Abstract:
The present invention is a device positionable over the top of a shoe and over a wearer&#39;s instep to allows shoe laces of ones shoes to be secured in place. This device includes a lower piece that feeds under ones laces and contours to the shoe and instep to a tight fit to allow the appearance of being a natural part of one&#39;s shoes. A top piece or flap of this device that is connected to the lower piece folds overtop of the laces once placed in and is the secured to the lower piece to hold the laces in place.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR CO-PENDING APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of prior co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/671,363 filed Aug. 29, 2013 entitled Show Lace Securing Device. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention is related to a device that will secure shoelaces and is especially related to an apparatus for use with athletic shoes, especially when worn by children. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    The securing of shoe laces has been and is a problem for small children as well as the athlete in competition. The present invention presents an easy method using a device that even a child can attach to his or her shoes and secure laces. The typical method of securing shoe laces can range from stuffing in the sides of one&#39;s shoes or stuffing into a pouch. These methods cannot be facilitated with ease and many times do not work or create a very unnatural look. This shoe lace securing device allows for an easy method to attach to shoes and allows a contoured fit which creates a natural fit and look for any shoe. The connected hook and loop or Velcro top piece or any product of the like secures the laces in place once placed between the bottom and top piece of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The shoe lace securing device will be made of a Velcro material or anything of the like that will secure laces together once located between the top and bottom flaps of the present invention. The present invention will have a flexible curved piece sewn, attached or connected to the bottom piece that will slide with ease underneath of laces of shoes. This will not only secure the shoe lace securing device in place but will contour to the front of shoe to give a natural look that will distinguish itself from any competitive product. This will also allow no points of contact to stick out allowing one to kick a ball with ease so that it will not deviate from its intended direction. Two tabs will be sewn on each end to allow easy opening and closing of the show lace securing device of the present invention. 
         [0007]    As used here the terms deform or deformable or the like shall mean that the shape of a deformable component can be changed, but that a deformable component need not have any memory or would not naturally return to its original shape. The term flexible shall mean that a component is able to bend without breaking and can refer either to a component that has an inherent memory, such as a spring, or which has not inherent member such as a flexible cloth. The term resilient shall be understood to mean a component that is both deformable and flexible, but that does have a memory so that it can or will return to its original shape unless some external force prevents return to the original shape. 
         [0008]    According to one aspect of this invention, a device according to this invention can be used to secure end portions of a shoe lace extending beyond eyelets on a shoe. This device has an upper section and a lower section. The upper section is flexible and the lower section is deformable to a curved configuration to fit over a portion of the shoe extending over a wearer&#39;s foot instep. The upper section will extend from one end of the curved lower section. The upper section is foldable over portions of the shoe laces extending over the curved lower section and can be attached to and detached from the lower section in a curved configuration at an opposite end from the one end from which the upper section extends to trap end portions of the shoe lace extending beyond eyelets on the shoe. 
         [0009]    The device according to another aspect of this invention is also used to secure end portions of a shoe lace extending beyond eyelets on a shoe. The device has an elongated strip of material comprising an upper section and a lower section wherein the lower section is dimensioned to fit between a portion of shoe laces that are laced between eyelets on a shoe. A relatively narrower central section joins a relatively wider section adjacent a leading end of the lower section. The relatively wider section includes an upwardly facing fastener. The upper section is joined to the relatively narrower central section of the lower portion and the upper section is wider than the relatively narrower central section. The upper section can be folded over the lower section and laces extending between eyelets. The upper section includes a downwardly facing fastener attachable to the upwardly facing fastener to trap end portions of shoe laces extending beyond the eyelets. 
         [0010]    In a method according to this invention end portions of shoelaces on top of a shoe are held in place or secured so that the shoelaces will not be exposed and will not become undone or protrude so as to cause a wearer to trip. 
