Patent Publication Number: US-2007113388-A1

Title: Elastic lace and attachment system for shoes

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention is directed toward a resilient securing system for shoes. In particular, the present invention provides a system to replace standard shoelaces, converting any lace-up style shoe to a slip-on style shoe. Furthermore, the present invention provides an attractive lacing system that holds firmly, yet self-adjusts without breaking under stress and shock.  
      2. Background Information  
      Since the invention of well-fitting, lace-up style footwear, people have laced their footwear with stiff, rigid laces. Of course, rigid laces give the advantage of a secure, tight fit when perfectly tied; however, the problems associated with rigid laces are well documented. First, although rigid laces may give a secure tight fit when first laced and tied, most users do not properly loosen and tighten laces all the way down the shoe each and every time they put on or take off their shoe. The result, as all have experienced, is a shoe that fits loose at the toes, strained across the instep, and choking at the ankle. Thus, a traditional, stiff shoelace fails to consistently provide uniform tension and support throughout the lacing system.  
      Additionally, traditional shoelaces increase the stress and strain on the feet associated with everyday use. For instance, when one is engaged in an activity, or even just walking, each step taken and each time one&#39;s foot hits the ground, it slams hard against the unyielding string. Over time the shock builds up resulting in tired, aching feet and loss of performance and enjoyment. Hence, the lack of resiliency associated with the traditional shoelace adds to the stresses of normal footwear use.  
      Another drawback of traditional laces, and one which all have experienced, is breakage, which always seems to occur at the most inconvenient moment. Through repeated tying and untying, shoelaces experience a tremendous amount of wear and tear. Most often, the wear goes completely unnoticed until a catastrophic failure occurs, that is, until the day one goes to put their shoe on and just when the lace is pulled tight, it breaks, leaving one in an undesirable predicament. Thus, traditional laces lack the strength and wear characteristics necessary for long term use.  
      Finally, traditional laces have additional drawbacks associated with the nature of tying the laces themselves. First, laces are difficult to tie for some, not the least of which are small children or those with arthritis. Having to tie shoes daily can range from excruciatingly painful to impossible for some. Along with this problem, many times, whether because one has difficulty tying one&#39;s shoes or whether one just ties their shoes hurriedly, loosely tied laces will become untied and as a result pose a trip hazard to the wearer. Thus, traditional laces not only fail to provide an option to those unable or unwilling to snugly tie their laces each time the shoe is put on, but they also increase the risk of injury when they unknowingly become untied during use.  
      More recently systems have developed in an effort to solve the aforementioned problems associated with traditional, stiff shoelaces. One such effort consists of a traditional shoelace, merely made out of a resilient material. These “elastic” shoelaces may be tied once, then put on and taken off several times before having to retie the shoes. However, the drawback of this type of system lies in having to be tied in the first place. First, in order to get the shoes into a situation in which they can be put on and taken off multiple times, the laces clearly cannot be drawn very tightly leaving one with poor foot support in a loosely fitting shoe. Secondly, this, in turn, leads to a situation in which a loosely tied shoe would be more likely to become untied and pose a trip hazard.  
      Another effort at solving the problems associated with the traditional lacing system involves a hook securing apparatus as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,732. This type of securing apparatus extends between any two opposing eyelets on a shoe to eliminate the need for tying the shoe. However, in order to provide tension throughout the lacing system, a separate securing system must be used for each pair of eyelets in the shoe. More importantly, although multiple systems could be used to achieve the goal of constant tension throughout the shoe, this type securing system fails to provide uniform tension throughout the system because each system must be adjusted separately; hence, the user is left with a complicated system that results in shoes that fit tight in some areas and loose in others.  
      Finally, systems have been developed such as the one in U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,273 which combine elastic laces with decorative fastenings. This system provides a single lace throughout the shoe combined with a decorative fastener that eliminates the need for tying the shoe; however, the system still must be manually tied or knotted, which leads to difficulty in making any sort of adjustment later on.  
      In view of the limitations of products currently known in the art, a tremendous need exists for a resilient securing system for shoes that eliminates the need for (and drawbacks associated with) tying laces while applying uniform tension and support throughout the entire securing system. Applicant&#39;s invention, by its novel design provides such a solution in view of currently available devices.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for securing shoes that eliminates the need for tying laces.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for securing shoes that eliminates the potential of tripping over untied laces.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for securing shoes that controls shock, strain and fatigue by creating “shock absorber” effects at critical locations throughout the lacing system.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for securing shoes that provides greater comfort by applying a uniform tension throughout the system to hold the shoe in place on one&#39;s foot.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for securing shoes that is extremely strong.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for securing shoes that significantly reduces the likelihood of lace breakage.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for securing shoes that can be adjusted and finely tuned according to each respective user.  
      In satisfaction of these and other related objectives, the present invention provides a device for securing shoes, which not only permanently eliminates the need for tying laces, it also provides finely tuned, uniform tension throughout the system resulting in superior fit and comfort.  
