Abstract:
A shoelace locking apparatus comprises a body attachable to both ends of a shoelace, a locking lever, and a pin. The body defines a retaining passage therein for receiving the first end of the shoelace and a locking passage therein for receiving a second end of the shoelace. A knot tied in the first end of the shoelace prevents it from passing back through the retaining passage. Within a recess in communication with the locking passage a rotating locking lever is mounted on the pin. By pulling the second end of the shoelace through the locking passage past the locking lever and rotating the locking lever into the locking position, the second end of the shoelace may be immobilized relative to the body. Tension in the shoelace serves to keep the lever in the locked position.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    It is well known that shoelaces require tying and untying the two ends thereof at every use, and many times the shoelaces come undone prematurely which, of course, is not desired. Also, tying of shoelaces is difficult or impossible for some wearers. For example, young children may not yet have learned how to tie shoelaces or do so less than perfectly such that the shoelaces come undone frequently. Untied shoelaces also make it easier for children to remove their shoes when their parents do not want them to do so. Also, persons with problems with manual dexterity, such as multiple sclerosis sufferers, may find tying shoelaces to be difficult if not impossible. The present invention solves this problem by providing a quickly locked and released shoelace fastening device which young children can operate with less knowledge than is necessary for tying shoelaces and which other persons who would have difficulty tying shoelaces can easily operate. 
         [0002]    In addition to providing assistance to persons who have trouble tying shoelaces, the present invention also provides fully capable persons with a quicker means of connection with a minimal likelihood of accidental uncoupling. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is a device for fastening and maintaining a fastened condition of a shoelace on a shoe. In one aspect, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a shoelace locking apparatus comprising a body and a locking lever. The body has a first passage for receiving one portion of a shoelace, a second passage for receiving another portion of a shoelace, and a recess in communication with the second passage. The locking has at least one bearing surface and is positioned in the recess of the body and attached to the body in a way that the locking lever is movable between an open position wherein the bearing surface of the locking lever is retracted from the second passage and a locked position wherein the bearing surface is disposed in the second passage so as to compress the portion of the shoelace disposed through the second passage between the bearing surface of the locking lever and the body and thereby immobilize the portion of the shoelace disposed through the second passage. 
         [0004]    The invention may be described as an apparatus for connecting ends of a shoelace comprising a body adapted for attachment to a first end of the shoelace and a locking lever that captures the second end of the shoelace. The body defines a locking passage therein incorporating a recess for a locking lever and adapted for receiving a second end of the shoelace. The body further preferably defines a retaining passage therein adapted for receiving the first end of the shoelace therethrough. A knot tied in the first end of the shoelace is prevented from passing through the retaining opening because of the size thereof. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, the locking lever rotates about a pivot pin mounted to the body and is in communication with the locking passage via a recess. The location of the pivot hole in the locking lever is offset so that when the lever is in the open position the locking lever presents a minimal obstruction to the locking passage, allowing the second end of the shoelace to move within the locking passage. When the locking lever is rotated to the locking position the bearing surface of the locking lever moves into the locking passage and compresses the second end of the shoelace against the lower surface of the locking passage. The bearing surface of the locking lever incorporates a texture or protrusion that presses against or into the shoelace material so as to better resist motion of the shoelace relative to the bearing surface. The tension associated with a tightened shoelace causes a moment on the lever which helps maintain it in the locked position. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, a locking lever is incorporated into both passages so that no knot is necessary in either end of the shoelace. 
         [0007]    In yet another embodiment, the locking lever is slotted and slides on the pivot pin within the recess. When the lever is in the open position it presents a minimal obstruction to the locking passage allowing the second end of the shoelace to move within the locking passage. When the locking lever is slid into the locking position the bearing surface of the locking lever moves into the locking passage and compresses the second end of the shoelace against the lower surface of the locking passage. The bearing surface of the locking lever may include a texture or protrusion that presses against or into the shoelace material so as to better resist motion of the shoelace relative to the bearing surface. The tension associated with a tightened shoelace causes a force on the sliding lever which helps maintain it in the locked position. Mating protrusions and depressions in the lever and body may act as a detent to further assist in maintaining the wedge in the locked position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a shoe locking apparatus. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the shoe locking apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a cross section taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2  showing the shoe locking apparatus in an open position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cross section taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2  showing the shoe locking apparatus in a locked position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of a second embodiment of a shoe locking apparatus shown in a locked position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of a third embodiment of a shoe locking apparatus shown in an open position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of a third embodiment of a shoe locking apparatus shown in a locked position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    In the following detailed description of embodiments of the inventive concepts, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive concepts. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the inventive concepts disclosed and claimed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the instant disclosure. 
         [0016]    As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements or steps is not necessarily limited to only those elements or steps and may include other elements, steps, or features not expressly listed or inherently present therein. 
