U.S. patent application number 12/063445 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-12 for device and method of rapidly tying shoelaces.
Invention is credited to Yun Su Cho.
Application Number | 20090038128 12/063445 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37274785 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090038128 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cho; Yun Su |
February 12, 2009 |
DEVICE AND METHOD OF RAPIDLY TYING SHOELACES
Abstract
Provided is a shoe which is tied with a piece of shoelace, in
which a pair of pulling string rings are provided in both left and
right upper ends of the neck of the shoe, to thereby enable a user
to pull or release a pair of pulling strings hooked on the rings
one time in order to put on or take off the shoe. Double instep
covers of the footwear are provided, and the exposed knots of the
shoelace end portions are positioned between the double instep
covers, so that the knots are not exposed and the knots which are
not well untied can be smoothly adjusted. Moreover, a cover-type
fastening locker or protection guard which protects the protruded
latch from external impact is used to solve the conventional
problems, and to furthermore provide a simple shoelace tying shoe
having no knots of the end of the lower portion of the
shoelaces.
Inventors: |
Cho; Yun Su; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LADAS & PARRY LLP
224 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE, SUITE 1600
CHICAGO
IL
60604
US
|
Family ID: |
37274785 |
Appl. No.: |
12/063445 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
August 31, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2006/003457 |
371 Date: |
February 11, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/68SK |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C 11/1493 20130101;
Y10T 24/2183 20150115; A43C 7/00 20130101; A43C 11/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/68SK |
International
Class: |
A43C 11/00 20060101
A43C011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 1, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0081189 |
Claims
1. A device for rapidly tying a string of a footwear comprising: a
pair of left and right pulling string annular portions which are
prepared using the string so as to be extended in a V-shaped form
in the upper portion of an instep cover on which a plurality of
eyelets are punched along left and right ends of the instep cover
of the footwear, wherein both ends of the string are respectively
inserted into intermediate eyelets crossways with every other
eyelet to then be formed into a string end knot at the lower
eyelet, and wherein both the ends of the string to which a pair of
fastening units are respectively bounded are rapidly tied by
pulling the pulling string annular portions so as to be engaged
with latches crossways in the left and right sides of the footwear;
and a double instep cover having two instep covers including an
outer instep cover and an inner instep cover which are attached in
the end of the footwear's instep strap cover of the lower portion
of the instep of the footwear by means of a sewing work, wherein
the outer instep cover is approximately half the length of the
inner instep cover, wherein a groove is formed between the outer
and inner instep covers at which a string end knot is located so
that the knot is not protruded to the outside, and wherein sticking
members such as Velcro are adhered to the upper-inner portion of
the outer and inner and instep covers, respectively.
2. The footwear string rapidly tying device according to claim 1,
further comprising an adjuster substituting for the string end knot
which comprises a body through which the string end horizontally
connected to the lower eyelets is passed in which a button is
installed at the body to control the input and output of the
string, and a fixing latch which is formed in the upper portion of
the body so as to be fixed to the instep cover.
3. The footwear string rapidly tying device according to claim 1,
further comprising a fixture substituting for the string end knot
which is a locking unit whose lid can be opened and closed, to
thereby fix the input and output of the string, in which the string
end which is horizontally connected to the lower eyelets is passed
through a compression unit of a case of the locking unit, and which
comprises a space where the string can be accommodated in the case,
and a protrusion which is provided in both ends of the outer
portion of the case thereby preventing the body from rushing into
the inner side of an eyelet tap of both sides of the body.
4. The footwear string rapidly tying device according to claim 1,
wherein the fastening unit comprises: a fastening locker; and a
fastening plate which are paired, wherein the fastening locker
comprises: a detachable ring which covers the fastening plate
during fastening and which is bent in a curved surface with a cover
type to thereby protect the fastening plate from external impact,
and to the side of which vanes are attached to then be easily
attached to and detached from the string; and a fitting nail which
is installed at the center of a handle connected to an expansion
band, and wherein the fastening plate which is positioned at the
side of the footwear is bent with the tilt angle of approximately
45.degree. behind the footwear, to thus prevent the fitting nail of
the fastening locker from seceding.
5. The footwear string rapidly tying device according to claim 4,
wherein the fastening locker comprises two or more detachable rings
each having vanes which enable the string to go in and out in order
to adjust the length of the pulling string annular portions.
6. The footwear string rapidly tying device according to claim 4,
wherein the instep strap cover protecting the fastening unit which
is positioned at the side of the footwear comprises: an elastic
board whose length is slightly longer than the horizontal length of
the instep strand cover and which is crookedly inserted into the
instep strand cover; and a groove which is formed as a single layer
at the side of the footwear in the same area as that of the instep
strand cover, and wherein the instep strand cover is connected with
the upper-most instep strand positioned at the side of the
footwear.
7. A device for rapidly tying a string of a footwear comprising: a
pair of left and right pulling string annular portions which are
prepared using the string so as to be extended in a V-shaped form
in the upper portion of an instep cover on which a plurality of
eyelets are punched along left and right instep strands of the
instep cover of the footwear, wherein both ends of the string are
respectively inserted into intermediate eyelets crossways with
every other eyelet to then be formed into a string end knot at the
lower eyelet, and to complete installation of the string, wherein
both the ends of the string to which a pair of fastening units are
respectively bounded are rapidly tied by pulling the pulling string
annular portions so as to be engaged with latches crossways in the
left and right sides of the footwear, and wherein at the final step
of completing the installation of the string, the string ends
passing through the lowermost final eyelets are not formed into a
knot and is fixed to the inner portion of the instep strand; and a
string fixing double eyelet fixing the string ends, which is
positioned in the intermediate portion between the lower eyelets on
the same line of the left and right instep strands in the footwear,
and which employs a structure of fixing the string end or adjusting
the length of the string in which two string fitting holes are
punched with a tilt angle in the lower direction of the
footwear.
8. The footwear string rapidly tying device according to claim 7,
wherein the protrusion type string fixing double eyelet has a
structure that a body front hole is a little bit wide and the
middle portion or lower of the body becomes narrow, wherein an
internally inserted pin which is fitted into a wide hole is formed
of a hole through which a handle and the string pass, wherein the
upper eyelet just above the fixing double eyelet is punched with
the eyelets so that the string which is interpolated into the body
can be inserted into the inner side of the instep strand.
9. A device for rapidly tying a string of a footwear comprising: a
pair of left and right pulling string annular portions which are
prepared using the string so as to be extended in a V-shaped form
in the upper portion of an instep cover on which a plurality of
eyelets are punched along left and right instep strands of the
instep cover of the footwear, wherein both ends of the string are
respectively inserted into intermediate eyelets crossways with
every other eyelet to then be formed into a string end knot at the
lower eyelet, and to complete installation of the string, and
wherein both the ends of the string to which a pair of fastening
units are respectively bounded are rapidly tied by pulling the
pulling string annular portions so as to be engaged with latches
crossways in the left and right sides of the footwear; and a string
fitting unit which is used to fit two strands of the strings into
the eyelets which are located on the left and right instep strands,
in which one strand passes through only even-numbered eyelets (56a,
56b, 54a, 54b, 52a, 52b) and the other strand passes through only
odd-numbered eyelets (55a, 55b, 53a, 53b, 51a, 51b), and wherein
two strands of the strings passing through the eyelets (51a, 52a)
on the same line as that of the left instep strand and two strands
of the strings passing through the eyelets (51b, 52b) on the same
line as that of the right instep strand, form the pair of left and
right pulling string annular portions which are positioned at the
left and right portions of the upper portion of the footwear, and
wherein the ends of the pulling string annular portions are
inserted into and fixed to a connection pin, respectively, and the
connection pin is divided into two compression portions which are
connected with each other by a flexible band.
