Abstract:
The present invention is a method for creating a device suitable for holding a shoelace. The purpose of the invention is to prevent injuries caused due to the presence of excess shoelace length when a user is wearing a shoe. The device consists of a fastener with hook and loop fasteners on one side and a bridge on the other side. The laces of a shoe are threaded through the bridge and are secured using the hook and loop fastener. The invention is designed such that the excess shoelace length is directed parallel to the sole of the shoe, thereby minimizing the possibility of the excess shoelace length contacting the ground and posing a hazard to the user.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 61/130,260 filed May 29, 2008, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of shoe accessories, more specifically to devices for containing shoelaces when on a shoe. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is an elegantly simple yet effective device for containing extra shoelace length on a shoe being worn by a user. When a shoe is tied, much of the lace is contained in the lacing format that holds the shoe tongue in place, and in the bow knot that is tied. However, in many instances there is an excess length of lace extending from the bow knot; this excess length of lace hangs off of the shoe and may contact the ground or be dragged along the ground when the user is moving. The danger of dragging laces is well known to users who wear lace up shoes, and is also well known to caretakers of children or handicapped adults. 
         [0004]    Dragging shoelaces are a danger to both adults and children. They can cause accidents such as tripping, which is especially dangerous in sport activities, where a participant may be moving very quickly or pivoting. Dragging shoelaces also can become caught in machinery, causing injury. For instance, a shoelace, even though properly tied, can easily become caught in an escalator if there is sufficient length of the lace hanging off of the shoe. Dragging shoelaces can become caught in playground equipment, or may be stepped on when in a group, causing the user to trip and possibly fall. 
         [0005]    Many attempts to address problems with shoelaces have been made; there is much art in the field of improving the shoelace and in providing devices to keep the lace tied when on a shoe. Prior art relevant to the present invention is described below. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,439 teaches a knot-securing device for the laces of shoes and other laced articles comprises a strap having adjoining surfaces of hook and loop elements. The strap is positioned to surround and contact the knot when the hook surface is brought into contact with the loop surface. An anchoring element may be fixed to the device to secure it to a lace. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,101 teaches a fastener incorporating a lace and a gripper. The gripper has a patch of a fastener material such as Velcro®. Areas of complementary fastener material are provided on the lace adjacent the ends thereof. When the lace is engaged with a lace-up article such as a shoe, the fastener material on the lace may be engaged with the fastener material on the gripper to maintain the lace under tension. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,854 teaches a knot latch device for footwear having structure readily adapted to receive a shoelace. The shoelace is then bowed about a portion of the knot latch device, and the knot latch device then folded about the bowed lace. The knot latch device includes a plurality of mating hook and loop elements to fasten the device securely about the bowed lace. Structure is included to mask at least a portion of the knot latch device when the device is secured about a bowed lace of the footwear. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,094 teaches a shoelace knot retainer that comprises top and bottom portions which are preferably hinged together. The bottom portion includes parallel side walls spaced by an opening which receives the shoelaces. The top portion includes ribs which lie adjacent the side walls when the top is engaged over the bottom. When the retainer is placed over a knot such that the knot is received between the side walls, the ends of the shoelace and the tips of the bow lie over the side walls and are clamped by the ribs when the top is engaged over the bottom. In a preferred embodiment, the ribs and the sidewalls have serrated edges to assist in gripping the shoelace. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,787 teaches a shoe lace knot securing device comprising a body, a pair of straps each having two ends wherein one end of each strap is permanently attached to one end of the said body and the other end of each strap is free and wherein the said straps extend outward from the said end of the said body, and an anchor loop provide at the other end of the said body, wherein the said body is provided with a fastener adapted to coact with a fastener on each of the said straps to detachably couple the free end of each of the said straps to the said body, and wherein each of the said straps is provided with a fastener adapted to coact with a fastener on the said body to detachably couple the said free ends of the said straps to the said body. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,437 teaches a device for retaining a knot of a shoelace. The device comprises a band with proximate and distal ends. The band is made of an elastic material, whereby the band may be stretched from a relaxed length to a stretched length. A rigid tab member comprises a proximate end portion connected to the proximate end of the elastic band, a distal end portion, and a lace slot cut entirely through the rigid tab member. A clip is affixed to the distal end of the elastic band for receiving the distal end portion in an attached state, wherein a force is applied by the elastic band attempting to retract the elastic band from its stretched length to its relaxed length, to maintain the distal end portion of the rigid tab member within the clip, and the knot is maintained in the lace slot and the shoelace clamped between the elastic band and the rigid tab member. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,888 teaches a shoelace retainer that includes a flexible, elongated strap member having a plurality of hook fastener elements on one surface thereof and a plurality of complementary loop fastener elements on an opposite surface thereof. A tab member having an elongated slot is disposed at a first end of the strap member for attaching the strap member to the footwear. The free ends of the shoelace are passed through the slot and the ends are tied in a conventional bowknot. The bow loops and free ends of the shoelace are placed on top of the strap member and the strap member is rolled up and onto itself, whereby the hook fastener elements become interlocked with the loop fastener elements, thereby confining the bow loops and free ends between convoluted layers. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,573 teaches a miniature pouch device which is removably attachable to the instep of a shoe for captivating the lace and bow used to tie the shoe, and retain them in a neat small package which sits in the location where the bow would normally reside on a conventional pair of shoes. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,500 teaches a knot securing device of particular benefit in securing shoelace knots made from a flexible material with a region having hook elements, a region having loop elements and a pair of apertures in the flexible material for allowing the open ends of a shoelace to pass through from one surface of the material to the opposite surface of the material, wherein the shoelace is then tied in a knot and the regions with the hook and loop elements are brought into contact to form a secure, but releasable, lock around the knot. 
