Patent Publication Number: US-2003221334-A1

Title: Link shoelace replacement

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention relates to an apparatus and method of holding and spacing opposite sides of an upper portion of a shoe over a user&#39;s foot. More particularly this invention relates to a decorative link which replaces laces in shoes.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Teen age skateboarders commonly designate a pair of rubber soled shoes for use with their skateboard. The laces in that designated pair of shoes are then permanently tied in a loosely closed position. This loosely closed position maintains the shoes on their feet while riding the skateboard and also allows them to slip into and wear the shoes without tying them each time they are worn.  
       [0003] Many older and less flexible and dexterous older individuals similarly choose to tie their shoes in a semi-closed position which accommodates slipping on the shoes without bending over and tying them on their feet each time the shoes are worn. When shoes are worn in a loosely closed position there is additional wear on the laces. It is necessary to more frequently replace the laces.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] It is an object of this invention to disclose a convenient method of maintaining nominally laced shoes in a semi-closed position which allows the shoes to be slipped on and off without tying or untying them. It is a further object of this invention to disclose an attractive and rugged link which replaces laces in shoes. Unlike loosely tied laces the links do not wear out or work out of a preferred spacing into a position wherein the top portion of the shoe is excessively spaced. It is a final object of this invention to disclose a means of distinctively ornamenting shoes.  
       [0005] One aspect of this invention provides for a shoe link for maintaining opposite sides of an upper portion of a shoe having opposite openings therethrough in a chosen spaced relationship. The shoe link comprises: a first lateral member having opposite end portions each of which is adapted to extend through and be held in one of the opposite openings in the top portion of the shoe and having an arched central portion which extends over a foot in the shoe. Convenient mounting and removal of the shoe on the foot without having to tie and untie laces is thereby facilitated.  
       [0006] In a preferred aspect of this invention the opposite end portions of the first lateral member are removably secured in position in the openings of the top portion of shoe the by screws and nuts.  
       [0007] A method of maintaining a laced shoe in a semi-closed position to facilitate convenient insertion and removal comprising the steps of: removing the shoelace extending between and through openings in opposite sides of the upper portions of the shoe; providing a shoe link having a first lateral member having opposite ends each of which is adapted to extend through and be held in one of the opposite openings in the top portion of the shoe and having an arched central portion which extends over a foot in the shoe; and, securing the opposite ends of the shoe link between and through the openings in the opposite sides of the upper portion of the shoe. As above convenient mounting and removal of the shoe without having to tie and untie laces is thereby facilitated.  
       [0008] Various other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
    
     FIGURES OF THE INVENTION  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe wherein the shoelace is replaced by links.  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the style of link shown in the lower top portion of the shoe in FIG. 1. The link shown in FIG. 2 comprises an optional decorative skull which is not shown in FIG. 1.  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment of a shoe link. This embodiment of the shoe link must be positioned prior to engagement of a foot in the shoe.  
     [0012]FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the link extending between opposite loops shown in the upper portion of the shoe in FIG. 1.  
     [0013]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view, showing an arched central portion of the link as viewed along line  5 - 5  on FIG. 4. 
    
    
     [0014] The following is a discussion and description of the preferred specific embodiments of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It should be noted that such discussion and description is not meant to unduly limit the scope of the invention.  
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0015] Turning now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 we have a perspective view of a shoe  18  wherein the shoelace  16  is replaced by shoe links  20 . FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the style of link  20  shown in the lower top portion of the shoe  18  in FIG. 1. The shoe link maintains opposite sides  14  of an upper portion of a shoe  18  having opposite openings  12  therethrough in a selected spaced relationship. The shoe link  20  comprises: a first lateral member  22  having opposite end portions  26  each of which is adapted to extend through and be held in one of the opposite openings in the top portion of the shoe  18 . The shoe link  18  has an arched central portion  24  which extends over a foot (not shown) in the shoe  18  so that convenient mounting and removal of the shoe  18  on the foot (not shown) is facilitated.  
     [0016] Most preferably opposite end portions  26  of the first lateral member  22  are removably secured in position in the openings  12  of the top portion of the shoe  18  by screws  28  and nuts  30 . And most preferably the lateral member  22  is made of anodized aluminum.  
     [0017]FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the style of link  20  shown in the lower top portion of the shoe  18  in FIG. 1. This link  20  is used only where the openings  12  in the shoe  18  have a generally upright axis  34  and wherein the opposite ends  26  of the lateral member  22  are adapted to lie beneath the top portion of the shoe  18 . This style of link  22  comprises two screws  28 , or more preferably threaded studs  29  each attached to opposite end portions of said lateral member  22  and each extending up through the openings  12  in the top portion of the shoe  18  along the axis  34 . The shoe link  20  further comprises a nut  30  adapted to mate with the threaded studs  29 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention an ornament  31  which is preferably has a skull shape  32  is attached to a top portion of the nut  30 .  
     [0018]FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment of a shoe link  20 . This embodiment of the shoe link  20  must be positioned in the shoe  18  prior to engagement of a foot (not shown) in the shoe  18 . This style of a shoe link  20  is used where the openings  12  in the shoe  18  have a generally upright axis  34 , The opposite ends  26  of the lateral member  22  are adapted to lie on and above the top portion of the shoe  18 . Each end portion  22  has an upright internally threaded opening  13  therein. The shoe link  20  further comprises two threaded bolts  36  adapted to be received in opposite end portions of said lateral member  22  so that the bolts  36  can be inserted up through the openings  12  where they can be received in the opposite end portions  26  of the lateral member  22 .  
     [0019]FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the link  20  extending between opposite loops  10  shown in the upper portion of the shoe  18  in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view, showing an arched central portion  24  of the link  22  as viewed along line  5 - 5  on FIG. 4. The style of a shoe link  20  shown in FIG. 4 is used where the openings  12  in the shoe  18  have an axis  35  which is generally planar with an interior edge portion  13  of one of the opposite sides  14  of the upper portion of the shoe  18 . This style of shoe link  20  further comprises a second lateral member  23  having opposite ends which are adapted to extend through one of the openings  12  and attach to the first similarly shaped lateral member  22 . Most preferably a bolt  38  is used to attach end portions  26  of the first lateral member  22  and second similarly shaped lateral member  23  together.  
     [0020] A method of maintaining a nominally laced shoe  18  in a semi-closed position to facilitate convenient insertion and removal comprising the steps of: removing the shoelace  16  extending between and through openings  12  in opposite sides  14  of the upper portions of the shoe  18 . A shoe link  20  having a first lateral member  22  having opposite ends  26  each of which is adapted to extend through and be held in one of the opposite openings  12  in the top portion of the shoe  18  has an arched central portion which extends over a foot in the shoe  18  is provided. Finally, the opposite ends  26  of the shoe link  22  are secured between and through the openings  12  in the opposite sides  14  of the upper portion of the shoe  18 ; so that convenient mounting and removal of the shoe  18  on the foot (not shown) is facilitated.  
     [0021] It is contemplated that shoe links  20  of varying lengths will be sold so that users can choose what spacing they wish maintained between opposite sides  14  of an upper portion of a shoe  18 .  
     [0022] While the invention has been described with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.