10. The footwear string rapidly tying device according to any one
of claims 1, 7 and 9, wherein the fastening unit is a double
fastening unit comprising: a fastening locker; and a fastening
plate which are paired, wherein the fastening locker comprising a
detachable ring, an expansion band, and a handle, comprises: a
plurality of locking pieces which are protruded in the form of a
curved surface transversely at the center of the handle; and Velcro
which is adhered to the top and bottom of the respective locking
pieces, and wherein the fastening plate which is paired with the
fastening locker comprises: a plurality of locking pieces which are
protruded facing in opposition to the locking pieces of the
fastening locker; and Velcro which is adhered to the top and bottom
of the respective locking pieces.
11. The footwear string rapidly tying device according to any one
of claims 1, 7 and 9, wherein the fastening unit comprises: a
fastening locker; and a fastening plate which are paired, wherein
the fastening plate which is positioned at the upper portion of the
left and right sides of the footwear comprises a fitting plate
having a plurality of fitting holes which is positioned
transversely at the center of the fastening plate; and guards which
are installed in the top and bottom of the fitting plate to protect
the fastening unit, wherein the fastening locker which is paired
with the fastening plate, comprises a detachable ring, an expansion
band, and a handle to which hooks are fixed.
12. The footwear string rapidly tying device according to any one
of claims 1, 7 and 9, wherein the fastening unit is an integrated
fastening unit which is formed in an upper eyelet portion of the
footwear in the form of a linear handle shape, wherein a space in
which the pulling string annular portions can move is prepared in a
respective tunnel formed in both sides of the integrated fastening
unit, wherein an interval between both the tunnels is defined as an
interval of the case of being fastened to the first upper eyelet,
and wherein the integrated fastening unit comprises: an expansion
band which is transversely and lengthily formed therein; and a snap
fastener which is prepared in both ends of the integrated fastening
unit, respectively, and paired with a snap fastener which is
respectively formed in the instep strands which are formed in the
left and right of the footwear.
13. The footwear string rapidly tying device according to any one
of claims 1, 7 and 9, wherein a keeping bag positioned at the upper
portion of the instep cover of the footwear comprises a pocket and
a cover, and wherein the pocket has the same width as the
horizontal width of the instep cover and the cover covers the
pocket downwards at a little lower height than the heights of the
inlet and outlet of the pocket.
14. A method for rapidly tying a string of a footwear comprising:
preparing a pair of pulling string annular portions in an upper
eyelet of the upper portion of the footwear, wherein both ends of
the string are respectively inserted into intermediate eyelets
crossways with every other eyelet in which the eyelets are formed
in the left and right of the instep strand of the footwear, to then
be formed into a string end knot at a lower eyelet of the lower
portion of the footwear, and wherein both the ends of the string to
which a pair of fastening units are respectively bounded are
rapidly tied by pulling the pulling string annular portion; and
using a double instep cover which protects the string end knot
exposed to the lower portion of the footwear.
15. The footwear string rapidly tying method according to claim 14,
wherein the length of the string can be adjusted using an adjuster
which can substitute for the string end knot formed in the lower
portion of the instep of the footwear.
16. The footwear string rapidly tying method according to claim 14,
wherein the string is fixed using a fixture which can substitute
for the string end knot formed in the lower portion of the instep
of the footwear.
17. The footwear string rapidly tying method according to claim 16,
wherein at least one character and/or at least one pattern are
printed on the surface of the fixture.
18. A method for rapidly tying a string of a footwear comprising:
preparing a pair of pulling string annular portions in an upper
eyelet of the upper portion of the footwear, wherein both ends of
the string are respectively inserted into intermediate eyelets
crossways with every other eyelet in which the eyelets are formed
in the left and right of the instep strand of the footwear, to then
be formed into a string end knot at a lower eyelet of the lower
portion of the footwear, and wherein both the ends of the string to
which a pair of fastening units are respectively bounded are
rapidly tied by pulling the pulling string annular portion; making
the ends of the string pass through empty eyelets and then
sequentially pass through the lower eyelets in the left and right
sides of the lower portion of the footwear after having prepared
the pulling string annular portions; and connecting the ends of the
string having passed through the final left and right eyelets
laterally and fixing the ends to the inner side of the instep
strands without forming any strong end knot.
19. The footwear string rapidly tying method according to claim 18,
wherein a double eyelet is used as means for adjusting length of
the string and fixing the string at the ends of the string having
passed through the final left and right eyelets.
20. The footwear string rapidly tying method according to claim 18,
wherein a protrusion type string fixing eyelet is used as means for
adjusting length of the string and fixing the string at the ends of
the string having passed through the final left and right
eyelets.
21. A method for rapidly tying a string of a footwear comprising:
preparing a pair of pulling string annular portions in an upper
eyelet of the upper portion of the footwear, wherein both ends of
the string are respectively inserted into intermediate eyelets
crossways with every other eyelet in which the eyelets are formed
in the left and right of the instep strand of the footwear, to then
be formed into a string end knot at a lower eyelet of the lower
portion of the footwear, and wherein both the ends of the string to
which a pair of fastening units are respectively bounded are
rapidly tied by pulling the pulling string annular portion; and
using a string fitting unit to fit two strands of the strings into
the eyelets which are located on the left and right instep strands,
in which one strand passes through only even-numbered eyelets (54a,
54b, 52a, 52b) starting from the lowermost eyelets (56a, 56b) and
the other strand passes through only odd-numbered eyelets (53a,
53b, 51a, 51b) starting from the second lowermost eyelets (55a,
55b), and wherein two strands of the strings passing through the
eyelets (51a, 52a) on the same line as that of the left instep
strand and two strands of the strings passing through the eyelets
(51b, 52b) on the same line as that of the right instep strand, are
connected with to a connection pin, to thereby form the pair of
left and right pulling string annular portions (59a, 59b).
22. The footwear string rapidly tying method according to one of
claims 14, 18 and 21, wherein the fastening ring connected to the
pulling string annular portion and the fastening plate positioned
on the upper end of the side surface of the footwear, form a pair
of fastening units each comprising a fastening locker and a
fastening plate, and wherein a handle of the fastening locker, a
plurality of locking pieces which are protruded transversely on the
fastening plate, and Velcro which is adhered to the top and bottom
of the respective locking pieces, perform a double fastening
operation.
23. The footwear string rapidly tying method according to one of
claims 14, 18 and 21, wherein the fastening locker connected to the
pulling string annular portion comprises a detachable ring on which
vanes are attached.
24. The footwear string rapidly tying method according to one of
claims 14, 18 and 21, wherein the fastening units exposed in the
upper portion of the left and right sides of the footwear are
protected using the instep cover connected to the uppermost instep
strand of the left and right sides of the footwear.
25. The footwear string rapidly tying method according to one of
claims 14, 18 and 21, wherein the fastening plate of the fastening
unit is positioned in the upper portion of the left and right sides
of the footwear, and a linear guard is installed in the top and
bottom of the fastening plate, to thereby protect the fastening
units.
26. The footwear string rapidly tying method according to one of
claims 14, 18 and 21, wherein an integrated fastening unit which is
formed of a linear handle in the upper portion of the footwear
instep performs a fastening operation by pulling the pulling string
annular portions to be made to rotate by 180.degree..
27. The footwear string rapidly tying method according to one of
claims 14, 18 and 21, wherein a keeping bag prepared in the upper
portion of the footwear instep cover keeps accessories of the
fastening unit.
28. The footwear string rapidly tying method according to one of
claims 14, 18 and 21, wherein the string is installed and fastened
in the footwear having an instep cover on which two eyelets to a
plurality of eyelets are punched along left and right instep
strands of the instep cover of the footwear.
