Patent Description:
Conventionally, in a case of wearing a shoe, in order to remove the inconvenience of tying or untying a knot of a shoelace, various types of tightening devices by which a user can conveniently tighten or loosen a shoelace have been developed.

Such tightening devices are installed on a bag, a hat, a garment, or the like, as well as shoes, in order to tighten a wire, and are increasing a use range thereof.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate a conventional wire tightening device, disclosed in <CIT>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the wire tightening device is assembled by sequentially stacking a housing <NUM>, a winding wheel <NUM>, a gear member <NUM>, a spring <NUM>, and a tightening cap <NUM> from below.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when a user presses the tightening cap <NUM> and the gear member <NUM>, in a state in which they are lowered by the elasticity of the spring part <NUM>, the gear member <NUM> and the winding wheel <NUM> are coupled to each other to be integrally rotated. In this state, the gear member <NUM> and the winding wheel <NUM> are restricted in the first directional rotation so as to be rotated only in the direction to wind a wire.

Moreover, when the user raises the tightening cap <NUM> and the gear member <NUM>, in a state in which they are lifted by the elasticity of the spring part <NUM>, the coupled state of the gear member <NUM> and the winding wheel <NUM> is released. In the above state, the winding wheel <NUM> can be rotated freely, and the wire can be released freely.

However, the conventional wire tightening device has a disadvantage in that the manufacturing process is complicated since the number of assembled components, such as the spring <NUM>, and the assembly is complicated.

Furthermore, since the winding wheel <NUM> for winding the wire is positioned in the lowermost layer inside the housing <NUM>, the wire is introduced through the bottom of the housing <NUM>. So, the conventional wire tightening device has another disadvantage in that the wire continuously interferes with the surface of a product, such as the shoe, on which the wire tightening device is installed.

Another wire tightening device is known from <CIT>. The known device comprises a housing in which an inner space is formed, a winding wheel located in the inner space of the housing, and having a through hole vertically formed in the middle thereof, a winding groove which is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the through hole and on which a wire is wound, a lifting member disposed in the through hole of the winding wheel, and a tightening cap. A ratchet mechanism is arranged between the winding wheel and the housing, which ratchet mechanism can be engaged and disengaged via the tightening cap for tightening and releasing the wire.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wire tightening device which is installed on a shoe or the like to smoothly tighten a wire, reduce the number of components, and facilitate assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wire tightening device, which does not increase the entire height protruding when being installed on a product, such as a shoe, but raises the position of a part in which the wire is wound inside a housing, thereby preventing the wire entering the housing from being interfered with the surface of the product.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wire tightening device which does not need a position maintaining means, which is manufactured separately and is complicated in assembly, like a spring but can smoothly maintain ascending and descending positions.

According to the present invention, there is provided a wire tightening device comprising the features of any of claims <NUM> and <NUM>. Advantageous embodiments are indicated in dependent claims.

As described above, according to the present invention, the lifting member is arranged in the through hole of the winding wheel and performs the lifting motion inside the through hole. Therefore, the wire tightening device can smoothly tighten the wire, and the components can be arranged spatially efficiently.

Moreover, compared with the conventional wire tightening device, the present invention can reduce the number of the overall components, and can be assembled simply.

Furthermore, the winding groove on which the wire is wound is formed at the upper portion of the winding wheel, the first ratchet part is mounted inside the lower portion of the winding wheel, and the second ratchet part of the lifting member is coupled with the first ratchet part inside the lower portion of the winding wheel. Therefore, the wire tightening device according to the present invention can raise the position of the winding groove for winding the wire inside the housing, but the entire height of the wire tightening device is not increased. In such a structure, the wire can go into and out of the housing without any interference with the surface of the product, and the protrusion height of the wire tightening device mounted on the surface of the product, such as a shoe, is the same as the conventional wire tightening device.

Additionally, the winding wheel or the uplifted part of the housing and the position setting part of the tightening cap can set the position by going over each other without using the conventional position maintaining means made of a metallic material, such as a spring, which is complicated in manufacturing and assembly.

