Abstract:
A shoelace containment device for securing shoelaces after tying on a sports shoe. A flexible body member defines a lace retainment pocket with a closure flap thereover. Multiple shoe engagement straps adjustably secure the retainment pocket over the lace portion of a sports shoe.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to shoelace securing devices that are used to collect and secure the long loops and laces formed by tying shoelaces together on a laced oriented sports shoe. 
   2. Description of Prior Art 
   A number of prior art shoelace conveying and securing devices have been developed to cover or secure long shoelaces associated with sports shoes after tying or the like, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,566,477, 4,426,756, 4,805,270, 5,170,573, 5,333,398, 5,649,342, 5,671,517, 6,601,323, 5,459,947, U.S. Patent Publications 2002/0083620 A1, 2004/0244162 A1 and Japanese Patent JP2005040524. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A shoelace retainment and containment device that provides for an adjustable self-securing enclosure to be positioned over the lace portion of a sports shoe or the like. A lace receiving pocket and overlying closure flap provides for the insertion and retainment of lace loops of a tied shoelace with a knot portion secured by the closure flap thereover. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of the shoelace containment device. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear elevational view thereof. 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the shoelace device in open position with the shoelace positioned thereon. 
       FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the shoelace containment device with the shoelaces inserted and in closed position. 
       FIG. 5  is a graphic perspective view of the invention positioned on a sports shoe. 
       FIG. 6  is a graphic side elevational view of the invention in open extended position prior to attachment and insertion of shoelaces. 
       FIG. 7  is a rear elevational view of an alternate child form of reduced size and attachment fixture. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, a shoelace containment device  10  of the invention can be seen having a main body member  11  in which is defined a lace retaining pocket  12  as illustrated in broken lines. A closure flap  13  extends from the main body member  11  with an interconnecting hinge element  14 . A pocket access lip  15  is defined by the elongated edge open end of the pocket  12  and is used to selectively access by opening the pocket  12  as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
   A first hook and loop fastener element  17 A is secured transversely across the front surface  16  upper portion of the body member  11  in spaced relation to the pocket lip  15  for corresponding registration with a second hook and loop element  17 B secured to the inner surface  18  of the closure flap  13 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2  of the drawings a first attachment strap  19  extends integrally from the main body member  11  at the terminus of oppositely disposed angular perimeter edges  20  and  21 . The attachment strap  19  has a hook and loop fastener element  22  thereon aligned for co-registration with a corresponding hook and loop fastener element  22 A secured to the outer back surface BS of the main body member  11 . 
   A second attachment strap  23  extends from the outer back surface BS of the main body member  11  in longitudinal alignment with said hook and loop fastener element  22 B as hereinbefore described. The second attachment strap  23  also has a hook and loop fastening element thereon at  24 A for selective registration with the correspondingly aligned hook and loop fastening element  24 B on the back surface BS of the main body member  11  in spaced vertical relation to the hinge element  14 . The free end of the second attachment strap  23  defines an integral engagement and adjustment loop  25  thereon in use when securing as will be described in detail hereinafter. 
   The hook and loop fastening elements  22 A and  22 B and  24 A and  24 B are of a commercial configuration known under the trademark as Velcro® which will be evident and obvious and well known to those skilled in the art. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5  of the drawings, the shoelace containment device  10  of the invention is shown as being adjustably secured over the lace portion  26  of a sports shoe  27 . The matter in which the attachment is incurred is defined by a first attachment strap  19  which is slipped under a corresponding lower cross lace  27 A of the shoelace portion  26  and secured to the back surface BS in the appropriate hook and loop material  22 B on the main body member  11 , as noted. The second attachment strap  23  is correspondingly slipped under the appropriate cross lace so positioned and defined at  27 B and adjusted for registration securement by its loop  25  by interengagement of the hereinbefore described hook and loop fastener elements  24 A and  24 B. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the drawings, shoelace free ends  28  are brought up and cross tied in a typical well known manner forming a bow over the hinge portion  14  forming respective bow loops  29  and a central knot  30 . It will be evident that the bow loops  29  are then stuffed into the open end  16  of the pocket  12  which is open by engagement and applied force to the lip  15 . 
   The closure flap  13  is then folded over the exposed knot  30  via its flexible hinge portion  14  and selectively secured to the front of the main body member by the interlocking and registering hook and loop fastening elements  17 A and  17 B as best seen in  FIG. 4  of the drawings with the bow loops  29  within the pocket  12  shown in dotted lines in a safe and secure manner. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 7  of the drawings, an alternate form of the invention can be seen wherein a child&#39;s shoelace containment device  31  can be seen having a pocket  32 , closure flap  33  and is of a reduced longitudinal dimension having only one lace attachment strap  34  on its back side  35  due to its reduced dimension. 
   It will be noted that the various elements and construction of the shoelace containment device  10  are preferably fabricated from reinforced synthetic fabric material sewn together along perimeter edges to define the pocket  12  and appropriate attachment mechanisms are provided for securing the representative hook and loop fastener elements through the prescribed surface areas for their appropriate interengagement in securing the device to the shoelace portion  25  of the shoe  27  and correspondingly for closing of the pocket  12  by the overlying flap  13  as previously described. 
   It will be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.