Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1) Field of the Invention 
     The invention herein relates to footwear componentry, specifically a shoelace adjustment mechanism, wherein a shoelace is contiguously routed through a tightening and securing structure consisting of a plurality of shoelace winding sheaves along with the shoelace adjustment mechanism disposed on the left vamp and the right vamp such that the arrangement is capable of rapid shoelace tensioning and loosening, the shoelace adjustment mechanism of the invention herein thereby affording greater practical value. 
     2) Description of the Prior Art 
     A conventional shoe typically has a plurality of eyelets disposed in the left and the right vamps through which a shoelace is inserted is an alternating crisscross fashion and then tightened and loosened to provide for wearing the shoe. The interlacing and tying approach of such conventional shoelaces is especially challenging for grade-school children, whose shoelaces often loosen because of poor knotting and insufficient tension, with the situation even more difficult for younger children. In view of such shortcomings and the need to make the tie-on type shoelace more practical, the applicant of the invention herein conducted research and development to further improve its practical value through the invention herein based on numerous years of professional experience gained while engaged in manufacturing. Following extensive testing and refinement, the applicant successfully complete the shoelace adjustment mechanism of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the invention herein is to provide a shoelace adjustment mechanism in which a shoelace is contiguously routed through a tightening and securing structure consisting of a plurality of shoelace winding sheaves along with the shoelace adjustment mechanism disposed on the left vamp and the right vamp such that the arrangement is capable of rapid shoelace tensioning and loosening, thereby affording the shoelace adjustment mechanism of the invention herein greater practical value. 
    
    
     To enable the examination committee a further understanding of the structural features and innovative content as well as the advantages and other particulars of the present invention, the brief description of the drawings below are followed by the detailed description of the invention herein. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric drawing of the invention herein. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric drawing of the shoelace winding sheave  13  of the invention herein. 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric drawing of the bearing block  14  of the invention herein. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional drawing of the shoelace winding sheave  13  and the left and right vamps  11  and  12 . 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional drawing of the shoelace adjustment mechanism  2  of the invention herein and the left vamp  12 . 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded drawing of the shoelace adjustment mechanism  2  of the invention herein. 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric drawing of the push button  3  of the invention herein, as viewed from the rear. 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric drawing of the cover plate  4  of the invention herein, as viewed from the rear. 
     FIG. 9 is an isometric drawing of the coupling component  5  of the invention herein, as viewed from the rear. 
     FIG. 10 is an isometric drawing of the spool  6  of the invention herein, as viewed from the rear. 
     FIG. 11 is an orthographic drawing of an embodiment of the invention herein. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5, the invention herein includes a plurality of shoelace winding sheaves  13  disposed on the left vamp  11  and the right vamp  12  of a shoe  1 , with a shoelace  15  of an appropriate length routed tensively between a shoelace adjustment mechanism  2  capable of automatic shoelace tightening or loosening and the plurality of shoelace winding sheaves  13 . Each said shoelace winding sheave  13  is a hollow tubular construct having an axial hole  131  through the center and an annular binding groove  132  formed around the exterior that are mounted in the left vamp  11  or the right vamp  12  and, furthermore, an annular bearing groove  133  formed around the said shoelace winding sheave  13 . There is a bearing block  14 , a hollow tubular component having a load flange  141  along the upper level, interior side, and an annular binding groove  142  around the exterior that is mounted in the right vamp  12 , with the said shoelace adjustment mechanism  2  seated on the load flange  141  at the upper level of the bearing block  14 . 
     Referring to FIG. 6, the said shoelace adjustment mechanism  2  is comprised of a push button  3 , a cover plate  4 , a coupling component  5 , a reel  6 , a lower base  7 , a helical and a coil spring  8  and  9 , and the shoelace  15 , wherein: 
     The said push button  3 , referring to FIG. 7, has an arcuate prominence  31  across the top edge, a bore  32  formed within its tubular body and, furthermore, two holes  33  disposed through the tubular body, and a semicircular lock tab  34  situated on two sides at the bottom edge of the said push button  3 . 
     The cover plate  4 , referring to FIG. 8, has a circular opening  41  through its center; a semicircular notch  42  is reticulated at two extremities of the cover plate  4  inner surface and, furthermore, a plurality of semicircular locating indentations  43  are arrayed at equal intervals along the inner surface of the cover plate  4 . 
