Adjustable shoelace

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6681459
  • Patent Number
    6,681,459
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, July 17, 2001
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, January 27, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A stretchable string (100) having a first cross sectional diameter at rest and a second smaller cross sectional diameter when stretched. An aglet (200) positioned on the string. The aglet has an inner cross sectional diameter that is smaller than the cross sectional diameter of the string at rest and approximate to the cross sectional diameter of the string when it is sufficiently elongated. The aglet is moved along the string when the string is sufficiently elongated. The aglet can be repositioned along the string by stretching the string such that the diameter of the string is approximate to the inner diameter of the aglet. Excess string can then be removed.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The proper length of a shoelace depends upon several factors such as the style and size of the shoe to be laced. For example, a “high top” basketball shoe typically requires longer laces than a “low top” shoe and a size 20 shoe needs longer shoelaces than a size 6 shoe. Even when two persons have the same style and size shoe, the personal preferences of the users often lead to different desired lengths of shoelaces. For example, a user's preferences regarding how to lace the shoe and how to tie the shoe affect the proper length of the shoelace.




It is difficult for shoe manufacturers to supply shoes with shoelaces which meet all the preferences of the many different potential shoe purchasers. Shoe manufacturers often try to provide laces which are of a length that is a “happy medium” between the longest and shortest lengths a customer may desire for a particular shoe. As a result, consumers are often faced with laces that are of an undesired length. This is not only an annoyance but can be dangerous if the shoes cannot be tied properly or are subject to coming untied, thus resulting in a tripping hazard or the possibility the shoelace may become entangled in machinery, a bicycle chain, etc. In addition, shoe manufacturers may lose sales of shoes due to improper shoelace length.




Currently, there is no convenient means by which a consumer or shoe manufacturer can readily alter the length of a shoelace, thereby allowing the use of “one size fits all” laces whose length can be adjusted, such as by a customer, according to the shoe style and size, the positions of the shoelace eyelets, the user's personal preferences, etc.




Shoelaces are typically manufactured with aglets affixed to the ends of the string. The aglets allow for the convenient lacing of the shoe by decreasing the diameter of the shoestring ends such that they can be conveniently threaded through the eyelets of the shoe. The aglets also prevent the wearing and fraying of the ends of the shoestrings. Thus, if a user attempts to shorten the length of a prior art shoelace, such as by cutting off an excess portion of the string, the aglet is removed, thus leaving the shoestring unprotected against wear and making it more difficult to lace as well as leaving an unattractive shoelace.




A person may decide to purchase new shoelaces if the current shoelaces are of improper length. However, it may prove difficult to find laces which match the style of the shoe and meet the required specifications. In addition, if new laces are purchased the user must remove the old laces and insert the new laces.




Thus, there is a need for a shoelace whose length is readily adjustable and which allows for the adjustment of aglets.




BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The current invention provides an improved shoelace with adjustable aglets such that the length of the shoelace is readily adjustable, a method for adjusting the length of a shoelace, and an improved shoe incorporating the adjustable shoelace such that purchasers, of the shoe can adjust the shoelace length.




The apparatus of the current invention comprises an elastic string which is stretchable from a rest state to an elongated state. The string has a first cross-sectional area in its rest state and a smaller cross-sectional area when it is elongated. An aglet is positioned on the string such that a portion of the string resides within the aglet and a portion or portions of the string extend out from the open ends of the aglet. The inner surface of the aglet defines a receiving area or chamber for receiving the elastic string. The receiving chamber has an inner cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the string at rest.




When the string is in a rest state, i.e., not elongated, the cross section of the string that is not within the aglet is greater than the cross section of the receiving area of the aglet and the portion of the string within the aglet is compressed by the inner wall of the aglet. The aglet is therefore held in place on the string when the string is in a rest state.