         [0017]    Unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present). 
         [0018]    In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the inventive concepts. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise. 
         [0019]    Throughout this disclosure and the claims, the terms “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially” are intended to signify that the item being qualified is not limited to the exact value specified, but includes some slight variations or deviations therefrom, caused by measuring error, manufacturing tolerances, stress exerted on various parts, wear and tear, or combinations thereof, for example. 
         [0020]    The use of the term “at least one” will be understood to include one as well as any quantity more than one, including but not limited to each of, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 100, and all integers therebetween. The term “at least one” may extend up to 100 or 1000 or more, depending on the term to which it is attached; in addition, the quantities of 100/1000 are not to be considered limiting, as higher limits may also produce satisfactory results. Singular terms shall include pluralities and plural terms shall include the singular unless indicated otherwise. 
         [0021]    The term “or combinations thereof” as used herein refers to all permutations and/or combinations of the listed items preceding the term. For example, “A, B, C, or combinations thereof” is intended to include at least one of: A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, or ABC, and if order is important in a particular context, also BA, CA, CB, CBA, BCA, ACB, BAC, or CAB. Continuing with this example, expressly included are combinations that contain repeats of one or more item or term, such as BB, AAA, AAB, BBC, AAABCCCC, CBBAAA, CABABB, and so forth. The skilled artisan will understand that typically there is no limit on the number of items or terms in any combination, unless otherwise apparent from the context. 
         [0022]    Finally, as used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment, although the inventive concepts disclosed herein are intended to encompass all combinations and permutations including one or more of the features of the embodiments described herein. 
         [0023]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1-4 , a first embodiment of the shoelace fastening or locking apparatus of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the numeral  10 . Apparatus  10  comprises a body  26  and a locking lever  28 . Locking lever  28  rotates between an open position ( FIG. 3 ) and a locked position ( FIG. 4 ). Shoelace ends may be drawn through passages  30  and  32  between body ends  36  and  42 . Passage  32  includes a recess  38  in which the locking cam  28  resides. In one embodiment, the passages  30  and  32  are parallel to one another. 
         [0024]    The body  26  may be of a one-piece construction. In particular, but not by way of limitation, it is contemplated that body  26  could be easily molded of a plastic material. However, other materials would work just as well. Also, body  26  could be formed of multiple pieces. The body  26  is illustrated as having a generally parallelepiped configuration. However, the body  26  does not have to be any particular shape, and it is contemplated that it can be molded into a variety of shapes to provide ornamentation as a fashion statement or to provide a medium for placing advertising thereon. 
         [0025]    First passage  30  is an opening adapted for receiving first end  22  of shoelace  12  therethrough. As illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 , the body  26  is retained on the first end of the shoelace by tying a knot  34  in first end  22  of shoelace  12  after passing the shoelace through first passage  30  and knot  34  prevents the shoelace  12  from being pulled back through due to the engagement of the knot with a second end  42  of body  26 . Thus, first passage  30  may be referred to as a retaining passage. The second passage  32  has a recess  38  and a lower surface  46 . The lower surface  46  defines at least a portion of the second passage  32  and is positioned in an opposing relationship to the recess  38 . 
         [0026]    Locking lever  28  is shown in a roughly flat ‘horse head’ shape defining an off-center hole  20  therethrough and forming a lever end  58  and a bearing surface  60 . The bearing surface  60  may be knurled or barbed. Locking lever  28  may be any shape that allows the bearing surface  60  to compress or release portion  16  of the second end  24  of shoelace  12  by way of rotation of locking lever  28  about pin  22  through hole  20 . 
         [0027]    In the operation of apparatus  10 , first end  22  of shoelace  12  is extended into passage  30  from an inlet end  36  through to an outlet end  42  in body  26 , and knot  34  is tied in the shoelace to attach and retain body  26  to the shoelace. Second end  24  of shoelace  12  is passed into passage  32  from an inlet end  42  through to an outlet end  36  of body  26 . Locking lever  28  is movable about the pin  22  between the open position ( FIG. 3 ) wherein the bearing surface  60  of the locking lever  28  is retracted away from the lower surface  46  of the body to permit passage of the shoelace  12  through the passage  32  and a locked position ( FIG. 4 ) wherein the bearing surface  60  is disposed in the second passage  32  so as to compress the portion of the shoelace  12  disposed through the second passage  32  between the bearing surface  60  of the locking lever  28  and the lower surface  46  of the body  26  to immobilize the portion of the shoelace  12  disposed through the second passage  32 . 