In addition, according to the present invention, the lifting member performs the lifting motion in a state in which the first ratchet part of the winding wheel and the second ratchet part of the lifting member maintain the engaged state. Therefore, when the lifting member performs the lifting motion, since the winding wheel and the lifting member are not separated from each other, it does not generate bad engagement due to separation and coupling, and allows a smooth lifting motion.

Referring to <FIG>, a wire tightening device according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes: a housing <NUM> having a side wall 11a surrounding an inner space <NUM> and locking teeth <NUM> formed on the bottom; a tightening cap <NUM> covering an upper portion of the housing <NUM> and being capable of performing a lifting motion; a winding wheel <NUM> positioned in the inner space <NUM> and having a central through hole <NUM> to wind a wire <NUM> on a winding groove <NUM> formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof; and a lifting member <NUM> located in the through hole <NUM>, coupled with the winding wheel <NUM>, performing a lifting motion inside the through hole <NUM> in a state in which the lifting member <NUM> is coupled with the tightening cap <NUM>, and being locked to or separated from the locking teeth <NUM> during the lifting motion.

The housing <NUM> includes a side wall 11a surrounding the inner space <NUM> and locking teeth <NUM> formed on the bottom thereof.

In detail, the housing <NUM> includes a base part <NUM> having a hollowed seating groove 14a to be attached to a product, such as a shoe, and a cylindrical sidewall part <NUM> coupled to the seating groove 14a of the base part <NUM> to surround the inner space <NUM> and form a sidewall 11a.

Preferably, the locking teeth <NUM> are mounted on the bottom surface of the seating groove 14a of the base part <NUM>.

A restriction part <NUM> is formed at an upper end of the housing <NUM> to prevent the winding wheel <NUM> from being lifted to maintain its position in the inner space <NUM>. The restriction part <NUM> is a jaw to which the upper end of the outer circumferential surface of the winding wheel <NUM> is caught.

In the assembled state, the restriction part <NUM> protrudes toward the inner space <NUM> so that the upper end of the winding wheel <NUM> is caught to the restriction part <NUM> not to ascend.

In addition, a limitation protrusion <NUM> protruding outward is formed at an upper end of the housing <NUM> to prevent the tightening cap <NUM> from being separated upwards in a state in which the tightening cap <NUM> is coupled to the housing <NUM>.

In addition, a pair of wire holes <NUM> are formed so that the wire <NUM> can go into and out of the inner space <NUM> in a state in which the cylindrical sidewall part <NUM> and the base part <NUM> are coupled to each other.

The cylindrical sidewall part <NUM> and the base part <NUM> may be integrated into a single structure.

Meanwhile, the tightening cap <NUM> is coupled to cover the upper portion of the housing <NUM> to move up and down, and the user can rotate the tightening cap <NUM> by the hand.

The tightening cap <NUM> has a structure covering the upper end of the housing <NUM> of a circular container shape, and has a limitation jaw <NUM> formed at a lower end thereof. The limitation jaw <NUM> is caught by the limitation protrusion <NUM> of the housing <NUM> so that the tightening cap <NUM> is not separated upwards.

Tightening teeth <NUM> are formed on the bottom surface inside the tightening cap <NUM> to rotate the winding wheel <NUM> in a direction in which the wire <NUM> is wound by being coupled to coupling teeth <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM> while descending.

The tightening teeth <NUM> are formed in an annular shape along the circumference of the inner surface of the tightening cap <NUM>. When the tightening teeth <NUM> are engaged with the coupling teeth <NUM>, a rotational force that a user rotates the tightening cap <NUM> is transmitted to the winding wheel <NUM>, so that the winding wheel <NUM> can be also rotated in the direction to tighten the wire <NUM>.

When the tightening cap <NUM> ascends, the tightening teeth <NUM> are separated from the coupling teeth <NUM>.

Furthermore, the tightening cap <NUM> may be coupled to the lifting member <NUM> to move up and down together with the lifting member <NUM>, but may be coupled to the lifting member <NUM> to allow rotation of the lifting member <NUM>.

The tightening cap <NUM> has a coupling structure in which a locking groove 42a and a locking jaw <NUM> are engaged with each other to be lifted together in a state in which they are restricted to each other vertically and to allow relative rotation to each other in the rotational direction.