When a portion of the string is stretched or elongated, the stretched portion's cross section decreases such that is approximate to the cross section of the receiving area of the aglet. The aglet can then be readily moved along the elongated portion of the string to a desired position according to the preferences of the user. When the aglet is in the desired position, the string can then be returned to a rest state, thereby returning the cross-section of the string to its larger rest value and holding the aglet in place. The excess amount of string extending from the aglet to the end of the string can then be removed. Thus a shoestring of proper length having an aglet at the end is achieved.




In one embodiment of the invention, the interior of the aglet has ribs, catches, pins, or other means which restricts the movement of the aglet in one direction along the string while allowing the aglet to be readily moved along the string in the opposite direction or restricts the movement in both directions. Preferably, the aglet is placed near the end of the string and the ribs are positioned such that the aglet can be moved towards the interior or center of the string but not toward the end of the string. This allows for a wide range of adjustments of the string length while preventing the aglet from being completely removed from the string.




The current invention also provides a method for adjusting the length of shoelaces. The method comprises the steps of attaching the aglet to an elastic string where the string has a first cross-sectional diameter at rest and, as the string is stretched, the cross-sectional diameter string decreases such that it has a second smaller cross-sectional area. The aglet has open ends and defines an inner receiving area whose cross section is less than the cross-section of the string in a rest state.




The desired length of the shoelace is then determined. The string is then stretched, thereby decreasing the cross-section of a portion of the string including the portion within the aglet, preferably to a size approximate to the cross-sectional diameter of the receiving area of the aglet. The aglet is then moved along the portion of the string having the decreased cross section to a desired position. The aglet may be moved in either direction along the string, or the aglet may be limited to movement in a single direction by internal ribs or other means. After the position of the aglet has been finally adjusted, the excess string exterior to the aglet is then removed.




The current invention also relates to a shoe which is laced with the elastic shoestring and adjustable aglet and a method for adjusting the length of a shoelace after lacing the shoe with the string.




It will be understood that for simplicity the embodiments discussed below use the term “diameter” and discuss the cross-sectional diameter of the string and cross-sectional diameter of the receiving area of the aglet. However, it will be understood that the string and the aglet may have various cross-sectional shapes and that the term diameter is used to mean the size of the cross section of the string and the inner receiving area of the aglet such that the difference in sizes determines the ability to move the aglet along the string.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

shows the elastic string of the present invention.





FIGS. 2A and 2B

show a cross-section about line A—A of the string in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

shows an aglet of the current invention.





FIG. 4

shows the cross-section of the aglet of

FIG. 3

about line B—B.





FIG. 5

shows the aglet on the string.





FIG. 6

show the aglet on the string when the string is in an elongated state.





FIG. 7

shows the cover of the string when the string is elongated.





FIGS. 8A-8C

show a shoe with the elastic string and aglet of the present invention.





FIG. 9

shows an embodiment of the aglet in which the aglet is curved.





FIG. 10

shows an embodiment in which the aglet has ribs.





FIG. 11

shows an aglet with ribs on the string.





FIGS. 12A and 12B

show an aglet with pins.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION





FIG. 1

shows an elastic string


100


of the current invention. As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

the string


100


has an outer cover


110


which surrounds an inner core


250


. The string


100


is stretchable from a rest state (shown as a solid line in

FIG. 1

) to an elongated state


100


′ (shown as a dashed line in FIG.


1


). As shown in

FIG. 2A

string


100


has a rest diameter dr. As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2B

when string


100


is elongated, the string


100


A has a decreased cross sectional diameter de. Thus, as shown in dashed line in

FIG. 1

, when sufficient forces are applied to a portion


120


of the string


100


, the portion


120


stretches and its diameter decreases.





FIG. 3

shows the aglet


200


of the current invention. The aglet


200


has outer shell


240


with inner wall


230


and open ends


220


for receiving the string


100


. The inner wall


230


of the aglet


200


defines a receiving area


450


(

FIG. 4

) for receiving string


100


. The receiving area


450


has an inner diameter da. The inner diameter da of the receiving area


450


is less than the outer diameter dr of the string


100


in a rest state. The difference between da and dr is significant enough to create a sufficient amount of friction between the outer edge


110


of string


100


and the inner surface


230


of the aglet


200


, when the string


100


is within the aglet


200


, to prevent the aglet


200


from being easily pulled from the string


100


. The aglet


200


is preferably made of hard plastic and is approximately one-half inch long with an inner diameter of approximately {fraction (1/10 )} of an inch in diameter. In the preferred embodiment the aglet is cylindrical in shape. However, the aglet may be of other shapes but preferably corresponds to the shape of the cross section of the string


100


.





