Patent Publication Number: US-2017354203-A1

Title: Apparatus, system  and method for making and using an elastic shoelace with a hollow core

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a system and a method for making and using an elastic shoelace with a hollow core. More particularly, the invention relates to a shoelace made from an elastic material, such as spandex and/or elastane, which may stretch to accommodate insertion and/or removal of the foot of a wearer into a shoe, such as an athletic sneaker. 
     Shoelaces to tie and/or otherwise secure a shoe and/or a sneaker via threading through corresponding eyelets provide support for daily activities. Generally, adults may manipulate a relatively intricate shoelace to thread the shoelace into the shoe and later tie the shoelace into a knot, for example, to secure the shoe. However, young children and/or elderly persons with, for example, deteriorating motor skills, hand-eye coordination and/or dexterity, may encounter difficulty in untying and/or re-tying shoelaces. 
     Accordingly, such persons are left without recourse in terms of footwear with traditional shoelaces and may be forced to wear shoes and/or sneakers with, for example, hook-and-loop type straps. Shoelaces made from elastic material permit the wearer of such shoelaces to slide his or her foot into the shoe by pulling the shoelaces to loosen the shoe. The elastic shoelaces may then return into a natural and/or retracted position to hold the foot of the wearer within the shoe. 
     Such elastic shoelaces are generally used with stoppers or plugs to hold the elastic shoelaces in position against the shoe and/or to prevent the elastic shoelaces from becoming undone during use, such as during playing sports. The stoppers are small and often misplaced. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,539 to Ivanhoe discloses an elastic lace for running shoes with several elastic strands covered by a textile thread woven around the group of elastic strands to form an elongated web. The elastic laces may not appear different from traditional laces. Moreover, the shoelaces may unravel, creating an issue for the wearer. To address the issue of elastic laces unraveling, U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,548 discloses a system for securing a shoe with a dual cord fastener adapted to allow shoelace ends to pass through the fastener to lock in place. The fasteners necessitate changes to the shoe be made to use the same. Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,204,689; 8,931,146; 7,549,201; and 6,681,459 generally disclose other known elastic shoelaces. 
     Known methods, apparatuses or systems for fastening shoes via elastic shoelaces are known but have drawbacks, such as failing to allow for repeated use without unraveling. Thus, a need exists for an elastic shoelace that resembles a traditional shoelace and may withstand repeated use without unraveling. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a system and a method for making and/or using an elastic shoelace with a hollow core. More particularly, the invention relates to a shoelace with a hollow core. The shoelace may be made from an elastic material, such as spandex and/or elastane, which may stretch to accommodate insertion and/or removal of the foot of a wearer into a shoe, such as an athletic sneaker. 
     The invention provides an apparatus having a shoelace defined by a length between two ends. The shoelace is made from a substantially elastic material folded to attach to itself along a seam extending lengthwise along the shoelace. A hollow core of the shoelace is defined by the elastic material folded along the seam. An aglet extends from the end of the shoelace to thread into a corresponding eyelet in a shoe. The shoelace stretches in response to tension applied to the aglet to accommodate insertion of a foot of a wearer into the shoe and contracts to retain the foot in the shoe during use. 
     Additionally, the invention provides a system having an elastic shoelace that laces into a shoe. The elastic shoelace stretches to accommodate insertion of a foot into the shoe. The elastic shoelace is made from a substantially flat elastic material. A seam may extend along the elastic shoelace. A hollow core of the elastic shoelace may be formed by rolling the substantially flat elastic material to attach to itself along the seam. 
     Further, the invention provides a method for wearing and/or using a shoe with shoelaces. The method has the steps of attaching an aglet onto an end of the shoelace wherein the aglet may extend from the shoelace to be inserted and/or threaded through eyelets in the shoe. The shoelace may be extended to accommodate insertion of a foot of a wearer into the shoe. A hollow core may be formed in the shoelace by folding the shoelace to attach to itself along the seam. The shoelace may contract to retain the foot of the wearer in the shoe. 
     Accordingly, it is an advantage of the present invention to provide an apparatus, a system and a method for making and/or using an elastic shoelace with a hollow core. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a shoelace made from an elastic synthetic fiber material. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a shoelace with a hollow core that reduces the weight of the shoelace. 
     Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide an elastic shoelace that loosens upon being pulled in a direction away from the shoe. 
