Abstract:
The present invention provides for an anchoring member configured for a user to securely affix to a shoe eyelet or exterior wall of a shoe for the purpose of preventing the tongue of the shoe from moving laterally or longitudinally (e.g., decentralizing). The present invention is manufactured from a lightweight, comfortable and inexpensive material, thereby providing users with optimum comfort during use and providing manufacturers the ability to inexpensively mass produce the product.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    The present application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/050,088, filed on Sep. 13, 2014 and entitled “Method For Preventing A Shoe Tongue From Decentralizing,” which is entirely incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    The present invention relates to improving footwear and more particularly to a method for preventing the tongue of laced footwear from decentralizing. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]    Nearly everyone who has worn a pair of shoes, a boot or some type of laced footwear (hereinafter collectively referred to as “shoe”) have experienced that the tongue of their shoe tends to move laterally daring the course of being worn. The tongue of the shoe can move from the ideal centralized location for a plurality of reasons; however, the most common occurrence is during exercise. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,472,519 (hereinafter referred to as the “Gingrich patent”) by Elmer R. Gingrich, discloses a shoe clip comprising a body member arranged vertically on the tongue of a shoe, with bendable prongs adapted for penetrating the tongue of the shoe to hold the dip in place. The Gingrich patent fails to disclose a method for preventing the tongue of the shoe from moving laterally without compromising the quality or damaging the shoe. Moreover, the device of the Gingrich patent is positioned in an entirely different location on the shoe as compared to the present invention. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,516,722 (hereinafter referred to as the “Walker patent”) by James C. Walker discloses a shoe tongue centralizer assembly including 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. The Walker patent fails to disclose a method for preventing a shoe tongue from decentralizing, comprising providing an anchoring member forming a first member, second member and a terminal member; wherein said anchoring member is further configured to anchor to at least one shoe eyelet. There is a need for an embodiment that can simply hook onto the eyelet of the shoe rather than a tedious and complex embodiment as claimed in the Walker patent. 
         [0006]    Additional attempts to cure the shoe tongue from moving laterally includes slits in the tongue for the laces to pass through, which limit, but do not prevent, movement of the shoe tongue from the centralized location. As such, these methods proved to be inadequate, tedious or even impractical for a user to prevent the lateral and longitudinal movement of the shoe tongue. 
         [0007]    An illustrative embodiment of the present invention provides an anchoring member configured to anchor to a shoe eyelet to prevent the tongue of the shoe from moving laterally or longitudinally (e.g., decentralizing). The present invention is further comprised of rotating and telescopic properties thereby providing the user with the ability to customize the anchoring member to fit a plurality of shoe designs. Moreover, the ability to customize the present invention saves the user money because the user need only purchase, at most, two anchoring members to attach to the user&#39;s shoe in order to prevent the tongue of the shoe from decentralizing. Finally, the present invention is manufactured from a lightweight and inexpensive material, which thereby provides a manufacturer the ability to inexpensively mass produce the product. 
         [0008]    These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better and more completely understood by referring to the following detailed description of exemplary non-limiting embodiments in conjunction with the drawings, of which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a device configured to prevent lateral and longitudinal movement of a shoe tongue in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the present invention affixed to the eyelet or wall of a users shoe in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Various aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present disclosure. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. The embodiments illustrated below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. These embodiments are chosen and described to best explain the principle of the disclosure and its application and practical use and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of device  100  configured to prevent lateral and longitudinal movement of a shoe tongue. Device  100  is manufactured out of a lightweight material that also contains a high coefficient of friction factor (e.g., ethylene-vinyl acetate, hard plastics, foam-like and memory-foam like materials, silicone based compositions, rubber based compositions). The use of a material that contains a high coefficient of friction factor enhances the overall utility of device  100  because the material, along with the design of device  100 , prevents the tongue of the users shoe from moving laterally during physical activities while providing absolute comfort to the user. Moreover,  FIG. 1  illustrates a device for preventing a shoe tongue from decentralizing, which is comprised of providing an anchoring member  102  wherein anchoring member  102  is configured for a user to affix to the eyelet or the wall of a user&#39;s shoe. Anchoring member  102  is further comprised of teeth-like structures that assist in securing device  100  to the eyelet or wall of the user&#39;s shoe. In addition to anchoring member  102 , device  100  is further comprised of three sections, which are referred to in this application as first member  104 , second member  106 , and terminal member  108 . 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , when anchoring member  102  is affixed to the eyelet or wall  110  of a user&#39;s shoe  200 , the design of device  100  permits first member  104  to align itself vertically along interior wall  112  of the user&#39;s shoe. The ability for first member  104  to align itself along interior wall  112  of a user&#39;s shoe ultimately enhances anchoring member  102  ability to remain securely fastened in its original position. Second member  106  is parallel to first member  104  and as a result, second member  106  runs adjacent to the user&#39;s foot when positioned inside of the user&#39;s shoe. Second member  106  is strategically designed to form fit the contours and curvature of the side of a user&#39;s foot. The curvature of second member  106  provides the user with additional comfort during use. Terminal member  108  is located at the distal end of second member  106 . Terminal member  108  extends horizontally behind tongue  114  of the user&#39;s shoe. The positioning of terminal member  108  and device  100  behind tongue  114  of the shoe prevents tongue  114  from moving laterally and decentralizing from its original position. 
         [0015]    In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, first member  104 , second member  106  and terminal member  108  further embody telescopic properties permitting a user to customize device  100  to their liking. Furthermore, terminal member  108  consist of teeth-like members strategically positioned on the posterior surface thereby increasing the coefficient of friction factor and as a result reducing lateral movement of the shoe&#39;s tongue. 
         [0016]    In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, device  100  would consist of multiple joints strategically located between first member  104  and second member  102  thereby providing additional movement for anchoring member  102  to securely attach to a plurality of shoe designs. Moreover, a second joint would be located between second member  106  and terminal member  108 , which would act identically to the first joint. 
         [0017]    Anchoring member  102  may be manufactured out of a flexible composition to allow the user to manipulate anchoring member  102  to the secure comfortably to the shoe eyelet. Furthermore, anchoring member  102  may be constructed out of a composition embodying a high coefficient of friction (e.g., silicone based composition, rubber based composition) thereby preventing the anchoring member from sliding horizontally or out of place from the shoe eyelet. 
         [0018]    Anchoring member  102  is configured to anchor to the exterior of the shoe eyelet rather than the interior eyelet. By securing anchoring member  102  to the exterior shoe eyelet the tongue of the shoe is incapable of shifting laterally on the user. Users attest that the shoe tongue will only shift towards the exterior of their foot rather than the interior of their foot, thereby justifying why the present invention has been configured to anchor to the exterior shoe eyelet. 
         [0019]    It should again be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration only. Many variations may be made in the particular arrangements shown. In addition, any simplifying assumptions made above in the course of describing the illustrative embodiments should also he viewed as exemplary rather than as requirements or limitations of the invention. Numerous other alternative embodiments within the scope of the appended claims will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.