More specifically, the lifting member <NUM> has the locking jaw <NUM> formed in an annular shape on an upper portion thereof, and the tightening cap <NUM> has a lower protrusions42 mounted on the bottom surface therein. The lower protrusion <NUM> has the locking groove 42a formed on the circumference thereof so that the locking jaw <NUM> is caught and coupled to the locking groove 42a.

<FIG> illustrates that the lower protrusion <NUM> is split into three to be easily coupled to a central hole <NUM> of the lifting member <NUM> and the locking grooves 42a are respectively formed on the lower protrusions <NUM>.

Accordingly, the tightening cap <NUM> and the lifting member <NUM> move up and down in a state in which they are restricted from each other in the vertical direction, but do not restrict each other during the rotation, thereby allowing relative rotation to each other in the rotation direction.

Such a structure allows the tightening cap <NUM> to rotate without interference of the lifting member <NUM> in a case in which the winding wheel <NUM> winds the wire <NUM> by lowering the tightening cap <NUM> to rotate the winding wheel <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the winding wheel <NUM> is positioned in the inner space <NUM> and having a central through hole <NUM> to wind a wire <NUM> on a winding groove <NUM> formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof.

The winding wheel <NUM> has the coupling teeth <NUM> formed on the upper portion of the winding wheel <NUM> in an annular shape around the through hole <NUM> to be coupled to the tightening teeth <NUM> of the tightening cap <NUM>.

The winding groove <NUM> is formed at the upper portion of the winding wheel <NUM> in an annular shape along the circumference of the through hole <NUM>, so that the wire <NUM> going in and out through the pair of wire entrance holes <NUM> of the housing <NUM> is wound and stored in the winding groove <NUM>.

The winding groove <NUM> has a wire fixing groove <NUM> to which an end of the wire <NUM> is fixed.

A first ratchet part <NUM> is mounted at a lower portion of the inner circumferential surface of the through hole <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM>.

The through hole <NUM> is divided into an upper through hole 21a having the winding groove <NUM> formed on the periphery thereof, and a lower through hole 21b having a diameter larger than that of the upper through hole 21a and having the first ratchet part <NUM> formed along the circumference thereof.

The first ratchet part <NUM> of the lower through hole 21b includes ratchet teeth formed on the circumference thereof to be inclined in one direction, and a second ratchet part <NUM> of the lifting member <NUM> is ratchet-coupled to the first ratchet part <NUM> to allow rotation only in one direction.

Meanwhile, the lifting member <NUM> is disposed in the through hole <NUM>, is coupled to the winding wheel <NUM>, and performs a lifting motion inside the through hole <NUM> in a state in which the lifting member <NUM> is coupled with the tightening cap <NUM>.

The lifting member <NUM> includes the second ratchet part <NUM> which is engaged with the first ratchet part <NUM> at the lower portion thereof to allow rotation in one direction and blocks rotation in the other direction. The lifting member <NUM> further includes engagement teeth <NUM> disposed at a lower end portion thereof and caught to the locking teeth <NUM> of the housing <NUM> so that the lifting member <NUM> is locked to or separated from the locking teeth <NUM>.

An inclination direction of ratchet teeth is set in such a manner that the engagement structure between the first ratchet part <NUM> and the second ratchet part <NUM> allows the winding wheel <NUM> to relatively rotate with respect to the lifting member <NUM> in the direction that the wire <NUM> is wound but blocks the winding wheel <NUM> from relatively rotating in the direction that the wire <NUM> is released.

The second ratchet part <NUM> has a plurality of ratchet blades 36a fixed to the circumference of the lifting member <NUM> in a vortex shape, and ratchet blade teeth 36b respectively disposed at free ends of the ratchet blades 36a to be engaged and ratchet-coupled with ratchet teeth of the first ratchet part <NUM>.

Accordingly, in a case in which the tightening cap <NUM> rotates the winding wheel <NUM> in the direction to wind the wire <NUM> in a state in which the lifting member <NUM> is moved downward and is caught to the locking teeth <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, the winding wheel <NUM> rotates with respect to the lifting member <NUM> so that the ratchet teeth 36a of the first ratchet part <NUM> elastically deform the ratchet blades 36a of the second ratchet part <NUM> and rotate beyond the ratchet blade teeth 36b.