     The coupling component  5 , referring to FIG. 9, has a round recess  51  disposed in one end and a square recess  52  in its other end; a lock tab  53  projects from each of the two sides of the said coupling component  5 , a pin  54  is situated on one side of each said lock tab  53  and, furthermore, a beveled surface  55  is formed at the extreme lateral edges of the said lock tabs  53 . 
     The reel  6 , referring to FIG. 10, has a round recess  61  formed inside one end and, furthermore, with a plurality of check blocks  62  protruding inward from its top extent; an annular spooling groove  63  is disposed around the exterior of the said reel  6  and a clasp tab  64  protrudes from one side of the said spooling groove  63 ; a circular recess  65  is formed inside one end of the said reel  6  and a hole  60  is fabricated through the center; a retaining tab  67  is situated on the inner lateral extent of the circular recess  65  and a concentric spring  68  of a multi-wound arrangement is contained in the circular recess  65  with its outermost extremity secured onto the restraining tab  67 . 
     The lower base  7  is discoidal in shape and has a perforation  71  through one side and a spindle shaft  72  projecting from the center of its bottom extent, the said spindle shaft  72  having a rectangular mounting column  73  at the tip, a hole  74  in the center, and a slot imposed along the center. 
     To enable the said shoelace adjustment mechanism  2  of the invention herein, one extremity of the shoelace  15  is inserted through the perforation  71  of the lower base  7  and attached to the clasp tab  64  at one side of the reel  6  spooling groove  63 , while the opposite extremity of the shoelace  15  is inserted through the holes  33  of the push button  3  and restrained at one side of the push button  3  by means of a clip  151 ; the said reel  6  is sleeved onto the lower base  7  spindle shaft  72 , wherein the center extremity of the concentric spring  68  is inserted into the slot of the spindle shaft  72 , the spindle shaft  72  is extended through the round recess  61  of the reel  6 , the coil spring  9  is placed into the hole  74  in the center of the rectangular mounting column  73  at the tip of the spindle shaft  72  and, furthermore, such that the said coil spring  9  protrudes slightly from the mounting column  73 ; the square recess  52  in the bottom extent of the coupling component  5  is snug fitted onto the rectangular mounting column  73  at the tip of the spindle shaft  72  and, furthermore, the said lock tabs  53  engage the check blocks  62  at the top extent of the reel  6 ; the helical spring  8  is placed within the round recess  51  in the top extent of the coupling component  5 , the bore  32  formed within the push button  3  sleeved onto the top end of the coupling component  5 , and the cover plate  4  and the lower base  7  are conjoined to complete the entire shoelace adjustment mechanism  2 . 
     Following the assembly of the said structural components, the said shoelace  15  is routed between the plurality of shoelace winding sheaves  13  on the left vamp  11  and the right vamp  12  and the shoelace adjustment mechanism  2 ; the said shoelace  15  is of an appropriate routing length according to differences in shoe size, one extremity of the shoelace  15  is attached to the clasp tab  64  at one side of the reel  6  and the opposite extremity of the shoelace  15  is inserted through the holes  33  of the push button  3  and restrained at one side of the push button  3  with a clip  151 ; the concentric spring  68  contained in the circular recess  65  is capable of powerfully and automatically revolving the reel  6 , since the lock tab  53  projecting from each of the two sides of the coupling component  5  engage the check blocks  62  protruding inward from its top extent of the reel  6 , when the user depresses the push button  3  of the shoelace adjustment mechanism  2 , the coupling component  5  is shoved down at the same time, causing the disengagement of the lock tabs  53  at the two sides of the coupling component  5  from the reel  6  check blocks  62  and releasing the torque of the concentric spring  68  such that the reel  6  automatically draw in the shoelace  15 , with said shoelace  15  moved in the direction indicated by the arrowheads shown in FIG. 11 to simultaneously pull the left vamp  11  and the right vamp  12  closer together; to loosen the shoelace  15 , the push button  3  is depressed once again, after which the vamps are spread apart by the slipping out the feet. 
     The push button  3  of the invention herein can also be partially depressed to disengage the lock tabs  34  situated on two sides at the bottom edge of the said push button  3  from the semicircular locating indentations  43  of the cover plate  4  and then rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise to tighten or loosen a small section of the shoelace  15  and thereby finely vary the degree of overall shoelace tension. 
     In summation of the foregoing section, since the invention herein improves upon the shortcomings of the conventional product, is an original arrangement among products in the same category, provides even greater practicality, and the disclosed structure is definitely capable of achieving its claimed objectives, the present invention is submitted for review and the granting of the commensurate patent rights.

Technology Category: 1