1. Field of the Invention
The invention is in the field of fasteners and, in particular, fasteners for use in apparel and other applications.
2. Related Art
The use of laces, buttons, snaps, zipper and Velcro™ as fasteners for appear are well known. For example, footwear commonly includes laces, zippers and Velcro™.
Various embodiments of the invention include an elastomeric fastener composed of at least partially of one or more elastomeric substances, so that the elastomeric fastener may be stretched. The elasticity of the fastener may be varied. The variation of elasticity may be carried out by changing the elastomeric substance or substances used in the elastomeric fastener. Variation of the elasticity may render different elastomeric fasteners suitable for use in different circumstances.
Optionally, the elastomeric fastener includes a locking mechanism (coupling) for inserting through an eyelet of a shoe. The locking mechanism may include connectors operable to hold and/or lock the elastomeric fastener into the eyelet of the shoe. The locking mechanism may be shaped as an arrow, a bar, a cone, and/or a metal clip. The locking mechanism may be composed at least partially of an elastomeric substance. The locking mechanism may also be made of the same material as the elastomeric fastener. The locking mechanism may also be co-molded to the elastomeric fastener with a different material than the elastomeric fastener.
In various embodiments, the elastomeric fastener is configured to display advertising, logos, or writing on the surface of the fastener. Customization of the elastomeric fastener may include an indentation in the surface, stamping entirely through the elastomeric fastener, printing on both sides of the elastomeric fastener, and/or the like. The elastomeric fastener may have multiple colors either on one side of the fastener or on different sides of the fastener. The elastomeric fastener may have a buckle or latch displayed on the main body of the elastomeric fastener.
Various embodiments of the invention include a method of inserting a elastomeric fastener into preexisting shoe eyelets, where the elastomeric fastener is stretched as it is inserted into one or more eyelets. Either the body of the elastomeric fastener, or the locking mechanisms on the elastomeric fastener, or both the body and the locking mechanisms may be stretched as the elastomeric fastener is inserted into one or more eyelets. The elastomeric fastener remains in a stretched position when locked into the eyelets. The elastomeric fastener may be inserted into the eyelets by hand or by machine.
Various embodiments of the invention include an elastomeric fastener system comprising a body including an elastomeric material configured to stretch so as to secure an article of footwear to a foot, a first locking mechanism disposed at a first end of the body and configured to attach to the article of footwear, and a second locking mechanism disposed at a second end of the body and configured to be attached and detached from the article of footwear by a user by passing the second locking mechanism through an opening in the footwear.
Various embodiments of the invention include an elastomeric fastener system comprising a body including an elastomeric material configured to stretch so as to secure an article of clothing, a first locking mechanism disposed at a first end of the body and configured to attach to the article of clothing, and a second locking mechanism disposed at a second end of the body and configured to be attached and detached from the article of clothing by a user, the second locking mechanism including a triangular element configured to pass through an eyelet.
Various embodiments of the invention include an elastomeric fastener system comprising a first elastomeric fastener comprising a first body including an elastomeric material configured to stretch so as to secure an article of footwear to a foot, a first locking mechanism attached to the first body and configured to attach to the article of footwear, and a second locking mechanism attached to the first body and configured to be attached and detached from the article of footwear by a user; and a second elastomeric fastener comprising a second body including an elastomeric material configured to stretch so as to secure the article of footwear to a foot, third first locking mechanism attached to the second body and configured to attach to the article of footwear, and a second locking mechanism attached to the second body and configured to be attached and detached from the article of footwear by the user by passing the second locking mechanism through an opening in the footwear.
Various embodiments of the invention include an elastomeric fastener composed of one or more elastomeric substances configured such that the elastomeric fastener may be stretched. For example, in various embodiments the elastomeric fastener is configured to be stretched by at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 or 50 percent. As is described further herein, the elastomeric fastener may be used in a variety of applications includes fastening footwear. The elasticity of the fastener may be varied by changing the elastomeric substance or other substances used in the elastomeric fastener. Additionally, the desired tension across the face of a shoe, or other article, may be controlled by changing the length of the body of the fastener. Variation of the elasticity and length may render different elastomeric fasteners suitable for use in different circumstances.