      The preferred embodiment of the present invention incorporates an elastic shoelace threaded throughout a typical, lace-up style shoe in one of any variety of configurations. Once the shoe has been “laced” up, a tensioner piece is used in order to adjust and “lock” the tension in the lace. Finally, each end of the shoelace may be fitted with an optional end piece both to protect the end of the laces and to lend to a more attractive, finished look.  
      The aforementioned combination provides a lacing system which permanently eliminates the need for tying a shoe. The tensioner in conjunction with the elastic lace replaces the process of pulling tight and tying a shoelace. By eliminating the need for tying, the shoe is, in essence, converted from a lace-up and tie shoe to a slip-on shoe. This conversion further results in permanent elimination of the potential for injury from tripping over an untied shoelace. It also results in permanent elimination of breaking a shoelace when pulling it tight in preparation for tying. This conversion also results in a drastic reduction in the potential for shoelace breakage, since the shoelace itself is rarely, if ever, stretched to its full capacity. Thus, the present invention is a significant advancement over traditional shoelaces merely by eliminating the need for tying.  
      Additionally, the combination of the elastic shoelace and the tensioner actually reduce stress and strain to feet while wearing the system. When a step is taken, the stress imparted to the shoe from the impact with the ground is distributed throughout the elastomeric lacing system to help absorb and lessen shock to the foot. At each contact point with the footwear (and itself), the laces become small “shock absorbers” to ease and eliminate the shock of movement within the footwear. Thus, the present invention controls shock, strain and fatigue by the creation of shock absorber effects at critical locations throughout the lacing system.  
      Finally, the elastic shoelace and tensioner combination also provide the user with significantly greater fit and comfort than other systems. This combination provides increased fit and comfort by applying a uniform tension throughout the system to hold the shoe in place on the foot. Therefore, once the user properly adjusts the system to the desired tension, the tensioner keeps that tension constant throughout the system, and the system need not be adjusted again, although fine tune adjustment is still available with the tensioner. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Applicant&#39;s invention may be further understood from a description of the accompanying drawings, wherein unless otherwise specified, like referenced numerals are intended to depict like components in the various views.  
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the individual elements of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention installed in a shoe.  
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a hook end piece of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the present invention installed in a shoe.  
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a utility end piece of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a third embodiment of the present invention installed in a shoe.  
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view of a decorative end piece of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , a kit for converting a lace-up style shoe to a slip-on style shoe is shown and is generally designated by numeral  10 . Kit  10  typically contains two elastic shoelaces  12 , one for each shoe. In the preferred embodiment, elastic shoelaces  12  are of cylindrical shape and are composed of a natural rubber core, braided externally with nylon in one of any number of colors. However, elastic shoelace  12  could alternatively be composed of any number of elastomeric material combinations in any number of shapes as would be apparent to one skilled in the art. Referring to  FIG. 2 , elastic shoelace  12  is installed into a lace-up style shoe in any number of configurations available to lace up a shoe as would be apparent to one skilled in the art.  
      Referring back to  FIG. 1 , kit  10  contains two tensioners  14 , one for each shoe. In the preferred embodiment, tensioner  14 , contains an outer member, an inner member and a spring. Both the outer and inner member have two through holes through which each respective end of shoelace  12  may be threaded. In the preferred embodiment, the user must press the spring-loaded members together, such that the holes of each member are aligned. Once shoelace  12  has been threaded through the inner and outer member of tensioner  14 , the user releases tensioner  14 , and the spring member secures shoelace  12  in place. In the preferred embodiment tensioner  14  is made up of a plastic material. Other tensioners are envisioned which would be apparent to one skilled in the art.  
      Referring again to  FIG. 2 , once elastic shoelace  12  has been threaded through all of the shoelace eyelets in the desired configuration, tensioner  14  is applied to both ends of shoelace  12  for initial tensioning. As the shoes are worn and the shoelaces are “broken in”, fine tune adjustments can be accomplished by adjusting tensioner  14  to increase or decrease tension in the system as desired.  
      Finally, referring back to  FIG. 1 , kit  10  contains three styles of “optional” end pieces in order to protect the end of the laces and to lend a more attractive, finished look to the shoe. Referring to  FIG. 3 , hook end piece  16  is a hook style end piece through which each loose end of elastic shoelace  12  is threaded and locked. The “hook” end may then be hooked around the lower end of elastic shoelace  12  as shown in  FIG. 4  in order eliminate loose, flopping ends. Another optional end piece seen in  FIG. 1  is utility end piece  18 . Again, the loose ends of elastic shoelace  12  are threaded and locked into utility end piece  18  as seen in  FIG. 5 ; utility end piece  18  is then slipped under the lower end of elastic shoelace  12  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Finally, decorative end piece  20  is included in kit  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Decorative end piece  20  is substantially arrow shaped as shown in  FIG. 1  and contains an insert which glows in the dark. The loose ends of elastic shoelace  12  are optionally threaded through and locked into decorative end piece  20  as shown in  FIG. 7 .  
      Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.