Lace Adjuster

Abstract

A lace adjuster includes a longitudinal hollow body and two stop members. The hollow body defines a longitudinal passage, and has longitudinally opposite first and second ends, and an operating opening disposed between the first and second ends and communicated with the longitudinal passage. The longitudinal passage has first and second openings at the first and second ends, respectively. The stop members are pivotally and transversely mounted in the longitudinal passage and are respectively proximate to the first and second openings of the longitudinal passage. Each of the stop members has a lace-engaging portion, and a handle portion connected to the lace-engaging portion, and is operable so as to adjust the lengths of lace segments.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 098118922, filed on Jun. 6, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a lace adjuster, more particularly to a lace adjuster for adjusting a length of a lace easily.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, U.S. Pat. No. 7,343,652 discloses an adjustable lace assembly 100 which includes a lace 4, a tubular member 1, two stop members 3, and two spaced apart inserting pins 2. The lace 4 is composed of two separate lace segments 40 each having a tagged end 42 and an opposite bent end portion 41. The tubular member 1 has a passage 11 for receiving the bent end portions 41. The stop members 3 are mounted pivotally inside the tubular member 1 at two axially spaced apart positions and span the passage 11. Each of the stop members 3 has an engaging part 31 engageable with one of the bent end portions 41. The inserting pins 2 are insertable removably into the tubular member 1, are capable of disengaging the bent end portions 41, respectively, from the engaging parts 31 of the stop members 3, and permit movement of the bent end portions 41 so that a length between the tagged end 42 of each of the lace segments 40 and a corresponding one of the stop members 3 can be adjusted.

Although the length between the tagged end 42 of each of the lace segments 40 and the corresponding one of the stop members 3 can be adjusted, the adjustable lace assembly 100 has the following disadvantages:

• • 1. Since the bent end portion 41 of each of the lace segments 40 has a cross-section double of that of each of the lace segments, the tubular member 1 is required to have a relatively large size for receiving the bent end portion 41 therein.
  • 2. Once the bent end portion 41 of each of the lace segments 40 is stopped by a corresponding one of the stop members 3 after removing the inserting pins 2, the length between the tagged end 42 of each of the lace segments 40 and the corresponding one of the stop members 3 can not be further adjusted.
  • 3. Since the inserting pins 2 are required in the adjustable lace assembly 100, the production and assembly of the adjustable lace assembly 100 is relatively complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a lace adjuster which is simple and small in structure and which can be reused for adjusting a length of a lace.

Accordingly, the lace adjuster of this invention is used for adjusting a length of a lace composed of two separate lace segments, and includes a longitudinal hollow body and two stop members. The longitudinal hollow body defines a longitudinal passage, and has longitudinally opposite first and second ends, and an operating opening disposed between the first and second ends and communicated with the longitudinal passage. The longitudinal passage has first and second openings at the first and second ends, respectively. The stop members are pivotally and transversely mounted in the longitudinal passage and are respectively proximate to the first and second openings of the longitudinal passage. Each of the stop members has a lace-engaging portion and a handle portion connected to the lace-engaging portion, and is operable between a first position in which the handle portion is pushed into the longitudinal passage of the longitudinal hollow body so that the lace-engaging portion is moved close to an inner surface of the longitudinal hollow body for clamping a corresponding one of the lace segments against the inner surface of the longitudinal hollow body, and a second position in which the handle portion is pulled out of the operating opening so that the lace-engaging portion is moved away from the inner surface of the longitudinal hollow body for loosening the corresponding one of the lace segments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a conventional lace adjuster disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,343,652;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a lace adjuster according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment when applied to a shoe body;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a body in the preferred embodiment in an un-folded state; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a stop member in the preferred embodiment in an un-folded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the preferred embodiment of a lace adjuster 100 according to this invention is shown to be applied to a shoe body 300 that has a plurality of eyelets 310. The lace adjuster 100 is used for adjusting a length of each of two separate lace segments 200. The lace segments 200 are strung through the eyelets 310, and each of the lace segments 200 has a tagged end portion 220 with a tagged end 230 and a stringing end portion 210 opposite to the tagged end portion 220.

The lace adjuster 100 is installed between the eyelets 310 on the shoe body 300, and includes a longitudinal hollow body 10, two stop members 20, and a coating layer 30 applied on the longitudinal hollow body 10.

The longitudinal hollow body 10 defines a longitudinal passage 13, and has longitudinally opposite first and second ends 111, 112, and an operating opening 14 disposed between the first and second ends 111, 112 and communicated with the longitudinal passage 13. The longitudinal passage 13 has first and second openings 131, 132 at the first and second ends 111, 112, respectively. The longitudinal hollow body 10 has a peripheral wall 11 that is a substantially reverse U-shaped cross-section and that includes first and second sides 113, 114 extending between the first and second ends 111, 112, and a third side 116 interconnecting the first and second sides 113, 114 and confining the longitudinal passage 13 in cooperation with the first and second sides 113, 114. The peripheral wall 11 further has two pairs of pivot holes 115 in the first and second sides 113, 114 thereof. The operating opening 14 is confined between the first and second sides 113, 114 opposite to the third side 116. Furthermore, each of the first and second ends 111, 112 of the longitudinal hollow body 10 has a pair of spaced apart tabs 12 protruding oppositely and respectively from the first and second sides 113, 114 of the peripheral wall 11. The longitudinal passage 13 is disposed between the pairs of the tabs 12. Each of the first and second openings 131, 132 of the longitudinal passage 13 is defined by one pair of the tabs 12 and the first, second, and third sides 113, 114, 116 of the peripheral wall 11. The third side 116 of the peripheral wall 11 is formed with an indicating portion 15 (e.g., a trademark, a figure, text, or the like) protruded out of the coating layer 30.