29. The footwear string rapidly tying method according to claim 27,
wherein the pulling string annular portion uses an anti-secession
ring as a pulling string fastening mechanism.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a footwear tied by
tightening a shoelace which is hereinbelow referred to as a
shoestring, a footwear string, or a string, and more particularly,
to a device for and method of rapidly tying a shoelace of a
footwear in which a pair of pulling string annular portions are
provided in both left and right upper ends of the neck of the
footwear, and binders for binding the pair of the pulling string
annular portions, respectively, to thereby enable a user to pull or
release the pair of the pulling string annular portions to be bound
on the binders one time in order to put on or take off the footwear
conveniently.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A general footwear which is tied by tightening a string
includes a number of eyelets through which a string can smoothly
pass in the footwear in which the eyelets are provided in an
identical number in both sides of the instep strap cover in the
footwear. The string is passed crossways from the lower eyelet to
the upper eyelet. A wearer pulls a string to fit for the foot, and
then tightens the footwear and makes a knot in the ends of the
string when putting on or taking off the footwear. However, in the
conventional footwear, the tightening force which is applied in
pulling the ends of the string influences upon only the second
eyelets from the upper-most eyelets, and is not delivered to the
eyelets subsequent to the second eyelet. Accordingly, the string is
not well tightened, and thus the footwear is not well tied. The
tightened portions in the upper eyelets of the string fastened by
the conventional shoelace tightening method becomes loosened by the
margin of the string less fastened at the lower portions of the
eyelets during the activity of the wearer. Thus, the footwear
becomes loose, and the combined knots may be easily untied.
Further, the conventional footwear has a number of defectives of
causing inconveniences and consuming time to tie and untie the
knots when putting on or taking off the footwear.
[0003] In order to solve these disadvantages, the same applicant as
that of this application disclosed Korean Patent Registration No.
0445965 entitled "Footwear for rapidly tying shoelaces and shoelace
tying method thereof" as shown in FIG. 20, in which the footwear
has a feature of enabling a wearer to easily perform tightening and
binding of the string. That is, if an angle which is formed when
the string passes through the respective eyelets is made large and
the number of the eyelets which are used for making the strings
pass through the respective eyelets is made as small as possible,
the tightening force is greatly enhanced.
[0004] The string of FIG. 21 starts from lower eyelets 6a and 6b
and both ends of the string is inserted into every other eyelet,
that is, at an interval of two eyelets. In FIG. 22, both ends of
the string are inserted into the upper-most eyelets 1a and 1b,
respectively, to thereby form annular portions 9a and 9b along the
string in the upper portion of the footwear. Then, both the ends of
the string are inserted downwards into empty eyelets 3a and 3b, and
then inserted into empty eyelets 5a and 5b to finish by making an
end knot 8 near the eyelets 5a and 5b. As described above, in the
case of the strings inserted into every other eyelet, that is, at
an interval of two eyelets, in the middle portion, an angle which
is formed between the string and the horizontal line widens, and
four upper pulling strings extended from two pulling string annular
portions 9a and 9b pass through only one eyelet 3a, 3b, 4a, or 4b
down to the lowermost string.
[0005] As described above, the eyelet insertion angle of the string
is two times as that of a general footwear. The number of the
eyelets through which the string passes is one fourth as that of
the general footwear, since four eyelets are passed through in
every pulling string. Accordingly, there is no resistance by
friction between the string and the eyelets. That is, when a wearer
pulls the pulling string annular portions 9a and 9b in order to put
on the footwear, and only if he or she pulls them slightly, the
string is softly fastened up. In this way, the string which has
been easily tightened with a small amount of the tightening force
is engaged with latches 10a positioned at the upper ends of the
right and left sides of the footwear using a fastening ring 10b
connected to the pulling string annular portion 9a via an expansion
band, as shown in FIG. 20. Accordingly, like the general footwear,
there is no need to make a knot in the form of a ribbon in the
upper portion of the footwear, to thus tie the string simply.
[0006] It is convenient for a wearer to use the footwear fabricated
according to the above-described prior art but there are many
partially insufficient points. That is, in the case of the footwear
tied through the above-described procedure, a string end knot 8 is
exposed at the instep lower portion of the footwear as shown in
FIG. 20 at the final finishing step of installation of the string.
This exposure of the string end knot 8 cannot be seen in the
conventional general footwear, to thereby cause the wearer to feel
a difference in external appearance, and the string to be rigidly
tied up according to the wearer's activity to thus make it
difficult to adjust the string. Moreover, since the knot 8 is not
fixed to the instep of the footwear, and if the pulling string
annular portions are pulled from the upper portion of the footwear,
the knot 8 moves to the left and right according to the balance of
the pulling force and thus the lengths of the pulling string
annular portions are varied. As a result, when the wearer pulls the
pulling string annular portions to be respectively hooked up with
the sides of the footwear, the movement of the string may cause
inconveniences to the wearer.
[0007] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 20, the latches 10a which are
positioned in the left and right of the upper portion of the
footwear are protruded to the outside. Accordingly, the protruded
latches may be damaged during contacting the other objects and may
hurt the wearer's ankle when one protruded latch collides with the
wearer's ankle which is positioned at the other side opposing the
one protruded latch, to thereby hurt the wearer's body.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0008] To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a device for and method of rapidly tying
shoelaces of a footwear, which employs double instep covers where
each instep cover is formed of an existing footwear structure, and
a lower end knot is positioned in the intermediate layer between
the double instep covers, to thereby remove a difference of
external appearance.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
device for and method of rapidly tying shoelaces of a footwear,
which employs a dedicated adjuster for releasing an end knot
according to a wearer's intention and adjusting the total length of
the shoelaces, to thereby enable a wearer to put on or take off a
footwear more conveniently.
[0010] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a device for and method of rapidly tying shoelaces of a
footwear, including no lower string end knot in which the string
end is fixed to the inner portion of the instep strap cover of a
footwear in correspondence to an eyelet through which the string
finally passes, and providing The same effect as that of the
general footwear by external appearance.
[0011] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a device for and method of rapidly tying shoelaces of a footwear,
which includes protection guards in the upper and lower portions of
each of latches protruded in the upper end of the left and right
sides of a footwear, to thereby protect the latches from external
shocks, and which includes a fastening locker to which a hook of
the latch which can hurt the ankle portion of the wearer is
attached.
[0012] To accomplish the above object of the present invention,
according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a device for rapidly tying a string of a footwear comprising:
[0013] a pair of left and right pulling string annular portions
which are prepared using the string so as to be extended in a
V-shaped form in the upper portion of an instep cover on which a
plurality of eyelets are punched along left and right ends of the
instep cover of the footwear, wherein both ends of the string are
respectively inserted into intermediate eyelets crossways with
every other eyelet to then be formed into a string end knot at the
lower eyelet, and wherein both the ends of the string to which a
pair of fastening units are respectively bounded are rapidly tied
by pulling the pulling string annular portions so as to be engaged
with latches crossways in the left and right sides of the footwear;
and
[0014] a double instep cover having two instep covers including an
outer instep cover and an inner instep cover which are attached in
the end of the footwear's instep strap cover of the lower portion
of the instep of the footwear by means of a sewing work, wherein
the outer instep cover is approximately half the length of the
inner instep cover, wherein a groove is formed between the outer
and inner instep covers at which a string end knot is located so
that the knot is not protruded to the outside, and wherein sticking
members such as Velcro are adhered to the upper-inner portion of
the outer and inner and instep covers, respectively.
[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is also provided a device for rapidly tying a string of a footwear
comprising:
[0016] a pair of left and right pulling string annular portions
which are prepared using the string so as to be extended in a
V-shaped form in the upper portion of an instep cover on which a
plurality of eyelets are punched along left and right instep
strands of the instep cover of the footwear, wherein both ends of
the string are respectively inserted into intermediate eyelets
crossways with every other eyelet to then be formed into a string
end knot at the lower eyelet, and to complete installation of the
string, wherein both the ends of the string to which a pair of
fastening units are respectively bounded are rapidly tied by
pulling the pulling string annular portions so as to be engaged
with latches crossways in the left and right sides of the footwear,
and wherein at the final step of completing the installation of the
string, the string ends passing through the lowermost final eyelets
are not formed into a knot and is fixed to the inner portion of the
instep strand; and
[0017] a string fixing double eyelet fixing the string ends, which
is positioned in the intermediate portion between the lower eyelets
on the same line of the left and right instep strands in the
footwear, and which employs a structure of fixing the string end or
adjusting the length of the string in which two string fitting
holes are punched with a tilt angle in the lower direction of the
footwear.
