenever the lace needs tying until the child is ready to remove the device from the one lace first and then the second and tie on their own. 
         [0017]    One more object of the present invention is to provide decorative indicia on the pull tab to match a child&#39;s shoes or outfits or a character or object that the child relates to emotionally. 
         [0018]    A corollary object of the present invention is to provide a storyline which is used in conjunction with the indicia on the pull tabs to further assist in teaching a child to tie their shoelaces. 
         [0019]    An additional object of the present invention is to provide two spaced apertures through the shoelace pull tab which are tapered to squeeze the lace and angled to create friction through which the lace end on lace member is threaded up through a first aperture and down through a second aperture to create a secure gripping tab which will not slide/move its position on the newly created loop end of said lace members. 
         [0020]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a shoelace tab which cannot be moved by a child and may only be removed by an adult. 
         [0021]    A final object of the present invention is to provide a shoelace tab which mounts on a shoelace and creates an apex gripping point, thereby eliminating the confusion created by large loops when tying a bow. 
         [0022]    In brief, the present invention combines a facilitating component with a teaching component. The device consists of a small square/round or other geometrical device, beadlike in appearance comprising two vertical tunnel holes which are tapered to squeeze the lace and angled to create friction, through which the lace end on lace member is threaded up through and down through to create a gripping tab which will not slide/move its position on the newly created end of said lace members. The tapered tunnel is adapted to accommodate any lace size and effectively pinches/squeezes the lace parts creating a non-moveable point. The purpose of the beadlike device is to provide a grip or pull tab for children to manipulate the laces into a bow to facilitate the lace tying process and make lace tying easier to learn. 
         [0023]    The primary advantage of the present invention it provides an entertaining teaching method using an action story involving the indicia on the pull tabs which facilitate lace tying as well as providing the figures for the action story. 
         [0024]    An advantage of the present invention is that it is easily manipulated by a child. 
         [0025]    Another advantage of the present invention is that it remains securely in position until an adult removes it. 
         [0026]    One more advantage of the present invention is that it may be attractively shaped or decorated. 
         [0027]    An additional advantage of the present invention is that it forms small, non-confusing looped ends. 
         [0028]    Another advantage of the present invention is that it does not impede the tying of the initial crossover when tying one&#39;s laces. 
         [0029]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the laces may still be untied as usual by simply pulling on one end of a shoelace. 
         [0030]    A further advantage of the present invention is that it is easy to install. 
         [0031]    A contributory advantage of the present invention is that it is economical to manufacture. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]    These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings: 
           [0033]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the pair of shoelace tying pull tabs of the present invention shown mounted on the two ends of a shoelace to form a pull-tab apex in the lace; 
           [0034]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a rounded tapered rectangular wedge shaped pull tab of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of a circular wedge shaped pull tab of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a single pull tab of the present invention bearing a character image mounted on a shoelace; 
           [0037]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a pair of shoelace pull tabs of the present invention being tied into a bow. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0038]    In  FIGS. 1-4 , a shoelace tying device  20  attaches to each free shoelace end  31 A and  31 B to form a loop  32 A and  32 B in the shoelace end  31 A and  31 B for facilitating shoelace tying and teaching shoelace tying. 
         [0039]    A pair of shoelace pull tabs  20  are provided, each attached to a mid-portion of each free lace end  31 A and  31 B forming a loop  32 A and  32 B in each of the laces  31 A and  31 B with the pull tab  20  at an apex of the loop  32 A and  32 B, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , for gripping by a child. The pull tab  20  comprises a planar tab  20  having a front gripping surface  23 A and a back gripping surface  23 B for a child to grasp, as shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  3 . The pull tab  20  has two spaced apertures  22  therethrough (best seen in  FIGS. 2A and 2B ) between the gripping surfaces  23 A and  23 B and in spaced relation to the gripping surfaces  23 A and  23 B. The apertures  22  are tapered to squeeze the lace and angled to create friction in order to retain the lace  31 A and  31 B immovably therein. The apertures  22  effectively pinch/squeeze the lace parts  31 A and  31 B in narrow openings  25  so the pull tab is not moveable by a child. The lace end  31 A and  31 B is threaded up through a first aperture  22  and down through a second aperture  22  to retain the pull tab  20  in place at the apex of the loop  32 A and  32 B, thereby providing a pull tab  20  for a child to grip to manipulate the laces  31 A and  31 B into a bow, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The pull tabs  20  facilitate and teach lace tying and remain attached to the lacing until removed by an adult. 
         [0040]    Each of the pull tabs  20  bear indicia  24 A- 24 D thereon as a teaching device for shoelace tying as well as a pleasing decorative fixture remaining on the shoe which may match the footwear color or style and may provide a symbol or figure or character to which the child relates. The visual indicia  24 A- 24 D on the pull tabs  20  assist the tying process by being used in the method of teaching a child to tie shoelaces, including creating stories based on the indicia and how the story provides action related to the movement of the figures of the indicia which coincides with the shoelace tying process. The pull tabs  20  may also bear decorative matter, such as colors or shapes, such as a rounded rectangular shape form  21 A, as shown in  FIG. 2A  or a rounded shape form  21 B as shown in  FIG. 2B . 