The stop members 20 are pivotally and transversely mounted in the longitudinal passage 13 and are respectively proximate to the first and second openings 131, 132 of the longitudinal passage 13. Each of the stop members 20 has a lace-engaging portion 22 and a handle portion 23 connected to the lace-engaging portion 22. The lace-engaging portion 22 and the handle portion 23 of each of the stop members 20 are angled to each other to form a substantially L-shaped cross-section. The lace-engaging portion 22 of each of the stop members 20 has a plurality of teeth 221. Each of the stop members 20 further includes a pair of pivoting portions 21 extending oppositely and outward from the handle portion 23 and pivotally connected to the longitudinal hollow body 10 at a corresponding pair of the pivot holes 115.

The handle portion 23 of each of the stop members 20 is operable between a first position in which the handle portion 23 is pushed into the longitudinal passage 13 of the longitudinal hollow body 10 so that the lace-engaging portion 22 is moved close to an inner surface of the longitudinal hollow body 10 for clamping a corresponding one of the lace segments 200 against the inner surface of the longitudinal hollow body 10, and a second position in which the handle portion 23 is pulled out of the operating opening 14 so that the lace-engaging portion 22 is moved away from the inner surface of the longitudinal hollow body 10 for loosening the corresponding one of the lace segments 200.

Referring to FIG. 5, in assembly, the handle portion 23 of each of the stop members 20 is operated to be at the second position. The stringing end portion 210 of each of the lace segments 200 is strung into the longitudinal passage 13 via a corresponding one of the first and second openings 131, 132 and is passed around a corresponding one of the stop members 20 so as to be strung out of the operating opening 14 and to adjust the lengths of the lace segments 200.

Referring to FIG. 6, after adjusting the lengths of the lace segments 200, the handle portion 23 of each of the stop members 20 is operated to be at the first position so that the lace-engaging portion 22 of each of the stop members 20 is moved close to the inner surface of the longitudinal hollow body 10 to clamp the stringing end portion 210 of the corresponding one of the lace segments 200 between the inner surface of the longitudinal hollow body 10 and the teeth 221 of the lace-engaging portion 22.

When the lengths of the lace segments 200 are required to be further adjusted, the handle portion 23 of each of the stop members 20 is operated to be at the second position again so that adjustment of the lengths of the lace segments 200 can proceed.

Referring to FIG. 7, the longitudinal hollow body 10 can be formed integrally by punching and bending a metal plate. The longitudinal hollow body 10 thus formed is coated to form the coating layer 30 thereon, which is then milled to obtain the indicating portion 15, as best shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 8, similarly, each of the stop members 20 can be formed integrally by punching and bending a metal plate, and is pivotally mounted in the longitudinal passage 13 of the longitudinal hollow body 10 so as to obtain the lace adjuster 100.

In view of the aforesaid, the lace adjuster 100 of the present invention has the following advantages:

• • 1. Since it is not required for each of the first and second openings 131, 132 of the longitudinal passage 13 to have a size for receiving double of the cross-section of the lace segment 200, the size of the longitudinal hollow body 10 can be reduced.
  • 2. Since the stop members 20 are pivotally mounted to the longitudinal hollow body 10, the lengths of the lace segments 200 can be adjusted repeatedly by simply operating the stop members 20.
  • 3. Since the longitudinal hollow body 10 and the stop members 20 can be formed by punching and bending metal plates, the lace adjuster 100 can be produced with relative ease.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A lace adjuster adapted for adjusting a length of a lace composed of two separate lace segments, said lace adjuster comprising: a longitudinal hollow body defining a longitudinal passage, and having longitudinally opposite first and second ends, and an operating opening disposed between said first and second ends and communicated with said longitudinal passage, said longitudinal passage having first and second openings at said first and second ends, respectively; andtwo stop members pivotally and transversely mounted in said longitudinal passage and respectively proximate to said first and second openings of said longitudinal passage, each of said stop members having a lace-engaging portion and a handle portion connected to said lace-engaging portion and being operable between a first position in which said handle portion is pushed into said longitudinal passage of said longitudinal hollow body so that said lace-engaging portion is moved close to an inner surface of said longitudinal hollow body for clamping a corresponding one of the lace segments against said inner surface of said longitudinal hollow body, and a second position in which said handle portion is pulled out of said operating opening so that said lace-engaging portion is moved away from said inner surface of said longitudinal hollow body for loosening the corresponding one of the lace segments.

2. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal hollow body has a peripheral wall that includes first and second sides extending between said first and second ends, and a third side interconnecting said first and second sides and confining said longitudinal passage in cooperation with said first and second sides, said operating opening being confined between said first and second sides opposite to said third side.

3. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said first and second ends has a pair of spaced apart tabs protruding oppositely and respectively from said first and second sides of said peripheral wall, said longitudinal passage being disposed between said pairs of said tabs, each of said first and second openings of said longitudinal passage being defined by one pair of said tabs and said first, second, and third sides of said peripheral wall.

4. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lace-engaging portion and said handle portion of each of said stop members are angled to each other to form a substantially L-shaped cross-section.

5. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 5, wherein said lace-engaging portion of each of said stop members has a plurality of teeth.

6. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said peripheral wall further has two pairs of pivot holes, and each of said stop members further includes a pair of pivoting portions extending oppositely and outward from said handle portion and pivotally connected to said longitudinal hollow body at a corresponding pair of said pivot holes.