[0018] According to still another aspect of the present invention,
there is still also provided a device for rapidly tying a string of
a footwear comprising:
[0019] a pair of left and right pulling string annular portions
which are prepared using the string so as to be extended in a
V-shaped form in the upper portion of an instep cover on which a
plurality of eyelets are punched along left and right instep
strands of the instep cover of the footwear, wherein both ends of
the string are respectively inserted into intermediate eyelets
crossways with every other eyelet to then be formed into a string
end knot at the lower eyelet, and to complete installation of the
string, and wherein both the ends of the string to which a pair of
fastening units are respectively bounded are rapidly tied by
pulling the pulling string annular portions so as to be engaged
with latches crossways in the left and right sides of the footwear;
and
[0020] a string fitting unit which is used to fit two strands of
the strings into the eyelets which are located on the left and
right instep strands, in which one strand passes through only
even-numbered eyelets (56a, 56b, 54a, 54b, 52a, 52b) and the other
strand passes through only odd-numbered eyelets (55a, 55b, 53a,
53b, 51a, 51b), and
[0021] wherein two strands of the strings passing through the
eyelets (51a, 52a) on the same line as that of the left instep
strand and two strands of the strings passing through the eyelets
(51b, 52b) on the same line as that of the right instep strand,
form the pair of left and right pulling string annular portions
which are positioned at the left and right portions of the upper
portion of the footwear, and
[0022] wherein the ends of the pulling string annular portions are
inserted into and fixed to a connection pin, respectively, and the
connection pin is divided into two compression portions which are
connected with each other by a flexible band.
[0023] According to yet another aspect of the present invention,
there is still also provided a method for rapidly tying a string of
a footwear comprising:
[0024] preparing a pair of pulling string annular portions in an
upper eyelet of the upper portion of the footwear, wherein both
ends of the string are respectively inserted into intermediate
eyelets crossways with every other eyelet in which the eyelets are
formed in the left and right of the instep strand of the footwear,
to then be formed into a string end knot at a lower eyelet of the
lower portion of the footwear, and wherein both the ends of the
string to which a pair of fastening units are respectively bounded
are rapidly tied by pulling the pulling string annular portion;
and
[0025] using a double instep cover which protects the string end
knot exposed to the lower portion of the footwear.
[0026] According to still yet another aspect of the present
invention, there is still also provided a method for rapidly tying
a string of a footwear comprising:
[0027] preparing a pair of pulling string annular portions in an
upper eyelet of the upper portion of the footwear, wherein both
ends of the string are respectively inserted into intermediate
eyelets crossways with every other eyelet in which the eyelets are
formed in the left and right of the instep strand of the footwear,
to then be formed into a string end knot at a lower eyelet of the
lower portion of the footwear, and wherein both the ends of the
string to which a pair of fastening units are respectively bounded
are rapidly tied by pulling the pulling string annular portion;
[0028] making the ends of the string pass through empty eyelets and
then sequentially pass through the lower eyelets in the left and
right sides of the lower portion of the footwear after having
prepared the pulling string annular portions; and
[0029] connecting the ends of the string having passed through the
final left and right eyelets laterally and fixing the ends to the
inner side of the instep strands without forming any strong end
knot.
[0030] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
there is still also provided a method for rapidly tying a string of
a footwear comprising:
[0031] preparing a pair of pulling string annular portions in an
upper eyelet of the upper portion of the footwear, wherein both
ends of the string are respectively inserted into intermediate
eyelets crossways with every other eyelet in which the eyelets are
formed in the left and right of the instep strand of the footwear,
to then be formed into a string end knot at a lower eyelet of the
lower portion of the footwear, and wherein both the ends of the
string to which a pair of fastening units are respectively bounded
are rapidly tied by pulling the pulling string annular portion;
and
[0032] using a string fitting unit to fit two strands of the
strings into the eyelets which are located on the left and right
instep strands, in which one strand passes through only
even-numbered eyelets (54a, 54b, 52a, 52b) starting from the
lowermost eyelets (56a, 56b) and the other strand passes through
only odd-numbered eyelets (53a, 53b, 51a, 51b) starting from the
second lowermost eyelets (55a, 55b), and
[0033] wherein two strands of the strings passing through the
eyelets (51a, 52a) on the same line as that of the left instep
strand and two strands of the strings passing through the eyelets
(51b, 52b) on the same line as that of the right instep strand, are
connected with to a connection pin, to thereby form the pair of
left and right pulling string annular portions (59a, 59b).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a
shoe according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 2A is a perspective view schematically illustrating a
double instep cover of the footwear according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 2B is a perspective view schematically illustrating an
attachment unit of the double instep covers according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 3 is a front view showing a footwear in which the end
knot are shown at the state where a shoelace is inserted;
[0038] FIG. 4 is a perspective view which shows the state of using
a shoelace adjuster;
[0039] FIG. 5 is a front view which shows a fixture unit at the
state where a shoelaces has been inserted;
[0040] FIG. 6 is a perspective view which shows the configuration
of the shoelaces end fixture unit;
[0041] FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing a fastening locker
according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 7B is a perspective view which shows the fastening
locker made of two or more detachable ring;
[0043] FIG. 7C is a perspective view showing a fastening plate
according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing the state where an
instep strap cover is pulled back;
[0045] FIG. 8B is a front view which shows the state of using an
elastic board which is built in the instep strap cover;
[0046] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a footwear according to
a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0047] FIG. 10A is a partial perspective view which shows a
footwear in which a double eyelet according to the second
embodiment of the present invention;
[0048] FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view which shows the state of
using the double eyelet;
[0049] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a footwear in which a
protrusion type string fixing eyelet is installed;
[0050] FIG. 12 is a perspective view which shows the state of using
the protrusion type string fixing eyelet;
[0051] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a fastening locker
according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
[0052] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a fastening plate in
which a guard is installed according to the second embodiment of
the present invention;
[0053] FIG. 15 is a front view showing a footwear according to a
third embodiment of the present invention;
[0054] FIG. 16 is a perspective view which shows the state of using
a connection pin;
[0055] FIG. 17A is a perspective view showing a fastening locker
according to the third embodiment of the present invention;
[0056] FIG. 17B is a perspective view showing the fastening locker
according to the third embodiment;
[0057] FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing an integrated
fastening device according to the third embodiment;
[0058] FIG. 19A is a perspective view showing a footwear in which a
keeping bag is installed;
[0059] FIG. 19B is a perspective view which partially shows the
state of using the keeping bag;
[0060] FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the state where a
shoelaces has been completely tied in a conventional footwear for
rapidly tying shoelaces;
[0061] FIG. 21 is a front view showing the state where a shoelaces
has been halfway tied in a conventional footwear for rapidly tying
shoelaces;
[0062] FIG. 22 is a front view showing the state where a shoelaces
has been completely tied in a conventional footwear for rapidly
tying shoelaces; and
[0063] FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the state of using a
fastening unit in a conventional footwear for rapidly tying
shoelaces.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0064] Hereinbelow, a device for and method of rapidly tying a
shoelace of a footwear according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention will be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0065] A pair of pulling string annular portions are formed in the
left and right upper portions of the neck portion of a footwear.
