Patent Publication Number: US-2020286401-A1

Title: Shoe Tying Teaching Aid Device and Method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
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     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
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     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR 
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     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to footwear and more particularly to a multi-colored shoelace used as a teaching aid to assist an individual in tying a shoe and a method for tying a shoe. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the first things taught to children are basic life skills such as how to put on clothes and how to tie shoes. However, many parents of special need children on the autism spectrum have encountered difficulty in teaching their children how to tie their shoes. It is the intent of the present invention to provide an effective shoe tying method that uses a multi-colored shoelace to provide visual cues during the process. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a first object of the present invention to provide a shoelace that has a plurality of different colored regions to be used as a teaching aid to learn how to tie shoes. 
     It is a second object of the present invention to provide a novel and effective method for teaching individuals how to tie shoes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a drawing of a shoelace used as a teaching aid using the method of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the seven phases of the shoe tying method of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3( a ) and 3( b )  are pictures showing a hand warmup pinching exercise used in the first phase of the shoe tying method. 
         FIG. 4  shows the incorrect way to pinch fingers together when tying a shoe in the second phase of the shoe tying method. 
         FIG. 5  shows a shoe with the multi-colored teaching shoelace used in the second phase of the shoe tying method. 
         FIG. 6  shows a shoe using the multi-colored teaching shoelace with the laces crossed to form an “X” to point the laces in the correct orientation used during the second phase of the shoe tying method. 
         FIGS. 7( a ) through 7( o )  show the steps in tying a shoe using visual cues as described in the second phase of the shoe tying teaching method. 
         FIG. 8( a ) through 8( f )  show the steps in tying a double knot used in the sixth phase of the shoe tying teaching method. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a shoelace  100  is shown having six different colored regions  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 ,  50  and  60 . It is preferred that the shoe lace length of the shoelace  100  is approximately 54 centimeters in length and lengths shorter than this typically be very challenging when teaching this shoe tying method. It is obvious to one skilled in the art of making shoelaces that other colors can be substituted to provide additional colored design shoelace teaching aids. In the preferred embodiment, shoelace  100  uses a red colored region  10  and an adjacent white colored region  30 . Adjacent to the white colored region  30  is a purple colored region  50 , and the remaining length of the shoelace up to the first aglet is the primary color used for the shoelace which is a white color in the preferred embodiment. On the opposite side and of the same length as the red colored region  10  is a blue colored region  20 . Adjacent to the blue colored region  20  and having a length of approximately ⅜ inch is a pink colored region  40 . Adjacent to the pink colored region  40  is a green colored region  60 . The green colored region is approximately 9 times longer than the pink colored region  40 . Adjacent to the green colored region  60  is a second pink colored region  40 . When the shoelace  100  is arranged in position according to  FIG. 1 , the end of the purple colored region  50  lines up with the second pink colored region  40 . 
     The method of tying a shoe according to the present invention shall next be described.  FIG. 2  shows a block diagram of shoe tying method  10000  that is broken down into seven phases. Phase One ( 1000 ) is a Pre-Tying Warm-Up Preparation exercise. Phase Two ( 2000 ) is a Visual Cue Tying exercise and uses shoelace  100  as a teaching aid on a table. Phase 3 ( 3000 ) is a Visual Cue Elimination Tying exercise that uses a plain (white) colored shoelace as a teaching aid on a table. Phase 4 ( 4000 ) is a full shoe tying exercise where the individual is wearing the shoe during the tying exercise. Phase 5 ( 5000 ) is a fine-tuning adjustment exercise to make any adjustments in the tied shoe. Phase 6 ( 6000 ) is a double knot tying exercise. Phase 7 ( 7000 ) is a final exercise showing how to untie the shoe. 
     Phase One ( 1000 ) is a Pre-Tying Warm-Up Preparation exercise and consists of the following sequential tasks that are numbered  1001  thru  1006  as described next. The purpose of this first phase is to properly prepare the individual for tying his shoes by exercising the muscles of their fingers and hand. As used in this specification, individual may be either male or female and of typical age of children when individual first learn how to tie their shoes. When using the terms “he” or “his” this is meant as referring to either male or female genders in this specification and is only for purposes of brevity. 
       1001 —Have your individual practice utilizing a pincer grasp. If he is having trouble bringing his thumb and pointer finger together, then ask him to make a first as shown in  FIG. 3( a )  and then pinch the thumb and index fingers together while keeping the remaining fingers closed as shown in  FIG. 3( b ) . 
       1002 —If individual continues to have difficulty with this task then proceed to work on the following additional activities to build up manual dexterity:
         a. Stringing small beads onto a string   b. Picking up coins and placing them into a coin slot   c. Work with color coded therapy putty and pull small objects out (wooden pegs, beads, coins)   d. Clothespin activities       

       FIG. 3( b )  shows the correct two finger pinching position.  FIG. 4  shows an incorrect pinching position because the individual should not pinch with their other 3 fingers extended like the OK sign as the other fingers will get in their way during the shoe tying exercise. 
       1003 —Individual is to lace up a sneaker with the multi-colored lace  100 . 
       1004 —Stuff the sneaker with tissue paper or newspapers to fill it out as if there was a foot inside the shoe as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       1005 —Get a white piece of computer or copier paper and make a red X at the top right corner and a blue X at the top left corner. 
       1006 —Place the stuffed sneaker on top of the white computer paper. 
     Phase Two ( 2000 ) is a Visual Cue Tying based shoe tying exercise and uses the previously prepared shoe from Phase One ( 1000 ). This phase consists of steps  2001  thru  2011  as described next. 
