U.S. patent application number 10/865333 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-15 for lace tightening article.
Invention is credited to Christy, Philip Troy.
Application Number | 20050273988 10/865333 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34930657 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050273988 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Christy, Philip Troy |
December 15, 2005 |
Lace tightening article
Abstract
An article for tightening together the ends of a lace includes a
lace end receiving device having a pair of flexible, tubular
members joined together lengthwise, each member including a
lengthwise retaining passage therein. The end of the lace is
received within, looped through and held within the tubular members
of the lace end receiving device. By employing two lace end
receiving devices, one at each end of the lace, the devices may be
tied together, whereby the lace is tightened without the lace
itself touching. The ends of the flexible tubular members are
flared outwardly. The lengthwise retaining passages are lubricated.
An applicator tube is placed on the ends of the shoe lace for
pushing the shoe lace through the retaining passages
Inventors: |
Christy, Philip Troy;
(Hopewell Junction, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HESLIN ROTHENBERG FARLEY & MESITI PC
5 COLUMBIA CIRCLE
ALBANY
NY
12203
US
|
Family ID: |
34930657 |
Appl. No.: |
10/865333 |
Filed: |
June 11, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/712.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C 9/04 20130101; Y10T
24/3703 20150115; A43C 7/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
024/712.1 |
International
Class: |
A43C 007/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An improved article for tightening together opposite end
portions of a shoe lace on a shoe comprising: a first lace end
portion receiving device including; a first elongated tubular body
portion of flexible material, a pair of first elongated, flexible
tubular members forming the first elongated body portion, each of
said first elongated tubular members including a lengthwise
retaining passage therein, the first elongated tubular members
receiving a loop end portion of one end portion of the shoe lace,
the one end portion of the shoe lace extending in one direction
through the said passage in one of said first tubular members and
in the opposite direction through the said passage in the other
first elongated tubular member, thereby holding the one end portion
of the shoe lace; a second lace end portion receiving device
including; a second elongated tubular body portion of flexible
material, a pair of second elongated, flexible tubular members
forming the second elongated body portion, each of said second
elongated tubular members including a lengthwise retaining passage
therein, the second elongated tubular members receiving a loop end
portion of one end portion of the other end of the shoe lace, the
other end portion of the shoe lace extending in one direction
through the said passage in one of said second tubular members and
in the opposite direction through the said passage in the other
second elongated tubular member, thereby holding the other end
portion of the shoe lace; and, means for facilitating movement of a
lace into and through the retaining passages of said first and
second elongated tubular members.
2. The article of claim 1 wherein the retaining passages of said
first and second pairs of elongated tubular members are
lubricated.
3. The article of claim 1 including an applicator tube to be placed
on the end of the shoe lace for pushing the shoe lace through the
retaining passages in said first and second elongated tubular
members.
4. The article of claim 1 wherein the ends of the elongated members
are flared outwardly.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to an article for tightening together
the ends of laces. While not so limited, the article is useful in
tightening together the ends of shoe laces on a shoe.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In my prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/090,032,
filed Mar. 5, 2002, entitled "Lace Tightening Article", now U.S.
Pat. No. 6,622,358, issued Sep. 23, 2003, there is described a lace
tightening article. The description in that patent is incorporated
herein by reference. Briefly, the lace tightening article in that
patent includes a pair of elongated body portions, one for each end
of a lace, each of the elongated body portions including a pair of
flexible tubular members with lengthwise retaining passages therein
through which the ends of the lace pass.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A primary object of this invention is an article for
simplifying the tying of laces for children or others who may
suffer from a disability.
[0006] Another object is simplifying the installation of the
article on the laces.
[0007] These and other objects are accomplished in accordance with
the teachings of the present invention, one illustrative embodiment
of which comprises an improved article for tightening together
opposite end portions of a shoe lace on a shoe including: a first
lace end portion receiving device having; a first elongated tubular
body portion of flexible material, a pair of first elongated,
flexible tubular members forming the first elongated body portion,
each of the first elongated tubular members including a lengthwise
retaining passage therein, the first elongated tubular members
receiving a loop end portion of one end portion of the shoe lace,
the one end portion of the shoe lace extending in one direction
through the passage in one of the first tubular members and in the
opposite direction through the passage in the other first elongated
tubular member, thereby holding the one end portion of the shoe
lace; a second lace end portion receiving device having; a second
elongated tubular body portion of flexible material, a pair of
second elongated, flexible tubular members forming the second
elongated body portion, each of the second elongated tubular
members including a lengthwise retaining passage therein, the
second elongated tubular members receiving a loop end portion of
one end portion of the other end of the shoe lace, the other end
portion of the shoe lace extending in one direction through the
passage in one of the second tubular members and in the opposite
direction through the passage in the other second elongated tubular
member, thereby holding the other end portion of the shoe lace.
