U.S. patent application number 12/450915 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-13 for lace fastener.
Invention is credited to Yew Jin Fong.
Application Number | 20100115744 12/450915 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39925094 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100115744 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fong; Yew Jin |
May 13, 2010 |
LACE FASTENER
Abstract
The present invention is a lace fastening device that can be
attached to items requiring the use of laces that firmly ties the
laces of the said item. The fastening device comprises; a housing
base (3), a gripping plate (1); a central aperture (3A), into which
both free ends of the lace are threaded to penetrate through; a gap
spacer (2) (optional); a safety strap (7); and a pair of lace clips
(4) that retains the free ends of the lace. The gripping plate (1)
having serrations (1A) allows for sliding the lace when the lace is
pulled along the lateral slots and, prevents the lace from sliding
back towards the central aperture (3A) when the lace is released.
Therefore, the device gives the user greater ease, speed and
convenience in fastening and undoing laces on the said items.
Inventors: |
Fong; Yew Jin; (Victoria,
AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Fong Yew Jin
3/270 Burnley Street
Richmond, Victoria
3121
AU
|
Family ID: |
39925094 |
Appl. No.: |
12/450915 |
Filed: |
April 22, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
April 22, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU2008/000562 |
371 Date: |
October 19, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/712.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C 7/00 20130101; A43C
1/00 20130101; A43C 1/04 20130101; Y10T 24/3703 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/712.1 |
International
Class: |
A43C 7/00 20060101
A43C007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 26, 2007 |
AU |
2007902203 |
Jul 20, 2007 |
AU |
2007203390 |
Sep 25, 2009 |
AU |
2009222421 |
Claims
1. A knotless lace-fastening device or the like, comprising; a
gripping plate, having serrations with high friction surfaces to
secure free movement of the lace when released after being pulled
for tightening; a gap spacer, which is optional for use with
thicker lace; a housing base, into which both free ends of the lace
are threaded to penetrate through the central aperture and plate
aperture; a pair of lace-clip device, for retaining the free ends
of the lace after tightening the lace to the footwear or the said
items; screws, for securing the gripping plate and the gap spacer
to the housing base; a strap chain; and a safety strap, which is
used to restrict the free rotation of the fastening device, while
securing it to the footwear or the said items.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the material of the
said present invention can be of plastic, wood or metal.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said housing base has a
central aperture for both free ends of the lace to be threaded
through.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the lace when pulled
after both it's free ends have been threaded through said central
aperture; slides through the lace passage define by the spacing in
between the gripping plate and the housing base.
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said gripping plate has
angled serrations on one surface for gripping the lace into a lock
position.
6. The device according to claim 4, wherein said lace passage can
be widen with the option of including the said gap spacer when a
thicker lace is being used with the present invention.
7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a safety
strap, which attached the housing base to the footwear or the said
items.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said lace-clip device
comprising a head and a base, is use for clipping the free ends of
the lace after fastening the present invention to the said
items.
9. The device according to claim 8, further comprising a ridge
moulded below the head and a pair of tooth moulded on top of the
base, which restrain the free ends of the lace from involuntarily
release from the slit between the head and base.
10. The device according to claim 8 and claim 9, further comprising
three apertures for sewing at each corner of the base, and an
aperture groove formed into the head.
11. The device according to claim 8 to claim 10, wherein the pair
of said lace-clip device are attached to the said items by means of
sewing or gluing or both and are separate from the fastening
device.
12. A lace fastener substantially as herein described with
reference to FIGS. 1 to 23 of the accompanying drawings.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to lace fastening devices, and
more particularly to a knotless lace-fastening device, which is
attached to a lace so as to firmly maintain the tied state of the
lace on items such as footwear, bags, garments, packages, sports
equipment, etc.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] For the purpose of explaining the lace fastening device in
accordance with the present invention and not limiting the scope of
the present invention, an ideal example will be a footwear using
lace.
[0003] Generally, most footwear, which uses lace, threaded through
eyelets of a footwear, are designed to enable a wearer to adjust
the lace to a tightening degree that retain the footwear in place
on the feet of the wearer.
[0004] However, the shoelace-type footwear has several
disadvantages for people with learning disabilities or physical
disabilities, such as, arthritis or difficulty tying or untying the
shoelace whenever putting on or taking off the footwear, which are
commonly experience by young children and the elderly. There are
also the possibilities of tripping caused by the shoelace becoming
inadvertently loosened and untied while walking.