In various embodiments, the body of the fastener includes a rectangular shape at least 1, 1.25 1.5, 2, or 2.25 inches long and approximately 0.25, 0.375, 0.5, or 0.625 inches wide. At each end, the rectangular shape narrows toward the curved, down-turning portions at both sides and finally terminates at a triangular coupling. A desired tension is achieved by choosing an appropriate length of the rectangular shape relative to coupling points of an article, a variation in material durometer, or by varying the sectional thickness of the rectangular shape. For example, if the coupling points include the eyelets of a shoe, a desired tension across the face of the shoe is achieved by choosing a length that results in an appropriate stretching of the elastomeric fastener when the elastomeric fastener is attached between the eyelets. This tension may affect performance as well as the ease by which the shoe is taken on and off.
The body of the elastomeric fastener may take on a variety of widths, lengths and configurations depending upon aesthetic and functional requirements. These variations are illustrated further in the figures. In some embodiments, the body of the fastener is the point at which the fasteners' elastic properties are most critical.
The elasticity of the fastener can be affected by material choice and the desired tension across the face of the shoe is affected by the length of the body of the fastener and its thickness. For example, athletes may prefer a shoe that is fixed very tight to the foot and feels as though it is part of the body. Alternatively, someone that wears a shoe for comfort, short periods of time or in a location that dictates different shoes over the course of a day may desire a shoe that is loose fitting and easily taken on and off. Some embodiments included an elastomeric fastener that may be manufactured in different configurations of material and fastener body length to achieve different function.
In some embodiments, the ends of the elastomeric fastener are approximately 1″ long and 9/16″ wide. They are triangular in shape with the backside of the triangle meeting the body of the fastener at both sides. The triangular ends are shaped such that the narrow 3/32″ wide portion can be passed through the eyelet of a shoe. The triangular ends are optionally configured such that it is easy to grab, pass through the eyelet of a shoe and may readily be pulled. This pulling action may be facilitated by a slight radius in the long arms of the triangular ends that help the ends pass through the eyelets of the shoe. Once the ends have been pulled through the eyelet, the elastomeric fastener locks into place due to the change in dimension from the triangular end and the curved, down-turning portion that transitions from the body of the fastener. The triangular ends include alternate widths and configurations. However, the ends are typically narrow enough to pass through the eyelet and wide enough at the backside to enable proper locking (coupling) beyond the eyelet of the shoe.
In some embodiments, the elastomeric fastener is configured for use such that the ends pass into an eyelet and are then hidden under the surface of a shoe. In other embodiments, the triangular end (or any other end shape configuration that allows locking and passing through the eyelet) is configured to come up through the eyelet and be locked above the surface of the shoe. In these embodiments, part of the rectangular region may be disposed below the surface of the shoe as the rectangular region passes across the shoe. In some embodiments, the elastomeric fastener is configured to fit through a loop in a tough of a shoe.
The elastomeric fastener locks into place on a shoe because the backside of the triangular end is wider than the typical eyelet of a shoe. Just beyond the triangular end at both sides of the fastener is a curved, down-turning (up-turning coming from triangular end) portion that transitions to the body of the fastener. This curve is the transition point from the triangular end to the body of the fastener and the location the fastener rests in the eyelet. In some embodiments, this curve is configured such that there is a 7/32″ wide section that is 3/32″ thick and transitions to the body of the fastener in the shape of a reverse curve when viewed from the top. This reverse curve allows a smooth visual transition to the elastomeric fastener when stretched across the front of the shoe. The elastomeric fastener at this location is wide enough to pass through the eyelet of a shoe while, in some embodiments, creating some friction at the eyelet when the fastener is in place. In some embodiments, the elastomeric fastener is also configured to create a slight reveal in its surface because of its width that is much like the appearance of a typical shoelace.