In a case in which the winding wheel <NUM> tries to rotate in the opposite direction with respect to the lifting member <NUM> in a state in which the lifting member <NUM> is caught to the locking teeth <NUM>, the ratchet teeth of the first ratchet part <NUM> are caught to the ratchet blade teeth 36b of the second ratchet part <NUM> to prevent the rotation of the winding wheel <NUM>.

Since each ratchet tooth of the first ratchet part <NUM> is formed vertically long as much as the height of the lower through hole 21b, when the ratchet teeth of the second ratchet part <NUM> vertically slide along the ratchet teeth of the first ratchet part <NUM> to keep the caught state during the lifting motion of the lifting member <NUM>.

Accordingly, since the first ratchet part <NUM> and the second ratchet part <NUM> are not separated from each other during the lifting motion of the lifting member <NUM>, it does not cause a problem of engagement failure and facilitates a smooth lifting motion.

The lifting member <NUM> includes an uplifted part <NUM> formed along the outer circumferential surface thereof in an annular shape, and the winding wheel includes a position setting part <NUM> formed on the inner circumferential surface thereof. During the lifting motion of the lifting member <NUM>, the uplifted part <NUM> goes over the position setting part <NUM> by self-elastic deformation while moving up and down, so that the uplifted part <NUM> can maintain its position at the upper side and the lower side of the position setting part <NUM>.

Therefore, the tightening cap <NUM> coupled to the lifting member <NUM> can maintain the lifted state and the lowered state.

Hereinafter, An operating process of the wire tightening device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail.

First, in order to wind and tighten the wire <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, the user presses the tightening cap <NUM> and rotates the tightening cap <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when the tightening cap <NUM> is lowered, the lifting member <NUM> restricted in the vertical direction is lowered together with the tightening cap <NUM> so that the engagement teeth <NUM> of the lifting member <NUM> are coupled to the locking teeth <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. Accordingly, the locking teeth <NUM> block the lifting member <NUM> from rotating in the rotational direction, especially, in the direction that the wind <NUM> is wound.

Moreover, as the tightening cap <NUM> is lowered, the tightening teeth <NUM> of the tightening cap <NUM> is engaged and coupled with the coupling teeth <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM>.

In this state, when the user rotates the tightening cap <NUM> in the winding direction of the wire <NUM>, the tightening cap <NUM> forcibly rotates the winding wheel <NUM> by the coupling of the tightening teeth <NUM> and the coupling teeth <NUM>, and winds and tightens the wire <NUM> onto the winding groove <NUM>.

In this instance, the engagement structure of the first ratchet part <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM> and the second ratchet part <NUM> of the lifting member <NUM> allows the winding wheel <NUM> to rotate relative to the lifting member <NUM> in the winding direction of the wire <NUM>. That is, with respect to the lifting member <NUM> that is caught and stopped by the locking part <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, the first ratchet part <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM> may goes over the ratchet blades 36a while elastically deforming the ratchet blades 36a of the second ratchet part <NUM> of the lifting member <NUM>, so that the winding wheel <NUM> can rotate.

In such a state, in a case in which the tightening cap <NUM> tries to rotate the winding wheel <NUM> in the releasable direction of the wire <NUM> or the winding wheel <NUM> tries to rotate in the releasable direction of the wire <NUM> by an external force to pull the wire <NUM>, with respect to the lifting member <NUM> that is caught and stopped by the locking part <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, the first ratchet part <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM> is caught to the second ratchet part <NUM> to be blocked in rotation and the wire <NUM> cannot be released.

Therefore, in a case in which the tightening cap <NUM> and the lifting member <NUM> are lowered, the winding wheel <NUM> is rotated in the winding direction of the wire <NUM>.

Meanwhile, in order to release the wire <NUM>, the user holds and raises the tightening cap <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when the tightening cap <NUM> is lifted, the engagement teeth <NUM> of the lifting member <NUM> are separated from the locking teeth <NUM> of the housing <NUM> to allow the winding wheel <NUM> to freely rotate in the releasing direction of the wire <NUM>.

