Various configurations of Lace Ratchet Device (LRD) enables easy lace fastening and release. The LRD has two positions: active and inactive. In the active position the device works as a lace ratchet i.e. allowing the lace to be pulled forwards but blocks any lace motion backwards. After fastening the lace remains fastened until the LRD is switched into inactive position by pressing a lever. Each LRD has a turning gate with front end with sharp edge, rotatably installed in a channel. A preloaded helical torque spring keeps the LRD in active position when the lever is not pressed. Unlike prevalent lace fasteners with serrated surfaces, which cause accelerated lace wear, LRD's smooth front edge side and channel surfaces minimize lace wear. Parallel and triangular configurations of LRD pairs facilitates lace fastening of footwear, serving as Ratchet Buckles. Single LRDs can be used for fastening of garments and other objects.

Various configurations of Lace Ratchet Device (LRD) enables easy lace fastening and release. The LRD has two positions: active and inactive. In the active position the device works as a lace ratchet i.e. allowing the lace to be pulled forwards but blocks any lace motion backwards. After fastening the lace remains fastened until the LRD is switched into inactive position by pressing a lever. Each LRD has a turning gate with front end with sharp edge, rotatably installed in a channel. A preloaded helical torque spring keeps the LRD in active position when the lever is not pressed. Unlike prevalent lace fasteners with serrated surfaces, which cause accelerated lace wear, LRD's smooth front edge side and channel surfaces minimize lace wear. Parallel and triangular configurations of LRD pairs facilitates lace fastening of footwear, serving as Ratchet Buckles. Single LRDs can be used for fastening of garments and other objects.

Various configurations of Lace Ratchet Device (LRD) enables easy lace fastening and release. The LRD has two positions: active and inactive. In the active position the device works as a lace ratchet i.e. allowing the lace to be pulled forwards but blocks any lace motion backwards. After fastening the lace remains fastened until the LRD is switched into inactive position by pressing a lever. Each LRD has a turning gate with front end with sharp edge, rotatably installed in a channel. A preloaded helical torque spring keeps the LRD in active position when the lever is not pressed. Unlike prevalent lace fasteners with serrated surfaces, which cause accelerated lace wear, LRD's smooth front edge side and channel surfaces minimize lace wear. Parallel and triangular configurations of LRD pairs facilitates lace fastening of footwear, serving as Ratchet Buckles. Single LRDs can be used for fastening of garments and other objects.

A shoe having a sole and an upper including a tongue, secured to the sole, a row of eyelets along each side of the tongue, including topmost eyelets and foremost eyelets, and a pocket accessory which includes a pocket member that has an anchor portion and a pocket flap which defines a pocket for receiving the knotted shoe lace via a pocket opening. There may be a cover member attached to the shoe, which can removably engage the pocket member to cover or expose the pocket opening. The pocket member may be sewn to the tongue of the shoe or attached thereto otherwise.

A shoe having a sole and an upper including a tongue, secured to the sole, a row of eyelets along each side of the tongue, including topmost eyelets and foremost eyelets, and a pocket accessory which includes a pocket member that has an anchor portion and a pocket flap which defines a pocket for receiving the knotted shoe lace via a pocket opening. There may be a cover member attached to the shoe, which can removably engage the pocket member to cover or expose the pocket opening. The pocket member may be sewn to the tongue of the shoe or attached thereto otherwise.

Lace Ratchet Fastening Device (LRFD) enables easy lace fastening and release. The LRFD has two positions: locked and unlocked. In the locked position the device works as a lace ratchet i.e. allowing the lace to be pulled forwards but blocking any lace motion backwards. After fastening the lace remain fastened until the LRFD is switched into unlocked position by pressing a lever and lace releasing. Each LRFD has a turning gate with sharp front end rotatably installed in a channel. The turning gate has a preloaded helical torque spring with bias which keeps the LRFD in locked position when the lever is not pressed. Unlike prevalent lace fasteners with serrated surfaces, which cause accelerated lace wear, LRFD's smooth gate and channel surfaces minimize lace wear. Parallel and triangular LRFD configurations enable footwear lace fastening serving as Ratchet Buckles. Single LRFDs can be used for fastening of garments and other objects.

Lace Ratchet Fastening Device (LRFD) enables easy lace fastening and release. The LRFD has two positions: locked and unlocked. In the locked position the device works as a lace ratchet i.e. allowing the lace to be pulled forwards but blocking any lace motion backwards. After fastening the lace remain fastened until the LRFD is switched into unlocked position by pressing a lever and lace releasing. Each LRFD has a turning gate with sharp front end rotatably installed in a channel. The turning gate has a preloaded helical torque spring with bias which keeps the LRFD in locked position when the lever is not pressed. Unlike prevalent lace fasteners with serrated surfaces, which cause accelerated lace wear, LRFD's smooth gate and channel surfaces minimize lace wear. Parallel and triangular LRFD configurations enable footwear lace fastening serving as Ratchet Buckles. Single LRFDs can be used for fastening of garments and other objects.

A lace fastener for an article of footwear has at least an upper and a lower half attached by a spring, screw or similar mechanism. The lace fastener has at least one display face that may have the name, color, logo, etc. of the user's choosing. The lace fastener is adhered to the outer portion of the article of footwear, preferably near the top of the article of footwear. Once the article of footwear is laced, the laces are pulled through the lace fastener and the upper half is closed securing the laces in place. The laces may then be pulled through lace holders around the article of footwear in order to hold the laces neatly in place.

A lace fastener for an article of footwear has at least an upper and a lower half attached by a spring, screw or similar mechanism. The lace fastener has at least one display face that may have the name, color, logo, etc. of the user's choosing. The lace fastener is adhered to the outer portion of the article of footwear, preferably near the top of the article of footwear. Once the article of footwear is laced, the laces are pulled through the lace fastener and the upper half is closed securing the laces in place. The laces may then be pulled through lace holders around the article of footwear in order to hold the laces neatly in place.

A shoelace securing apparatus including a clamping member having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a middle portion disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion. A pair of parallel grooves is disposed within an interior surface of the middle portion. Each of a right pair of lips and a left pair of lips of a plurality of a pair of convexly curved lips is disposed on the interior surface of the middle portion proximal each of a right edge and a left edge, respectively, of the middle portion. A plurality of teeth members is disposed on each of the right pair of lips and the left pair of lips. Each of a right end portion of a shoelace and a left end portion of the shoelace is disposed within each of the pair of parallel grooves and engaged between one of a pair of adjacent teeth members.