U.S. patent application number 11/517528 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-27 for lace and method of forming knots.
Invention is credited to Vatalii I. Gnatenko.
Application Number | 20070294868 11/517528 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38872241 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070294868 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gnatenko; Vatalii I. |
December 27, 2007 |
Lace and method of forming knots
Abstract
A lace is provided for lacing various objects such as footwear,
clothing, bags, etc. The lace comprises an elastic cord having end
segments for tying a knot and a stabilizing member on one of the
end segments. The stabilizing member is different from the bits of
the lace adjacent thereto in the shape and/or material thereof and
arranged so that it appears held in place in the knot when the knot
is finished. Also provided is a method of forming a knot out of the
lace. The method comprises forming a desired knot until the knot is
ready to be firmly tied and then pulling the end segments of the
elastic cord until the stabilizing members appear held in place in
the knot, which is thus finished.
Inventors: |
Gnatenko; Vatalii I.; (Kyiv,
UA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ABELMAN, FRAYNE & SCHWAB
666 THIRD AVENUE, 10TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10017
US
|
Family ID: |
38872241 |
Appl. No.: |
11/517528 |
Filed: |
September 7, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/712 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 24/37 20150115;
A43C 9/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/712 |
International
Class: |
A43C 1/00 20060101
A43C001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 21, 2006 |
UA |
UA A 2006 06942 |
Claims
1. A lace comprising an elastic cord having end segments for tying
a knot and at least one stabilizing member on at least one of the
end segments having bits thereof adjacent to the stabilizing
member, wherein the stabilizing member is different from the bits
adjacent thereto in the shape and/or material thereof and arranged
so that it appears held in place in the knot when the knot is
finished.
2. A lace as in claim 1, wherein the stabilizing member has a
smaller cross-sectional area than that of the elastic cord.
3. A lace as in claim 1, wherein the stabilizing member is a
portion of the elastic cord, made from a material that is more
capable of taking hold of the surface of the rest of the elastic
cord than the rest of the elastic cord taking hold of itself.
4. A lace as in claim 3, wherein the stabilizing member is made
from a material that is more capable of undergoing deformation
caused by lateral compression than that of the rest of the elastic
cord.
5. A lace as in claim 1, wherein the stabilizing member forms part
of an even number of stabilizing members and the stabilizing
members are arranged in pairs on both ends of the elastic cord.
6. A lace as in claim 5, wherein the stabilizing members in each
pair are equidistant from the ends of the elastic cord.
7. A lace as in claim 1, further comprising at least one
positioning member disposed on the elastic cord having bits thereof
adjacent to the positioning member, wherein the positioning member
is different from the bits adjacent thereto in appearance and/or in
the sense of touch, and/or in material.
8. A lace as in claim 2, further comprising at least one
positioning member disposed on the elastic cord having bits thereof
adjacent to the positioning member, wherein the positioning member
is different from the bits adjacent thereto in appearance and/or in
the sense of touch, and/or in material.
9. A lace as in claim 3, further comprising at least one
positioning member disposed on the elastic cord having bits thereof
adjacent to the positioning member, wherein the positioning member
is different from the bits adjacent thereto in appearance and/or in
the sense of touch, and/or in material.
10. A lace as in claim 4, further comprising at least one
positioning member disposed on the elastic cord having bits thereof
adjacent to the positioning member, wherein the positioning member
is different from the bits adjacent thereto in appearance and/or in
the sense of touch, and/or in material.
11. A lace as in claim 5, further comprising at least one
positioning member disposed on the elastic cord having bits thereof
adjacent to the positioning member, wherein the positioning member
is different from the bits adjacent thereto in appearance and/or in
the sense of touch, and/or in material.
12. A lace as in claim 6, further comprising at least one
positioning member disposed on the elastic cord having bits thereof
adjacent to the positioning member, wherein the positioning member
is different from the bits adjacent thereto in appearance and/or in
the sense of touch, and/or in material.
