Abstract:
A lacing device in which the adjusting and maintaining of the vamp can be conveniently achieved. The device is slidably attached at an appropriate position to a lace such that it can be moved upward or downward as desired.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a lacing device for sport shoes in which the vamp section can be optionally adjusted and maintained to fit almost any foot size. 
     Most sport shoes are equipped with conventional laces, but it has been found to be inconvenient to use laces for all types of sport shoes. For instance, the laces may easily loosen and become tangled during rigorous exercise, cuasing the wearer to trip. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a lacing device for shoes which allows the wearer to effectively adjust the fit of vamp of the shoes. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a lacing device for shoes which is simple and economical to manufacture. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a lacing device for shoes which allow the wearer to conveniently take off or put on his shoe. 
     Other objects and advantges of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sport shoe incorporating the lacing device of the present invention and illustrating the vamp section secured; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the lacing device; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the lacing device which illustrates the position of lace within the device when Y-shaped piece is pulled out; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the lacing device which illustrates the position of lace within the device when Y-shaped piece is pushed in; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention which shows the top surface of lacing device in detail; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the present invention which shows the bottom surface of lacing device in detail. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring FIG. 1 can be seen that the lacing device comprises a housing (1), fastening element (2) and a Y-shaped piece (3). Within the housing (1) is a hollow space (20) in which the rear face of said housing (1) is provided with a notch (11) (not shown). The front face and the two side faces of the housing (1) each are designed with an oval-shaped aperture (13) which extend to the hollow space (20). The hollow space (20) in the center of the housing (1) has a hexagonal shape and forms two rear and two front inclined edges (15) and (16) respectively. On the surfaces of the front inclined edges (16) have treads (see FIG. 3) which increase the friction between the lace (4) and said surface of the rear inclined edges (16). The top surface of the housing (1) has a fastening seat (18) which fastens the lace (4). There is also an oval-shaped aperture (19) on the surface through which the laces (4) fitted. 
     The fastening element (2) is arch-shaped, in which each inner surface of both ends of the fastening element (2) is designed with a hook (21), which fits into the square hole (14) at the rear end of either side face of the housing (1), and thus fit into the notch (11) of the lacing device. There are two parallel plates (10) (See FIG. 6) which extend from the central portion of the arch-shaped fastening element (2), which prevent the tips (31) of the Y-shaped piece (3) from clamping to each other. 
     The Y-shaped piece (3) comprises two flexible tips (31) and a horizontal plate (32). The Y-shaped piece (3) is formed by injection moulding with FRP material having excellent elasticity. Along the tips (31) of the Y-shaped piece (3), a plurality of holes (34), (37) and (38) are provided, which the lace passes through. Two tiny protrusions (35) are provided at the base of the Y-shaped piece (3) such that a plate (32) with apertures (36) can be exactly secured to said tiny protrusions (35). 
     Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the combination of lace (4) with the lacing device of the present invention can be seen. The lace (4) passes first through the holes on the vamp and one end of the shoelace (4) passes through the oval-shaped aperture (13) of the housing (1). Next, the lace (4) passes through the holes (34) and (37), (38) which are shown in the drawings respectively. After this process is completed, both ends of the shoelace (4) are fastened on to the fastening seat (18) via the aperture (19). The procedure of lacing the shoelace into said Y-shaped piece (3) or through the housing (1) should be completed before the shoe is sold in the market. 
     The following few paragraphs describe how to adjust the laces using the present invention so that the shoes fit comfortably. It will be assumed that the vamp section has been laced and the lacing device appropriately attached to the lace (4). 
     Referring to FIG. 4, the procedure for loosening the lace can be understood. Firstly, the Y-shaped piece (3) is pushed in by pressing the plate (32) which causes the tips (31) (not labelled) of said element (3) to be diverted inwardly due to the surface of edge (15). Secondly, the lacing device is pulled upward with the Y-shaped piece (3) remaining in a pressed position, that is, the lacing device is slidably moved upwardly along the lace (4). Thus the lacing device apart from the shoes to space a suitable length, the vamp of lace is loosened and the wearer can then remove his foot from the shoe. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the procedure for the tightening of vamp section can be understood. Firstly, the end section of lace (4) is pulled tightly after lace (4) emerged from aperture (38) of the Y-shaped piece (3) and then the Y-shaped piece (3) is pushed inwardly along the housing (1) while the lacing device is slidably moved downward to the vamp such that any slack can be taken up, the extreme of lace (4) is fitted at fastening seat (18). The Y-shaped piece (3) is released when the shoelace (4) is tight enough. Due to the friction between the shoelace (4) and the tread on the surface of inclined edge (16), the lace is thus clamped tightly and the vamp will always fit appropriately. 
     While herein a particular embodiment has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the scope of the invention.