The elastomeric fastener may be made of any elastic material that provides a desired performance and fit. A variety of different types of silicone, rubber, castable polyurethane (CPU), Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPU, TPE), or any other elastic material, may be chosen based on their properties, the variety of which are consistent and known to those manufacturers that supply such. The elastomeric fastener may also be composed of more than one type of each particular material, depending upon the desired elasticity and configuration. The elastomeric fastener may also be composed of some of the materials mentioned herein as well as non-elastic material or materials that have different elastic qualities but serve a purpose such as adding durability to the elastomeric fastener. The elastomeric fastener may also be composed of some of the above-mentioned materials in addition to substantially different materials that have elastic qualities such as a plastic or metal spring. A spring may be added in place of such elastic materials to add resiliency and tension as well as desired aesthetic qualities.
The fastener may be composed in part of materials that are not elastic in order to allow the fastener to be more rigid, more durable, or more easily grabbed in particular locations. The fastener end may be altered such that the terminus of the triangular end may be composed of plastic, metal, adhesives, or any other variety of materials that facilitate gripping. The end may also be configured such that the terminus is a variety of shapes, such as a sphere or elliptical object that appears to be integrated into the fastener. The object may be narrow enough to pass through the eyelet of a shoe but wide enough to be grabbed and pulled.
The transitions of form and shape that occur along the elastomeric fastener's length are particularly prone to damage and tear because of the forces that are intrinsic to this type of object. Therefore, a material other than an elastomer may be added to areas such as the outside edges of the notches in the fastener, triangular ends of the fastener, or in the transitional curved portion between the body and the ends. This may maintain elasticity at the body as well as protection to critical areas along the length of the fastener.
In some embodiments, the elastomeric fastener is to be altered such that it is molded to accommodate other materials that simply slide in place on the elastomeric fastener and are fixed. Other embodiments include co-molding an alternate material with the elastic material of the elastomeric fastener to form a unified object. The elastomeric fastener may be made in a pouring process whereby hot rubber, silicone, castable polyurethane (CPU), Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPU, TPE) or alternate elastic materials are poured in a custom mold. The elastomeric fastener may also be injection molded whereby substances such as Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPU, TPE) or alternate elastic materials are molded through injection into a custom mold. In various embodiments, the elastomeric fastener is made by stamping hot rubber, silicone, castable polyurethane (CPU), Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPU, TPE), or alternate elastic materials using a custom mold.
In various embodiments, the elastomeric fastener includes a locking mechanism (e.g. coupler) configured for inserting through an eyelet of a shoe. The locking mechanism can include connectors operable to hold and/or lock the elastomeric fastener into the eyelet of the shoe. The locking mechanism may include a shape such as an arrow, a bar, a cone, any other alternate shape designed for eyelet insertion, or an operable physical mechanism such as a clip or clasp. The locking mechanism may be composed at least partially of an elastomeric substance. The locking mechanism may be made of the same material as other parts of the elastomeric fastener, partially of the material of the elastomeric fastener or a completely different material. The locking mechanism may also be co-molded or fitted to the elastomeric fastener with a different material than the elastomeric fastener.
The locking mechanism of the elastomeric fastener may take on a variety of shapes. In some embodiments, critical factors determining these shapes include: an aesthetic appeal; an ability to be passed through the eyelet of a shoe; an ability to lock into place once pulled through the eyelet; a subjective ‘feel’ of the lace once inserted in the shoe; and a durability of the locking mechanism and adjacent materials.