[0005] Various related devices have come into the market to address
this problem. However, most devices do not conveniently allow for
easy adjustment of the shoelaces of the footwear to be tightened or
loosened, as well as, the inconvenience of the footwear to
gradually loosen while walking. There are also devices having
multiple parts, which are not user friendly, as well as, the high
manufacturing costs and relatively poor durability. While fasteners
made of VELCRO have the disadvantages of its weak gripping
capability and strength that further decline after repeated usage
and laundering.
[0006] Therefore, in view of the inconvenience of tying a shoelace,
it would be desirable to have an inexpensive, durable, user
friendly and easy to use device for tightening and loosening
laces.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0007] Therefore, the present invention has been designed to
resolve the above-mentioned problems, and it is a product that
functions as a lace fastening device which can easily accommodate
any type of lace, be it thick or thin, round or flat. At the same
time the present invention enables the lace to be easily and
rapidly fasten and unfasten when putting on and taking off one's
footwear.
[0008] The present invention aims to prevent a lace from becoming
inadvertently loosened and untied while being fasten to the
footwear. It also enables both hanging ends of the lace to be
secured after fastening and neatly clipped.
[0009] In relation with the present invention, the suitable form of
releasable and fastening means can be accomplished by the provision
of a lace fastening devise comprising: a housing (consist of the
gripping plate attached to the housing base) having an aperture
into which both free ends of the lace are threaded to penetrate
through, a gap spacer (optional), a safety strap that also
stabilises the housing, and a pair of lace clips to retain the free
ends of the lace. The housing in which both free ends of the lace,
penetrating through the lace aperture, is pulled to tighten the
footwear, has lateral slots acting as guide members for the lace
with one side of the gripping plate surface having serrations with
low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace when the
lace is pulled within the lateral slots, whereas, when the lace is
released after being pulled, the serrations, which are designed to
give a high friction grip, prevent the lace from sliding back
towards the central aperture, which is justified by the alignment
of the plate aperture and central aperture.
[0010] Preferably, the pair of lateral slots that also function as
lace passages to be obliquely designed as a space defined between
an upper surface and a lower surface of the housing, respectively,
the inclined serrations may be obliquely positioned as the upper
surface, while the smooth lower surface is positioned horizontally
flat, thereby causing the lateral slots to be narrow inwardly or
wider outwardly, forcing the lace to move inward to the narrower
space and being secured by the gripping actions of the serrations
after tightening the lace onto the footwear.
[0011] Preferably, the safety leash may be made out of fabric,
which is adjustable, attachable and detachable to the housing and
the footwear, that include a metal chain at one end of the
leash.
[0012] Preferably, the lace-fastening device may further comprise a
pair of lace clips to be use with the housing, which both hanging
ends of the lace are fitted and secured. The lace clips may be
mounted on the footwear or the said items by means of sewing or
gluing or both. The lace clips may have a hole on each three ends
of its base to allow for sewing means.
[0013] This invention may further provide an effective and
convenient alternative to known devices for fastening laces or the
like on footwear, bags, garments, packages, sports equipment, etc.
The present invention, comprising of three triangular durable
members, which consist of; a housing as the main component for
fastening and releasing of lace; a pair of lace clips as
sub-components, will function as clips for attaching the loose ends
of the lace to the footwear or said items. The housing will be
attached to the footwear via a safety leash as illustrated in FIG.
3 and FIG. 4. While the pair of lace clips made out of durable
plastic will be attached to the footwear or said items by means of
sewing or gluing or both methods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] The following drawings with the accompanying detailed
descriptions will further clarify the practicality of the above and
other objects, features and other advantages of the present
inventions:
[0015] FIG. 1 Shows an exploded axonometric view of the
lace-fastening device, incorporating all the component parts of the
present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 Shows an axonometric view illustrating the
lace-fastening device in FIG. 1 with all the component parts
completely assembled in the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 3 Is a perspective view illustrating a state wherein
the lace-fastening device shown in FIG. 2 is installed on to a
user's footwear in an unlocked position.
[0018] FIG. 4 Is a perspective view of the lace-fastening device
shown in FIG. 2 which is installed on to a user's footwear in a
tightened and locked position.
[0019] FIG. 5 Is an axonometric view illustrating the sequence of
steps in tightening the lace-fastening device onto the
footwear.
[0020] FIG. 6 Is an axonometric view illustrating the sequence of
steps in loosening and releasing the lace-fastening device from the
footwear.
[0021] FIG. 7 Is a top plan view illustrating the lace-fastening
device shown in FIG. 1, in a state wherein the adjustable safety
strap (7), strap chain (6) and lace-clip device (4) are
omitted.
[0022] FIG. 8 Illustrates the bottom plan view of FIG. 7.
[0023] FIG. 9 Illustrates the right elevation view as shown in FIG.
7 or as the left elevation view in FIG. 8, which includes all
component parts of the invention except for the gap spacer (2),
safety strap (7), strap chain (6) and lace-clip device (4).
[0024] FIG. 10 Illustrates the left elevation view as shown in FIG.
7 or as the right elevation view in FIG. 8, which excludes the gap
spacer (2).
[0025] FIG. 11 Illustrates the front elevation view as referred to
in FIG. 7 and in FIG. 8, which excludes the gap spacer (2).
[0026] FIG. 12 Illustrates the rear elevation view as referred to
in FIG. 7 and in FIG. 8, which excludes the gap spacer (2).
[0027] FIG. 13 Is a cross-section view of the component parts of
FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, showing the plate aperture (1B), the central
aperture (3A), the gripping plate (1), the housing base (3), the
strap chain aperture (3D), the serration member (1A), and the chain
groove (3B).
[0028] FIG. 14 Is a cross-section view of the component parts of
FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, showing the plate aperture (1B), the central
aperture (3A), the gripping plate (1), the housing base (3), and
the serration member (1A).
[0029] FIG. 15 Illustrates the bottom plan view of the gripping
plate (1), which consists of the serrations (1A), the plate
aperture (1B), the screw aperture (1C), and the plate slit
(1D).
[0030] FIG. 16 Illustrates the top plan view of the lace-clip
device (4) in FIG. 1, whereby the aperture for sewing (4A), the
tooth (4B), the base (4E), and the head (4F) are visible.
[0031] FIG. 17 Illustrates the bottom plan view of the lace-clip
device (4) in FIG. 16, whereby the aperture for sewing (4A) and the
base (4E) are visible.
[0032] FIG. 18 Illustrates the rear elevation view of the lace-clip
device (4), as referred to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, which shows the
aperture groove (4D), base (4E), and head (4F).
[0033] FIG. 19 Illustrates the front elevation view of the
lace-clip device (4), as referred to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, which
shows the ridge (4C), tooth (4B), base (4E), and head (4F).
[0034] FIG. 20 Illustrates the left elevation view of the lace-clip
device (4), as referred to FIG. 16, which shows the ridge (4C),
tooth (4B), base (4E), and head (4F).
[0035] FIG. 21 Illustrates the right elevation view of the
lace-clip device (4), which is symmetrical to FIG. 20.
[0036] FIG. 22 Is a cross-section view of the lace-clip device (4),
as referred to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, showing the ridge (4C), base
(4E), and head (4F).
[0037] FIG. 23 Is a cross-section view of the lace-clip device (4),
as referred to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, showing the aperture for sewing
(4A), tooth (4B), ridge (4C), aperture groove (4D), base (4E), and
head (4F).
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0038] To best describe the invention and its component parts,
reference to examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying
drawings will now be made in detail. Application of the same
reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the
description to refer to the same or like parts. The specification
and drawings are, accordingly, intended to be illustrative rather
than restrictive to the scope of the present invention, and limited
only by the appended claims. The lace fastening device in
accordance to the present invention will be explained with
reference to FIGS. 1 to 23.
[0039] The lace fastening device, which comprises of the following
enumerate components; gripping plate (1), gap spacer (2), housing
base (3), lace-clip device (4), screw (5), strap chain (6) and
safety strap (7).
[0040] Shown in FIG. 1 is the exploded axonometric view of the
present invention that illustrates the assembly of the lace
fastening device. In the assembly process of the lace fastening
device, which comprises of the gripping plate (1) and the optional
gap spacer (2) that are fixed to the housing base (3) by means of
using two screws (5) that complete the main housing. Consequently,
this method of assembly allows the user to have the option of
customising the colour of the gripping plate (1), gap spacer (2),
and housing base (3) to his or her own preference based on the
availability of the parts concern in the market. The installation
of the gap spacer (2) is optional for a thicker lace that can be
use with the present invention.
[0041] Although the housing base (3) and the lace-clip device (4)
has a triangular plan shape in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to
23, one of the ordinary skill will recognise that it is not limited
to any specific shape or size that could be used without departing
from the scope of the invention and the incorporation of other
components of the device.