That is, the lifting member <NUM> is restricted to the tightening cap <NUM> to be lifted in the vertical direction together with the tightening cap <NUM>, so that the lifting member <NUM> is separated from the locking teeth <NUM> of the housing <NUM> but the winding wheel <NUM> freely rotates without restriction. In this instance, the tightening cap <NUM> may rotate together with the winding wheel <NUM>.

Accordingly, in a case in which the wire <NUM> is pulled outwards by an external force, the wire <NUM> can be freely unwound from the winding wheel <NUM>.

Next, a wire tightening device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Referring to <FIG>, the wire tightening device according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes: a housing <NUM> in which an inner space <NUM> is formed and locking teeth <NUM> are formed at a bottom portion thereof; a winding wheel <NUM> located in the inner space <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, and having a through hole <NUM> vertically formed in the middle thereof, a winding groove <NUM> which is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the through hole <NUM> and on which a wire <NUM> is wound, a first ratchet part <NUM> mounted on the inner circumferential surface of the through hole <NUM> and below the winding groove <NUM>, coupling teeth <NUM> formed at the upper portion thereof; a lifting member <NUM> disposed in the through hole <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM> and having a second ratchet part <NUM> disposed at a lower portion thereof to be engaged with the first ratchet part <NUM> to allow the winding wheel <NUM> to rotate in a first direction and to prevent the winding wheel <NUM> from rotating in a second direction and engagement teeth <NUM> formed at a lower end portion thereof to be caught to the locking teeth <NUM>; and a tightening cap <NUM> disposed to cover an upper end of the housing <NUM>, having tightening teeth <NUM> coupled with the coupling teeth <NUM> when lowering to rotate the winding wheel <NUM> in the winding direction of the wire <NUM>, and coupled with the lifting member <NUM> to perform a lifting motion together with the lifting member <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> includes a side wall 111a surrounding the inner space <NUM> and the locking teeth <NUM> formed at the lower portion thereof.

The tightening cap <NUM> is divided into an outer cap <NUM> that the user holds with the hand, and an inner cap <NUM> fixed to the inside of the outer cap <NUM>.

Of course, the outer cap <NUM> and the inner cap <NUM> may be manufactured as one integrated component, but they are divided such that the outer cap <NUM> that the user holds with the hand and the inner cap <NUM> requiring elastic deformation and engagement are manufactured of different materials to be suitable for their own characteristics.

In the tightening cap <NUM>, the tightening teeth <NUM> are formed on the bottom surface of the inner cap <NUM> to be coupled with the coupling teeth <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM> when lowering, thereby rotating the winding wheel <NUM> in the winding direction of the wire <NUM>.

The coupling teeth <NUM> are formed on the upper portion of the winding wheel <NUM> in an annular shape around the through hole <NUM> to be coupled with the tightening teeth <NUM> of the tightening cap <NUM>.

The winding wheel <NUM> includes an uplifted part <NUM> lifted from the outside of the upper portion of the through hole <NUM> in a lateral direction.

The uplifted part <NUM> is integrally formed at the upper end part of the winding wheel <NUM>. The uplifted part <NUM>, which is lifted laterally outward, is formed in an annular shape.

In addition, the inner cap <NUM> of the tightening cap <NUM> has a position setting part <NUM> protruding downwards going over the uplifted part <NUM> by elasticity, and a plurality of position setting parts <NUM> are arranged along the annular trajectory of the uplifted part <NUM>.

The configuration of the annular uplifted part <NUM> and the plurality of position setting parts <NUM> may be replaced with a configuration of a plurality of uplifted parts <NUM> arranged along the annular trajectory and an annular position setting part <NUM>. In the above case, the plurality of uplifted parts <NUM> and the annular position setting part <NUM> also can go over each other by self-elastic deformation.

Accordingly, the tightening cap <NUM> coupled with the lifting member <NUM> can maintain its lifted state and lowered state as it is without external force.

In a case in which the position setting unit <NUM> of the tightening cap <NUM> is higher than the uplifted part <NUM>, the lifting member is also in a lifted state so that the engagement teeth <NUM> are separated from the locking teeth <NUM>. In a case in which the position setting unit <NUM> of the tightening cap <NUM> is lower than the uplifted part <NUM>, the lifting member is also in a lowered state so that the engagement teeth <NUM> interlock with the locking teeth <NUM>.