13. A method of forming a knot out of a lace comprising an elastic
cord having end segments for tying a knot and at least one
stabilizing member on at least one of the end segments having bits
thereof adjacent to the stabilizing member, wherein the stabilizing
member is different from the cord bits adjacent thereto in the
shape and/or material thereof, the method comprising the steps of:
tying the end segments of the elastic cord in a starting knot, then
forming a desired knot until the knot is ready to be firmly tied,
and pulling the end segments of the elastic cord until the
stabilizing members appear held in place in the knot, whereby the
knot is finished.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to laces for lacing various
objects with at least one lace by passing the lace through eyelets
provided in the objects or their parts as well as to the method of
forming a knot out of free ends of such a lace and is useful in
lacing shoes, clothes, bags and other similar objects.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Well known in the art is a lace shown in FIG. 1A. The lace
comprises an elastic cord 1 with tips at its extremities, which
tips are passed through both first, or bottom, eyelets provided in
the objects or their parts and then the lace is positioned so that
upon its tightening the free ends of the lace are of approximately
equal length, then the lace is passed through the openings or
eyelets in the object of lacing and further pulled as desired, and
finally the free ends of the elastic cord are tied in a knot by any
conventional method.
[0005] FIG. 1 (B through F) illustrates the steps of tying free
ends of an elastic cord into a so called Standard Knot (to make
things clear, one of the ends of the elastic cord 1 is
crosshatched). While forming a knot, users usually try to get a bow
as symmetrical as possible. It matters from the point of view of
both aesthetics and convenience in using the object of lacing
(e.g., a carelessly tied shoelace, or loose ends or loops that are
too long are likely to cause the knot undone). Also, users tend to
tie the knot as firmly as possible to prevent the knot from coming
undone later. Known in the art are a number of attempts to tackle
the problem of tying laces.
[0006] Various approaches were made to protect laces from coming
undone by the use of specially constructed devices, such as a
storage compartment incorporated in the footwear, wherein the knot
is to be concealed, for example, the storage compartment disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 6,895,696. However, such compartments are not
applicable to the kind of footwear such as formal dress shoes or
stylish shoes, or the footwear should be of a new design to
incorporate such protective shoelace storage compartment, which is
not always possible.
[0007] Also known in the art is a shoelace retention device for
securing a tied knot, which retention device is adapted to be
secured on the lace in the course of lacing the shoelace as
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,177. The prior art retention
device is intended to secure the loops and tails of a bow tie knot
so as to prevent the knot from spontaneously coming undone. The
patent teaches installation of the shoelace retention device while
the shoe is being laced, which requires some additional effort and
is not always convenient. Also, the prior-art shoelace retention
device is not applicable to every type of shoes, for example,
formal dress shoes or stylish shoes, for aesthetic reasons.
[0008] Some other devices for securing laces are also known in the
art, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,028 and
constructed as a plate having slots and holes through which the
lace is threaded before tying. The knot is then tied and the free
ends of the lace are secured in the slots in the plate. Such
devices provide for securing the free ends of the elastic cord and
ensure against knots spontaneously coming undone. However, the use
of the plate in securing knots is open to the objection that with
some types of footwear such plates may adversely affect the
appearance of those types of footwear and the suitability for its
intended use. Further, if the knot comes undone the plate can slide
off the free ends of the elastic cord and be lost.
[0009] Furthermore, one of the known ways of securing tied laces
against coming loose or untied is coating them to increase
friction. This method is open to the objection that not all users
do like the touch of such laces or perceive them as pleasing, and
more, the coated elastic lace usually becomes less so. Also, coated
laces do not resolve the problem of the tied laces spontaneously
coming undone, they merely somewhat minimize the chances that the
lace will come undone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention has for its object the provision of a
lace and a method of forming a knot out of such lace, wherein the
above discussed difficulties could be eliminated with the resulting
symmetrical and secure knot with tails of equal lengths and tied in
a simple manner without conscious reasoning and wherein there is no
need for any additional attachments and preparatory steps, and,
simultaneously with the above statement, universal use of such lace
on any object of lacing can be ensured.
[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a lace comprising an elastic cord having end segments for
tying a knot and at least one stabilizing member on at least one of
the end segments having bits thereof adjacent to the stabilizing
member, wherein the stabilizing member is different from the bits
adjacent thereto in the shape and/or material thereof so that it
appears held in place in the knot when the knot is finished.
[0012] The difference in the shape of the stabilizing member in
various preferred embodiments of the invention is attained by
shaping the stabilizing member so that it has a smaller
cross-sectional area than that of the elastic cord, while the
difference in material by making a portion of the elastic cord from
a material that is more capable of taking hold of the surface of
the rest of the elastic cord than the rest of the elastic cord
taking hold of itself. It makes sense to make the stabilizing
member from a material that is more capable of undergoing
deformation caused by lateral compression than that of the rest of
the elastic cord.
[0013] In consideration of various applications, the number of the
stabilizing members may be varied from one through four and
more.
