No bow lace loopers

Abstract

A shoe lace securement mechanism including a spool, a threading and locking mechanism, a cap, and an ornamental casing. The mechanism is designed to maintain shoe lace tension without the need for a bow or knot and modularly applicable to a wide variety of footware.

Claims

1. A shoe lace securement mechanism comprising: a spool having a pair of circular discs connected together, wherein the pair of circular disks includes opposing inward facing walls having a plurality of protrusions to add friction for keeping a shoe lace compressed around the spool, wherein a first group of protrusions of the plurality of protrusions on a first circular disc of the pair of circular discs align with a second group of protrusions of the plurality of protrusions on a second circular disk of the pair of circular disks; a hollow tube centrally located on the pair of circular discs, the hollow tube connecting the pair of circular discs and providing for a space between the opposing inward facing walls of the pair of circular disks; a threading piece with locking mechanism configured for threading and locking the spool, the threading piece with locking mechanism comprising an additional disc and a solid protrusion extending from a central area of the additional disc, the solid protrusion traversing an inside of the hollow tube such that a distal end of the solid protrusion emerges from the hollow tube, the solid protrusion being configured to lock in place by rotation of the distal end to prevent the solid protrusion from slipping back through the hollow tube; a casing affixed to an outer facing wall of the second circular disk, a central depression formed in an outer facing surface of the casing; a cap piece positioned in the central depression and mating with the distal end of the solid protrusion; a pair of vertical protrusions formed in the central depression, the pair of vertical protrusions in the central depression preventing rotation of the cap piece; and a strap extending from the additional disc to the second circular disc of the pair of circular discs of the spool.

2. The shoe lace securement mechanism of claim 1, wherein the spool houses a plurality of light-emitting diodes, a power source, and a switch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) An embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, in which:

(2) FIG. 1: is a side perspective view of the shoe lace securement mechanism with the spool, the threading piece with locking mechanism, the cap piece, and an ornamental casing.

(3) FIG. 2: is a front exploded view of the shoe lace securement mechanism with the spool, the threading piece with locking mechanism, the cap piece, and an ornamental casing.

(4) FIG. 3: is a perspective view of the shoe lace securement mechanism with the threading piece with locking mechanism inserted through the spool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(5) FIG. 1 depicts a side perspective view of the shoe lace securement mechanism with the spool 1, the threading piece with locking mechanism 2, and the cap piece 3, and an ornamental casing 4. All elements listed in a certain embodiment are modular and not specific to all embodiments of the present invention.

(6) A certain embodiment of a lace securement mechanism includes a spool 1 comprised of two disc-shaped edges 15 connected via a centrally located hollow tube 9. The hollow tube 9 is configured to accept a central protrusion 7 from the threading piece 2 with locking mechanism 2A. The hollow tube 9 permits passage of the central protrusion 7 of the threading piece 2 only when properly aligned. A plurality of radially located protrusions 5 are interspersed equidistantly on the inward facing walls 15A of each disc shaped edge 15 of the spool 1. These protrusions 5 are of variable shape and are designed to increase the compressive force against the shoe lace as it is wrapped around the spool 1. Additionally, these protrusions 5 can be configured to have a rough exterior to increase friction with the shoe lace as torque is inadvertently applied to the shoe laces. Each protrusion 5 is aligned with its sister protrusion on the opposing inward facing wall 1A of the disc shaped edges 15 but leaves sufficient space to permit a shoe lace to penetrate to the hollow central tube of the spool 1 when sufficient force is manually applied by the user. The outward facing wall 15B disc-shaped edge 15 contains a circular depression and two vertical protrusions 12 in the center where the hollow tube 9 emerges to prevent the rotation of the cap piece 3 when affixed to the distal end 14 of the threading piece 2.