         [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,483 teaches a shoelace securing device is in the form of an elongated strip of material with enlarged circular end portions that overlap upon assembly to cover the knot of a user&#39;s shoelaces. A rear side of the strip is completely covered with hook material to aid in gripping both the knot and adjacent shoelace material. The front surface has a loop patch at one end, the remainder of the front surface carrying an artistic design, other indicia, or logo. In one embodiment, the device includes two connectable, foldable strips of material. In each embodiment, a smooth surface is presented that can carry artwork, a slogan, words, a logo, or the like. 
         [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,323 teaches an invention that relates to a shoelace cover for use with an athletic shoe for covering the shoelaces to prevent the loosening or untying of a tied shoelace bow. The present invention is particularly applicable to wrestling shoes wherein the physical contact between wrestlers often; causes the wrestling shoes to become untied. The shoelace cover generally includes a length of material with ends that can be interconnected to form an adjustable cuff for extending about one&#39;s ankle. A front portion includes apertures for shoelaces to extend through the cover. Preferably, the shoelaces extend from the shoe to pass through the apertures of the cover and then back to the shoe to secure the cover to the shoe. The front portion includes a pocket on a back side. The shoelaces can be tied into a shoelace bow, tucked into the pocket, and the ends of the cuff can be secured about one&#39;s ankle to retain the shoelace within the pocket under the cover. 
         [0017]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,952,864 teaches a shoelace retainer including a strip of loop-type fastening material that has been folded back upon itself near its midpoint and seamed in place so as to form a small tab. The tab is perforated so as to provide the strip of loop-type fastening material with an attachment ring. Adjacent the ring at one end of the strip of loop-type fastening material is attached a patch of hook-type fastening material. 
         [0018]    US Patent Application 20020083620 teaches a shoelace cover for use with an athletic shoe for covering the shoelaces to prevent the loosening or untying of a tied shoelace bow. The present invention is particularly applicable to wrestling shoes wherein the physical contact between wrestlers often causes the wrestling shoes to become untied. The shoelace cover generally includes a length of material with ends that can be interconnected to form an adjustable cuff for extending about one&#39;s ankle. A front portion includes apertures for shoelaces to extend through the cover. Preferably, the shoelaces extend from the shoe to pass through the apertures of the cover and then back to the shoe to secure the cover to the shoe. The front portion includes a pocket on a back side. The shoelaces can be tied into a shoelace bow, tucked into the pocket, and the ends of the cuff can be secured about one&#39;s ankle to retain the shoelace within the pocket under the cover. 
         [0019]    US Patent Application 20040163285 teaches a shoe with improved lacing means that includes a shoe, shoe laces and a hook and loop element pouch. On the underside, the side making contact with the shoe, are two openings that are used to slide the shoelaces through. With the pouch open, the shoelaces are pushed through the holes, pulled firmly and then tied as usual. Place the tied shoelaces down into the pouch. There is a hook and loop element strip on the opening making it easy to close, while keeping laces secure. The pouch can be attached to the shoe by hook and loop element strips on both the right and left underside of the pouch. The pouch will keep the shoelaces from loosening, snagging and untying. 