[0042] In the component parts of FIG. 2 and FIGS. 9 to 15, the lace
passages are defined by the gap between the gripping plate (1) and
the housing base (3). The gripping plate (1) which has the incline
serration members (1A), as illustrated in FIG. 15, which also
function as locking teeth, are obliquely positioned as the upper
surface, while the housing base (3), which function as a
horizontally flat smooth lower surface, causes the lace passages to
be narrow inwardly or wider outwardly. The gap spacer (2) is only
incorporated in the device between the gripping plate (1) and the
housing base (3) if the need to increase the gap of the lace
passages arises, such as the use of a thicker lace.
[0043] In restricting the movement of the housing base (3) and the
attached gripping plate (1) from rotating either to the left or to
the right, while the lace (9) is being pulled to tighten the lace
fastening device to the footwear (8), the safety strap (7) which is
detachable from the footwear, is secured to the housing base (3)
and the footwear (8) (refer to FIGS. 1 to 4). Preferably the shape
of the plate aperture (1B) and the central aperture (3A) to be oval
as this will also help avoid rotation of the housing base (3) and
the attached gripping plate (1) when the lace (9) is being pulled.
In addition, the safety strap (7) is securely attached to the
footwear (8), by means of the lace (9) being inserted through the
strap loop (7A) before being weaved through the eyelets of the
footwear. The position of the housing can be adjusted by securing
the safety strap to the other row of lace on the footwear. The
safety strap (7) comprises of a strap chain (6) that is locked at
the strap chain aperture (3D) of the housing base (3). The lace
fastening device is therefore securely attached to the footwear
while still maintaining the flexibility of the device to move
upwards, when footwear is loosen or downwards when footwear is
tighten.
[0044] Considering that once the lace have been tighten, both free
hanging ends would need to be secured to the footwear. Therefore, a
pair of lace-clip device (4) is to be used as part of the lace
fastening device. As illustrated in FIGS. 16 to 23, the lace-clip
device (4), which comprises of three aperture for sewing (4A),
tooth (4B), ridge (4C), aperture groove (4D), base (4E), and head
(4F), is glued and sewn through the aperture for sewing (4A) to the
sides of the footwear, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Shown in
FIG. 4, once inserted into the slit in between the base (4E) and
head (4F) of the lace-clip device (4), the free hanging ends of the
tighten lace are secured by the gripping force of the tooth (4B)
and the ridge (4C).
[0045] FIG. 5 illustrates the sequence of steps for fastening the
device as follows: [0046] 1. The two loose ends of the lace are
threaded through the central aperture (3A) and the plate aperture
(1B). [0047] 2. The lace is then pulled horizontally above the
gripping plate (1) towards direction A, until reaching the optimal
tightness. [0048] 3. Both ends of the tensioned lace are then
swivel to direction B, while still maintaining the optimal
tightness of the lace. [0049] 4. The lace in tension is then guided
through the cap slit (1D) and is pull towards direction A, through
the lace passage defined by the gap between the gripping plate (1)
and the housing base (3). [0050] 5. Once the two loose ends of the
lace have been pulled to the optimal tightness, they are then
release to allow the serration member (1A) to naturally grip and
secure the tightness of the lace onto the footwear. [0051] 6. The
loose ends of the lace are then retained by the lace-clip device
(4), through insertion in between the ridge (4C) and tooth (4B) of
the head (4F) and base (4E), respectively.
[0052] FIG. 6 illustrates the sequence of steps for loosening the
lace from the device as follows: [0053] 1. The loose ends of the
lace are pulled off from the retaining grip of the lace-clip device
(4). [0054] 2. Both loose ends of the lace are then pulled slightly
towards direction A to release the lace from its current locked
condition. [0055] 3. While still maintaining the tensions of the
lace, both ends of the lace are then swivel towards direction B at
the same time to be parallel to each other. [0056] 4. Once both
ends are align with the plate slit (1D), they are then raise
vertically towards direction C, passing through the plate slit (1D)
and entering the plate aperture (1B). Both free ends of the lace
can now be loosen or taken off from the housing base (3).
[0057] When fastening or loosening the device to or from the
footwear, it is advisable to hold the lace close to the housing
base while pulling or guiding the lace.
[0058] Thus, the lace fastening device which is symmetrical on both
left and right side will be fashionable, user friendly and provide
an even tension when the lace is pulled to tighten. Also the
housing of the present invention can be detached from or attached
to the footwear or said items at the user's preference.
* * * * *