Both ends of a string to which a pair of fastening units are
respectively bounded are rapidly tied by pulling the pulling string
annular portions so as to be engaged with latches crossways in the
left and right sides of the footwear. As shown in FIG. 3, a string
or shoelace 17 is fitted into eyelets crossways in the form of an
X-shape, starting from the lowermost eyelets 16a and 16b to the
third eyelets 14a and 14b, then to the fifth eyelets 12a and 12b,
in every other eyelet, and is formed into a pair of pulling string
annular portions 19a and 19b in connection with the uppermost
eyelets 11a and 11b. The pair of pulling string annular portions
19a and 19b are in a co-plane on the instep stands, and have a
marginal length. The string ends of the formed pulling string
annular portions 19a and 19b are fitted into the empty eyelets 13a,
13b, 15a and 15b in turn to be crossed in the form of an X-shape
toward the lower portion of the instep of the footwear again, and
then are made into a string end knot 18 which is formed by binding
the string ends between the eyelets 15a and 15b, to thereby
terminate an installation of the string.
[0066] A fastening locker is connected with the pulling string
annular portion with an expansion band in one end of the pulling
string annular portion. the A fastening plate connected with the
fastening locker is adhered on the upper ends of the left and right
sides of the footwear. As a result, a fastening unit for fastening
the string is completed.
[0067] In order to prevent the name of the fastening unit from
being used in redundancy in the structure of the present invention,
the fastening unit of the known footwear, that is, "Method of tying
a string by rapidly pulling the string" shown in FIG. 20 includes a
fastening ring 10b and a latch 10a. The fastening unit in the
structure of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 includes a
fastening locker 43 and a fastening plate 48.
[0068] A double instep cover is provided as a protection unit for
protecting the lower string end knot 18 protruded to the outside of
FIG. 3 in the structure of the footwear. The double instep cover
covers the string end knot which is formed by passing through
eyelets in the lateral direction which makes the footwear according
to the present invention have the same shape as that of the general
footwear. Moreover, the string end knot plays a role of controlling
the length of the footwear whole string. However, such a knot is
rigidly tied during making an action, and is not easily untied,
which may cause an inconvenient use of the footwear. To solve this
problem, an adjuster is used as a solution, and thus a smooth
string control can be done.
[0069] The fastening unit of FIG. 7A, 7B or 7C helping the
fastening in the present invention is a cover type fastening locker
43 to which the protruded hooks of the latch 10a of FIG. 20 are
attached. That is, the fastening unit of FIG. 7A, 7B or 7C plays an
opposite role compared with the FIG. 20 operation and covers the
fastening plate with the fastening locker to prevent a damage of
the fastening plate. A guard is installed on top and bottom of the
fastening plate to protect the fastening unit from the external
impact to thereby achieve a more perfection. As described above, a
preferable complementary fastening structure is achieved by not
forming the string end knot itself at the lower portion of the
footwear. That is, the string end having finished the installation
of the string is not laterally connected but is bound or fixed to
the inner side of the instep strand of the eyelet which passes
through the final eyelets. Like this, the footwear according to the
present invention is identical with the conventional footwear by
appearance but provides the footwear having an improved
functionality.
[0070] Since it is necessary to have a simple footwear fastening
method for the old or the weak, two strands of strings are used and
installed, and the ends of the pulling string annular portions are
fixed by a connection pin. There is no means for adjusting the
whole length of the string. As a supplementary unit, a fastening
unit having a fastening locker and a fastening plate is provided,
in which the fastening locker can be hung up with the fastening
plate, with a large width of selection and with ease. Moreover, an
integrated fastening unit can be fastened with one hand to thus
give a more convenience and make anyone easily use the
invention.
[0071] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will
be illustrated in detail based on the accompanying drawings.
[0072] FIGS. 1 through 5 show a footwear according to a first
embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of eyelets are
installed at intervals upwards and downwards in the instep strands
of both sides of the footwear instep, so that the strings can be
fitted into the eyelets in sequence. In the case of the footwear
according to the embodiment of the present invention, six eyelets
are installed in the footwear according to the embodiment of the
present invention. For convenience, the six eyelets are called from
the top to the bottom, first through sixth eyelets 11a-16b. Here,
the inserted string 17, as can be seen from FIG. 3, a pair of left
and right pulling string annular portions 19a and 19b are formed in
the upper portion of the footwear. The pair of left and right
pulling string annular portions 19a and 19b are fitted into the
left and right eyelets from the uppermost eyelets in every other
eyelet crossways and reach up to the lowermost eyelets, to then be
formed into a single knot 18 which are no need to be untied
repeatedly at the ends of the string 17. The thus-formed knot 18 is
exposed to the outside. The thus-exposed lower string end knot 18
may cause a visual difference of appearance and inconveniences of
being untied with the string end knot 18 hung. Accordingly, as
shown in FIG. 2A, a double instep cover 21 can be used.
[0073] The double instep cover 21 has two instep covers including
an outer instep cover 22 and an inner instep cover 23 which are
attached in the end of the footwear's instep strap cover of the
lower portion of the instep of the footwear by means of a sewing
work. The outer instep cover 22 and the inner instep cover 23 in
the double instep cover 21 are designed to have an identical width,
respectively, but the outer instep cover 22 is approximately half
the length of the inner instep cover 23. As shown in FIG. 2B,
sticking members 24a and 24b such as Velcro are adhered to the
upper-inner portion of the outer and inner and instep covers 22 and
23, respectively, so that there is no clearance between the outer
and inner instep covers 22 and 23 in use. The string end knot
having finally finished the string installation in the footwear is
positioned between the inner and outer sides of the double instep
cover 21. A small groove is formed between the outer and inner
instep covers at which the string end knot 18 is located so that
the knot is not protruded to the inside or outside of the instep.
The double instep cover 21 does not appear at all in view of the
external appearance of the footwear. Accordingly, the lower knot of
the present invention looks like the conventional general footwear
shown in FIG. 1, and provides an effect of preventing the string
from being untied with the string end knot 18 hung. Moreover, the
double instep cover 21 protects doubly the instep of the footwear
to thereby mitigate the external impact.
[0074] In the case of the footwear which rapidly ties the string,
there is no need to repeatedly control the lower string end knot 18
whenever a wearer uses the footwear. However, in the case of being
unavoidable, the total length of the string 17 is controlled. The
pulling string annular portions 19a and 19b are fastened with an
appropriate tension force to the fastening plate 48 at the side of
the footwear, by controlling the lower string end knot 18. However,
the strings end knot 18 positioned in the instep of the footwear
according to the frequency at which a wearer uses the footwear is
more and more rigidly tightened. In the case of desiring the
adjustment of the string, the string is not easily untied, to
thereby make the user embarrassed.
[0075] Therefore, the adjuster 25 shown in FIG. 4 can be regarded
as a string length adjustment unit which can substitute for the
lower string knot 18. The adjuster 25 includes a button 26
controlling the length of the string and a body in which string end
parts 17a and 17b can be loaded and unloaded. On top of the body
are provided a fixing latch 27a fixing the adjuster 25 to the
instep and a fixing ring 27b which is positioned in the middle of
the instep cover.
[0076] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the adjuster 25 is used for
the final step of installation of the footwear string 17, in which
immediately after the string end portions 17a and 17b have passed
through the fifth eyelets 15a and 15b in the upper portion of the
footwear, the string is pulled out and fixed as far as the string
is strained and fastened through the entrance and exit of the body
at the state where the string control button 26 of the adjuster 25
has been raised upwards. The fixing latch 27a and the fixing ring
27b which are positioned in the upper portion of the body make the
adjuster 25 not move to the left and right according to the balance
of the power when pulling the string annular portions 19a and 19b.
The adjuster 25 playing a role of an accessory can be exposed to
the outside of the double instep cover 21 according to the taste of
a user.