(7) The threading piece with locking mechanism 2 is comprised of a disc shaped piece and a solid protrusion 7 extending perpendicular to the disc shaped piece. The solid protrusion 7 is configured to traverse the hollow tube of the spool 1 only when properly aligned. The distal end of the protrusion 14 provides for a locking mechanism whereby the protrusion 7 is shaped as a rectangle or other suitable shape with an indentation configured to receive a male insertion component from the cap piece 3. Once the distal end of the protrusion 14 emerged from the centrally located hollow tube of the spool 1, it can be rotated approximately ninety degrees to prevent the protrusion 7 from slipping back through the hollow tube 9. The threading piece 2 will be secured to the spool 1 via a flexible material that will run from the side facing wall of the disc shaped edge 15 closest to the shoe to the side wall of the threading piece. This strap 6 will prevent rotation of the device of more than one rotation by physical contact with the shoe lace.

(8) The cap piece 3 is comprised of configured shape to fit in the depression 18 on the outward facing wall 15B of the spool 1 such as the ovular shaped piece with crescent indentations to be placed on top of the distal end of the protrusion 14 when it has traversed the hollow tube of the spool 1. A centrally located male insertion piece 16 rises from the inward facing wall of the cap piece 3 fits into a female receptor 17 of the distal end of the protrusion. Once mated, any torque applied to the threading piece 2 will be transferred to the cap piece 3 which prevents rotation by contact with two vertical protrusions 12 on the outward facing disc-shaped circular depression. The cap piece 3 may be secured to the spool 1 via a flexible material that will run from the outer facing wall of the disc shaped edge closest to the shoe.

(9) The ornamental casing 4 will be affixed to the outer facing wall of the spool 1 with a central depression to permit the cap piece to mate with the distal end of the protrusion. The ornamental casing will be comprised of a translucent plastic and will contain a plurality of light-emitting diodes 11 (LED) and a power source 10. The plurality of LEDs 11 can be variably configured to illuminate a logo, character, number, symbol, or image affixed to the surface of the ornamental casing as required. Additionally or alternatively, the plurality of LEDs 11 can be illuminated in different colors or at varying intervals. The LEDs can be activated by a switch 8 or other common activation method located on the ornamental casing 4.

(10) A present and primary embodiment envisions usage by placing the threading piece 2A with locking mechanism 2 on the inside of a shoe 19 at the highest located aperture configured to receive a shoe lace. The spool 1 is placed on the opposing side of the same aperture. The threading piece 2 is fed through the aperture of the shoe 19 and the spool 1. The threading piece 2 is then rotated ninety degrees. The cap piece 3 is then placed on the distal end of the protrusion 7. The same process is repeated on the opposite side of the shoe 19 with a second device.

(11) A user will then manually tighten the shoe laces to the desired tension level. At the desired tension level, a user will align the shoe lace with the spool 1 and begin to wrap the shoe laces around the spool 1 in a circular motion. The surface friction of the laces on the spool 1 will prevent any loss of tension in the shoe lace. Additionally, the radially dispersed protrusions 5 on the inner facing walls of the spool 1 will add additional friction by keeping the shoe lace compressed around the spool.

(12) A certain embodiment of a lace securement mechanism can be incorporated into the design and manufacturing of a shoe. The lace securement mechanism will be placed by a manufacturer at the highest aperture on the wall of a shoe on each side of a shoe. The lace securement mechanism, instead of placing a removable cap 3 on the protrusion 7 of the threading piece 2, the threading piece can be integrated into the side wall of a shoe via sewing or molding techniques commonly known in the art. As a result of this integration, no flexible material that will run from the side facing wall of the disc shaped edge closest to the shoe to the side wall of the threading piece is needed.

(13) This embodiment of a lace securement mechanism includes a hollow tube comprised of flexible material affixed to the rear of the shoe heel, extending the circumference of a shoe's heel, vertically aligned with the lace securement mechanism. A securing clasp is affixed to the heel of the shoe laterally located to the lace securement mechanism. The securing clasp is comprised of a receiving aperture designed to receive the head of a shoe lace located closest to the lace securement mechanism and an integrated aperture which has been configured to receive an elastic band. The elastic band runs through the hollow tube and maintains the desired level of tension in the shoe lace by applying pull force to each shoe lace head via the securing clasp.

(14) In view of the foregoing discussion, it may be readily understood that alternative embodiments are contemplated. Having thus described different embodiments of the invention, other variations and embodiments that do not depart from the spirit of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The scope of the present invention is thus not limited to any one particular embodiment, but is instead set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof.