Shoe lace retainer

Abstract

The shoe lace retainer has an upper surface that may have an aesthetic appearance, such as simulative of an animal. The lower surface has a material adherent to shoe laces. The preferred shoe lace adherent material is the hook portion of a hook and loop fastener. After the shoe laces are tied, the shoe lace retainer is placed over and releasably adhered to the shoe laces. Once adhered, the shoe lace retainer remains on the shoe laces and prevents movement that would cause the shoe laces to become untied. Since no portion underlies the shoe laces, the shoe lace retainer may be easily placed on the shoe after the laces are tied. The simple attachment method allows the shoe lace retainer to be used by small children.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a device for preventing shoe laces from becoming untied.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Shoe laces become untied when, through physical activity or various motions of the foot, shoe laces become loose. Athletes often wrap tape over the shoe laces and around the entire shoe to prevent shoe laces from becoming loose and untied.

[0003] Various devices have been developed with the purpose of retaining shoe laces in the tied condition. U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,111 (Deskins et al) discloses a device for protecting shoe laces having top and bottom portions. The bottom portion is placed between the laces and tongue of the shoe and underlies the laces. The top portion overlies the laces and is joined to the bottom portion by fasteners such as hook and loop fasteners positioned about the periphery of the device. Once the upper and lower portions are joined, the laces are retained therebetween.

[0004] Another U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,500 (Illingworth), discloses a knot securing device having a lower portion underlying laces and an upper portion 16 overlying and connecting to the lower portion. Hook and loop fasteners are used to attach the upper and lower portion.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,888 (Miller) discloses a shoe lace retainer having a drip material with a slot 16 and hook and loop fasteners on opposite sides. Laces extend through the slot and rest upon the strip. The strip is rolled and retained by hook and loop fasteners.

[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide a shoe lace retaining which is easily applied to a shoe after the shoe laces are tied.

[0007] It is another object of the invention to use a shoe lace retainer having a simple attachment method suitable for small children.

[0008] It is another object of the invention to provide a shoe lace retainer having an aesthetic appearance.

[0009] It is another object of the invention to provide a shoe lace retainer that is inexpensive to manufacture and simple to use.

[0010] These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing the disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The shoe lace retainer has an upper surface that may have an aesthetic appearance, such as simulative of an animal. The lower surface has a material adherent to shoe laces. The preferred shoe lace adherent material is the hook portion of a hook and loop fastener. After the shoe laces are tied, the shoe lace retainer is placed over and releasably adhered to the shoe laces. Once adhered, the shoe lace retainer remains on the shoe laces and prevents movement that would cause the shoe laces to become untied. Since no portion underlies the shoe laces, the shoe lace retainer may be easily placed on the shoe after the laces are tied. The simple attachment method allows the shoe lace retainer to be used by small children.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the upper side of the shoe lace retainer;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lower side of the shoe lace retainer; and

[0014] FIG. 3 is a view of the shoe lace retainer applied to a shoe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, the shoe lace retainer 10 of the invention has a body portion 12. Extending laterally from the body portion 12 is a leg portion 14 and arm portion 16. The top of the body portion 12 terminates in a head portion 18. As seen in this figure, the shoe lace retainer 10 simulates a bear. The simulative appearance of the shoe lace retainer appeals to young children.

[0016] FIG. 2 shows the lower side of the shoe lace retainer. In this view, the body 12, legs 14, arms 16 and head portion 18 are seen. A material that will adhere to shoe laces 22 extends along a bottom portion. In this embodiment, the material 22 extends along the width of the leg and arm portions and covers substantially the entire body portion 12. The material adhering to the shoe lace must be on the top and bottom portion of the lower side to prevent the retainer from being loose on the shoe. The absence of adherent material on the top surface allows the retainer to have a decorative or simulative appearance.

[0017] The preferred material for adhering to shoe laces is the hook portion of hook and loop fasteners. It is only important that the width of the adherent material 22 be wide enough, relative to the width of the laces of a shoe, to prevent the laces from moving. In this sense, it is often advantageous to extend the arm portion 16 across the tied portion of the laces while the body 12 and feet portion 14 cover that portion of the laces extending between the eyelets.

[0018] The placement of the shoe lace retainer 10 on a shoe 30 having laces 32 is seen in FIG. 3. The preferred dimensions of the shoe lace retainer 10 relative to the laces 32 is seen as the width of the body 12 is substantially the same width as the distance between the eyelets 34 of the shoe and the arm 16 are positioned so as to overlie the tied portion of the laces. Once placed over the laces, the adherent material 22 attaches to the laces and maintains them in position to prevent their loosening and untying. The attachment of the shoe lace retainer 10 on a shoe 30 is a simple matter as no preparation is needed. After the laces are suitably tightened and tied, the shoe lace retainer is placed on the laces. No portion of the shoe lace retainer is placed under the laces, which would require their placement before the laces are tightened and tied.

[0019] While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, variations and modifications would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. The invention encompasses such variations and modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A shoe lace retainer, comprising: a body having an upper surface and a lower surface, a material adherent to shoe laces on the lower surface, said material on an upper half and a lower half of said lower surface wherein said body has a central section having width, a pair of arms extending outwardly from said central section; and a pair of legs extending outwardly from said central section and wherein said adherent material is a first strip extending along said pair of arms and a second strip extending along said legs.

2. Cancelled

3. The shoe lace retainer of claim 1, further comprising a head portion extending from said central section.

4. Cancelled

5. Cancelled

6. Cancelled

7. In combination, a shoe and shoe lace retainer, said shoe comprising a sole and a upper attached to said sole, said upper having two rows of eyelets spaced apart a first width, a shoe lace extending between said rows of eyelets, said shoe lace retainer comprising a body having an upper surface, a lower surface, a length and a width, a material adherent to shoe laces on the lower surface, wherein said body width is greater than said first width.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein wherein said body has a central section having width, a pair of arms extending outwardly from said central section; and a pair of legs extending outwardly from said central section and wherein said adherent material is a first strip extending along said pair of arms and a second strip extending along said legs, said adherent material having a width greater than said first width.

9. The combination of claim 7, wherein said adherent material has a width greater than said first width.

10. In combination, a shoe and shoe lace retainer, said shoe comprising a sole and a upper attached to said sole, said upper having two rows of eyelets spaced apart a first width, a shoe lace extending between said rows of eyelets, said shoe lace retainer comprising a body having an upper surface, a lower surface, a length and a width, a material adherent to shoe laces on the lower surface, said shoe lace retainer applied over said shoe lace so that the entire body is above said shoe lace.