Abstract:
A device for rapidly securing and obscuring footwear laces includes a strap having a cinching device such as a cord lock; a plurality of tubular lace restraints along the length of the strap; and a means for connecting one end of the strap to the other, so as to secure the device around a wearer&#39;s ankle with the laces obscured beneath. Laces travel the majority of the length of the strap, and can stay engaged with the laces even when footwear is not being worn. A user can insert foot into footwear, tighten laces by pulling on ends, cinch laces in tightened position by engaging cinching device, wrap strap with laces around ankle, and secure in place around ankle or ankle of footwear.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/544,171, entitled HARNESS FOR SECURING FOOTWEAR LACES, which was filed Oct. 6, 2011, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to footwear accessories, and more specifically, to a device that rapidly secures and obscures footwear laces. 
         [0003]    The humble shoelace is an integral part of a variety of types of footwear because it is easy to use, replaceable, effective and economical. Shoelaces are often constructed of cotton, textured polyester, spun polyester, nylon, leather, or polypropylene, with the aglet, the hard plastic end of the shoelace, made of clear plastic. It is believed that the use of shoelaces dates back to 2000 BC, when ancient Mesopotamians wore simple pieces of leather that fit beneath the foot and were bound to the foot and ankle with laces that are believed to have been rawhide. 
         [0004]    Unfortunately, however, tightening and tying shoe laces can be a bit time consuming. While this extra time is not problematic for most people and situations, this can be a problem when time is of the essence, for example in combat or rescue services. 
         [0005]    Also, tightening and tying shoe laces requires a level of dexterity that not everyone has. By way of example, it can be difficult to tighten and tie shoelaces when one suffers from a disease or injury, is in inclement weather, is wearing gloves, or when they have just woken up. Again, this can be problematic in certain situations. 
         [0006]    Another shortcoming of shoelaces is that tied shoelaces, and in particular two looped portions and two end portions, typically dangle from a wearers shoe. This can be hazardous, especially in combat, factories, or on construction sites. 
         [0007]    Others have tried to overcome the shortcomings of shoelaces in a variety of ways, including providing cinching devices and elastic bands that exert a continuous pull on the laces. However these devices are typically time consuming, complicated, not effective, or don&#39;t achieve the goals of quickly tightening and tying, even with limited dexterity, while providing the benefit of avoiding the hazards of dangling portions of tied laces. 
         [0008]    As can be seen, there is a need for a device that quickly and easily facilitates tightening and tying shoelaces. It is desirable that this device can be used with limited dexterity. It is also desirable that this device is capable of obscuring the secured shoelaces. It is desirable that this device is structurally simple, easy to use, lightweight, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and can be used with a variety of types of footwear. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention provides a device for rapidly securing and obscuring footwear laces. This device generally includes an elongated strap portion, with a plurality of tubular shoe lace restraints positioned longitudinally along the length of the strap. Going from one end of the strap to the other end, an embodiment includes the following structures: cord lock; first pair of eyelets/grommets, hook/loop fastener; plurality of shoe lace restraints; at least a second pair of eyelets/grommets; and corresponding hook/loop fastener. 
         [0010]    In use, a user threads their shoelaces through the cord lock, first pair of eyelets/grommets, along the length of the strap through the shoe lace restraints, then out a second pair of eyelets/grommets where the laces are preferably knotted to stay in place. The user then tightens their shoelaces by pulling the distal end of the device and cinching the laces tight with the cord lock, then wrapping the strap (and attached laces) around their ankle and securing the corresponding sections of hook/loop fastener. The laces are secured using the interference between the laces and the strap created outside the last set of eyelets/grommets and tension is held by the cord lock allowing the user to wrap the device no matter the exact length of the laces. To undo, for example prior to removing shoes, the hook/loop fastener is undone, strap unwrapped from ankle, cord lock is depressed and laces are loosened, and footwear is removed. The device remains on the footwear laces, so in subsequent use the wearer simply needs to go through the tightening, cinching, wrapping and securing steps. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown in use and fully secured; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the front side of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the back side of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown in the pre-secured position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown in the tightened position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown in the tightened and partially wrapped position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a detailed section view of an embodiment of the invention taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a detailed section view of an embodiment of the invention taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 2  with the cord lock device  12  shown in the locked position; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a detailed section view of an embodiment of the invention with the cord lock device  12  shown in the unlocked position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The following detailed description includes the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0021]    As used herein, “shoelaces”, “footwear laces” and the like are used interchangeably, and it should be understood that the present invention can be used with a variety of types of footwear including shoes, boots, booties, and even sandals and dress shoes. It should also be understood that “shoelaces” and the like refer generally to flexible strips used to tighten and secure footwear, including fabric, leather, plastics, and composites, which may or may not include aglets. 
         [0022]    The following structure numbers apply through the various FIGS:
         10  is a strap;     12  is a cord lock device;     14  is a hook fastener;     16  is a loop fastener;     18  are shoe lace restraints;     20  are shoe laces;     22  are eyelets/grommets;     24  is a cord lock device spring;     26  is an article of footwear;     28  is a cord lock device aperture;     30  is a cord lock device attachment means; and     32  is a folded end.       
 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the device of the present invention includes strap  10  that secures and obscures shoe laces  20 , and preferably wraps around ankle portion of footwear  26 . While this invention is particularly well suited for boots, for example combat and construction type lace-up boots, it can be used with a variety of types of footwear. 