[0077] As shown in FIG. 5, a case type string end fixture 28 can be
used as the adjuster 25 which is presented as an alternative of the
lower string end knot 18. That is, the pulling string annular
portions 19a and 19b are formed at the uppermost eyelets, and the
strings 17a and 17b having passed through the fifth eyelets 15a and
15b via the third eyelets 13a and 13b towards the bottom of the
lowermost eyelets are laterally connected and directly fixed to the
fixing case without forming the knot 18. The fixture 28 includes
pressers 29a and 29b fixing the ends of the string 17 and locking
units 41a and 41b which can open and close the lid of the case, as
shown in FIG. 6. A space receiving a part of the string 17 is
provided in the inside of the case. Protrusions 42 are provided in
both the ends of the outside of the case, which control movement of
the fixture 28 positioned between the instep strands at the fifth
eyelet 15a and 15b. That is, when pulling the string annular
portions 19a and 19b from the top, the fixture 28 moves to the left
and right according to the balance of the power, to thus prevent
the fixture 28 from being pushed into the inside of the instep
strands. Moreover, at least one character and at least one motif or
pattern can be put on the outer surface of the fixture case. It is
possible to bring an effect which emphasizes simplicity on a wearer
and control the length of the string 17 at least.
[0078] The conventional footwear of rapidly tying a string shown in
FIG. 20, has a problem that the latches 10a which are located in
the upper portions of the left and right sides of the footwear are
exposed to thus cause the danger of damage and injury.
[0079] The use of the hooks formed on the latch 10a and the ring
portions located at the end of the fastening ring in the fastening
unit according to the present invention may be oppositely modified
into a cover type fastening locker 43 to avoid the danger of damage
and injury. The fastening units shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C include a
fastening locker 43 and a fastening plate 48, respectively. The
fastening locker 43 includes a detachable ring 47, an expansion
band 46, and a handle 44. The detachable ring 47 is formed of a
curved surface so that a string can smoothly flow back and forth.
Vanes are formed on the side of the detachable ring 47 so as to be
easily fitted into the pulling string annular portions 19a and 19b.
Simultaneously, as shown in FIG. 7B, two or more detachable rings
47a and 47b having vanes which can allow the string to come in and
out to adjust the length of the pulling string annular portions can
be attached to the fastening locker 43. A fitting nail 45 is
installed at the center of the handle 44 connected with the
expansion band 46. The fastening plate 48 which is paired with the
fastening locker 43 has a linear body on which a plurality of
fitting holes 49 are bent and cut. The fitting holes 49 have a tilt
angle of 45.degree. so that the fitted nail 45 would not be easily
pulled out.
[0080] In the fastening unit, a wearer pulls the pulling string
annular portions 19a and 19b in order to put on a footwear and
tightens the string 17 appropriately, and fits the fastening locker
43 into the fitting holes 49 of the fastening plate 48. In this
case, the fastening locker 43 can be selectively fitted into the
plurality of the bent fitting holes 49. Here, the fastening locker
43 is fastened over the fastening plate 48 while covering the
fastening plate 48, to thereby protect the protruded fastening
plate 48. However, the above-described fastening unit may cause a
burden to persons who make intense exercises. An instep strap cover
50 is provided as a protection unit for protecting the fastening
unit as shown in FIG. 8, to thereby cover the whole fastening unit
exposed to the footwear side.
[0081] The width range using the instep strap cover 50 is from the
side portion of the upper eyelet to the upper portion of the heel
of the footwear. A sufficient space is provided in the longitudinal
up-and-down portion from the end of the upper instep strand of the
footwear side portion to the bottom of the fastening unit. Here,
the instep strap cover 50 and the end of the instep strand of the
footwear side are integrally connected with each other. An
elasticity board 50a which is a little bit longer than the
horizontal length of the instep strap cover 50 is built in the
inside of the fastening unit. The embedded elasticity board 50a is
longer than the width of the instep strand cover 50 and thus
inserted into the inside thereof in a bent or curved state 50b or
50c. When the instep strap cover 50 is pulled up toward the upper
portion 50b or is covered downwards at the lower portion 50c, the
elasticity board 50a is bent to play a role of a spring, so that
the instep strap cover is rigidly opened and closed. A groove is
formed in the footwear lateral portion where the instep strap cover
50 is positioned to thereby give amore gap. The instep strap cover
50 perfectly protects the fastening unit.
[0082] FIGS. 9 through 11 shows a footwear according to a second
embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the
fastening mechanism and the structure of the string is the same as
those of the first embodiment of the present invention. Here, the
pulling string annular portions 39a and 39b are formed on the
footwear top, and ends of the string 37 passing through the fifth
eyelets 35a and 35b from the upper end via the intermediate eyelets
33a and 33b so as to be crossed in an X-shape are made to be formed
into the string end knot 18 or are fixed by means of an adjuster or
a fixture. However, the footwear does not have any knot 18 in the
lower portion of the footwear, as shown in FIG. 9.
[0083] In view of requiring for simplicity, as shown in FIG. 9,
both string ends 37a and 37b which pass through the eyelets 35a and
35b, respectively are not connected laterally and are fixed on the
inside of the instep strand of the footwear of an eyelet tap by
means of a sewing machine. Both the string ends 37a and 37b sewed
in the inside of the instep strand are fastened with the fastening
plate 73 in which a wearer pulls the string ends 37a and 37b from
the top to be crossed with the annular portions 39a and 39b, and
thus the string ends 37a and 37b are tensely pulled by the pulling
force from the top. This results in that the instep strand portion
of the fifth eyelets 35a and 35b from the top are pulled inwards
facing each other, so that the instep strand of the instep portion
does not become open. In other words, the left pulling string
annular portion 39a makes the string 37a hung up with the fifth
eyelet 35a from the top pulled inside. Simultaneously, the right
pulling string annular portion 39b makes the string 37b hung up
with the fifth eyelet 35b from the top via the intermediate eyelet
33a pulled inside. As a result, the strings 37a and 37b are
tightened so that the eyelet taps 35a and 35b face each other, and
thus fastened without the protection of the laterally connected
string to accordingly show an identical form by appearance of the
footwear of the first embodiment.
[0084] The laterally connected string in the conventional footwear
gives an oppressive sensation to the instep since the instep does
not become well open by the tension of the string. That is, since a
wearer bends repeatedly the instep when he or she makes an
exercise, the oppressive sensations applied to the instep whenever
the instep is bent may give a pain to the wearer. Thus, the wearer
may make the string a little bit loose to try to avoid the
oppressive sensation. In this case, the loosely fastened footwear
causes the lowering of the exercise efficiency and gives
inconveniences to the wearer.
[0085] Meanwhile, in the case that the laterally connected string
does not exist, there is no tension by a string when the instep is
bent. Accordingly, the instep strand portions become open flexibly,
thereby providing the comfortable footwear in which a functionality
is improved. The expansion band 71 of FIG. 13 continuously pulls
the lower edge strings 37a and 37b from the upper portion and thus
the eyelet tap 35a and 35b of the instep do not become open more
than the need or greater.
[0086] Moreover, the string of the above-described footwear is
fastened using the footwear in which the six eyelets are
respectively punched in the left and right instep strands of the
footwear around the instep cover. However, the number of the
eyelets punched in the left and right instep strands of the
footwear is determined according to various kinds of uses. The
string of the footwear is fastened using the footwear in which a
plurality of eyelets from two are punched.
[0087] That is, an installation and fastening of a string are
possible in the footwear needing a plurality of eyelets having the
complicated structure of ten units or greater from the simple
footwear having the left and right two eyelets, or in the footwear
having a long neck. Here, the string installation method is
identical irrespective of when the number of the left and right
eyelets of the footwear is the odd number or even number.
[0088] Even with the effect described above, as shown in FIG. 9,
the end portions 37a and 37b of the inside of the instep strand of
the footwear can be protected by a string fixing eyelet 61 of FIG.
10A. The string fixing eyelet 61 is located between the fifth
eyelets 35a and 35b from the top and the fourth eyelets. Two string
fitting holes 62a and 62b are punched in the string fixing eyelet
61 in the lower direction of the footwear with approximately a tilt
angle of 30.degree..
[0089] As shown in FIG. 10B, the string ends 37a and 37b having
passed through the fifth eyelets 35a and 35b in the double eyelet
61 are fitted into burn of the first hole 62a in the double eyelet,
and are again continuously inserted into the second hole 62b, so as
to be put in or pulled into the inside of the instep strand of the
footwear to be safely loaded. In this procedure, The holes 62a and
62b of the double eyelet 61 have a tilt angle and create pressure
against the power of the string pulled out from the top, to then be
rigidly fixed. The string fixing double eyelet 61 plays a role of
fixing of the string as well as adjusting the whole length of the
footwear string 37.