FIG. 5

shows aglet


200


on string


100


at position P


1


near end


598


of the string


100


when the string


100


is at rest. A portion


590


of the string is held within the aglet


200


and portions


595


A-B of the string are outside the aglet


200


. Thus, portion


590


is compressed within the aglet


200


. Portions


595


A-B, however are not compressed and have a diameter of dr which is larger than the diameter da of the aglet


200


. Thus, the aglet


200


is held in place at position P


1


by the force of portion


590


against the interior wall


230


of the aglet


200


as well as by portions


595


which abut against rim of the openings


220


of the aglet. As shown in

FIG. 5

, the aglet is preferably initially located at a position that is near the end


598


of the string


100


. This allows for a sufficient amount of string


100


to be gripped on each side of the aglet


200


so that the string


100


can be conveniently stretched.





FIG. 6

shows the aglet


200


on string


100


when the string is elongated. The outer diameter of the string de is decreased such that aglet


200


may be moved to new positions P


2


and/or P


3


along string


100


.




The string


100


may be made of a variety of materials. As shown in

FIG. 2

, in the preferred embodiment the string


100


has a core


250


which is surrounded by a cover


110


. As shown in

FIG. 7

, in the preferred embodiment cover


110


is made of a plurality of intertwined threads


700


which form an extendible web. Preferably the threads


700


are made of nylon. As shown in

FIG. 7

, when the string


100


is stretched, the threads


700


extend such that gaps


720


are created between the threads


700


. Thus, the cover


110


extends along with the inner core


250


when the string


100


is stretched. When the string


100


is returned to a rest state the cover


110


returns to a rest position and the gaps


720


are closed.




As shown in

FIG. 2

, in the preferred embodiment the core


250


is made of a plurality of parallel elastomeric strands


270


. In the preferred embodiment


15


strands of rubber each having a diameter of about 0.025 inches are used. The strands may be grouped together in groups of various sizes. For example, the strands may be made of three groups of five strands each. The strands


270


may be grouped together by an adhesive or other means or may simply be held together by the outershell


110


.




In the preferred embodiment the string


100


has an outer diameter of approximately {fraction (3/25 )} inches when at rest and a length of about three feet. This allows for a string which is sufficiently long for most users and which can be readily shortened to an appropriate length. In the preferred embodiment the string is strectchable such that a one inch portion of the string can be stretched to approximately 2.5 inches and the aglet can be readily moved along the string.




In a preferred embodiment the aglet


200


is approximately one-half inch in length with an internal diameter of approximately less than {fraction (1/10 )} inch. No adhesive is used to fix the aglet on the string


100


. However, the ends


598


of the string


100


may be glued or otherwise sealed to prevent wear. In a preferred embodiment the ends of the strings are heat sealed.




In the preferred embodiment the entire string


100


is elastic. However, the string


100


could be made of multiple sections, where the sections are of different material some of which are stretchable and some which are not. For example, a center portion of the string


100


could be made of nonstrectchable material and the outer portions could be made of stretchable material. Thus, the center portions which are laced through the eyelets of a shoe would not be stretchable, but the portions of the string exterior of the eyelets could be stretched and the aglets readily adjustable on those outer portions.





FIG. 9

shows an alternative embodiment of the aglet


200


in which the aglet


200


is curved. The curvature of the aglet


200


allows the aglet to remain in place as the string


100


is forced to fit the curve of the aglet


200


. In addition, the outer surface of the aglet at openings


220


digs into the cover


110


of the string


100


.





FIG. 10

shows another embodiment in which the aglet


200


has inner ribs


1010


. The ribs


1010


extend inwards from the inner surface


230


of the aglet


200


at an acute angle, i.e., the ribs do not extend perpendicular to the string. The angle of the ribs


1010


determine in which direction the aglet


100


may move by gripping the string in one direction. Preferably the ribs extend at about a 45 degree angle from the inner surface of the aglet. The ribs are preferably made of the same material as that of the aglet but may be made of some other sufficiently durable material.





FIG. 11

shows the aglet


200


with ribs


1010


positioned on string


100


. As shown in

FIG. 11

when string


100


extends through aglet


200


the ribs


1010


are compressed. In the example shown in

FIG. 11

the ribs


1010


allow for the aglet


200


to be moved in the right to left direction (D). However, the ribs prevent the movement of the aglet in the opposite direction (left to right) as such movement would push the ribs


1010


into the cover


110


of the string


100


.




Other means for preventing the aglet from moving in a particular direction may also be used. For instance, a hinged member or door could be mounted to the interior of the aglet such that the door only opens in a single direction. As shown in

FIGS. 12A and 12B

, in an alternative embodiment, a single or multiple pins


1220


may be used rather than the ribs


1010


. The pins


1220


may be formed into the aglets


200


during manufacture or may be entered into the aglets


200


after manufacture. The pin may be inserted through the edge of the shell


240


of the aglet


200


at an angle similar to that of the ribs (FIG.


12


A), or may pass through two edges of the shell


240


of the aglet


200


(FIG.


12


B), piercing the string


100


. The pin


1220


may have a head


1240


at one end to prevent it from entering the interior of the aglet and then bent or cropped on the other end in the embodiment that passes through the edges of the aglet


200


(FIG.


12


B).




The ability to adjust the position of the aglet


200


along the string


100


allows for the length of string


100


to be adjusted to a preferred length while maintaining aglets


200


on the string


100


. A method of adjusting the length of a shoelace


100


will now be described. As shown in

FIG. 5

aglet


200


is placed on string


100


at position P


1


. The aglet


200


may be placed on the string


100


by a variety of means. In the preferred embodiment two halves of the aglet


200


are placed over the string


100


and sealed together such as by thermowelding. As discussed above, the internal diameter of the aglet


200


is less than the outer diameter dr of the string


100


at rest. Therefore, the aglet


200


is held in place at position P


1


when the string


100


is at rest.




Preferably, the aglet


200


is placed near the end


598


of the string


100


, preferably about one inch from the end


598


. This provides for a sufficient gripping area near the end of the string


100


.




In a preferred embodiment two aglets


200


are used, one near each end


598


of the string


100


. In another embodiment, an aglet is permanently affixed to the end


598


of the string


100


and a second, moveable aglet


200


is placed at the other end


598


of the string


100


. This allows for the adjustment of the string


100


by moving the moveable aglet


200


.




If the string


100


will be laced through the shoe


800


before adjusting the length, then an adjustable aglet


200


at each end is preferable so as to allow for adjustment without having to relace the shoe


800


. In another embodiment of the method, the string


100


is first laced through the apertures


810


of a shoe prior to adjustment.




After the aglet


200


is placed on the string


100


, the proper length of the string


200


is determined. In one embodiment the string is laced though apertures


810


in shoe


800


(FIG.


8


A). Thus, a user can lace the shoe


800


to determine the appropriate length of the string. After the desired length of the string has been determined the string


100


is stretched such that the outer diameter of the string decreases and the aglet


200


can be moved along the string


100


, preferably the string is stretched so that the diameter of the string is less than or approximate to the inner diameter of the aglet


200


(FIG.


6


). The aglet


200


is then moved to the desired position on the string (FIGS.


6


and


8


B). The excess string


850


extending from the outer end of the aglet


200


to the end of the string


598


can then be removed. The aglet


200


is then held in place by the outer portion of the string


100


pushing against the inner surface


230


of the aglet


200


, as well as the ribs


1010


or member holding the aglet in place (if applicable) (FIG.


8


C). Thus, the aglet


200


is prevented from being removed from the string


100


.




