Patent Publication Number: US-9901140-B1

Title: Lace securing apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to devices attachable to laced footwear such as boots and shoes for securing laces onto the footwear. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior devices attached to footwear for securing laces on the footwear have not adequately held the laces onto the footwear. In particular, such prior devices have not resulted in laces effectively held in place once inserted into the devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that is attachable to footwear and that can be used to secure laces onto the footwear. 
     In general, in one aspect, the invention features an apparatus for securing a lace on footwear, including a base portion having a top surface, first and second ends, and first and second sides, a hook portion extending from the top surface of the base portion adjacent to the first end of the base portion and overlying the top surface of the base portion, and side walls extending upwardly from the top surface of the base portion adjacent to the first and second sides of the base portion, wherein the top surface of the base portion, the hook portion and the side walls form a channel into which the lace can be inserted and securely held. 
     Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The base portion may include an attachment point for securing the apparatus to the footwear. The apparatus may be formed from metal, which may include steel, stainless steel, copper, or brass. The apparatus may be formed from stamped metal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The above-mentioned and other aspects, features and advantages can be more readily understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a boot having a lace securing apparatus according to the present invention attached thereto; 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of a lace securing apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the lace securing apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the lace securing apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a right side view of the lace securing apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a left side view the lace securing apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the lace securing apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a back view of the lace securing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus or device  10  for securing laces on any type of footwear  100  such as a boot, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 through 7 , apparatus  10  includes a base portion  11  having top and bottom surfaces  20  and  21 , first and second ends  12  and  13 , and first and second sides  22  and  23 . A hook portion  14  extends from the top surface of the base portion adjacent to the first end of the base portion and overlies the top surface of the base portion. Side walls  15  and  16  extend upwardly from the top surface of the base portion adjacent to the first and second sides of the base portion. Side walls  15  and  16  are not contiguous with hook portion  14 , and there is a gap along the top surface of the base portion between each of side walls  15  and  16  and hook portion  14 . By this arrangement, a channel  17  is formed between the top surface of the base portion, the hook portion, and the side walls into which a lace can be inserted and secured from the direction of the second end of the base portion opposite the first end. The gaps between side walls  15  and  16  and hook portion  14  assist in securely holding a lace within channel  17 . 
     In one embodiment, the apparatus is formed of metal, preferably stamped rolled metal. The metal may be steel, stainless steel, copper, or brass. Brass or steel may be less expensive to use and form into stampable parts than other metal alloys. 
     Apparatus  10  can be attached to footwear through any conventional means. In one embodiment, the apparatus  10  includes an eyelet  30  in base portion  11  that serves as an attachment point for securing attaching apparatus  10  to the surface of the footwear, such as through the use of a rivet. The rivet may be configured so that the head of the rivet fits securely within eyelet  30  and fixedly attaches the bottom surface of the base portion against the surface of the footwear. Other means of securing apparatus  10  to the footwear includes threading through one or more eyelets in one or more surfaces or portions of the base portion. 
       FIGS. 2-8  illustrate different views of apparatus  10 . 
     The embodiments and examples above are illustrative, and many variations can be introduced to them without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the appended claims. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative and exemplary embodiments herein may be combined with each other and/or substituted with each other within the scope of this disclosure. The objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For an understanding of the invention, its operating advances and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.