[0090] FIG. 11 shows a footwear to which protruded eyelets are
adhered without punching the eyelets in both instep strands of the
footwear. Under the environment which needs to protect the foot
more strongly, the thicker footwear should be required and the
eyelets have to be strong and firm.
[0091] As shown in FIG. 12, the string fixing eyelet 63 has a
structure that a little bit wide hole 64 is formed in a body so
that two strands of footwear strings 37 can come in and out. Here,
the middle portion of the hole 64 becomes narrow. Moreover, an
internally inserted pin 65 with a handle is provided at the
entrance of the hole 64 in order to fix the string, and is formed
of a hole through which the string can be fitted.
[0092] The string 37 forming the annular portions at the top of the
footwear finally passes through the fifth eyelet 35a and 35b from
the top, that is, the string fixing eyelet 63. The string ends 37a
and 37b having passed through the string fixing eyelet 63 are
inserted into the hole 66 of the internally inserted pin 65, to
then be inserted again into the string fixing eyelet 63. The string
ends 37a and 37b are inserted into the eyelet 67 punched in the
instep strand which is located just above the eyelet 63. Here, when
the two strands of the strings 37 having passed through the string
fixing eyelet 63 is pulled, the internally inserted pin 65 through
which the string has been passed is rigidly fitted into the wide
hole 64 of the string fixing eyelet 63 like a wedge, and is
adamantly positioned even in the action of any power without having
a mobility. In the case that the length of the string 37 need to be
controlled, the handle of the internally inserted pin 65 is pulled.
In this case, the string 37 can be easily seceded from the string
fixing eyelet 63 to thereby adjust the length of the string 37.
[0093] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a fastening unit where a guard
is installed is needed as a protection unit for protecting a
fastening plate 73 protruded in the upper end of the left and right
ankle of the footwear according to the second embodiment of the
present invention. On the fastening plates 73 respectively
positioned in the upper ends of the left and right sides of the
footwear are installed guards 76a and 76b top and bottom. A fitting
plate 75 in which a plurality of fitting grooves 74 are formed is
positioned at the center between the guards. The projection height
of the central fitting plate 75 and the guards 76a and 76b are
substantially same. When central fitting plate 75 and the guards
76a and 76b are adhered to the footwear, the guards 76a and 76b are
covered with the instep strand and thus the heights of the guards
76a and 76b are higher than that of the central fitting plate 75 by
thickness of the instep strand. Accordingly, the fastening unit is
safely protected from the external impact. Here, the fastening
locker 68 which is paired with the fastening plate 73 includes a
ring 71 with which the string can be connected, an expansion band
71, and a handle in which a hook 69 which is bent in the form of a
U-shape is adhered. In the fastening unit, even if a wearer uses
the fastening unit under the stringent condition, the fastening
plate is protected by the guards 76a and 76b from the external
impact, and thus the wearer can use the footwear with the sense of
safety and security.
[0094] FIGS. 15 to 19A showing a method of rapidly tying a string
and a structure of the footwear according to a third embodiment of
the present invention. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15,
first through sixth eyelets 51a-56b are formed in both instep
strands of the footwear from above to below. The two strands of
strings 57 and 58 are fitted into the eyelets starting from the
lowermost eyelet to the uppermost eyelet in every other eyelet
crossways, to thus form the pulling string annular portions 59a and
59b.
[0095] This third embodiment helps comprehending a principle of a
method of tying the strings according to the present invention. Two
strands of the strings 57 and 58 are fitted into the eyelets which
are located on the left and right instep strands. Here, one strand
57 passes through only even-numbered eyelets 54a, 54b, 52a and 52b
starting from the sixth eyelets 56a and 56b and the other strand 58
passes through only odd-numbered eyelets 53a, 53b, 51a and 51b
starting from the fifth eyelets 55a and 55b. Two strands of the
strings 57 and 58 passing through the eyelets 51a and 52a on the
same line as that of the left instep strand and two strands of the
strings 57 and 58 passing through the eyelets 51b and 52b on the
same line as that of the right instep strand, are internally
inserted into the connection pins 60a and 60b, respectively and
then compressed, to thereby form the pair of left and right pulling
string annular portions 59a and 59b. The connection pin 60 is
divided into two compression portions 80a and 80b, and the two
compression portions 80a and 80b are connected with each other via
a flexible band 80c.
[0096] As described above, except for the location of the string
end knot, the third embodiment is same as those of the
above-described first and second embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and
9. In other words, the lower knot 18 is moved to the connection
pins 60a and 60b of the end of the upper annular portions 59a and
59b, and thus provides a simplicity of the structure of no need to
control the knot 18.
[0097] As described above, the third embodiment has no string
length adjustment unit which can control the footwear whole binding
state of the footwear through the string end knot 18 at the lower
portion of the footwear. Nevertheless, a minimum string length
adjustment unit is required for at the binding states which are
respectively appropriate according to the thicknesses of the
insteps of wearers. The string length of the appropriate binding
state, becomes different according to the size of the instep of the
wearer, in which the length difference is slight.
[0098] That is, the footwear string fastening length depends on the
lengths of the pulling string annular portions 59a and 59b
connected in the footwear side. Two strands of strings 57 and 58
are overlapped in the pulling string annular portions 59a and 59b.
Here, the annular portion of 1 cm corresponds to two strands of
string of 1 cm. Accordingly, if the two annular portions are
fastened by 1 cm at the fastening plates 86 which are located in
the left and right sides of the footwear, the total length of the
string is controlled as much as 4 cm. In view of the size of the
instep, the string length of 4 cm becomes a considerable adjustment
length. Accordingly, if the fastening plate 86 is prolonged a bit
to the width, to thus widely select the fastening locker 81, it is
possible to fasten the string without the need to control the
string length at the lower portion of the footwear.
[0099] As shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, a fastening plate 86 and a
fastening locker 81 are necessary to satisfy the above-described
adjustment unit. The fastening unit having a pair of the fastening
plate 86 and fastening locker 81c includes locking pieces 82 and 87
which are protruded with an inclination to the opposite direction
to each other and Velcro 83 and 88 formed in the neighborhood of
the locking pieces 82 and 87. A plurality of locking pieces 87 are
protruded with an inclination in the form of a curved surface
toward the rear portion of the heel of the foot transversely and
lengthily at the center portion of the fastening plate 86. The
Velcro 88 is sewed on top and bottom of the locker surface. Here,
the fastening locker 81 which is paired with the fastening plate 86
includes: a ring 85 through which the pulling string annular
portions 59a and 59b are surrounded and into which the pulling
string annular portions 59a and 59b are fitted so that the pulling
string annular portions 59a and 59b can move; an expansion band 84
which is integrally connected to one end of the ring 85 to maintain
the tensile force of the string elastically; and a handle which is
connected to the other end of the expansion band 84, in which the
handle includes a protruded locking piece 82 which can engage with
the locking piece 87 of the fastening plate 86 in the opposite
direction, and Velcro 83 which freely sticks to the upper and lower
portion of the handle.
[0100] A wearer pulls the pulling string annular portions 59a and
59b in order to put on a footwear to then attempt a fastening
operation so that the footwear is crossed in the left and right
sides of the footwear. Here, the fastening unit is a binder which
can selectively bind the fastening locker 81 with a little wide
fastening plate 86. The double fastening unit made of Velcro 83 and
88 can freely fasten the string. Here, the fastening locker 81 is
possibly broken away from the fastening plate 86 by the power which
is pulled out when bending the instep of the foot. To prevent this
problem, the locking pieces 82 and 87 are provided to be
transversely in gear with the center of the fastening unit. In this
way, the fastening unit is duplex to thereby obtain a more strong
fastening force.
