Patent Publication Number: US-6988298-B2

Title: Shoelace retainer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to footwear and, more particularly, to devices and methods of securing, concealing and containing ends of footwear laces so that they remain secured and free of inadvertent snagging on foreign objects. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Anyone who has ever worn laced footwear has experienced the problem of the laces inadvertently becoming untied. This is most common when the wearer ties the laces in a bow knot. When this occurs, the laces must be retied which can be inconvenient and an annoyance if it occurs frequently. Untied laces can also be dangerous because they can be stepped on by the wearer or another person or caught on a foreign object causing the wearer to trip. This is particularly a problem for athletes in sporting activities such as, for example, soccer. 
     There have been many attempts to solve this problem. Typically, a device is provided which attempt to retain the laces in a tied condition. Unfortunately, these devices are not very effective at retaining the laces in a tied condition and/or are not sufficiently pliable to be safely used in sporting activities. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved device for securing, concealing and containing ends of footwear laces which is versatile, convenient, effective, and/or safe for use in sporting events. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a footwear lace retainer which overcomes at least some of the above-noted problems of the related art. According to the present invention, a footwear lace retainer comprises, in combination, a first wall having at least one opening for passage of the lace therethrough and a second wall operatively connected to the first wall to form a pocket sized and shaped for receiving ends of the lace therein and having an open end facing toward the opening. A closure is selectively movable between a closing position wherein the open end of the pocket is closed with the ends of the lace within the pocket and an opening position wherein the open end of the pocket is open. A fastener releasably secures the closure in the closing position. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a footwear lace retainer comprises, in combination, a first fabric sheet having at least one opening for passage of the lace therethrough and a second fabric sheet secured to the first fabric sheet to form a pocket sized and shaped for receiving ends of the lace therein and having an open end facing toward the opening. A portion of the first fabric sheet forms a closure selectively foldable between a closing position wherein the open end of the pocket is closed with the ends of the lace within the pocket and an opening position wherein the open end of the pocket is open. A fastener releasably secures the closure in the closing position. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a footwear lace retainer comprises, in combination, a first fabric sheet having a pair of spaced-apart openings for passage of the lace therethrough and a second fabric sheet secured to the first fabric sheet to form a pocket sized and shaped for receiving ends of the lace therein and having an open end facing toward the openings. A portion of the first fabric sheet forms a closure selectively foldable between a closing position wherein the open end of the pocket is closed with the ends of the lace within the pocket and an opening position wherein the open end of the pocket is open. The openings are located between a fold line of the first fabric sheet and the open end of the pocket. A hook and loop fastener releasably secures the closure in the closing position. An attachment on the first fabric sheet opposite the pocket secures the first fabric sheet to the lace. 
     From the foregoing disclosure and the following more detailed description of various preferred embodiments it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a significant advance in the technology and art of footwear lace retainers. Particularly significant in this regard is the potential the invention affords for providing a high quality, reliable, versatile, convenient and easy to use, low cost device which is pliable enough to be used in sporting events. Additional features and advantages of various preferred embodiments will be better understood in view of the detailed description provided below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and further features of the present invention will be apparent with reference to the following description and drawing, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a footwear lace retainer according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the footwear lace retainer of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is cross-sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view showing the footwear lace retainer of  FIGS. 1 to 3  in a partially installed condition wherein the lace is tied in a bow knot; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view showing the footwear lace retainer of  FIGS. 1 to 3  in a partially installed condition wherein the lace is tied in a bow knot and inserted into a pocket of the footwear lace retainer; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view showing the footwear lace retainer of  FIGS. 1 to 3  in a fully installed condition wherein the lace is tied in a bow knot, inserted into the pocket, and secured in the pocket by a closure of the footwear lace retainer; and 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the installed footwear lace retainer taken along line  7 — 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of a footwear lace retainer as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. Certain features of the illustrated embodiments have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate visualization and clear understanding. In particular, thin features may be thickened, for example, for clarity or illustration. All references to direction and position, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the orientation of the shoelace retainer illustrated in the drawings. In general, up or upward refers to an outward direction out the plane of the paper in  FIGS. 4 to 6  and down or downward refers to a inward direction into the plane of the paper in  FIGS. 4 to 6 . Also in general, fore or forward refers to a direction toward the front of a shoe or other footwear, that is, a downward direction within the plane of the paper in  FIGS. 4 to 6  and aft or rearward refers to a direction toward the rear of the shoe or other footwear, that is, an upward direction within the plane of the paper in  FIGS. 4 to 6 . 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, to those who have knowledge or experience in this area of technology, that many uses and design variations are possible for the improved footwear lace retainers disclosed herein. The following detailed discussion of various alternative and preferred embodiments will illustrate the general principles of the invention with reference to lace retainer for an athletic shoe. Other embodiments suitable for other applications will be apparent to those skilled in the art given the benefit of this disclosure. The present invention can be utilized with any type of footwear having laces. 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 to 3  illustrate a footwear or shoe lace retainer  10 , that is a device for securing, concealing and containing ends of a lace of a shoe or a footwear, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated lace retainer  10  includes a first or main wall or panel  12  which is preferably formed of a substantially flat and flexible sheet of material. The illustrated main panel  12  is formed of a sheet of cloth or fabric but it is noted that other suitable materials can alternatively be utilized. The illustrated main panel  12  is provided with binding strips  14  which are suitably stitched to the main panel  12  along the edge of the main panel  12  to prevent the edge from fraying. It is noted that other suitable means for preventing fraying of the edge can alternatively be utilized and/or the binding strips  14  can alternatively be attached in any other suitable manner. The illustrated main panel  12  is generally elongate having a length along a longitudinal axis  16  which is greater than a width generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  16 . Side edges of the illustrated main panel  12  are substantially parallel while end edges are arcuate or “rounded”. The main panel  12  is sized and shaped to cooperate with a shoe or other footwear  18  and lace  20  (best shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 ) as described in more detail hereinafter. 
     A pair of laterally spaced-apart openings  22  are provided at a central portion of the main panel  12  which extend entirely through the main panel  12 . The openings  22  are sized and shaped for passage of ends of the lace  20  therethrough. The openings  22  are spaced-apart a distance adequate for tying the ends of the lace  20  passing therethrough in a bow knot or other suitable manner as described in more detail hereinafter. The illustrated openings  22  are provided with grommets  24  to prevent the edge of the main panel  12  from fraying. It is noted that other suitable means for preventing fraying of the edge can alternatively be utilized. It is noted that other quantities of openings  22  can alternatively be utilized such as, for example, a single oblong or oval slot or the like. 
     A second or pocket wall or panel  26  is secured to the lower end (as viewed in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ) of the main panel  12  to form a pocket  28  having substantially closed interior space  30  (best shown in  FIG. 7 ). The illustrated pocket  28  is entirely closed except an open upper end  32  (as viewed in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ) facing the openings  22 . The pocket panel  26  is preferably formed of the same material as the main panel  12 , that is, a substantially flat and flexible sheet of material. The illustrated pocket panel  26  is formed of a sheet of cloth or fabric but it is noted that other suitable materials can alternatively be utilized. The illustrated pocket panel  26  is provided with binding strips  14  which are suitably stitched to the pocket panel  26  along the edges of the pocket panel  26  to prevent edges from fraying. Some of the illustrated binding strips  14  are shared with the main panel  12  to protect edges of both the main panel  12  and the pocket panel  26 . It is noted that other suitable means for preventing fraying of the edges can alternatively be utilized and/or the binding strips  14  can alternatively be attached in any other suitable manner. The illustrated pocket panel  26  is secured to the main panel  12  by stitching but any other suitable securing means can alternatively be utilized. The pocket panel  26  is sized and shaped so that the pocket  28  holds and conceals the ends of the lace  20 , loops of the lace  20 , or any other desired portion of the lace  20  therein as described in more detail hereinafter. It is noted that the pocket panel  26  can be an integral portion of the main panel  12 , that is, the main and pocket panels  12 ,  26  can alternatively be formed by a folded sheet. 
     The illustrated lace retainer  10  is provided with an attachment  34  for removably securing the lower end (as viewed in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ) of the lace retainer  10  to the shoe  18  and or the lace  20 . The attachment  34  of illustrated lace retainer  10  is a loop forming a laterally extending opening  36  sized, shaped, and oriented so that the lace  20  can pass through at least one time to secure the lace retainer  10  to the shoe  18 . Preferably, the loop  34  is sized so that the lace  20  can extend therethrough at least two times. It is noted that alternatively other suitable attachment  34  can be utilized such as for example, a pair of spaced apart openings or slits in the main panel. The illustrated attachment  34  is located on the rear side of the main panel  12  opposite the pocket  28  near the lower end (as viewed in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ) of the main panel  12 . The attachment  34  is preferably formed of the same material as the main panel  12  and the pocket panel  26 , that is, a substantially flat and flexible sheet of material. The illustrated attachment  34  is formed of a sheet of cloth or fabric but it is noted that other suitable materials can alternatively be utilized. The illustrated attachment  34  is secured to the main panel  12  by stitching but any other suitable securing means can alternatively be utilized. 
     The illustrated main panel  12  is flexible so that a laterally extending fold line  38  is formed in the main panel  12  above the openings  22  so that the upper portion of the main panel  12  forms a flap or closure  40  which can be pivoted about the fold line  38  between an opening position for providing access to the upper open end  32  of the pocket  38  and a closing position for closing the upper open end  32  of the pocket  38 . It is noted that any other suitable closure  40  can alternatively be utilized such as, for example, a separate cover and that any other suitable means for pivoting the closure  40  can alternatively be utilized such as, for example, a hinge or living hinge. 
     The illustrated closure  40  is provided with a fastener  42  for releasably securing the closure  40  in the closing position. The illustrated fastener  42  is a hook-and-loop type fastener such as, for example, VELCRO®. It is noted that alternatively any other suitable fastener  42  can be utilized such as, for example, buttons, snaps, hooks, straps, elastic or resilient bands, ties, or the like. The lustrated fastener  42  includes of strip of hook material  44  located on a front or outer side of the pocket panel  26  (as viewed in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ) near the open end  32  of the pocket  28  and a strip of loop or pile material  46  located on a front side of the main panel  12  near the top of the main panel  12  (as viewed in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ) so that it is located on the closure  40 . It is noted that the position of the strips of hook material and loop material  44 ,  46  can alternatively be reversed. The illustrated fastener  42  is secured to the main panel  12  and the pocket panel  26  by stitching but alternatively any other suitable securing means can be utilized. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the retainer  10  can be provided with desired indicia or decorations  50 . The indicia  50  can include alphanumeric characters such as, for example, a team name, a player number, a player name, or the like. The indicia  50  can also include a graphic symbol or logo such as, for example, a team or company logo, a decorative graphic, or the like. The indicia  50  is preferably located on an exterior surface of the retainer  10 . The illustrated indicia  50  is located on the exterior surface of the closure  40  but other suitable locations can alternatively be utilized. The indicia  50  can be provided directly on the retainer  10  by any suitable means such as, for example printing, embroidery, or the like, can be permanently secured to the retainer  10 , by any suitable means such as, for example, a sewn patch, a bonded patch, or the like, or can be removably secured to the retainer  10  by any suitable means such as, for example, a patch secured by snaps, a patch secured by hook and loop fastener, or the like. 
     Installation of the lace retainer  10  onto the shoe  18  is best shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 . The lace retainer  10  is positioned above the lace area of the shoe  18  and the lace  20  is fed through the attachment  34  as the shoe  18  is laced. Once the shoe  18  is laced, the ends of the lace  20  are fed through the openings  22  in the main panel  12  and are tied in a bow knot  48  or other suitable manner above the main panel  12 . As best shown in  FIG. 5 , The ends of the lace  20 , the loops of the bow knot  48 , and any other loose portions of the lace  20  are inserted into the pocket  28  through the upper open end  32  of the pocket  28 . As best shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the closure  40  is pivoted about the fold line  38  to close the upper open end  32  of the pocket  28  and the fastener  42  is secured so that the closure  40  remains in its closing position. Once installed, all free or loose portions of the lace  20  are located within the pocket  28  and secured and concealed by the closure  40 . Contained and sealed in this manner, the lace  20  cannot easily fall or slip out of the lace retainer  10  during use. 
     From the above description, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides a lace retainer  10  and method of retaining a lace which is relatively simple and inexpensive to produce is versatile, convenient, effective, and/or safe for use in sporting events. 
     From the foregoing disclosure and detailed description of certain preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that various modifications, additions and other alternative embodiments are possible without departing from the true scope and spirit of the present invention. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the present invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the benefit to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.