SHOELACE SECURING ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A shoelace securing assembly for securing shoelaces on shoes without tying the shoelaces includes a block that has a plurality of apertures each extending therethrough. Each of the apertures insertably receives a respective one of a pair of shoelaces on a shoe having the shoe laces arranged into a pair of loops. In this way the block facilitates the shoe laces to be secured in lieu of tying a knot. Thus, the block facilitates a child to secure the shoe on the child's foot without knowing how to tie the shoelaces. Each of the apertures has a prominence therein and the prominence in each of the apertures frictionally engages the respective shoelaces for retaining the shoelaces in the block.

Claims

1. A shoelace securing assembly being configured to secure shoelaces on a shoe in lieu of a knot, said assembly comprising: a block having a plurality of apertures each extending therethrough, each of said apertures insertably receiving a respective one of a pair of shoelaces on a shoe having said shoe laces being arranged into a pair of loops thereby facilitating said block to secure said shoe laces in lieu of tying a knot wherein said block is configured to facilitate a child to secure said shoe on the child's foot without knowing how to tie said shoelaces, each of said apertures having a prominence therein, said prominence in each of said apertures frictionally engaging said respective shoelaces for retaining said shoelaces in said block, said block having a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface, each of said apertures extending through said first and second lateral surfaces, each of said apertures having a bounding surface, said bounding surface of each of said apertures having said prominence thereon, said prominence on said bounding surface of each of said apertures extending substantially between said first and second lateral sides of said block, said bounding surface of each of said apertures tapering extending inwardly from each of said first lateral side and said second lateral side toward a center line of a respective aperture such that each of said apertures has cross-sectional taken along a perpendicular axis with respect to said center line of said respective aperture defining a pair of adjoining cones thereby defining said prominence in said respective aperture.

2. (canceled)

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of apertures includes a first aperture, a second aperture, a third aperture and a fourth aperture, a first one of said shoelaces being extended through said first aperture from said first lateral surface toward said second lateral surface, said first shoelace being looped back through said second aperture from said second lateral surface toward said first lateral surface, a second one of said shoelaces being extended through said third aperture from said second lateral surface toward said first lateral surface, said second shoelace being looped back through said fourth aperture from said first lateral surface toward said second lateral surface.

4. (canceled)

5. A shoelace securing assembly being configured to secure shoelaces on a shoe in lieu of a knot, said assembly comprising: a block having a plurality of apertures each extending therethrough, each of said apertures insertably receiving a respective one of a pair of shoelaces on a shoe having said shoe laces being arranged into a pair of loops thereby facilitating said block to secure said shoe laces in lieu of tying a knot wherein said block is configured to facilitate a child to secure said shoe on the child's foot without knowing how to tie said shoelaces, each of said apertures having a prominence therein, said prominence in each of said apertures frictionally engaging said respective shoelaces for retaining said shoelaces in said block, said block having a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface, each of said apertures extending through said first and second lateral surfaces, each of said apertures having a bounding surface, said bounding surface of each of said apertures having said prominence thereon, said prominence on said bounding surface of each of said apertures extending substantially between said first and second lateral sides of said block, said plurality of apertures including a first aperture, a second aperture, a third aperture and a fourth aperture, a first one of said shoelaces being extended through said first aperture from said first lateral surface toward said second lateral surface, said first shoelace being looped back through said second aperture from said second lateral surface toward said first lateral surface, a second one of said shoelaces being extended through said third aperture from said second lateral surface toward said first lateral surface, said second shoelace being looped back through said fourth aperture from said first lateral surface toward said second lateral surface, said bounding surface of each of said apertures tapering extending inwardly from each of said first lateral side and said second lateral side toward a center line of a respective aperture such that each of said apertures has cross-sectional taken along a perpendicular axis with respect to said center line of said respective aperture defining a pair of adjoining cones thereby defining said prominence in said respective aperture.

6. (canceled) The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said bounding surface of each of said apertures curves outwardly from said center line of said respective aperture at each of said first and second lateral surfaces of said block such that each end of said apertures has a diameter being greater than a diameter of a center of said apertures.

7. The assembly according to claim 5, further comprising each end of said apertures having a diameter being less than a diameter of a center between said apertures.