The locking mechanism of the elastomeric fastener is optionally found at both ends of the elastomeric fastener. The locking mechanism may include a variety of shapes, most of which have the ability to pass through the eyelet of a particular shoe. Some locking mechanism shapes may work better in some applications than others. For example, a particular shape may be preferred for a particular type of shoe eyelet. The locking mechanism may be triangular in plan and flat in section, or may be some variation of this triangular shape so that its section is circular or ovular. The locking mechanism may also be spherical or elliptical in plan and section or some geometrical hybrid of the above mentioned. However, the locking mechanism is typically dimensioned such that it can be passed and pulled through an eyelet. The locking mechanism shape may also be a function of the partially subjective determination on the part of the shoe wearer as to the ‘feel’ of the product once in place inside the shoe. In a one embodiment, the locking mechanism preferably fits between the top of the shoe and the tongue while not creating a protrusion that will be uncomfortable to the wearer.
In those embodiments including a triangular locking mechanism, the sides of the triangle may be straight or curved and of lengths deemed functional and comfortable for the wearer. The backside of the triangular end coincides with the curve and/or body of the elastomeric fastener. The backside is normally wider than the eyelet of the shoe in order for the locking mechanism to lock into place. The elastomeric fastener locks into place because it expands once it has passed fully through the eyelet. In order to function properly, the fastener should stay locked into place in at least one location as it is stretched across the top of the shoe and locked into place at the opposite side or any other location deemed functional.
In other embodiments, the locking mechanism includes other shapes that can be manipulated such that its size once rotated, pressed or squeezed allows it to be passed through an eyelet. These shapes may include, for example, a bar with flat sectional qualities or a rod with circular sectional qualities. If the bar or rod is constructed of an elastic malleable material the ends can be squeezed together and passed through an eyelet. The locking mechanism may also include shapes that are rigid and must be passed fully through the eyelet to create a locked position. If the bar or rod is not malleable, it may alternately be fed through an eyelet and rotated to lock in place, or the eyelet may include the malleable feature. This in turn makes the connecting portion of the notch or body of the fastener deform and/or stretch slightly, which in turn allows the bar or rod to pass fully through the eyelet and be set in a fixed-in position.
Typically, the locking mechanism is found just beyond the body and/or curve of the fastener. The curve may or may not have a notch at the juncture of the two. The change in dimension serves to help create a condition whereby the locking mechanism is held in place. This occurs because the ends of the body at the curve are narrow enough to pass through the eyelet and allow the backside of the locking mechanism to hold the fastener in place once expanded. The curve on the body of the fastener can take on a number of configurations including but not limited to, attaching to the locking mechanism directly or in a slightly varied way by curving or stepping at a right angle down to the locking mechanism. This variation may also assist the locking mechanism to hold the fastener in a secondary manner. Not only is the backside of the fastener larger than the eyelet and held horizontally in place, but in the condition described above, is also vertically held in position by placing the locking mechanism below the fastener. This secondary manner of locking also utilizes the top plane of the mechanism as well as its backside to hold and lock the fastener in place.
The locking mechanism may also be composed of a variety of materials that facilitate its function or add to its durability. The fastener may be composed of homogeneous material or composed in part of materials that are not elastic in order to allow the fastener to be more rigid, more durable, or more easily grabbed in particular locations. The fastener end may be altered such that the terminus of the triangular end could be composed of plastic, metal or any other variety of materials that facilitate gripping. The end may also be configured such that the terminus is a variety of shapes such as a sphere or elliptical object that appears to be integrated into the fastener. The object may be narrow enough to pass through the eyelet of a shoe but wide enough to be grabbed and pulled. The locking mechanism may include a series of conjoined shapes such as a sphere or elliptical shape in addition to a triangle or ‘wing’ shape that are combined to facilitate gripping and locking. The end may also have a hook, hole, slot, or other varying shapes that enables the fastener to lock onto a specific geometry included on the footwear, including but not limited to a D-ring, notch, hook, or the like.
The transitions of form and shape that occur along the fastener length or the body itself may be particularly prone to damage and tear because of the forces that are intrinsic to this type of object. It is for this reason that a material other than an elastomer, such as metal, plastic, or composite may be added to areas such as the outside edges of the notches in the fastener or triangular locking mechanism of the fastener. This may maintain elasticity at the body as well as protect critical areas along the length of the fastener.