         [0011]    This method includes the steps of inserting a lower section of a securing device beneath and through shoelaces extending and laced between eyelets on the shoe so that the lower section extends beyond both sides of the tongue of the shoe. The lower section is deformable to conform to the wearer&#39;s instep. The upper section is folded over the end portions of the shoelaces after the shoelaces have been tied by the wearer and fastening a leading end of the upper section to a leading end of the lower portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a shoe with the lace securing device extending over the loops of the laces. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows the top of the shoe and the lace securing device in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows one end of the lace securing device extending between the laces with the top portion of the lace securing device in the disengaged position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4A  shows the initial insertion of the forward end of the lower portion of the lace securing device initially inserted beneath the laces, prior to complete insertion of the lower portion of the lace securing device. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4B  shows the manner in which the lower portion of the lace securing device extends beneath the laces extending through eyelets in the shoe. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  shows the lace securing device with the lower portion being curved to fit the top of the foot. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  shows the two layer construction of the lace securing device with a flexible curved insert which will be positioned in a pocket. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  shows the pocket of  FIG. 6  with the flexible curved insert can residein the pocket in a flattened position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  shows the two layers being folded over to secure the flexible curved insert in the pocket that will be closed upon final assembly. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  shows an alternate embodiment of the lace securing device in which the lower portion that will be fitted beneath the laces in a shoe is narrower for better fit. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  shows the alternate embodiment positioned on a shoe. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  shows the shoe lace securing device  10  made of a hook and loop or Velcro material (Or material of the like) that secures laces  4  in place once the laces  4  placed in between the top  12  and bottom  14  portions or flaps of the device  10 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . The shoe lace securing device  10  is laced between laces  4  that are already on the shoe  2 , although it may be necessary to loosen the laces  4  in order to apply the device  10 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a side view of lace securing device showing the leading edge of the top portion  14  which is secured to the bottom portion  12  by the hook and loop fasters forming the mating surfaces therebetween.  FIG. 2  also shows the natural look of the shoe  2  and the securing device  10  as it secures laces  4 . The securing device  10  opens with tab  16  ( FIG. 3 ) on the leading end. Laces  4  are placed overtop of bottom portion  14  and top flap  12  secures laces once folded over laces and secured with Velcro or any product of the like. The top portion or flap  12  folds overtop the bottom flap  14  to secure laces  4  therebetween. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  shows how the laces overlay onto the bottom piece or flap  14  of the lace securing device, and the tabs  16 ,  22  on each end to allow for easy opening and closing. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4A  shows how the bottom flap  14  is initially inserted or threaded in place between laces in the shoe  2 . The bottom contoured portion  14  is curved with the bottom tab  22  located on the leading edge of this contoured portion so that it can be used to pull the curved bottom flap beneath the shoe laces  4   FIG. 4B  shows the bottom flap  14  after it has been completely inserted between the laces  4  on the shoe  2 . The top flap  12  will then be folded over to secure laces  4  in place. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 4A and 4B : The below shows the ease in which the shoe lace securing device is threaded in place underneath ones shoe laces. The rounded or pointed ends allow an easy method to secure the device in place; even a child would be able to secure in place. The top portion will then be placed over top of the laces to secure in place. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  shows how a deformable piece placed inside or on the top or bottom of the present invention can impart a curved or round contour to the bottom portion  14  of the securing device  10  so that it will fit on the top curved surface of any shoe  2 . This allows one to create a natural look as if the securing device  10  was part of the shoe  2  itself. It will also allow no points to be sticking up and it is important while playing sports to allow a natural point for foot to ball contact in sports such as soccer or football. The bottom portion of shoe lace securing device  10  has a deformable piece or material such as metal, plastic or a product of the like, which may also be either flexible or resilient, embedded inside the inner and outer layers that that is sufficiently flexible to allow the lace securing device  10  to contour naturally around a shoe  2 . This creates a natural look that would be attractive for any type of kids&#39; shoes, man&#39;s work or hunting boots, work shoes, or athletic shoes. The top flap  12  when fitted over the curved bottom flap  14  will also exhibit this same curved contour. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  shows a deformable curved or curvable piece  40  exploded from a pocket  30  formed by two layers  32  and  34  forming the lace locking device  10 .  FIGS. 7 and 8  show how the curved or curvable piece  40  can be fitted in pocket  30  formed by the two layers  32  and  34 .  FIG. 7  shows how the curved piece  40  has sufficient flexibility so that it can be flattened. The curved piece  40  can possess sufficient resiliency so that it will tend to return to a curved configuration unless flattened by the exertion of a force on the ends of the curved piece  40  or when prevented from returning to its original shape by the wearer&#39;s foot when fitted on top of a shoe as shown in  FIG. 1-4B . 