8. (canceled)

9. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said block has an outside surface extending between each of said first and second lateral surfaces, said outside surface being continuously arcuate such that said block has a circular cross section taken along a line extending through said first and second lateral surfaces.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0009] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoelace securing assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a right side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 9 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 10 is a right side view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 10 thereof, a new shoelace securing device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0021] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 10, the shoelace securing assembly 10 generally comprises a block 12 that has a plurality of apertures 14 each extending therethrough. Each of the apertures 14 insertably receives a respective one of a pair of shoelaces 16 on a shoe 18 having the shoelaces 16 being arranged into a pair of loops. In this way the block 12 facilitates the shoelaces 16 to be secured in lieu of tying a knot. Thus, the block 12 facilitates a child to secure the shoe 18 on the child's foot without knowing how to tie the shoelaces 16.

[0022] Each of the apertures 14 has a prominence 20 therein and the prominence 20 in each of the apertures 14 frictionally engages the respective shoelace 16. In this way the shoelaces 16 are retained in the block 12. The block 12 has a first lateral surface 22 and a second lateral surface 24, and each of the apertures 14 extends through the first 22 and second 24 lateral surfaces. Each of the apertures 14 has a bounding surface 26 and the bounding surface 26 of each of the apertures 14 has the prominence 20 thereon. The prominence 20 on the bounding surface 26 of each of the apertures 14 extends substantially between the first 22 and second 24 lateral surfaces of the block 12.

[0023] The plurality of apertures 14 includes a first aperture 28, a second aperture 30, a third aperture 32 and a fourth aperture 34. A first one of the shoelaces 36 is extended through the first aperture 28 from the first lateral surface 22 toward the second lateral surface 24. Additionally, the first shoelace 36 is looped back through the second aperture 30 from the second lateral surface 24 toward the first lateral surface 22. A second one of the shoelaces 40 is extended through the third aperture 32 from the second lateral surface 24 toward the first lateral surface 22. The second shoelace 40 is looped back through the fourth aperture 34 from the first lateral surface 22 toward the second lateral surface 24.

[0024] The bounding surface 26 of each of the apertures 14 curves inwardly toward a center line of a respective aperture 14 between each of the first 22 and second 24 lateral surfaces of the block 12. Thus, each of the apertures 14 has a biconcave cross section taken along a perpendicular axis with respect to the center line of the respective aperture 14 thereby defining the prominence 20 in the respective aperture 14. In an alternative embodiment 44 as shown in FIG. 5, the bounding surface 26 of each of the apertures 14 curves outwardly from the center line of the respective aperture 14 at each of the first 22 and second 24 lateral surfaces of the block 12 such that each end of the apertures 14 has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of a center of the apertures 14.

[0025] In an alternative embodiment 46 as shown in FIG. 6, the bounding surface 26 of each of the apertures 14 has a first portion 48 and a second portion 50. The first portion 48 of each of the apertures 14 angles upwardly between the first lateral surface 22 and a center of the apertures 14. Additionally, the second portion 50 of each of the apertures 14 angles upwardly between the second lateral surface 24 and the center of the apertures 14. Thus, each end of the apertures 14 has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the center of the apertures 14. The intersection between the first 48 and second 50 portion of the bounding surface 26 of each of the apertures 14 frictionally engages the respective shoelace 16.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment 52 as shown in FIG. 7, the bounding surface 26 of each of the apertures 14 has a first portion 54, a second portion 56 and a middle portion 58 extending therebetween. Each of the first 54 and second 56 portions of a respective one of the apertures 14 angles upwardly between a respective one of the first 22 and second 24 lateral surfaces of the block 12 and the middle portion 58 of the respective aperture 14. Thus, each end of the respective apertures 14 has a diameter that is greater than a diameter associated with the middle portion 58 of the respective aperture 14. In an alternative embodiment 60 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the block 12 has an outside surface 62 extending between each of the first 22 and second 24 lateral surfaces. Moreover, the outside surface 62 is continuously arcuate such that the block 12 has a circular cross section taken along a line extending through the first 22 and second 24 lateral surfaces.

[0027] In use, the first shoelace 38 is extended through the first aperture 28 from the first lateral surface 22 toward the second lateral surface 24. The first shoelace 38 is then looped back through the second aperture 30 from the second lateral surface 24 toward the first lateral surface 22. Thus, the first shoelace 38 is formed into a loop that is typically formed when the shoelaces 16 are tied into a bowknot. The second shoelace 42 is extended through the third aperture 32 from the second lateral surface 24 toward the first lateral surface 22. The second shoelace 42 is then looped back through the fourth aperture 34 from the first lateral surface 22 toward the second lateral surface 24. Thus, the second shoelace 42 is formed into a loop that is typically formed when the shoelaces 16 are tied into the bowknot. In this way a child that has not learned how to tie a bowknot can secure the shoelaces 16 on shoes 18 that the child is wearing.

[0028] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0029] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word comprising is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.