Lacing system and method for securing the ends of cords and laces

Abstract

A system and method for connecting two loose shoelace ends, or for connecting two loose lace or cord ends in any lacing situation. A specific lace or cord orientation is used along with a heat-shrinkable tubular connector in order to easily and securely connect the two ends of the laces or other such cords.

Claims

1. A method for securing and manipulating the laces of a shoe comprising the steps of: providing a laced shoe having a shoelace passing through a lace lock connector means and having a first end portion and a second end portion; each of said end portions terminating in a tip; positioning a tubular connector element at the base of said second end portion of said shoelace; forming a first bight with said first end portion; passing the second end portion around the first bight formed by said first end portion to form a second bight; the intersection of said first and second bights forming a closed loop; sliding the tubular connector element along said lace toward said closed loop and concurrently threading the tip of said second end portion back through the tubular connector until the tubular connector is positioned entirely over the closed loop thereby forming a permanent lace loop; adjusting the permanent lace loop to the desired diameter for comfortable operation; and, locking the tubular connector element into a fixed position.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising trimming any unwanted sections of the first end portion and second end portion which protrude from the tubular connector element.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising securing the permanent lace loop to the shoe.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein securing said permanent lace loop comprises using a clip to secure said permanent lace loop.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein securing said permanent lace loop comprises using a pocket to secure said permanent lace loop.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein securing said permanent lace loop comprises tucking said permanent lace loop under a section of the laced portion of the shoe.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said tubular connector element comprises a section of heat-shrinkable tubing.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein locking said tubular connector element into a fixed position comprises heating the heat-shrinkable tubing in order to set it into a fixed position.

9. A method for securing and manipulating the laces of a shoe comprising: a shoe; a shoelace threaded through at least two of the holes in said shoe; and, a lace lock connector means; said shoelace having two ends which pass through said lace lock connector means and terminate in a first end portion and a second end portion; wherein the method comprises: positioning a tubular connector element on said second end portion of said shoelace; forming a first bight with said first end portion; passing the second end portion around said first end portion to form a second bight; the intersection of said first and second bights forming an intertwined section; sliding the tubular connector along said lace toward said intertwined section and concurrently threading the tip of said second end portion back through the tubular connector until the tubular connector is positioned entirely over the intertwined section thereby forming a permanent lace loop; adjusting the permanent lace loop to the desired diameter for operation; securing the tubular connector element into a fixed position via heat shrinkage; and, trimming any sections of the first end portion and second end portion which protrude from the tubular connector and are not used to form the permanent lace loop.

10. A method for securing and manipulating the laces of a shoe comprising: a shoe; a shoelace threaded through at least two of the holes in said shoe; and, a lace lock connector means; said shoelace having two ends which pass through said lace lock connector means and terminate in a first end portion and a second end portion; wherein the method comprises: positioning a tubular connector element on either said first end portion or said second end portion of said shoelace; the portion having said connector being a connector side and the portion not bearing said connector being a loose side; forming a first bight with said loose side; crossing the connector side through and around said loose side to form a second bight; the intersection of said first and second bights forming an intertwined section; sliding the tubular connector along said lace toward said intertwined section and concurrently threading the tip of said connector side back through the tubular connector until the tubular connector is positioned entirely over the intertwined section thereby forming a permanent lace loop; adjusting the permanent lace loop to the desired diameter for operation; securing the tubular connector element into a fixed position via heat shrinkage; and, trimming any sections of the first end portion and second end portion which protrude from the tubular connector and are not used to form the permanent lace loop.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of step 1 of the method disclosed herein.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of step 2 of the method disclosed herein.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of step 3 of the method disclosed herein.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of step 4 of the method disclosed herein.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of step 5 of the method disclosed herein.

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of step 6 of the method disclosed herein.

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of step 7 of the method disclosed herein.

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of step 8 of the method disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) The preferred embodiment of the present invention involves a particular lacing configuration, maintained through the use of a heat-shrinkable connector element, in order to secure shoe laces or other such cords. The instant system and method may be applied to loose shoelace ends after a shoe, or other item of footwear, has been laced and the lace ends have passed through an adjustable lace lock. The shoelace ends are then secured to form a closed lace loop above the shoe, of a diameter set by the user, by a process of hooking the lace ends together and the placement of a heat-shrinkable connector over the junction of the laces. In the preferred embodiment, the heat-shrinkable connector used to form the closed loop consists of a section of heat-shrinkable tubing, i.e., adhesive lined polyolefin tubing. It will be recognized that varying sizes of heat-shrinkable tubing may be used to accommodate other materials or sizes of laces.

(10) The configuration and process for assembling the system described above is accomplished in these steps: In the first step shown in FIG. 1, after a shoe (10) has been laced and the lace ends have passed through a lace lock (A), two loose lace ends, a first end (1) and a second end (2), are left. One of the lace ends is then threaded through a section of heat-shrinkable tubing (B), and the tubing is slid down the lace to the lace lock (or what may otherwise constitute the base of the lace in any other lacing situation).