         [0041]    A shoelace tying method is also provided for facilitating shoelace tying and teaching shoelace tying. The method comprises a first step of attaching each one of a pair of shoelace pull tabs  20  to a mid-portion of each free lace end  31 A and  31 B forming a loop  32 A and  32 B in the lace  31 A and  31 B with the pull tab  20  at an apex of the loop  32 A and  32 B for gripping by a child, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 . The pull tab  20  comprises a planar tab  20  having a front gripping surface  23 A and a back gripping surface  23 B for a child to grasp. The pull tab  20  also has two spaced apertures  22  therethrough between the gripping surfaces  23 A and  23 B and spaced relation to the gripping surfaces  23 A and  23 B. The apertures  22  have a high friction surface lining to retain the lace  31 A and  31 B immovably therein. The first step is completed by threading a lace end  31 A and  31 B up through a first aperture  22  and down through a second aperture  22  to retain the pull tab  20  in place at the apex of the loop  32 A and  32 B thereby providing a pull tab  20  for a child to grip to manipulate the laces  31 A and  31 B into a bow; the pull tabs  20  remain attached to the lace  31 A and  31 B, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , thereby facilitating and teaching lace tying. 
         [0042]    The method also comprising using indicia  24  on each of the pull tabs  20  as a teaching device for shoelace tying. The method may further comprise indicia  24  having visual indicia  24 A- 24 D on the pull tabs  20  to be used in a method of teaching a child to tie shoelaces. 
         [0043]    In use, one of the present invention pull tab devices  20  is mounted on each lace member  31 A and  31 B by an adult approximately 3 inches up from the base of the lace  31 A and  31 B where it exits the top eyelet  33  of a shoe  30 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . This is accomplished by threading the lace member end  31 A and  31 B up through a first inner aperture  22  until it rests approximately 3 inches from the base of said lace  31 A and  31 B at which point the lace  31 A and  31 B is threaded back down through a second outer aperture  22  creating a “thumb/pull tab”  20  at the loop apex  32 A and  32 B, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 . The pull tab  20  is not removable by children but can be removed by an adult, due to the frictional rubberized lining in the apertures  22 . 
         [0044]    The pull tab device  20  is appealing to children as it comes in popular colors with an imprint or graphic indicia  24 A- 24 D on the gripping surface  23 A and  23 B of each device  20  making it desirable to wear on their shoes  30 . The graphic or other indicia  24 A- 24 D and color are used in the method/aid to teach and assist children to learn the motion of crossing the joined lace members  31 A and  31 B and tucking one pull tab device  20  through the hole  35  formed from the aforementioned crossing of the lace  31 A and  31 B (see  FIG. 4 ), at which point the child pulls on each pull tab device  20  to finish the tying process. This is done through using a storyline method of teaching shoelace tying including the indicia  24 A- 24 D as a subject of the story. 
         [0045]    In  FIG. 4 , the present invention offers a teaching method for tying shoelaces that ultimately allows the child to create a more secure knot. The method uses the fixed loop ends  32 A and  32 B created by the pull-tabs  20  and instructs the child to make an “x” or cross the two tabs and make one tab go into the hole  35  created by the “x”. This method is enhanced and made clearer using characters depicted on the pull tabs mentioned above which play a role in the teaching of the method. For example; it becomes a game where the red race car  24 D (car #3) chases the blue race car  24 C (car #7) around and into the pit or “hole”  35 . 
         [0046]    In another example of  FIG. 1 , a first loop end  32 B with a pull tab device  20  depicting a cat or kitten  24 B could have the cat chase around the loop end  32 A of a second device  20  depicting a mouse  24 A and have the first loop end  32 B go into the hole  35  formed, shown in  FIG. 4 , which could be called “the mouse hole” in the storyline. 
         [0047]    The pull tab devices  20  are mounted and are left on the laces  31 A and  31 B until the child becomes proficient performing the tying of the bow, at which time one of the devices  20  is removed leaving the child to learn to hold the lace members  31 A and  31 B together at the same point without the device  20  on his/her own. Once this is accomplished the second device  20  can be removed and the child can complete the education process of learning to tie their own laces  31 A and  31 B. 
         [0048]    Previous devices lack the teaching element and mechanically inhibit tying the first cross-over  34  when and if they are permanently mounted whereas the proposed device  20  allows the initial crossover  34  to be performed in the regular manner using the lace member ends  31 A and  31 B. Due to their positioning and structure, the devices  20  pass over one another easily allowing the base cross  34  to be tied, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Other prior art creates a large loop which causes some confusion as to which loop goes through which loop/hole. Additionally, the child is expected to apply said prior art device on their own when no adult is able to help. 
         [0049]    The pull tab device  20  of the present invention is semi-permanently mounted until the child is ready to move to the next step of learning and does not inhibit the first cross-over step  34  of tying a shoe  30 , the bow making or the untying of the shoe  30 . The device  20  is adapted to be mounted on the apex of the lace  31 A and  31 B, thereby leaving a pull-tab  32 A and  32 B and avoiding the “bunny ear” or “loop” teaching method of prior art. The present invention  20  simplifies the tying confusion created by having multiple loops and holes to complete a bow. A child&#39;s dexterity develops with age therefore a fixed device  20  which aides in teaching the actual motion of bow tying is preferable to mounting or dismounting of said device  20  each time the lace  31 A and  31 B is tied or untied. The pull tab  20  removes the guesswork out of where to hold the “loop”  32 A and  32 B in order to pull it through and complete a bow, as shown in  FIG. 4  and creates an easy point to push through the “hole” and pull to cinch down the bow. The present invention device  20  provides a definitive grasping point  23 A and  23 B and therefore focuses on the motion and placement first. It also sets the child up to learn a preferable tying method as they get older. The method provided creates a much more secure knot which can still be untied by pulling on one lace member end  31 A and  31 B. 
         [0050]    The indicia  24 A- 24 D, seen in  FIG. 3 , may be applied on or formed as part of the pull tab  20  using methods from a list of methods including; painting, printing, stamping, etching, molding, imprinting, silk screening, adhesive mounting, extruding, using decals or any other method of applying indicia. 
         [0051]    It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.