[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a
lubricant is disposed within the retaining passages of the first
and second pairs of elongated tubular members to facilitate
movement of the lace through the retaining passages when the lace
tightening article is being applied to the lace. In accordance with
a second aspect of the present invention, an applicator tube is
placed on the ends of the shoe lace for pushing the shoe lace
through the retaining passages in the first and second elongated
tubular members, whereby the laces are easily fed through the first
and second elongated tubular members.
[0009] In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, the ends
of each of the elongated tubular members are flared outwardly to
facilitate installation of the articles onto the laces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0010] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will
be apparent from the following detailed description and
accompanying drawing, wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe with lace inserted
therein;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the step of inserting one
end of a lace in a lace receiving device;
[0013] FIG. 2A is an enlarged, cross sectional view taken along the
line 2A-2A in FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 2B is a top view of a lace tightening device;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partially schematic,
illustrating the placement of an applicator of the present
invention on one end of a lace;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a top view of the applicator of the present
invention, partially cut away;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view and partly schematic in which
the applicator is being used to push a lace through a lace
receiving device;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating the
step of tying together lace receiving devices on the opposite ends
of a lace; and,
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a shoe illustrating the
completely installed article of the present invention with lace
tightening articles tied together for tightening the shoe lace on
the shoe.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] A shoe 11 is shown in FIG. 1 with a lace 12 having tips 13,
threaded through a series of holes or loops 14. The lace 12 is
typically of cloth, leather or plastic.
[0021] First 15 and second 16 ends of the shoe lace 12 extend
through the top holes or loops 14U.
[0022] In FIG. 2, the first end 15 of the shoe lace 12 is shown
looped through a first lace end receiving device 17. Referring to
FIGS. 2, 2A and 2B, the device 17 is seen as having a pair of
tubular members 18,19 joined together lengthwise, each member
including a lengthwise passage 20,21 extending therethrough.
[0023] The lace 12 is looped through the device 17 by pushing it up
through the first passage 20 and down the second passage 21 and in
the manner to be described in more detail hereafter.
[0024] It should be noted that the ends of the tubular members are
flared outwardly to make it easier to install the device on the
lace.
[0025] The same procedure of looping a lace through a device is
followed with the opposite end 16 of the lace 14.
[0026] Each device is typically 23/4 inches long with passages of
{fraction (1/4)} inch diameter and made as a single piece from
non-toxic, flexible plastic. The plastic is such as to retain the
lace within the passages without slippage and when tied together,
to be described hereafter, to remain tied. The device 17 can be
made available in a variety of colors. The tubular members flare
out between one eighth and one quarter inch.
[0027] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a
lubricant 22 is provided within the passages 20,21. Typically, when
the device 17 is being formed, there is a simultaneous, dual
extrusion, with the outside surface being tacky, and the inside
passage forming a slippery liner. The lubricant, as, for example,
powdered talc, is introduced into the material forming the slippery
interior liner. Although talc is mentioned specifically, any common
lubricant may be introduced which serves to facilitate movement of
the lace through the interior passages 20,21.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, and in accordance with another
aspect of the present invention, an applicator 23 is mounted on the
tip 13 of one end of the lace 12. The applicator may be, for
example, a tube of plastic material that fits snugly about the tip
13.
[0029] Then, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the applicator 23 and lace
12 are pushed though the lace end receiving devices 17. The
applicator 23 makes it easier to install devices on the lace and
helps to feed the lace through the passages 20,21.
[0030] In FIG. 6, with the ends of the lace looped through the
devices, and the proximal ends of the devices preferably close to
or against the top holes 14U in the shoe 11, the devices 17 are
twisted, pulled and tied.
[0031] FIG. 7 shows the devices 17 tied together, thereby
tightening the shoe laces on the shoe.
[0032] There is no requirement to attach anything to the shoes or
modifying the shoes themselves in any way.
[0033] It is not necessary for the lace to touch itself. Fraying of
the lace is minimal since there is no knotting of the lace or
rubbing between parts of a lace. The laces can not go back into the
lace holes.
[0034] The laces do not come loose thus avoiding tripping from a
loose lace.
[0035] It is easier for a child to tie this than tying a lace and
is a teaching tool for when a child is able to tie a lace
alone.
[0036] Older persons will find it easier to use than lacing one's
shoes.
[0037] The invention may also be used with laces for other types of
footwear, clothing, packaging and containers.
[0038] It should be obvious that changes, additions and omissions
may be made in the details and arrangement of parts without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter
claimed.
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