     A further advantage of the present invention is to provide an aglet extending from the elastic shoelace wherein the aglet laces into the shoe. 
     A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide an elastic shoelace that expands to loosen the shoe. 
     A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide an elastic shoelace that contracts to tighten the shoe. 
     Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and from the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a prior art slide-on shoe. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a sneaker in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a sneaker in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates side view of a pair of hollow elastic shoelaces elongated lengthwise view of in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a partial side view of a pair of hollow elastic shoelaces in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a partial side view of a seam of a hollow elastic shoelace in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7A  illustrates a perspective view in cross-section of a hollow elastic shoelace in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7B  illustrates a perspective view in cross-section of a hollow elastic shoelace in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. Further, numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a prior art slip-on shoe  100  is shown. In an embodiment, the slip-on shoe  100  may be, for example, an espadrille, a loafer, a moccasin and/or a driving moccasin referred to as a “driver” which receives the foot of a wearer through an orifice  108  that opens to the interior of the slip-on shoe  100 . The foot of the wearer may insert into the slip-on shoe  100  via the orifice  108  to expand an elastic region  112  as necessary to slide and/or fit the slip-on shoe  100  around the foot of the wearer. The elastic region  112  may be flexible to expand to accommodate the foot of the wearer upon insertion into the orifice  108 . A front section  102  may receive the toes and/or middle of the foot of a wearer, which may slide into the slip-on shoe  100  along a side  104  of the slip-on shoe  100 . 
     The slip-on shoe  100  may have a heel support  110  and a midsole  106  that may extend longitudinally along the slip-on shoe  100 . To wear the slip-on shoe  100 , a wearer may force his or her foot through the heel support  110  to crush a region A on the heel support  110 , rather than sliding his or her foot into the orifice  108  of the slip-on shoe  100 . Over time, the heel support  110  may deteriorate at the region A which may compromise the overall integrity of the slip-on shoe  100 . As a result, the slip-on shoe  100  may require disposal and/or replacement. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a shoe  16  is shown with a shoelace  10  that may be threaded through corresponding eyelets  34  on the shoe  16 . The shoelace  10  may be sized to correspond with the number, width and/or orientation of the eyelets  34  on the shoe  10 . In an embodiment, the shoelace  10  may be made from a substantially flat elastic material that may be folded and/or rolled to attach to itself along a seam  40 , which may extend along the shoelace  10 . Alternatively, in an embodiment, the shoelace  40  may be formed with multiple seams extending along the shoelace  40 . One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the method of making the shoelace  10  by folding substantially flat elastic material to attach to itself along the seam  40  is exemplary, and that the shoelace  10  may be made with other shapes, sizes, orientations and/or configurations of one or more seams along the shoelace  10 . 
     As a result, the shoelace  10  is formed with a hollow core  46 . The shoe  16  may be any type of shoe that uses a shoelace, such as a dress shoe and/or an athletic sneaker, such as a running shoe, tennis shoe and/or fashion sneaker. The shoelace  10  may be made an elastic synthetic fiber material commonly referred to as “spandex,” a specific type of which may be LYCRA, a registered trademark of INVISTA, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc. One of ordinary skill in the art that the use of “spandex” is exemplary and that other suitable elastic materials and/or combination of elastic materials may be used to make the shoelace  10 . A front section  14 , of the shoelace  10 , may be threaded through eyelets  34  that may be positioned toward a mesh area  18  on the shoe  16 . 
     In an embodiment, the shoelace  10  may have the hollow core  46 , as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . The hollow core  46  may provide volume and/or structure to the shoelace  10 , which may accordingly resemble a traditional, i.e. non-elastic, shoelace that may be substantially cylindrical and/or tubular with a generally circular cross-section. Accordingly, a wearer of the shoe  16  with the shoelace  10  may generally be indistinguishable from someone wearing a shoe with a traditional shoelace, for example. The shoelace may also be significantly lighter than a traditional shoelace due to the hollow core  46  of the shoelace  10 . 