(11) In the second step, as seen in FIG. 2, the loose lace ends (1, 2) are hooked together: A first bight (3), a U-shaped curve in a rope, is made from one of the lace ends. The other lace end is threaded through that first bight (3) and then itself curved over into a second bight (4). The result of the second step is the two lace ends hooked together by the junction of the bights (C). The two lace ends together now form a closed loop above the shoe with the junction of the bights (C) at the apex. Both sides of the closed loop run through the lace lock (A), and the heat-shrinkable tubing (B) is on one side of the loop above the lace lock (A).

(12) Referring to FIG. 3, the heat-shrinkable tubing is raised in the third step by it sliding along its lace to cover the junction of the bights (C). As the heat-shrinkable tubing (B) is slid up along its lace toward the junction of the bights, the tip of its lace is threaded back through the tubing (B) in the opposite direction, so that the tubing will come to slide entirely over the junction of the bights as shown in FIG. 3. The heat-shrinkable tubing is centered over, and completely covers, the junction of the bights (C). The new configuration of the junction is now designated as (D). The two loose lace ends (1, 2) protrude and extend from the junction (D).

(13) In the fourth step, shown in FIG. 4, the entire closed lace loop above the shoe, comprised of the two laces joined at the junction (D), is adjusted to the desired diameter by moving the junction at the apex (D) toward the shoe. The desired diameter of the closed lace loop is just large enough to allow the user to comfortably loosen the shoe to place it on and off the foot, with no excess lace left in the closed lace loop and the junction (D) lowered to be just above the lace lock (A). In this step illustrated in FIG. 4, the lace lock (A) is first set to the place on the loop that creates the desired diameter. To make the adjustment, the two loose lace ends (1, 2), protruding from the junction (D), are then pulled simultaneously and equally, sliding the laces through the junction (D). The lace ends (1, 2) are pulled until the closed lace loop decreases to the desired diameter, with the junction (D) just above the set lace lock (A). Once the junction (D) is in the desired position, the junction (D) is dressed so that the lace bights inside meet tautly in the middle of the junction (D).

(14) In the fifth step, the heat-shrinkable tubing is subjected to heat in order to set it and secure the junction (D) into a fixed position. A match, a lighter, heat gun, or a similar source of heat is used to heat the junction and set the heat-shrinkable tubing. In FIG. 5, a match (5) is used to set the connector element. When the heat-shrinkable tubing is heated, it decreases in size to squeeze the laces together against themselves, helping to provide the friction needed to keep the laces from slipping.

(15) In the sixth step, illustrated in FIG. 6, the protruding ends of the laces (1, 2) are trimmed off cleanly where they meet the ends of junction (D). In the preferred embodiment, a pair of scissors or shears is used to trim the lace ends (1, 2).

(16) At this point, the shoe-wearer can now use the closed lace system to repeatedly adjust the shoe, as seen in FIG. 7. The adjustments are made by holding the junction (D) with one hand while sliding and setting the lace lock (A) along the closed lace loop above the shoe with the other hand. The adjustments can be made to secure the shoe to the foot, to remove the shoe, and to make quick adjustments while wearing the shoe. The remaining lace loop can be secured to the shoe with an added component, such as a clip, loop, or pocket, or the junction (D) can be tucked under one of the lace points on top of the shoe, thereby securing the remaining loop to the shoe as illustrated in FIG. 8.

(17) The system can be used in aftermarket shoelace systems designed to replace existing shoelaces, as well as in the original shoe-manufacturing process, as an add-on during shoe sales, as a standalone product, and/or in any other lacing situation.

(18) This invention is designed to provide an economical solution to the problems resulting from the need to tie one's shoes, and as a solution to the flaws in many of the currently available products related to the problems resulting from the need to tie one's shoes. Similar to the other available products, when using this invention, the user does not need to tie and untie his or her shoes each time they are worn or adjusted. In cases of relaxed, hurried, or short-term use for which the user might not want to take the time to tie his or her shoes, the user is not left with two loose shoelace ends trailing from each foot, creating a hazard and causing damage to the shoelaces. If the user wants to make adjustments, he or she does not need to untie the shoe to make the desired adjustments, and then retie the shoe for each adjustment. Athletes and those in need of tactical footwear solutions are not hindered by the time tying one's shoes necessarily requires. And children, the elderly, invalids, and others who may lack the dexterity needed to tie their shoes on their own can gain some freedom and independence.

(19) In contrast to many of the currently available products related to the problems resulting from the need to tie one's shoes, this invention provides a solution to some persistent problems. This is a durable system that can work with different types of laces. Shoe-wearers who need to rely on their gear in emergency situations, in situations requiring fast lacing, and in situations requiring long-term exposure to extreme environments can trust that this solution will not fail, and that their laces will not then come undone. And, importantly, many shoe-wearers will find that this invention provides the simple, clean aesthetic they desire, while providing a convenient finger-pull. This invention provides a desirable alternative to the other available products relating to the problems resulting from the need to tie one's shoes.

(20) While the invention has been described in reference to certain preferred embodiments, it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that certain modifications or variations may be made to the device without departing from the scope of invention described in the foregoing specification.