         [0036]    As depicted in  FIG. 2 , elongated strap  10  includes the following structures on the front side: cord lock  12 ; then first pair of eyelets/grommets  22 ; then hook/loop fastener  14 ; and then second pair of eyelets/grommets. On the back side of strap  10 , as depicted in  FIG. 3 , the structures include: first pair of eyelets/grommets  22 ; then plurality of shoe lace restraints  18 ; then at least a second set of eyelets/grommets  22 ; and then corresponding hook/loop fastener  16 . The eyelets/grommets  22  traverse strap  10 , and thus are the same structures/apertures on both the front side and back side. Hook/loop fastener  14  and corresponding hook/loop fastener  16  may be hook and loop, respectively, or loop and hook, respectively. Also, fastener  14 ,  16  may be attached to strap  10  along longitudinal edges only, thereby creating a tube or tunnel through which laces can travel along a segment of strap. In alternative embodiments it is possible to use other securing means such as snaps, adhesives, and the like. It should also be understood that grommets are preferably used as a reinforcing device in conjunction with eyelets, but that it is possible to use eyelets without grommets. 
         [0037]    Strap  10  is preferably sized to accommodate the length of the “free” portion of shoe laces  20 , meaning the end segments of shoe laces which are not secured by shoe lace eyelets, hooks or holes on the footwear. By way of example, if shoe laces  20  have a 10″ free portion, it is desirable that strap  10  is approximately 12″ in length. It is also desirable that strap  10  comfortably fits around the ankle portion of most boots with adequate overlap at each end for securing hook/loop fasteners  14 ,  16 . In accordance with the present invention, it is desirable that strap  10  is approximately 12-26″; with 15-20″ being more preferred, and 17-18″ being most preferred. It is desirable that the strap is approximately 0.5-1.5″ in width. Strap  10  is preferably constructed of elasticized or non-elasticized webbing, with woven poly-elastic webbing from Jontay Distributing of Waycross, Ga. being an example of a suitable strap material. 
         [0038]    Cord lock  12 , depicted in detail in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , is secured to proximal end (relative to footwear when in use) of strap  10 , by attachment means  30  such as connection to small section of cord that is affixed and dangles, stitching or adhesive. It is desirable that end of strap  10  is finished, for example resulting in folded end  32 . Cord lock  12  includes cord lock device spring  24  which, when engaged ( FIG. 9 ) temporarily displaces cord lock device aperture  28  closer to underlying eyelets/grommets  22 . This allows easier of ingress and egress of shoe laces  20  to allow tightening and loosening. When spring  24  is allowed to return to natural extended position ( FIG. 8 ) shoe laces  20  are cinched into position wherein ingress and egress is more difficult in view of the tortuous path and friction. An example of a suitable cord lock  12  which is commercially available is Preset Cord Lock with Slot from Jontay Distributors of Waycross, Ga. 
         [0039]    Referring back to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the pairs of eyelets/grommets  22  are preferably identical, except at different ends of strap  10  or at various locations along the length of strap  10 . It is desirable that eyelets/grommets  22  are apertures which are reinforced using grommets. An example of a suitable eyelet is Grommet #00 from Grommet World of www.grommetworld.com Gastonia, N.C. While two pairs are preferred, it is possible to use one eyelet instead in either the first position or second position, both, or other combinations along the length of strap  10 . 
         [0040]    Hook/loop fasteners  14 ,  16  are connected to strap  10  on opposite sides so that when device is secured on a user, the corresponding sides contact and adhere. This is shown best in  FIG. 6 . It is desirable that fasteners  14 ,  16  are approximately 6″ each and connected to strap  10  by means such as stitching or adhesives. 
         [0041]    As depicted in  FIG. 3 , the device preferably includes a plurality of shoe lace restraints  18  along the length of strap  10 , between first and second set of eyelets/grommets  22 . It is possible to use as few as 1 restraint, and as many as will fit on strap  10 , but it has been determined that 3 restraints is most preferred. A preferred construction of restraint  18  is set forth in  FIG. 7 , wherein edges of tubular structure are secured to strap  10 , preferably by stitching, adhesives, or the like. Loop fastener  16  may also serve as a lace restraint. 
         [0042]    Use of the device is depicted in  FIGS. 4-6 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , a user would depress cord lock device  12  to engage cord lock device spring  24 , then thread shoe laces through cord lock device aperture  28 . Once shoe laces are pulled through cord lock  12 , then cord lock device  12  could be released. Shoe laces  20  would then be threaded through first apertures  22 , with one lace going through each aperture. Then laces  20  are threaded together through lace restraints  18 , and finally out second set of eyelets/grommets  22 , with one lace going through each aperture. The laces are then knotted or tied together so the ends don&#39;t slip back through second apertures. In this manner laces  20  initially engage with proximal end of device at front side, travel along bottom side for majority of the length of strap  10 , then reemerge at front side at distal end of device. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , slack is taken out of laces  20  in footwear  26  by pulling distal end of laces  20  and preferably allowing device to maintain a substantially linear orientation. Pulling laces  20  may be facilitated by depressing cord lock device  12 . Although not shown, it should be understood that this step occurs while footwear  26  is being worn. Once laces  20  are sufficiently tight, cord lock device  12  is no longer depressed, thereby causing reengagement of cord lock device spring  24 , cord lock device aperture  28  moving away from first set of eyelets/grommets  22 , and resulting in the cinching of shoe laces  20 . An alternative method is to pull laces  20  tight then extending strap  10  down the laces and cinching with cord lock device  12 . 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , strap  10  is wrapped around ankle such that bottom side of device is facing inward towards the body, thereby obscuring the majority of the length of free laces  10 , with hook/loop fasteners connecting to secure the device and laces in position. 
         [0045]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. It should also be understood that ranges of values set forth inherently include those values, as well as all increments between.