         [0020]    US Patent Application 20050283956 teaches a footwear lace retainer that includes a first fabric sheet having a pair of spaced-apart openings for passage of the lace therethrough and a second fabric sheet secured to the first fabric sheet to form a pocket sized and shaped for receiving ends of the lace therein and having an open end facing toward the openings. A portion of the first fabric sheet forms a closure selectively foldable between a closing position wherein the open end of the pocket is closed and an opening position wherein the open end of the pocket is open. The openings are located between a fold line of the first fabric sheet and the open end of the pocket. A hook and loop fastener releasably secures the closure in the closing position. An attachment on the first fabric sheet opposite the pocket secures the first fabric sheet to the lace. 
         [0021]    U.S. Design Pat. 270779 teaches an ornamental design for a shoelace bow knot retainer. 
         [0022]    Although there is considerable art in the field of shoelace design and use, none of the art referenced above describes the present invention. Much of the art is concerned with keeping the shoelace tied in a bow knot, while the present invention assumes that the bow knot will stay tied and is designed to contain extra shoe lace length that is hanging from the bow knot. 
         [0023]    Many of the patents referenced above use hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro® to secure the laces; all of these references use devices that contain hook and loop fasteners on opposite sides of the device. The present invention uses a superior type of fastener that functions when placed on only one side of the device, eliminating the need to have it on both sides. This is an important distinction in the art because it reduces manufacturing complexity and cost. It also makes the present invention easier to use than the devices that have hook and loop fasteners on both sides, because the user can fasten the present invention anywhere on its body, without having to match up complimentary pieces that are on opposite sides. This not only speeds the use of the present invention, it also makes the use less frustrating, particularly for children. 
         [0024]    Another important distinguishing factor of the present invention is the direction in which the excess shoelace length is held. Many of the prior art devices show containment of the shoelace bow with any excess shoelace length extending out horizontally so that it is perpendicular to the sole of the shoe. This configuration allows any excess shoelace length to extend down the sides of the foot and onto the ground. The present invention holds the excess shoelace length vertically so that it is parallel to the sole of the shoe, and any excess length will extend down the shoe towards the toe. The possibility of the excess shoelace length contacting the ground is much reduced because the distance from the bow knot to the toe of the shoe is typically greater than the distance from the bow knot to the ground on the side of the shoe. 
         [0025]    The size and bulkiness of the devices designed to contain shoelaces is also important. The present invention is less bulky than most of the prior art devices. This is attained in part because the hook and loop fasteners are on only one side of the invention, and also because the invention does not cover the knot, which takes a larger device and results in a bulkier final presentation. Additionally, other devices, such as the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,952,864 may flop around and be more of a nuisance to the user than an aid. The present invention is designed to be small, light, and unobtrusive, and to remain stationary, so that it contains the excess shoelace length but otherwise is minimally noticeable to the user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    The present invention is a method for creating a device suitable for holding a shoelace, comprising the steps of creating a fastener having an adhering side and a backside, the fastener further having a length with first and second ends, the first end and the second end being removably attachable to each other when the first end of the adhering side is brought into contact with the adhering side of the second end, creating a loop suitable for holding tied shoelaces in general parallel orientation to the sole of a shoe, and attaching a bridge, suitable for attaching the fastener to the shoe laces of a shoe, wherein the bridge is in perpendicular orientation to the length of the fastener. In an alternate embodiment, the shoe lace holder can be sewn directly to the tongue of the shoe. 
         [0027]    It is an object of the invention to contain excess shoelace length on a shoe. 
         [0028]    It is an object of the invention to prevent injuries. 
         [0029]    It is an object of the invention to provide a removable device for containing excess shoelace length on a shoe. 
         [0030]    It is an object of the invention to provide a permanently attached device for containing excess shoelace length on a shoe. 
         [0031]    It is an object of the invention to provide a device to contain excess length of any type of tying material when in use. 
         [0032]    It is an object of the invention to direct excess shoelace length in a direction parallel to the sole of a shoe, thereby minimizing the possibility of the excess shoelace length contacting the ground when a user is wearing the shoe. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in use on a shoe. 
           [0034]      FIG. 2  is a perspective top view of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  is perspective bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  is side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention in use on a shoe. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0041]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in use on a shoe.  FIG. 1  shows a shoe  100  with a shoe body  105  that has a lug or eyelet  120 , a third lug or eyelet  130 , a shoe sole  160 , a shoe tongue  170 , a shoe sole length  180 , and a shoe tongue to ground length  190 . Also shown is a shoelace  110  that has shoelace first end  112 , a shoelace second end  114 , a shoelace bow  140 , and a shoelace excess length  150 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 1  also shows the present invention, which is fastener  200  with a fastener backside  220 , fastener width  225 , fastener first end  232 , fastener second end  234 , and fastener loop  240 . 
