U.S. patent application number 13/469082 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-15 for shoe lace apparatus and locking mechanism.
Invention is credited to Edward Arthur Cox.
Application Number | 20120284976 13/469082 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47140843 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120284976 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cox; Edward Arthur |
November 15, 2012 |
Shoe Lace Apparatus and Locking Mechanism
Abstract
Shoe Laces and locking apparatus for locking laces without
trying the laces, the apparatus including an opening for holding a
lace or laces in a locked configuration. The apparatus may include
a slit for passing a lace into the locking opening.
Inventors: |
Cox; Edward Arthur;
(Temecula, CA) |
Family ID: |
47140843 |
Appl. No.: |
13/469082 |
Filed: |
May 10, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61484223 |
May 10, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
24/712.4 ;
24/712.5; 24/712.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C 7/00 20130101; Y10T
24/3718 20150115; Y10T 24/3713 20150115; Y10T 24/3711 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/712.4 ;
24/712.5; 24/712.7 |
International
Class: |
A43C 7/00 20060101
A43C007/00 |
Claims
1. A shoe lace locking apparatus for a lace having a first lace
envelope in an un-elongated state and a second, smaller envelope in
a second elongated state, including: a substantially front surface;
a substantially rear surface; an opening sized to enable the lace
to slide there-through when the lace is elongated and limit sliding
when the lace is not substantially elongated; and a slit from
extending from the front surface to the rear surface and from the
opening to an edge of apparatus, wherein the apparatus has a
substantially disc-like configuration.
2. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
apparatus is comprised a restorably flexible material.
3. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
apparatus is restorably deflectable to enable the slit to deflect
to permit passage of a lace to the opening and return to a
substantially flat state.
4. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opening
includes a plurality of teeth.
5. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 4, wherein the teeth
are angled so that a lace may slideably move more easily in a first
direction than a second, opposite direction.
6. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 4, wherein the opening
is sized to enable a lace loop to slide there-through when the lace
loop is elongated and limit sliding when the lace loop is not
substantially elongated.
7. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 4, the lace including
one or an aglet or bar at an end and the apparatus including a
recess between the front surface and the rear surface, the recess
sized to compressably hold a lace aglet or bar therein.
8. A shoe lace locking apparatus for a lace having an envelope and
one of an aglet or bar at an end, including: a substantially front
surface; a substantially rear surface; an opening sized to enable
the lace and one of an aglet or bar at an end to slide
there-through; and a plurality of restorably retractable teeth that
extend into the opening, the teeth retractable to enable the lace
and one of an aglet or bar at an end to slide there-through,
wherein the apparatus has a substantially disc-like
configuration.
9. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 8, wherein the
apparatus is comprised a restorably flexible material.
10. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 8, wherein the teeth
are angled so that a lace may slideably move more easily in a first
direction than a second, opposite direction.
11. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 10, wherein the
opening is sized to enable a lace loop to slide there-through.
12. The shoe lace locking apparatus of claim 8, the lace including
one or an aglet or bar at an end and the apparatus including a
recess between the front surface and the rear surface, the recess
sized to compressably hold a lace aglet or bar therein.
13. A shoe closing system including: a lace having a first envelope
in an un-elongated state and a second, smaller envelope in a second
elongated state; and a lace locking apparatus, the apparatus
including: a substantially front surface; a substantially rear
surface; an opening sized to enable the lace to slide there-through
when the lace is elongated and limit sliding when the lace is not
substantially elongated; and a slit from extending from the front
surface to the rear surface and from the opening to an edge of
apparatus, wherein the apparatus has a substantially disc-like
configuration.
14. The shoe closing system of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is
comprised a restorably flexible material.
15. The shoe closing system of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is
restorably deflectable to enable the slit to deflect to permit
passage of a lace to the opening and return to a substantially flat
state.
16. The shoe closing system of claim 13, wherein the opening
includes a plurality of teeth.
17. The shoe closing system of claim 14, wherein the teeth are
angled so that a lace may slideably move more easily in a first
direction than a second, opposite direction.
18. The shoe closing system of claim 14, wherein the opening is
sized to enable a lace loop to slide there-through when the lace
loop is elongated and limit sliding when the lace loop is not
substantially elongated.