Although the present invention has been described with particularity, the invention may be implemented in ways other than the ones described above by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A shoelace comprising:an elastic string having a first cross sectional area in a rest state and a second cross sectional area in an elongated state; and an aglet, said aglet defining a receiving chamber for receiving said string and positioned on said string such that said string extends at least partially through said aglet, said receiving chamber having a cross sectional area; wherein said first cross sectional area of said string is greater than said cross sectional area of said receiving chamber to prevent movement of said aglet along said string when said string is in a rest state, and said second cross sectional is of a reduced size to allow movement of said aglet along said string when the string is in an elongated state.
  • 2. The shoelace of claim 1 wherein said aglet is curved.
  • 3. The shoelace of claim 1 wherein said elastic string comprises:an inner core of elastomeric strands; and an outer cover surrounding said core, said cover comprising a plurality of intertwining threads.
  • 4. The shoelace of claim 1 wherein said aglet further comprise at least one rib extending from an interior surface of said aglet, said rib being operative to prevent movement of the aglet in one direction along said string.
  • 5. The shoelace of claim 1 wherein said aglet further comprise a hinged member attached to the inner surface of said aglet.
  • 6. The shoelace of claim 1 wherein said aglet further comprises a pin that protrudes through at least one surface of the aglet and prevent the movement of the aglet along the string in at least one direction.
  • 7. A shoelace comprising:an elastic string having a first cross sectional area at rest and a second cross sectional area when elongated, said string comprising: an inner core of elastomeric strands, and an outer cover surrounding said core, said cover comprising a plurality of intertwined threads forming an extendible web; at least one aglet positioned on said string, said aglet being curved and defining a receiving chamber for receiving said string, said receiving chamber having a cross section, wherein said inner cross section of said receiving chamber is approximate than said first cross sectional area of said string and greater than said second cross sectional area of said string.
  • 8. A shoe lace comprising:a. an elastic string having a first end and a second end, said elastic string defining a first circumference in a state of rest and a second circumference in a stretched state; b. a first sleeve having a first open end and a second open end, said first sleeve defining an inside circumference that is larger than said second circumference but smaller than said first circumference, wherein said first sleeve is positioned on said elastic string proximate said string first end so that said first sleeve first open end is closest to said string first end; and c. a second sleeve having a first open end and a second open end, said second sleeve defining an inside circumference that is larger than said second circumference but smaller than said first circumference, wherein said first sleeve is positioned on said elastic string proximate said string second end so that said second sleeve first open end is closest to said string second end, wherein said first and said second sleeve are moveable along said elastic string to respective first and second positions when said shoe lace is in said stretched state and immoveable from said positions when said elastic string is in said rest state so that said first end of said elastic string can be cut to a desired length adjacent to said first sleeve first end and said second end of said elastic string can be cut to a desired length adjacent to said second sleeve first end so that said first sleeve binds said elastic string first end and said second sleeve binds said elastic string second end.
  • 9. The shoe lace in claim 8, wherein said first and said second sleeve are formed from a polymer.
  • 10. The shoe lace in claim 8, wherein said first and said second sleeve are formed from a metal.
  • 11. The shoe lace in claim 8, said first and said second sleeve each contains at least one radially inward pointing rib.
  • 12. The shoe lace in claim 8, said elastic string comprising:a. an inner core of elastic strands; and b. an outer covering surrounding said strands.
  • 13. The shoe lace in claim 8, wherein said first and said second sleeve have a cylindrical cross-section.
  • 14. The shoe lace in claim 8, wherein said first and said second sleeve are curved in a longitudinal direction.
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Number Name Date Kind
1419370 Genaille Jun 1922 A
2581366 De Grazia Jan 1952 A
2820269 Wolff Jan 1958 A
4423539 Ivanhoe Jan 1984 A
4969242 Carlton, Sr. Nov 1990 A
5287601 Schweitzer et al. Feb 1994 A
5388315 Jones Feb 1995 A
5619778 Sloot Apr 1997 A