[0014] Where the stabilizing member forms part of an even number of
stabilizing members, it is good practice to arrange the stabilizing
members in pairs on and equidistantly from the ends of the elastic
cord.
[0015] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, with the
aim of facilitating the forming of a bow knot with not only the
tails of equal lengths, but the loops as well, the elastic cord is
provided with at least one positioning member, which is different
from the bits adjacent thereto in appearance and/or in the sense of
touch, and/or in material.
[0016] In yet according to another embodiment of the invention, a
method of forming a knot out of a lace constructed according to the
invention is provided. The method comprises tying the end segments
of the elastic cord in a starting knot, then forming a desired knot
until the knot is ready to be firmly tied, and pulling the end
segments of the elastic cord until the stabilizing members appear
held in place in the knot when the knot is finished.
[0017] The stabilizing members, when held in place in the knot,
prevent the knot from spontaneously coming undone.
[0018] The invention will be further explained in greater detail in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 A-F is a depiction of a conventional lace and the
steps of tying the same in a standard knot;
[0020] FIG. 2 is an embodiment of the invention in a lace with two
stabilizing members;
[0021] FIG. 3 A-B is a depiction on a somewhat enlarged scale of
various shapes of the stabilizing members according to some
embodiments of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a representation on a somewhat enlarged scale of a
stabilizing member made from a material that is more capable of
taking hold of the surface of the rest of the elastic cord than the
rest of the elastic cord taking hold of itself;
[0023] FIG. 5 is an embodiment of the invention in a lace with four
stabilizing members;
[0024] FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the invention in a lace with a
positioning member;
[0025] FIG. 7 A-B is a depiction of finishing steps of the method
of tying knots according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Now referring to FIG. 2, a lace is shown to comprise an
elastic cord 1 and two stabilizing members 2 preferably arranged
equidistantly from the free ends of the elastic cord 1. Each
stabilizing member 2 is seen on each of the end segments of the
elastic cord 1, i.e., closer to the extremities of the elastic cord
and farther from its mid-portion. Such an arrangement reflects the
central idea of the invention because the end segments are
generally tied in a knot. The stabilizing member 2 can be
represented as a minor contraction of the elastic cord 1 as shown
in FIG. 3 A. It is preferred that the stabilizing member's
extension along the elastic cord 1 exceed the maximum width of a
flat lace or the maximum dimension across the cross-section of a
round lace or an oval lace. The contraction may be produced, e.g.,
during braiding (resulting in a tighter weave of the part meant to
serve as a stabilizing member) or by reducing the cord cross
section with embedding the cord in a polymeric material, or by
wrapping a thread or yarn around the cord, or by any other method
known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The stabilizing member
so produced must preferably be elastic to make the lacing and tying
of the cord easy and, at the same time, be more capable of taking
hold of the surface of the rest of the elastic cord 1 than the rest
of the elastic cord 1 taking hold of itself. The latter property is
available by a proper selection of materials for the stabilizing
member 2 and/or by creating a rough texture of the stabilizing
member 2 as exemplified in FIG. 3 B.
[0027] The stabilizing member 2 according to a preferred embodiment
of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4 has a cross section
substantially equal to that of the elastic cord 1 and its surface
is more capable of taking hold of the surface of the rest of the
elastic cord 1 than the rest of the elastic cord 1 taking hold of
itself. The length of the elastic cord 1 serving as the stabilizing
member 2 can be given this quality either by impregnating it with a
suitable compound or by applying a coat of a suitable compound to
it, or by subjecting it to chemical or physical treatment such as
forming minor projections on the surface of the stabilizing member
2. It is appropriate in this context to make the stabilizing member
2 from a material that is more capable of undergoing deformation
caused by lateral compression than that of the rest of the elastic
cord 1. For example, the upper layer of the stabilizing member 2
may be made from a suitable polymeric material or the stabilizing
member as such may be braided so that the tightness of the weave
progressively increases from the surface to the core of the braid.
As mentioned above, the stabilizing members 2 can be provided on
the elastic cord in various numbers as may be required by the
objects of lacing, but an even number is preferable when the lace
of the invention is intended for use with footwear, for example,
two or four stabilizing members arranged in pairs on the ends of
the elastic cord 1 as can be seen in FIG. 5. It is also appropriate
to arrange the stabilizing members 2 equidistantly from the ends of
the elastic cord 1. The stabilizing members 2 of the lace according
to the invention can be identical or different to suit aesthetical
and functional requirements.