     The shoelace  10  may be extended by the wearer of the shoe  16  in a direction B and/or a direction C to pull opposing sides  26  of the shoe  16 . Accordingly, the shoe  16  may be secured around the foot of a wearer. An outsole  24  may extend lengthwise along the shoe  16 . A toe-piece  20  may attach the outsole  24  to the mesh area  18 . A toe cap  22  may be positioned at a point forward of the mesh area  18  to assist walking with the shoe  16 . Further, the toe cap  22  may extend from the outsole  24  which may connect to an arch-support cushioning piece  28  beneath a heel support  30  which may support the heel of a wearer of the shoe  16 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the shoelace  10  is shown which may generally loosen the sides  26  by being pulled in a direction D away from the shoe  16 . To wear the shoe  16  with the elastic shoelace  10 , the wearer may first thread the shoelace  10  through a notch  12  on a tongue  32  of the shoe  16  and through the eyelets  34 . Prior to inserting his or her foot into the shoe  16 , the wearer may pull the shoelace  10  in the direction D away from the shoe. Accordingly, the sides  26  and the tongue  32  of the shoe  16  may loosen to accommodate insertion of the foot of a wearer into the shoe  16 . 
     After insertion of the foot of the wearer into the shoe  16 , the shoelace  10  may contract and/or otherwise revert, i.e. snap-back, to an original position to secure the foot in the shoe  16 . No additional endpiece, stopper and/or clip may be needed to secure the elastic shoelace  10 . After threading and/or lacing through the shoe  16  and/or the eyelets  34  and tying and/or securing to the shoe  16 , the shoelace  10  may be worn without the shoelaces  10  becoming undone. Thus, wearers of the shoe  16  with the shoelace  10  may use the shoe  16  with the shoelace  10  for an extended time. The shoelace  10  is, therefore, particularly suitable for young children and/or the elderly who may insert and/or remove their feet from the shoe  16  by extending the shoelace  10  in, for example, the direction D as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a pair  36  of the shoelaces  10  is shown. In an embodiment, the pair  36  may be stretched in a direction F, to accommodate threading into the shoe  16 . The pair  26  may revert to an original unstretched position after being stretched in either the direction F and/or the direction G. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a close-up view of the pair  36  of the shoelaces  10  is shown. An aglet  38 , a type of endpiece that may be made of acetate, plastic and/or a similar substantially rigid material, may connect to and/or extend from the shoelace  10  to accommodate fitment and/or threading of the shoelace  10  into the shoe  16  and/or the eyelets  34 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the shoelace  10  is shown with a seam  40  that may extend along the length of the shoelace  10 . In an embodiment, the shoelace  10  may be formed from substantially flat elastic material which may roll to attach to itself at the seam  40  to form the shoelace  10  with the hollow core  46  as shown in, for example,  FIGS. 7A and 7B . 
     In an embodiment, the shoelace  10  may be approximately 5 mm in diameter. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the shoelace  10  may be made with other dimensions and/or diameters ranging, for example, from approximately 1 mm to 10 mm. The shoelace  10  may appear similar and/or identical to a traditional shoelace and/or a shoelace that may have a solid core. Further, the shoelace  10  may fit into the eyelets  34  of the shoe  16 . Moreover, the shoelace  10  may be used in any type of shoe  16 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the shoelace  10  is shown with the hollow core  46 . The shoelace  10  may be defined by a thickness  44  that may be, for example, in the range of 0.5 mm to 2 mm. The hollow core  46  may be defined by an interior circumference  42  of the shoelace  10 . One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the thickness  44  and/or the interior circumference  42  of the shoelace  10  may have varying dimensions. Specifically,  FIG. 7A  shows the shoelace  10  with a given thickness  44 .  FIG. 7B  shows the shoelace  10  with the thickness  44  which is different than that shown in  FIG. 7A . 
     In an embodiment, a method for wearing and/or using the shoe  16  with the shoelace  10  may have the steps of attaching the aglet  38  onto an end of the shoelace  10 . The aglet  38  may extend from the shoelace  10  and may be inserted and/or threaded through the eyelets  34  in the shoe  16 . The shoelace  10  may be extended to accommodate insertion of a foot of a wearer into the shoe  16 . A hollow core  46  may be formed in the shoelace  10  by folding the shoelace  10  to attach to itself along the seam  40 . The shoelace  10  may contract to retain the foot of the wearer in the shoe. The shoelace  10  may be made with various internal circumferences  42 . The shoelace  10  may be expanded to fit the shoe  16 . The shoelace  10  may remain resilient after continued use. 
     Although the preceding description has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, it extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods, and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.