19. The shoe closing system of claim 14, the lace including one or
an aglet or bar at an end and the apparatus including a recess
between the front surface and the rear surface, the recess sized to
compressably hold a lace aglet or bar therein.
20. The shoe closing system of claim 19, the lace having a
substantially flat shape and a plurality of separately, elastic
strands.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to application Ser.
No. 61/484,223, Attorney Docket CE001US, entitled "Shoe Lace
Apparatus and Locking Mechanism", and filed on May 10, 2010, which
is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates generally to shoe lacings and in
particular systems and apparatus for locking the laces without
trying the laces.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] It may be desirable to lock shoe laces without trying the
laces, the present invention provides apparatus for locking laces
and laces not requiring trying.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The features, objects, and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent from the detailed description
set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in
which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout
and wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1A is a simplified partial isometric diagram of a lace
locking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0008] FIG. 1B is a simplified partial isometric diagram of a lace
locking apparatus partially deflected in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2A is a simplified diagram of an elastic lace in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2B is a simplified diagram of another elastic lace in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 3A is a simplified diagram of a lace being inserted
into a lace locking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3B is a simplified diagram of a lace locked into a lace
locking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 3C is a simplified diagram of a lace stretched for
movement in the lace locking apparatus in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIGS. 4A and 4B are simplified partial isometric diagram of
lace locking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a simplified diagram of a shoe in which the
present invention may be employed;
[0016] FIG. 6A is a simplified partial diagram of a lace in a shoe
locked into a lace locking apparatus in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0017] FIG. 6B is a simplified partial diagram of a lace in a
locked into a lace locking apparatus, the apparatus embedded in a
shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 7A is a simplified partial isometric diagram of lace
locking apparatus with inserted lace in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 7B is a simplified partial diagram of lace locking
apparatus opening with inserted lace in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 8A is a simplified partial isometric diagram of lace
locking apparatus with inserted lace in an open or released mode in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0021] FIG. 8B is a simplified partial isometric diagram of lace
locking apparatus with inserted lace in a closed or locked mode in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Throughout this description, embodiments and variations are
described for the purpose of illustrating uses and implementations
of the invention. The illustrative description should be understood
as presenting examples of the invention, rather than as limiting
the scope of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 1A is a simplified partial isometric diagram of a lace
locking apparatus 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention and FIG. 1B is a simplified partial isometric
diagram of the lace locking apparatus 10 partially deflected in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The locking
apparatus 10 may be any shape having a diameter or area greater
than the eyelets 54 of shoe 50 (FIG. 5) where the locking apparatus
10, 40A, 40B may be employed (FIG. 6A) or embedded in the shoe 50
shoulder 52 (FIG. 5). The locking apparatus 10 may include a slit
14 coupled to an opening 12. The opening may be any shape including
circular where the opening area 12 is larger than the width of a
lace 22A in a stretched or elongated shape (small diameter 22C)
(FIG. 3C) and small enough to securely engage one or more laces
22A, lace ends, or a loop of a lace 22A in a restored shape (larger
diameter 22B shown in FIG. 3B). The locking apparatus may be
comprised of any flexible or semi-flexible material including
plastic, metals, or alloys. The opening 12 may include barbs or
teeth 13D of opening 12D of FIGS. 7A to 8B to further hold laces
22A securely. In an embodiment a lace material 22A may include
elastic and inelastic components and may have various modulus of
elasticity.
[0024] FIGS. 2A and 2B are simplified diagrams of laces 20A, 20B in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The laces
20A, 20B material 22A may include elastic and inelastic components
and may have various modulus of elasticity. The lace 20A (FIG. 2A)
may include perpendicular aglets or bars 24A, 26A on one or more
ends. The bar 24A, 26A may be sized to be smaller than the diameter
of a shoe 50 eyelets 54 in an embodiment. The bars 24A, 26A may be
comprised of any flexible or semi-flexible material including
plastic, metals, or alloys. The lace 20B (FIG. 2B) may include
parallel aglets or bars 24B, 26B on one or more ends. The bar 24B,
26B may be sized to be smaller than the diameter of a shoe 50
eyelets 54 in an embodiment.