Since the uplifted part <NUM> is formed outside the through hole <NUM> at the upper portion of the winding wheel <NUM>, the uplifted part <NUM> is formed around the through hole <NUM> to be larger in diameter than the through hole <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM>, so that the contact area and range of the uplifted part <NUM> and the position setting part <NUM> may be formed to be wider along the larger annular trajectory than the through hole <NUM>.

Even though the tightening cap <NUM>, the winding wheel <NUM>, and other components are made of a material having a small elastic deformation, it is possible to easily manufacture the uplifted part <NUM> and the position setting part <NUM> to maintain a predetermined force to go over each other and to operate smoothly.

If the uplifted part <NUM> and the position setting part <NUM> are formed in a narrow area like the through hole <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM>, in order not to be operated by very small power, a material having sufficient elasticity and deformation must be selected, and a worker must pay a considerable attention to the shape of the uplifted part <NUM> when designing the present invention.

Furthermore, when the tightening cap <NUM> is assembled to cover the upper end of the housing, the uplifted part <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM> and the position setting part <NUM> of the tightening cap <NUM> come into contact with each other. In the contact state, the lifting motion is performed. Therefore, the position of the tightening cap <NUM> with respect to the winding wheel <NUM> may always be accurately maintained, and the separation and engagement of the tightening teeth <NUM> and the coupling teeth <NUM> may always be accurately performed.

Hereinafter, an operational process of the wire tightening device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

When the tightening cap <NUM> is lowered, the lifting member <NUM> restricted in the vertical direction is lowered together with the tightening cap <NUM> so that the engagement teeth <NUM> of the lifting member <NUM> are coupled to the locking teeth <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

In this instance, the position setting part <NUM> of the tightening cap <NUM> goes over the uplifted part <NUM> by elastic deformation to maintain the position lower than the uplifted part <NUM>, and the lifting member <NUM> also maintains its lowered state.

As the tightening cap <NUM> is lowered, the tightening teeth <NUM> of the tightening cap <NUM> is engaged and coupled with the coupling teeth <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM>.

In this instance, the engagement structure of the first ratchet part <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM> and the second ratchet part <NUM> of the lifting member <NUM> allows the winding wheel <NUM> to rotate relative to the lifting member <NUM> in the winding direction (first direction) of the wire <NUM>. That is, with respect to the lifting member <NUM> that is caught and stopped by the locking part <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, the first ratchet part <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM> may goes over the ratchet blades 136a while elastically deforming the ratchet blades 136a of the second ratchet part <NUM> of the lifting member <NUM>, so that the winding wheel <NUM> can rotate.

Meanwhile, in order to release the wire <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, the user holds and raises the tightening cap <NUM>.

In this instance, the position setting unit <NUM> of the tightening cap <NUM> goes over the uplifted part <NUM> by elastic deformation to maintain the position higher than the uplifted part <NUM>, and the lifting member <NUM> also maintains its lifted state.

As the tightening cap <NUM> is lifted, the engagement teeth <NUM> of the lifting member <NUM> are separated from the locking teeth <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, and the winding wheel <NUM> can freely rotate in the releasing direction of the wire <NUM>.

Accordingly, in a case in which the wire <NUM> is pulled outwards by an external force, the wire <NUM> can be freely released from the winding wheel <NUM>.

Next, a wire tightening device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Referring to <FIG>, in comparison with the first and second embodiments, the wire tightening device according to the third embodiment has differences in formation positions of the restricting part <NUM> and the uplifted part <NUM>, and is different in an upper end hook <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM> and a locking hook <NUM> of the tightening cap <NUM> from the first and second embodiments.

In addition, the wire tightening device according to the third embodiment is also different in that an inner cap <NUM> of the tightening cap <NUM> is formed in an annular shape having an annular center hole 243a, and tightening teeth <NUM> and a lower protrusion <NUM> are formed integrally with an outer cap <NUM> at the bottom surface of the outer cap <NUM> and are located in the annular center hole 243a from the first and second embodiments.

Since a restriction part <NUM> is to restrict lifting of the winding wheel <NUM>, is formed at the lower end of a housing <NUM> in the form of an annular jaw. The restriction part <NUM> covers an annular restriction rim <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM> from above.