         [0043]    The shoe used for illustrative purposes in  FIG. 1  is an athletic shoe, although the present invention will function on any shoe with laces, such as a boot or street shoe, etc. or on any object that contains tied materials of any type, such as but not limited to, hoods, blouses, skirts, medical devices or procedures that use tied materials, cargo or trunk tie downs, or anywhere that material is tied and excess length is a concern. Additionally, the present invention may be used with any type of shoelace or string-type object, made from any materials and of any width or length. 
         [0044]    The shoe of  FIG. 1  is shown with the laces secured in a common criss-cross pattern. Because the purpose of the present invention is to secure excess length after a shoelace or other string-type object is tied, it may be used with any type of lacing pattern, knot, or tying method. 
         [0045]      FIG. 2  is a perspective top view of the fastener  200  which shows the fastener adhering side  210 , fastener backside  220 , fastener width  225 , fastener length  230 , fastener first end  232 , and fastener second end  234 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 3  is a perspective bottom view of the fastener  200  which shows the fastener backside  220 , fastener width  225 , fastener length  230 , fastener first end  232 , fastener second end  234 , bridge  250 , bridge first end  252 , bridge second end  254 , bridge length  260 , bridge width  270  and bridge depth  280 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the fastener  200  which illustrates fastener backside  220 , fastener width  225 , fastener length  230 , fastener first end  232 , fastener second end  234 , bridge  250 , bridge first end  252 , bridge second end  254 , bridge length  260 , and bridge width  270 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the fastener  200  that shows the fastener adhering side  210 , fastener width  225 , fastener length  230 , fastener first end  232 , and fastener second end  234 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the fastener  200  that shows the fastener adhering side  210 , fastener backside  220 , fastener length  230 , fastener first end  232 , fastener second end  234 , bridge  250 , and bridge depth  280 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the fastener  200  that shows the fastener adhering side  210 , fastener backside  220 , fastener width  225 , bridge  250 , bridge first end  252 , bridge second end  254 , bridge length  260 , and bridge depth  280 . 
         [0051]    The present invention is employed in the following manner: a shoelace  110  is laced onto a shoe  100  by threading the shoelace  110  in the commonly used criss-cross pattern through lugs or eyelets  120  to about half way up the tongue of the shoe, or, for a shoe with six lugs or eyelets, to the third lug or eyelet  130 . Once the shoelace  110  is through the third lug or eyelet  120 , the fastener  200  is held above the shoe tongue  170  with the fastener backside  200  and the bridge  250  facing the shoe  100 , and the fastener adhering side  200  facing up and away from the shoe. The shoelace first end  112  and the shoelace second end  114  are both threaded through the bridge  250  to secure the fastener  200  in place on the shoelace. The shoelace  110  is then laced through the remaining lugs or eyelets  120  to the top lug or eyelet  120  where it is tied, typically in a bow knot that results in the shoelace bow  140 . The shoelace bow  140  and the shoelace excess length  150  from both the shoelace first end  112  and the shoelace second end  114  are placed on the fastener adhering side  210 . The fastener first end  232  of the fastener adhering side  210  is then brought into contact with the fastener second end  114  of the fastener adhering side  210  so that the fastener  200  is adhered to itself to form fastener loop  240  with the shoelace bow  140  and shoelace excess length  150  secured inside. 
         [0052]    In a preferred embodiment, the bridge  250  is a piece of elastic fabric, and is sewn to the fastener  200 , with an integrated hook and loop material on the fastener adhering side  210 , and fabric on the fastener back side  220 . As used herein, the term “integrated hook and loop fastener” means a hook and loop fastener having the hooks and loops on the same side of the fabric and alternating in a manner that allows two ends of a single strip to be pressed together. This is sometimes referred to as “alternating row” hook and loop fasteners. The integrated hook and loop fastener is available from Aplix, In (Charlotte, N.C.). 
         [0053]    This configuration results in the shoelace excess length  150  traversing parallel to the shoe sole length  180 , which generally is a greater distance than the shoe tongue to ground length  190 . This yields the advantage of the shoelace excess length  150  being distributed over a greater distance before possible contact with the ground than if the shoelace extra length  150  was distributed perpendicular to the shoe sole  160 , as it is in the prior art. The present invention thereby is the more effective device for minimizing the possibility of the shoelace extra length  150  dragging and becoming a hazard to the user of the shoe  100 . 