         [0028]    The force resulting from this compression, combined with the knurled or barbed bearing surface  60 , provides a high resistance to movement due to the tension applied by the tightened shoelace  12 . The force on the lever  28  due to the tension in shoelace  12  serves to maintain the locked position of locking lever  28 . To release second end  24  of shoelace  12 , the lever end  58  of locking lever  28  is used to rotate the bearing surface  60  away from the second end  24  of shoelace  12 . 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a second embodiment of the shoelace locking apparatus of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the numeral  210 . As with the first embodiment apparatus  10 , the second embodiment apparatus  210  is adapted for use in releasably connecting first and second ends  22  and  24  of a shoelace  12 . The apparatus  210  is similar in construction to the apparatus  10  except that the apparatus  210  includes a first locking lever  228  pivotally attached to a body  226  with a pin  222  and a second locking lever  230  pivotally attached to the body  226  with a pin  224 . The first locking lever  228  is movable between an open position wherein the bearing surface of the locking lever  228  is retracted from passage  232  and a locked position wherein the bearing surface is disposed in the passage  232  so as to compress the portion of the shoelace disposed through the passage  232  between the bearing surface of the first locking lever  228  and the body and thereby immobilize the portion of the shoelace disposed through the passage  232 . Similarly, the second locking lever  230  is movable between an open position wherein the bearing surface of the second locking lever  230  is retracted from passage  234  and a locked position wherein the bearing surface is disposed in the passage  234  so as to compress the portion of the shoelace disposed through the passage  234  between the bearing surface of the second locking lever  230  and the body  226  and thereby immobilize the portion of the shoelace disposed through the passage  234 . 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6-7 , a third embodiment of a shoelace locking apparatus of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the numeral  110 . As with the first embodiment apparatus  10 , the third embodiment apparatus  110  is adapted for use in releasably connecting first and second ends  22  and  24  of a shoelace  12 . 
         [0031]    Apparatus  110  comprises a body  126 , a pin  122 , and a locking lever  128 . Locking lever  128  is slidably attached to the body  126  such that the locking lever  128  may be moved between the open and locked positions by sliding it on pin  122 . Shoelace ends  22  and  24  may be drawn through passages  130  and  132  between body ends  136  and  142 . Passage  132  includes recess  138  in which the locking lever  128  resides. 
         [0032]    Body  126  may be of a one-piece construction. In particular, but not by way of limitation, it is contemplated that body  126  could be easily molded of a plastic material. However, other materials would work just as well. Also, body  26  could be formed of multiple pieces. 
         [0033]    Body  126  is illustrated as having a generally parallelepiped configuration. However, body  126  does not have to be any particular shape, and it is contemplated that it can be molded into a variety of shapes to provide ornamentation as a fashion statement or to provide a medium for placing advertising thereon. Regardless of the shape or configuration of body  126 , the body  126  has a first passage or opening  130  extending therethrough and a second passage or opening  132  extending therethrough. 
         [0034]    First passage  130  is an opening adapted for receiving first end  22  of shoelace  12  therethrough. By tying a knot  34  in first end  22  of shoelace  12  after passing the shoelace through first passage  130 , body  126  is retained on the first end of the shoelace, and knot  34  prevents the shoelace from being pulled back through because of the engagement of the knot with a second end  142  of body  126 . Thus, first passage  130  may be referred to as retaining passage  130 . 
         [0035]    Second passage  132  comprises a recess  138 , and a lower surface  146 . The recess may also incorporate a detent bump  166 . Second passage  32  is generally cylindrical. Locking lever  128  defines a slot  120  therethrough, a handle end  158 , a bearing surface  160 , and a sliding surface  164 . Bearing surface  160  may be knurled or barbed. The locking lever  128  may also incorporate a detent depression  162 . The locking lever  128  is moved into and out of engagement with second end  24  of shoelace  12  by using handle end  158  to slide the locking lever  128  on pin  122 . The slot  120  is at an acute angle with respect to bearing surface  160  and sliding surface  164  so that sliding the locking lever  128  in one direction causes bearing surface  160  to compress second end  24  of shoelace  12 , and sliding the locking lever  128  in the opposite direction moves the bearing surface  160  out of contact with second end  24  of shoelace  12 . When in the locked position the tension in shoelace  12  serves to maintain the sliding lever  128  in the locked position after handle  158  is released. Any detent bumps  166  incorporated into the body engage detent depressions  162  in the locking lever when in the locked position so as to maintain the sliding lever in the locked position in the absence of tension in the shoelace. 
         [0036]    To release the second end  24  of shoelace  12 , the handle end  158  of locking lever  128  is used to slide the bearing surface  160  away from the second end  24  of shoelace  12 . 
         [0037]    It will be seen, therefore, that the shoelace locking apparatus of the present invention is well adapted to carry out the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While exemplary embodiments of the apparatus have been shown for the purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes in the arrangement and construction of parts may be made by those skilled in the art. All such changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.