Patent Application
20110088229
Shoes, sneakers and other footwear which utilize a lace to securely fasten the footwear become untied at inconvenient and sometimes hazardous times. Particularly with respect to sport activities, it can actually stop play altogether until the laces are properly tied to avoid the shoe being dislodged from the foot or the wearer from tripping over the laces by inadvertently stepping on the unfastened end.
With respect to children in their play activities, loosening of the bow-knot places a burden on parents and other adults around them because the task of retying the laces may be beyond the child's capability. It is also difficult to perform this task while wearing gloves or mittens or may be beyond the abilities of many physically handicapped persons.
Heretofore, a variety of devices have been suggested to prevent shoelaces from becoming untied, but they exhibited a number of problems which have detracted from their acceptance. These devices are often cumbersome and complicated to use. Furthermore, many such devices may not be configured to remain on the shoes when they are stored, or if attached to the shoe, they interfere with the comfort thereof or are simply so complicated to use that they are unacceptable.
More recently, devices have been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,291,439 4,428,101 4,553,293 and 4,571,854 which includes strips of interlocking material (including hook and loop elements) for securing the bow-knots of tied laces or engage the laces to provide a knotless fastening. These devices are not secured to the footwear and require manipulation, both for installing on the laces or shoes and for the operation thereof, which may be unacceptable for children or the handicapped. In addition, they may generally not be stored with the shoe since they would interfere with tying of the laces when the shoe is first being placed on the wearers foot or with loosening of the laces for removal of the shoe.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,138 a device is disclosed which is secured to the tongue of the shoe and consists of elastic means for engaging opposed sides of the bow-knot to impede the knot from becoming untied while simultaneously exposed the bow-knot and maintaining the normal appearance thereof. The device, however, requires manipulation by the user to tension the engaging means so as to impede the knot from becoming untied which may be beyond the ability of a handicapped person or a child.
Thus, there is a need for devices which can be used even by children and persons having physical impediments, to impede the untying of a bow-knot formed to fasten laces on shoes; and particularly, for such device which is secured to the footwear and can be stored therewith without interfering with the putting-on or taking-off of the shoe.
Bow knot clamp is made up of metal which is made of three pieces that work together. The second member which is shown in
The bow knot clamp is to prevent shoe laces from loosing it's bow and coming untied. Once shoe laces are tied the knot of the bow fits between first and second members. Once actuating cam member clamp down the first member applies enough pressure to prevent the shoe laces from coming untied. With this your able to maintain the shoe laces from getting dirty and step on. Bow knot clamp also helps from having to keep retying your shoe laces and keep the shoe laces from fraying up. Bow knot clamp main duty is to apply pressure to the shoe laces; keep them from getting dirty; keep the shoe lace bow tight; getting damage and keep the bow tie in the shoe laces. The design on the drawing are plain but the invention may be shaped differently, such being pyramid, square, round, and/or triangle shape. The device may be made out of different material such as metal wood, plastic, composites, and etc. The device may also have a fashionable design on the face of it to give it a more appealing look.
Is an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The bow knot clamp has a first member 12, which include a teeth-like post 14, facing a second member 16, and has the teeth like post 14 there through. Second member 16 further includes inwardly extending sidepieces 18 which have opening for receiving opposed side projections extending from an actuating cam member 20. Actuating cam member 20 is pivotally attached to a base plate, illustrated as second member 16, by means of opposed side projections which are confined within the opening in side piece 18, actuating cam member 20 includes a depending cam section which is designed to contact and depress the clamping plate, first member 12, when the handle portion of 20 is moved down against the backward surface of first member 12, such depression cause post 14 to move toward second member 16.
Through hole member 22 is attached to second member 16, as shown in
This invention relates to a clamping device for a knot in a bow of shoe laces, and is more particularly concern with a device to prevent children shoe laces coming untied from shoes while playing; also acting as a decorative attachment for shoes.
Young children who wear shoes with laces frequently come untied causing a hazard for the child in that the child may trip on the laces; therefore, adults spend considerable time re-tying the laces. The shoe laces them selves would become damage and dirty; taking away the look from the shoe and becoming unappealing