Since the restriction part <NUM> is formed in the form of an annular jaw and covers an annular restriction rim <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM>, when the winding wheel <NUM> rotates, the restriction rim <NUM> is restricted at the lower portion of the restriction part <NUM> and the rotation of the winding wheel <NUM> is allowed.

Meanwhile, an uplifted part <NUM> is formed in an annular shape on the inner circumferential surface of the upper end portion of the housing <NUM> and is lifted laterally inward.

A position setting part <NUM> going over an uplifted part <NUM> by the elasticity is formed to protrude downward from the inner cap <NUM> of the tightening cap <NUM>.

It is preferable that a plurality of position setting units <NUM> which are split to be divided are arranged in an annular trajectory because elastic deformation is easily generated and the action going over the uplifted part <NUM> can be more smoothly performed.

In the same manner as the second embodiment, the uplifted part <NUM> is formed on the outer side of the through hole <NUM> above the winding wheel <NUM>, and is formed to have a diameter larger than that of a through hole <NUM> of the winding wheel <NUM>, so that the contact area and range of the uplifted part <NUM> and the position setting part <NUM> are wider than those formed on the through hole <NUM>.

Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the upper end hook <NUM> is formed at the upper end portion of the winding wheel <NUM>, and the locking hook <NUM> is formed on the tightening cap <NUM> to be caught by elasticity while going over the upper end hook <NUM>.

More preferably, any one of the upper end hook <NUM> and the locking hook <NUM> is formed in an annular shape, and the other one is split so as to be arranged in an annular trajectory.

In this instance, the tightening cap <NUM> is lifted up to a range to limit the upper end hook <NUM>.

In this instance, the tightening cap <NUM> is lifted up to the limit range of the upper end part <NUM>. The tightening cap <NUM> is lifted up to the range that the engagement teeth <NUM> are completely separated from the locking teeth <NUM>.

The above configuration substitutes the configuration of a restriction protrusion <NUM> and a restriction jaw <NUM> of the second embodiment.

The above configuration can be usefully applied in a case in which the outer cap <NUM>, which the user holds with the hand, and the housing for protecting the internal components are difficult to be manufactured of elastic materials, since the locking hook <NUM> is formed on the inner cap <NUM> of the tightening cap <NUM> and the upper end hook <NUM> is formed integrally with the winding wheel <NUM>.

The present invention can be installed on a shoe, a bag, a hat, a garment, or the like to tighten or loosen the wire (string).

Claim 1:
A wire tightening device comprising:
a housing (<NUM>, <NUM>) in which an inner space (<NUM>, <NUM>) is formed and locking teeth (<NUM>, <NUM>) are formed at a bottom portion thereof;
a winding wheel (<NUM>, <NUM>) located in the inner space (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>, <NUM>), and having a through hole (<NUM>, <NUM>) vertically formed in the middle thereof, a winding groove (<NUM>, <NUM>) which is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the through hole (<NUM>, <NUM>) and on which a wire is wound, a first ratchet part (<NUM>, <NUM>) mounted on the inner circumferential surface of the through hole (<NUM>) and below the winding groove (<NUM>, <NUM>), and coupling teeth (<NUM>, <NUM>) formed at the upper portion thereof;
a lifting member (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed in the through hole (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the winding wheel (<NUM>, <NUM>), and having a second ratchet part (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed at a lower portion thereof and engaged with the first ratchet part (<NUM>, <NUM>) to allow rotation in one direction and prevent rotation in the other direction with respect to the winding wheel (<NUM>, <NUM>), and engagement teeth (<NUM>, <NUM>) formed at a lower end portion thereof to be caught to the locking teeth (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
a tightening cap (<NUM>, <NUM>) coupled to an upper portion of the housing (<NUM>, <NUM>) to be able to perform a lifting motion, having tightening teeth (<NUM>, <NUM>) coupled with the coupling teeth (<NUM>, <NUM>) when lowering to rotate the winding wheel (<NUM>, <NUM>) in the winding direction of the wire, and coupled with the lifting member (<NUM>, <NUM>) to perform a lifting motion together with the lifting member (<NUM>, <NUM>).