[0025] FIG. 3A is a simplified diagram of a lace insertion process
for inserting a lace 20B into a lace locking apparatus 10 in
accordance with an embodiment 30 of the present invention. As shown
in FIGS. 3B and 3C, a lace 22A may be stretched or elongated to
extend a desired length into or through the opening 12 and then
released to expand and lock into the opening 12. FIG. 3B is a
simplified diagram of a lace 22A locked into a lace locking
apparatus 10 opening 12 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. FIG. 3C is a simplified diagram of a lace 22A
stretched or elongated for movement in the lace locking apparatus
10 opening 12 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention as discussed above. FIGS. 4A and 4B are simplified
partial isometric diagrams of a lace locking apparatus 40A, 40B in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] The locking apparatus 40A may have multiple openings 12A,
12B for multiple laces 22A, 22B or lace ends. The locking apparatus
40B may have multiple openings 12A, 12B, 12C for multiple laces or
ends. It is noted in an embodiment that the locking apparatus 10,
40A, 40B, 40D may optionally include deflectable slits 14 (FIG.
1A), 14D (FIG. 7A). The slit 14, 14D may enable one or more ends of
a lace 22A, 22B to be passed into an apparatus 10, 30, 40A, 40B,
40D opening 12, 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D. The slit 14D may also include
teeth 15D where the teeth may engage edges of a lace 22A, 22B when
inserted in an opening 12, 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D and aid retention of
the lace within the locking apparatus 10, 40A, 40B, 40D.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a simplified diagram of a shoe 50 in which the
present invention may be employed. The shoe 50 may include a toe
58, shoulders 52, tongue 56, vamp 57, and a plurality of eyelets
54. The shoe 50 may be any type of shoe including dress and
athletic that includes two or more eyelets. FIG. 6A is a simplified
partial diagram of a lace 20B passed a shoe 50 eyelet 54 and locked
into a lace locking apparatus 10 in accordance with an embodiment
60A of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6A the locking
apparatus 10 may be located inside the shoe 50 and adjacent to an
eyelet 54. FIG. 6B is a simplified partial diagram of a lace 20B
locked into an embedded lace locking apparatus 10. The apparatus 10
may be embedded in a shoe 50 shoulder 52 adjacent an eyelet in
accordance with an embodiment 60B of the present invention. The
shoulder 52 material may be flexible enough to enable the locking
apparatus 10 to be flexed so one or more laces 20B may be inserted
into an opening 12, 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12E of the apparatus 10,
40A, 40B, 40D, 40E (FIGS. 8A-8B).
[0028] FIGS. 8A-8B are simplified partial isometric diagram of lace
locking apparatus 40E with inserted lace in an open or released
mode (FIG. 8A) or a locked or closed mode or configuration (FIG.
8B) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As
shown in FIGS. 8A-8B the apparatus 40E may include an opening 12E
with one or more retractable teeth 13E. In the apparatus 40E a
teeth release mechanism 18E may be restorably depressed as shown in
FIG. 8A to cause one or more teeth 13E of the opening 12E to
retract. The teeth 13E may retract to create an opening large
enough for an aglet 24B, 26B or bar 24A, 26A. Upon release of the
teeth release mechanism 18E, the teeth 13E may collapse towards the
apparatus 40E center. A spring mechanism (not shown) may provide a
restoring force to the retractable teeth 13E. As shown in FIGS. 7A,
8A, and 8B the apparatus 40D, 40E may also a recess 16D, 16E sized
to receive and compressably hold an an aglet 24B, 26B or bar 24A,
26A therein. The recess 16D, 16E may enable a user to increase a
lace an aglet 24B, 26B or bar 24A, 26A therein to prevent an aglet
24B, 26B or bar 24A, 26A from resting against a user's foot or
ankle. It is further noted that the teeth 13D, 13E of the openings
12D, 12E may be angled so that enable a lace to extend or pass in a
first direction but engage or limit the movement of the lace in
second opposite direction. In an embodiment an apparatus 10, 30,
40A, 40B, 40D, 40E may have about a 0.5 to 1.5 inch diameter and
about 0.1 to 0.5 inch thickness (from front to back side). An
opening 12, 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12E may be any shape and may have
an envelope from about 0.1 to 0.4 inches in diameter.
[0029] While this invention has been described in terms of a best
mode for achieving the objectives of the invention, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be
accomplished in view of these teachings without deviating from the
spirit or scope of the present invention.
* * * * *