[0028] It is to be understood that with consideration for various
service conditions and objects of lacing, the lace of the invention
can comprise an elastic cord with variously shaped cross-sections,
including round, oval, flat, etc., and can be made of cotton,
synthetic fibers, silk or other materials.
[0029] The method aspect of the present invention is concerned with
the forming of a knot out of the lace constructed according to the
invention, wherein the finishing steps of tying, e.g., the standard
knot shown in FIG. 1 B-F, comprise pulling the lower parts of the
loops 3 in the direction of the arrows, which can be seen in FIG. 7
A, until the stabilizing members 2 appear in the knot being formed
(FIG. 7 B). Users can determine whether the stabilizing members 2
have been set in place either visually or by touch. Thereafter the
knot is firmly tied by pulling on the upper parts of the loops 3 in
the direction of the arrows to thereby finish the knot. Where the
lace having the stabilizing member 2 shaped as in FIG. 3 A, B, has
been tied in a knot, the passage of the cord bits adjacent to the
stabilizing members 2 through loops 4 (FIG. 7 B) is restrained
since the cross-sectional area of the elastic cord 1 is greater
than that of the stabilizing member 2 and the inside passage area
formed by the loops 4, the elastic cord 1 and the stabilizing
members 2 set in place in the knot is too small as compared with
the cross-sectional area of the elastic cord 1 to let the elastic
cord slide over itself and hence to let the knot spontaneously come
undone. The stabilizing member 2, being more capable of taking hold
of the surface of the rest of the elastic cord 1 than the rest of
the elastic cord 1 taking hold of itself, further restrains the
elastic cord 1 from sliding within the knot and hence the knot from
coming undone. Where the lace has the stabilizing member 2 shown in
FIG. 4, an enhanced capability of the stabilizing member to take
hold of the surface of the elastic cord 1 provides by itself for
restraining the elastic cord 1 from sliding within the knot and
hence the knot from coming undone. Also, the stabilizing member 2
further restrains the knot from coming undone by the feature of
being more capable of undergoing deformation caused by lateral
compression than the bits of the elastic cord 1 adjacent to the
stabilizing member 2, e.g. when tightened by the loop 4.
[0030] Where the lace has four stabilizing members (FIG. 5), it is
tied in the same way as described above, though the user is to make
a choice here which stabilizing members should be used to match his
or her aesthetic or functional preferences. The stabilizing members
2 that are more distant from the ends of the lace may appear on the
lace lengths that are involved in the lacing of an object and can
be readily used to determine symmetry of lacing as well as to
stabilize the lacing due to greater capability of the stabilizing
members to take hold of the lace surface or by placing the
stabilizing members in the eyelets of an object of lacing where
they are curved round the edge of the eyelets. It is to be
understood that the stabilizing members are flexible in this
case.
[0031] In an embodiment of the invention where the lace is provided
with a positioning member 5 (FIG. 6), a lacing stage must precede
the tying of the lace according to the invention.
[0032] At the beginning of a lacing procedure, the positioning
member 5 is placed between the bottom or first eyelets with a
proper use of the external features of the positioning member. Then
follow the steps of positioning the lace and lacing the object of
lacing and finally the method of forming a knot is performed in the
same way as described above. It is to be understood that the
positioning member makes it much easier to have the end segments of
the lace of equal lengths both at the beginning and at the end of
lacing, and therefore it is possible to tie a knot as nearly
symmetrical as possible and having loops 4 (FIG. 7B) and tails of
practically equal dimensions, the latter quality being due to the
arrangement of the stabilizing members 2 equidistantly from the
ends of the elastic cord 1. Where the lace of the invention is
provided with a positioning member 5 (FIG. 6), equal lengths of the
free ends of the lace are maintained not only at the time of any
initial use of the lace but in all subsequent lacing procedures as
well.
[0033] Thus the present invention as embodied in the lace and the
method of forming a knot out of such lace and as described above
enables the user to tie a symmetrical and secure knot quickly in a
simple manner without conscious reasoning in all uses and such that
its spontaneous coming undone is unlikely. Also, the lace according
to the invention is unique in that it can be put to limitless uses
on any type of footwear, clothing, bags, etc. Moreover, the
stabilizing members are further capable of being used as
decorations.
[0034] While particular embodiments of the invention have been
shown and described, various modifications thereof will be apparent
and the departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the
invention as defined in the claims.
* * * * *