The locking mechanism may also be altered such that it is molded to accommodate other materials including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, and composite materials that simply slide in place on the fastener and are fixed. In another embodiment, the alternate material may be co-molded with the locking mechanism to form a unified object.
Various embodiments include an elastomeric fastener capable of being customized to display an image or script on the surface of the fastener. The image or script may be placed on the fastener as an item or items on one individual fastener, or an item or items across the face of an individual fastener that in turn creates a larger image by the placing of all fasteners together as a whole on the face of an article such as a shoe. The customization may include an indentation or printing on a surface of the elastomeric fastener, a relief on the surface, projections above the surface, an opening entirely through the elastomeric fastener, or printing and/or indentations on both sides of the elastomeric fastener. The elastomeric fastener may be composed of material having multiple colors either on one side of the fastener or on different sides of the fastener. The elastomeric fastener may include a buckle, latch, or any variety of securing mechanism on the main body of the elastomeric fastener. The buckle, latch, or any variety of securing mechanism may be functional or decorative.
In some embodiments, an image or script appearing on the elastomeric fastener is determined by the manufacturer before retail sales of the elastomeric fastener, or customized by the prospective buyer during retail sales, and is limited only by the size of an individual fastener or group of fasteners.
The fastener is optionally made from a material that is molded or stamped. A script or image may be added to the fastener surface by adding the mirror image of that script or image to the form of the mold or stamp. The script or image may be molded into the fastener at any depth including through the fastener material.
Various dyes or inks and using adhering processes including but not limited to silk screening or sublimation printing may be used to print directly on the surface of the elastomeric fastener. Printing on the fastener may occur on any surface of the fastener, comprising sides, top, bottom, ends, stamped/molded areas and the interior of the fastener. Dyes or inks may be injected into the fastener to fill voids on the interior of the fastener created through the molding and/or stamping process. In some embodiments, the elastomeric fastener includes a writable and/or rewritable surface on which a user can write text or images.
The elastomeric fastener is optionally molded from a material that is made in a variety of colors. These colors may be mixed to create an unlimited variety of custom and/or random color patterns that appear as such on the elastomeric fastener or sets thereof. The elastomeric fastener may also be molded in such a way as to create the appearance that its top is one color and its bottom is a different color or that one side is one color and the other side is a different color. In addition, alternate visual elements may be molded into the elastomeric fastener including but not limited to metallic flakes and opal essence. The transparency of the elastomeric fastener can vary from completely opaque to transparent. In addition, the elastomeric fastener may have a variety of transitions between transparent sections and opaque sections. These transitions may be random or predetermined for a desirable visual effect.
The elastomeric fastener is optionally constructed such that it appears to be attached to itself by some type of latch, buckle, snap, hook and eye, clip, or various other fastening devices. The elastomeric fastener in this case is optionally purely decorative and added for aesthetic purposes.
The elastomeric fastener may also be constructed such that the fastening devices are functional instead of decorative. For example, the elastomeric fastener may be constructed in two parts, each part being set into the eyelet of the shoe at the triangular ends. A fastening device such as a latch, buckle, snap, hook and eye, clip, Velcro™ attachment, or various other fastening devices may be located on the opposing ends that meet over the tongue of the shoe. The operation of the fastening device is optionally similar to that of a buckle of a belt or the snap of a jacket. The fastening device may be synched, buckled, snapped or fastened by any other means such that the tension of the fastener may be altered through the manipulation of the device where the two ends come together.
Various embodiments of the invention include a method of inserting an elastomeric fastener into existing shoe eyelets, where the elastomeric fastener is stretched as it is inserted into one or more eyelets. Either the body of the elastomeric fastener, or the locking mechanisms on the elastomeric fastener, or the notches if present, and/or any variation therein may be stretched as the elastomeric fastener is inserted into one or more eyelets. The elastomeric fastener remains in a stretched position when locked into the eyelets. The elastomeric fastener may be inserted into the eyelets by hand or by machine.