[0101] Here, the present invention provides a method of easily
fastening a string in view of requiring a further simplicity. FIG.
18 shows a footwear which can be fastened by pulling a string of
the footwear with one hand. The fastening unit positioned at the
upper end of the footwear neck is configured into an integrated
form. If a handle is pulled and rotated by 180.degree., to then be
combined with a snap fastener which is positioned at both instep
strands, a fastening work is finished. An integrated type fastening
unit 91 includes: a body in which two tunnel portions 92a and 92b
are formed; and snap fasteners 93a and 93b which are adhered to the
end portion having a little marginal portion beside both the
lateral sides of the two tunnel portions. An interval between the
two tunnel portions 92a and 92b is identical with the interval
between the uppermost eyelets 51a and 51b which are located in the
instep strands of the left and right sides of the instep at the
state where the footwear has been fastened. The linear type elastic
band which is a little bit bent inwards is built in the central
portion of the fastening unit.
[0102] The left pulling string annular portion 59a passes through
the left tunnel portion 92a of the integrated fastening unit, and
the right pulling string annular portion 59b passes through the
right tunnel portion 92b thereof. When the fastening unit at this
state is pulled upwards, in order to put on the footwear, the two
pulling string annular portions 59a and 59b having passed through
the left and right tunnel portions are pulled simultaneously and
the four strands of the strings are uniformly tightened.
Subsequently, the pulled integrated fastening unit 91 is rotated by
180.degree., the left side the pulling string annular portion 59a
is located above the right upper eyelet 51b, and the right side the
pulling string annular portion 59b is located above the left upper
eyelet 51a. Accordingly, the third embodiment shows the same
tightening state as those of the cases using the fastening locker
in the first and second embodiments. Finally, when the footwear
buttons 93a and 93b which are in both ends of the integrated
fastening unit 91 are fitted into buttons 94b and 94a which are in
the upper eyelet portion of the instep strand of the footwear, the
fastening work for the footwear is completed.
[0103] In the fastening process, snap fasteners 93a, 93b, 94a and
94b are made of emboss type magnets. Accordingly, the snap
fasteners 93a, 93b, 94a and 94b are attracted with each other by
the magnetic force when they are in the neighborhood thereof. The
elastic band which is built transversely and lengthily in the
central portion of the integrated fastening unit 91 is bent inwards
like a spring of an automobile car. Accordingly, the elastic band
provides a flexibility which bends or spreads out the pulling of
the string which is tightened when the instep is bent, and thus
plays a role of an expansion band of the fastening locker. All the
processes like this can be fastened with one hand to thereby
provide a little more improved aspect of the fastening unit. That
is, the present invention provides for conveniences that the kids
or the disabled can also manipulate the fastening unit with one
hand, and provides a simplicity that there is no need of the
fastening plate which are located in the left and right sides of
the footwear.
[0104] The third embodiment shows the footwear and the fastening
unit for fastening or tying the footwear most simply. FIGS. 17A and
17B show the fastening unit whose selection can be freely
performed. The integrated fastening unit of FIG. 18 can be easily
pulled by one hand and fastened by the old and the weak, or the
kids, to thereby provide convenience. Additionally, the pulling
string tightening mechanism 9 proposed in the Korean Patent
Registration No. 0445965 entitled "Footwear for rapidly tying a
string" to the same applicant as that of the present invention,
which is an alternative for substituting for the ribbon type knot
of the conventional footwear as shown in FIG. 23, can be applied in
the present invention, irrespective of the long or short pulling
string annular portions 9a and 9b.
[0105] Among the various kinds of the fastening methods as
described above, the fastening locker, the integrated fastening
unit 91, or the pulling string tightening mechanism 9 can be
selectively used according to the tastes of wearers. When replacing
the fastening unit according to a situation, it may be convenient
to provide the footwear with a place keeping the accessories which
has been replaced. The fastening unit keeping bag is provided at
the upper end of the instep cover 95 as shown in FIG. 19A, in which
the keeping bag is comprised of a pocket 96 and a cover 97. The
cover is designed to be slightly longer downwards than the pocket,
to thereby safely cover the pocket.
[0106] In use, the cover 97 is slightly pushed up above the instep
cover 95, so that the content is kept in the keeping bag. Then, the
pocket 96 is covered again by the cover 97, and thus the content is
not exposed nor seceded. When a wearer replaces the fastening unit
according to a need, the contents can be immediately kept in the
keeping bag and used with convenience without the concern of losing
the contents.
[0107] The pulling string tightening mechanism 9 shown in FIG. 23
can be applied in the present invention, to fasten and tighten the
string irrespective of the long or short pulling string annular
portions 9a and 9b. However, when the fastened string is untied in
order to take off the footwear at the state where the footwear
string has been fastened and tightened in the case of the pulling
string tightening mechanism 9, the pulling string annular portions
9a and 9b may be completely dismantled from the pulling string
tightening mechanism 9. A connecting belt 9e for anti-secession in
the pulling string tightening mechanism 9 which plays a role of a
fastener is connected with the footwear. However, it is possible to
achieve an anti-secession only when the lengths of the pulling
string annular portions are in the appropriate range, but it is not
possible to achieve an anti-secession when the lengths of the
pulling string annular portions 9a and 9b are short. Moreover, if
the connection belt 9e is short, the left and right instep strands
of the footwear do not become open sufficiently when taking off the
footwear, to thereby cause inconveniences to the wearer.
[0108] As an alternative, anti-secession rings 9c and 9d are
adhered to the ends of the pulling string annular portion 9a and
9b. The anti-secession rings 9c and 9d are plastic rings which are
wound in a circle like a spring. The roundly wound plastic rings
are spread out and then the spread-out rings are fitted into the
string. Then, the plastic rings return to the original shaped rings
to surround the string. The rings located around the string is
larger in volume than the string hole of the pulling string
tightening mechanism 9, to thereby perfectly prevent the secession
of the pulling string annular portions 9a and 9b from the pulling
string tightening mechanism 9 playing a role of a fastener.
[0109] As described above, the present invention has been described
with respect to the particularly preferred embodiments. However,
the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and
it is possible for one who has an ordinary skill in the art to make
various modifications and variations, without departing off the
spirit of the present invention. Thus, the protective scope of the
present invention is not defined within the detailed description
thereof but is defined by the claims to be described later and the
technical spirit of the present invention.
[0110] As described above, the present invention supplements
several defective points of the technical teachings proposed in the
Korean Patent Registration No. 0445965 entitled "Footwear for
rapidly tying a string" to the same applicant as that of the
present invention. In the footwear of the present invention, the
double instep cover which is attached on the instep of the footwear
makes the exposed string end knot positioned in the intermediate
layer to thus make the footwear according to the present invention
identically appeared in the same appearance as that of the
conventional footwear. The adjuster or the fixture rapidly controls
the total length of the strings. The cover type fastening locker or
the guards, and the instep strap cover perfectly protect the
fastening locker located in the lateral side of the footwear which
raised the problem, to thereby protect the footwear from being
damaged or the ankle of the wearer from being hurt.
[0111] Moreover, the string installation method in which the string
end knot is not formed, but the string end is adhered to the inside
of the footwear instep strand, provides the simplicity and
flexibility in wearing the footwear. The upper double fastening
unit widens the selection of a fastening work. The integrated
fastening unit provides an easy method of allowing the disabled to
fasten it with one hand. A wearer can use the footwear a little
more safely and conveniently with the fastening unit which is
improved in various forms.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0112] As described above, the present invention provides a device
for and method of rapidly tying a shoelace of a footwear in which a
pair of pulling string annular portions are provided in both left
and right upper ends of the neck of the footwear, and binders for
binding the pair of the pulling string annular portions,
respectively, to thereby enable a user to pull or release the pair
of the pulling string annular portions to be bound on the binders
one time in order to put on or take off the footwear
conveniently.
* * * * *