       2001 —Orient the multi-colored lace such that the red lace  10  goes towards the red “X” that is labeled on the computer paper and the blue lace  20  goes on the side where the blue “X” is labeled on the computer paper as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       2002 —Ask the individual as to which color is on top—Blue or Red? The blue lace  20  goes over the red lace  10  as shown in  FIG. 7( a ) . 
       2003 —Place the blue lace  20  under and in the middle and have your helping hand take it and give it back to your original hand as shown in steps in  FIGS. 7( b ), 7( c ), and 7( d ) . 
       2004 —Grab both laces and pull tight as shown in  FIG. 7( e ) . Do not proceed past this step if individual is having trouble. 
     Keep practicing steps  2001  thru  2003  until the individual achieves it with no assistance or verbal cues. If individual starts to get frustrated then give them a two-minute break and come back to it. 
       2005 —Use pincer fingers to pinch pink  40  to pink  40  together to make the “green ear” (loop made with green  60  section of lace as shown in  FIG. 7( f ) . Ensure that their other three fingers are in the palm of their hand. 
       2006 —Slide fingers to the bottom of the green  60  ear under the pink  40  as shown in  FIG. 7( g ) . Make sure individual is not making the OK sign. In other words, the rest of their fingers should be in the palm of their hand. 
       2007 —Grab the purple lace  50  while keeping the green ear pinched with the other hand as shown in  FIG. 7( h ) . Push purple lace  50  towards your belly as shown in  FIG. 7( i ) . Have individual give the ear a snug hug against his body. Once individual has made it around the ear, have him drop the lace while his other hand is still holding onto the green  60  ear as shown in  FIG. 7( j ) . Instruct him to make sure the hole is not too big or else there will not be enough lace to make a second ear. Reinforce this by saying “snug hug”. 
       2008 —This step requires the individual to think. The thumb grasping the green  60  ear is their visual cue hint that this is the hole that the new ear will push through as shown in  FIG. 7( k ) . 
       2009 —Push purple  50  section of lace through the hole as shown in  FIG. 7 ( 1 ). 
       2010 —Pinch purple  50  ear closed as shown in  FIG. 7( m ) . Do not let individual hook their finger or he may pull the purple laces completely through the hole leaving just one ear. The other hand can let go to pinch green  60  ear as shown in  FIG. 7( n ) . 
       2011 —Pull the ears tight as shown in  FIG. 7( o ) . It is acceptable if the ears are not both the same size or if the knot is loose as these issues will be addressed in Phase Five ( 5000 ). 
     Phase 3 ( 3000 ) is a Visual Cue Elimination Tying exercise that uses plain colored laces and is to be done on a tabletop. The following steps  3001  thru  3003  are the parts of this exercise. 
       3001 —After individual has achieved success in shoe-tying with the Phase Two ( 2000 ) exercise then switch him over to a shoe with plain colored laces. 
       3002 —Repeat steps  2001  thru  2011  with exception that it is done with plain colored laces. 
       3003 —Ask individual where the colors were as the steps are followed. As for specific colors such as where are the two pink  40  colors are. 
     Phase 4 ( 4000 ) is a full shoe tying exercise where the individual is wearing the shoe during the exercise. Phase 4 consists of steps  4001  thru  4003 . 
       4001 —Put the shoe on the foot of the individual. 
       4002 —Figure out what position is most comfortable for the individual to tie his shoe. It could be sitting on the floor or standing and balancing while putting their foot up on a chair. It could be sitting on steps of a staircase. It could be sitting in a chair and bending over. If individual has a weak core and has difficulty sitting upright then it is recommended that he sit up against a wall. 
       4003 —Repeat steps  2001  thru  2011  using a shoe with plain colored laces. 
     Phase 5 ( 5000 ) is a fine-tuning adjustment exercise to make any adjustments in the tied shoe full shoe tying exercise where the individual is wearing the shoe during the exercise. Phase 5 consists of steps  5001  thru  5004 . 
       5001 —Once individual has successfully tied his shoe with minimal to no verbal cues or assistance then begin this phase. Teach him the adjustments needed based on his specific needs. The example below is for fine tuning of the ear sizes. 
       5002 —Teach the individual how to fix the ears so they are close in size to each other. 
       5003 —Re-tighten the knot and ensure that there is not excessive length of lace left over. 
       5004 —Use the ear “snug hug” method (previous step  2007 ). 
     Phase 6 ( 6000 ) is a double knot tying exercise and consists of steps  6001  thru  6005 . 
       6001 —Make sure that the ears are not open as shown in  FIG. 8( a ) . 
       6002 —Tape the ears shut using as shown in  FIG. 8( b ) . Make an “X” by crossing the two closed ears as shown in  FIG. 8( c ) . 
       6003 —Ensure that the top ear goes under and in the middle of the bottom ear as shown in  FIG. 8( d ) . 
       6004 —Pull the top ear through the loop of the bottom ear as shown in  FIG. 8( e ) . 
       6005 —Pull both ears away from each other and pull tight to form the double knot as shown in  FIG. 8( f ) . 
     Phase 7 ( 7000 ) is an exercise to teach how to untie the shoe and consists of steps  7001  thru  7003 . 
       7001 —Show individual where he should not pull on the laces. Explain if he pulls the ears or the end laces to untie a double knot that it makes the knot tighter. 
       7002 —Show individual how to use his pincer fingers to pull the knot apart. Explain that this step can take some time and it may not come undone right away. 
       7003 —Once the first knot is out then individual can pull the end of the laces to untie the bow.