In some embodiments, the elastomeric fastener is attached to a shoe when the shoe is on a foot, but is preferably and more readily attached or partially attached to the shoe when the shoe is off the foot. In one method, the elastomeric fastener may be held in one hand toward the base of the body exposing the fastening mechanism on one side of the fastener. The shoe eyelet that is to be pierced by the fastening mechanism is turned inward slightly and made visible to the user's eye. The end of the elastomeric fastener is gripped toward the end of the fastening mechanism and pushed down and into the eyelet. Additionally, for other methods, or for alternate fastening mechanism embodiments, the end of the fastener is placed through by squeezing the ends together and piercing the eyelet, or for other fastening mechanism embodiments, the fastening mechanism rod or alternate shape is pushed into the eyelet.
Once the locking mechanism has been placed into the eyelet, the locking mechanism can be pushed and/or pulled through. Resistance created by wider or greater amounts of material toward the back of the locking mechanism may be a part of this process. Once the locking mechanism has been passed fully through one eyelet and resistance has subsided, the fastener will lock into place by expansion at the wider portion of the locking mechanism. This may be due in part to the larger volume of material at the backside of the locking mechanism or the configuration of such in alternate embodiments. This also may be due to the change in dimension in the body of the fastener that is optionally smaller than the locking mechanism at the end of the elastomeric fastener.
Once the elastomeric fastening is secured at one end, it may be placed through another eyelet at another location. For other elastomeric fastener embodiments, the fastening mechanism may already be permanently fastened at one location depending upon the design of the shoe and may only need to be fastened at the opposing side or alternate locations. The fastening mechanism is optionally also be configured for alternate elastomeric fastener embodiments such that a second location may not be the only location but one of a plurality of locations to be locked before the elastomeric fastener is completely secure.
Once attached at least one point, the elastomeric fastener may be stretched and pulled across the face of the shoe. The amount of stretch in the elastomeric fastener may be dependent on to the type of material, cross sectional thickness, durometer, or length of the body of the fastener. Once the elastomeric fastener has been secured and stretched, the elastomeric fastener may be held in one hand as another eyelet is turned down and made visible to the eye by the opposite hand. The fastener may be held as described herein, including alternate embodiments of elastomeric fastener, and pushed into the eyelet. Once the locking mechanism has been placed into the eyelet, it may be pushed and/or pulled through as also described herein.
In one embodiment, the placement of the fastener is such that the triangular end (or any other end shape configuration that allows locking and passing through the eyelet) is disposed below the surface of the shoe and the body of the elastomeric fastener remains above the surface of the shoe. In another embodiment, the end is disposed above the surface of the shoe and part of the body of the elastomeric fastener is disposed below the surface as it passes across the top of the shoe or below the tongue of the shoe.
In various embodiments, providing the body of the fastener is a proper dimension for the eyelet separation across the shoe, the resulting effect of the elastomeric fastener is that it is stretched across the front of the shoe. Each fastener may be added to the eyelets of the shoe in a similar manner.
Specifically,
Specifically,
Specifically,
Several embodiments are specifically illustrated and/or described herein. However, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations are covered by the above teachings and within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and intended scope thereof.
The embodiments discussed herein are illustrative of the present invention. As these embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to illustrations, various modifications or adaptations of the methods and or specific structures described may become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such modifications, adaptations, or variations that rely upon the teachings of the present invention, and through which these teachings have advanced the art, are considered to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Hence, these descriptions and drawings should not be considered in a limiting sense, as it is understood that the present invention is in no way limited to only the embodiments illustrated.
This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Applications: 60/714,664 filed Sep. 7, 2005; 60/728,249 filed Oct. 18, 2005; 60/728,081 filed Oct. 18, 2005; 60/728,669 filed Oct. 19, 2005; and 60/729,433 filed Oct. 20, 2005. The disclosures of the above provisional patent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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