         [0054]    The figures illustrate the bridge  250  of the fastener  200  attached to the shoelace  110  at the third lug or eyelet  130  of the shoe  100 , but the bridge  250  may be fastened in anywhere along the length of the shoelace  110 . 
         [0055]    The primary purpose of the invention is to capture shoelace excess length  150 , therefore the shoelace bow  140  may or may not be contained in the fastener  200 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 8  illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention in use on a shoe.  FIG. 8  shows a shoe  100  with a shoe body  105  that has a lug or eyelet  120 , third lug or eyelet  130 , shoe sole  160 , shoe tongue  170 , shoe sole length  180 , shoe tongue to ground length  190 , and a shoelace  110  that has a shoelace first end  112 , shoelace second end  114 , and a shoelace excess length  150 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 8  also shows a fastener  200  that has a fastener adhering side  210 , fastener width  225 , fastener length  230 , fastener first end  232 , and fastener second end  234 . 
         [0058]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the fastener  200  is removably attached to the shoelace  100  and is not attached to the shoe  100 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the fastener first end  232  is permanently adhered to the shoe  100  either by adhering to the shoe tongue  170  or to the shoe body  105  while the fastener second end  234  is not attached. Alternately, the fastener second end  234  may be adhered to the shoe body  105  or shoe tongue  170  while the fastener first end  232  is not attached. In the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , the fastener  200  may be adhered to the shoe body  105  or the shoe tongue  170  using any means, including but not limited to, sewing, riveting, welding, gluing, heat fusing, stapling, or snapping. 
         [0059]    In a preferred embodiment, the fastener length  230  may be ⅛ inch to 48 inches, with a preferred length in the range of 3 to 5 inches. The fastener width  225  may be ⅛ inch to 48 inches, with a preferred width of ½ to 5 inches. The bridge length  260  may be ⅛ inch to 48 inches, with a preferred length of ¾ inch to 3 inches, the bridge width  270  may be 1/64 inch to 48 inches, and the bridge depth  280  may be 1/64 inch to 48 inches with a preferred depth of 1/16 inch to 1 inch. The fastener adhering side  210  may be the same size as the fastener backside  220 , or it may be smaller or larger and may be distributed in any pattern on the backside  220 . The preferred fastener is 3.5 inches long by 1 inch wide, bridge is about 1.25 inches long by ½ inch wide by ¼ inch deep. 
         [0060]    In both embodiments illustrated in the figures, the bridge may be attached to the fastener by a number of means, including but not limited to, sewing, welding, gluing, heat fusing, stapling, riveting, or snapping. Alternately, the fastener back side  220  and the bridge  250  may made from one continuous piece of the same material. There may be one bridge  250  on the fastener  200  as illustrated in the figures, or there may be a plurality of bridges  250  on the fastener  200 , for instance, from 1 to 3 bridges  250  on the fastener  200 . The bridge may be rigid or flexible and may or may not stretch The fastener  200  may be flexible, stretchable or rigid. The materials used to manufacture the fastener may include, but are not limited to, integrated hook and loop fasteners, fabrics, adhesives, metals, plastics, animal products, composites, or any combination of these or other materials. 
         [0061]    The fastener adhering side  210  may adhere through the use of, but is not limited to, integrated hook and loop fasteners, adhesives, snaps, suction, magnetic, physical or chemical attractive force, the use of material that has a male/female union, or any other method that allows adhesion. 
         [0062]    The bridge  250  may flexible, stretchable, or rigid. It may be made from any material, including but not limited to, integrated hook and loop fasteners, fabrics including but not limited to elastic and other stretchable fabrics, adhesives, metals, plastics, glass or glass products, wood or wood products, animal products, composites, or any combination of these or other materials. 
         [0063]    Although the fastener  200  and the bridge  250  are illustrated as rectangles, they can be the same or different shapes, and they can be any shapes, including but not limited to, a circle, square, star, triangle, polygon, cartoon object, caricature, vehicle, or any other shape. 
         [0064]    Additionally, the fastener  200  and the bridge  250  may be any color or colors, and there may be more than one color on each component. The fastener  200  and bridge  250  may contain images, indicia, or both, including but not limited to, advertising, photos, digital images, slogans, names, or any other desired image or indicia. The image or indicia may be transferred to the fastener  200  and bridge  250  through any process, including printing, integrating in the materials production process, gluing, screening, engraving, or any other process. The fastener  200  and bridge  250  may both have images or indicia, or only one of them may contain images or indicia. In the embodiment where a multitude of bridges  250  are attached to the fastener  200 , the images and/or indicia may be identical or varying, in any combination. 
         [0065]    Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.