         [0030]    The deformable piece  40  can be deformable only, deformable and flexible or resilient, depending upon the embodiment chosen. In one embodiment, the deformable piece can be fabricated from a material such as a soft, cast metallic member that does not have member and can be shaped into a relatively stable curved configuration that will conform to a wearer&#39;s instep and to the top of a shoe. After the lower section is inserted beneath the shoelaces, such a deformable material can be pressed into its curved configuration. Such a soft material can be deformed to a flatter configuration to remove the lower section from beneath the shoelaces. 
         [0031]    Another embodiment of the deformable piece  40  can be a spring member having a curved configuration generally in the shape of a C and can be resilient so that it will have sufficient memory to return to the curved C-shaped configuration unless acted on by an external force or forces. Such a spring member can be flatted to allow it to be inserted beneath the shoelaces, but it will returned to or toward its C-shaped configuration unless prevented from fully returning by the presence of the top of the shoe or the wearer&#39;s instep. This resilient deformable member will thus tend to conform to the shape of the top of the shoe or the wearer&#39;s instep. 
         [0032]    A bistable spring can also be used to form the deformable piece  40 . A bistable spring is a spring that is flexible and will tend to return to either of two different configurations. If a generally rectangular strip of spring metal is curved relative to an axis parallel to its longitudinal dimension, the bistable spring will tend to reside in a first stable state in which the bistable spring is generally flat or elongate. However, when a force perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is applied so such a bistable spring the spring will return to a curved or coiled state. An opposed force applied to the bistable spring in its curved stable state will cause the bistable spring to return to its other generally flat stable state. Such a bistable spring can be employed as the deformable piece  40  so that the bistable spring can be inserted through the shoelaces in its flat state and can then be released from that state to a curved state in which the deformable piece  40  would generally conform to the top of the shoe or the wearer&#39;s instep. A second bistable spring could also be employed to form the top section of the securing device which can be folded over the shoe laces in an overlapping configuration relative to the lower section and the lower bistable deformable piece  40 . When a bistable spring is used to form the deformable piece  40 , and/or the upper section, a plastic coating, such as neoprene, can be formed over the bistable spring. 
         [0033]    In another embodiment a bistable spring securable to the shoe and can be positioned in a curved configuration over the top of the shoelaces. The bistable spring of this configuration will conform to the top of the shoe and the wearer&#39;s instep when placed the top of the shoelaces. One end of the bistable spring can be attached to loop or a chain or other connecting means, which can be attached to the shoelaces or through an eyelet so that the bistable spring will not become inadvertently detached when the shoe if not being worn. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show an alternate embodiment of a lace securing device  60  in which a portion  64  of the lower piece has a smaller width that the two portions  62  and  66  on either end. This narrower section  64  will fit beneath the laces  4  so that the laces can be sufficiently tightened so that the shoe  2  will have a normal feel and appearance when the laces  4  capture the section  64  therein, as shown in  FIG. 10 . A pull tab  68  extends from the leading end of wider portion  62  to assist in pulling the lower section beneath the shoelaces extending between the eyelets on the shoe. 
         [0035]    Other usages include a shoe lace securing device including a tracking monitoring device that can be embedded in present invention to track amount of time one has exercised to monitor amount of playing time and keep statistical numbers of playing time in competitive games. An app could be made for any mobile device to analyze the information. 
         [0036]    The top of the lace securing device can have removable advertising area (tab) that one can advertise or promote ones team, logo, or be a location for ones identification. 
         [0037]    The top portion of lace securing device can also have advertising sewn on it to display favorite teams, logos, player&#39;s names, kids&#39; names or anything to promote ones interest. 
         [0038]    In addition to providing a means for securing shoe laces, especially for children engaged in sports, the securing device of this invention can also incorporate a transmitter that can serve as a monitoring device in conjunction with corresponding software or an app, which would allow a parent to track a child&#39;s current location.