Patent Application
20220312900
The present invention relates to laces, for example, as used as closure devices for shoes and the like and in particular to laces that better resist untying, and a method of manufacture of these laces.
There are about 2 billion pairs of shoes sold each year. With the exception of slip-on shoes and other lace-less shoes, most users are familiar with the inconvenience and potential hazard of shoelaces becoming untied. Whether the shoes in question are used for performance, competition, or leisure it is a universal problem.
This problem has been addressed in the prior art by providing a shoelace that, either through a weaving technique or the insertion of elastic materials inside the shoelace, provides a set of regularly spaced bulges in the shoelace that tend to catch against other portions of the shoelace in a bow or when the shoelace passes through the shoe eyelets. The laces are relatively difficult to manufacture, requiring a change in the manufacture of the shoelaces themselves thus greatly limiting shoelace options. Elastic or elastomeric materials used in these products can fatigue over time and lose their effectiveness.
The present inventors have recognized that a set of relatively compact outwardly extending knobs adhered to the shoelace can substantially reduce slipping and untying of the shoelace. The knobs may be relatively compact to be readily applied to the surface of the shoelace in the manufacturing operation with the compact size of the knobs operating together with the flexibility of the shoelace to provide sufficient resilience without the need for an elastomeric material. The outer surface of the knob may be substantially dome-shaped to provide resistance without excessive catching of the eyelets of the shoes.
More specifically, in one embodiment, the invention provides a slip-resistant lace having a lace body of flexible woven material extending in an axial direction between a first and second end terminating in at least one aglet defining an inner and outer surface of the lace body. A plurality of knobs of nonwoven material are integrated on the outer surface of the lace body and extend outwardly therefrom, the knobs having a width perpendicular to the axial direction less than one half a circumferential perimeter of the lace body.
It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide improved resistance to lace untying and slippage by employing the natural resilience of the lace together with the knob to provide a structure that can resist but not prevent the passage of the lace through the eyelets or in sliding contacts with other portions of the lace in a bow or knot.
The knobs may be attached by adhesion to the outer surface of the lace body.
It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a lace that can be readily manufactured without the need for fundamental pre-manufacture modification of existing lace stock or lace manufacturing techniques.
The lace body may be a tube, and the knobs may adhere to the outer surface of the lace body so as to allow the tube to attain a circular cross-section.
It is thus another feature of the invention to preserve the flexibility of the lace with respect to allowing flexible inward displacement of the knobs.
The knobs may have a substantially dome-shaped outer surface.
It is thus another object of the invention to provide knobs that resist sliding by the need to flex the knob inward rather than primarily from friction or catch-points on the surface of the knob.
The knobs may be a polymer material attached to the lace body, for example, a UV curable polymer.
It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to eliminate the need for complex manufacturing steps by employing a knob material that can be readily attached to an outer surface of the lace through simple extrusion.
In some embodiments, the knobs maybe a non-elastomeric polymer, such as an acrylate material.
It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a durable and smooth outer surface to the knobs that allows the resistance of the knobs to be primarily through a flexure rather than friction.
The knobs may comprise a first set on one side of the lace body and a second set on an opposite side of the lace body. In some embodiments the first and second sets are axially staggered.
It is thus a feature one embodiment of the invention to permit an increased axial density of knobs to ensure interference between knobs and other portions of the laces or eyelets at the desired position of the lace while preserving the flexibility of the lace beneath the knobs.
The lace may be manufactured by applying a UV curable adhesive to an outer surface of the lace body at regular locations along an axial length of the lace body and applying a UV light to cure the adhesive to form the knobs.
It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a manufacturing technique that may make use of a liquid material that will naturally dome to a smooth outer shape which may then be hardened by ultraviolet light.
These particular objects and advantages may apply to only some embodiments falling within the claims and thus do not define the scope of the invention.
Referring now to
Attached to an outer surface of the lace body 11 are a set of axially spaced outwardly extending knobs 18 applied in a first set 20a on a first side of the lace body 11 in a first axial line and a second set 20b on a second side of the lace body 11 extending in a second axial line positioned in diametric opposition to the first axial line about the axis of the lace body 11.
Each of the knobs 18 may be spaced axially by a distance 22 at least four times the axial length 24 of the knob 18, and the knobs 18 may have a circumferential width 26 less than half the circumferential periphery of the lace body 11. This allows sufficient lace material to serve as a flexible substrate for the knobs 18 allowing the knobs 18 to be constructed of a substantially rigid and non-elastomeric material while having a substantial outward interfering detent surface. In this regard, the knobs 18 of the set 20a may be offset axially from the knobs 18 of the set 20b by half the distance 22.
In one embodiment, the knobs 18 may have an outer dome shape (approximating a spherical dome) and may be constructed of a substantially rigid or non-elastomeric material such as a thermoplastic or thermoset material or ultraviolet curable material. In one embodiment the knobs 18 may be constructed of a UV curable adhesive, for example, a non-elastomeric acrylate commercially available under the trade name VT249 (Vibra-TITE UV® adhesive) commercially available from ND Industries of Clawson, Michigan. This adhesive may be applied in a liquid form to naturally generate a smooth dome and to adhere and infuse to the lace body 11, yet without attaching together the opposed walls of a tube of the lace 10 thereby preserving the natural flexibility of the lace 10 outside of the immediate contact with the knob 18.
The following portion of the document focuses on the overall steps and order of steps for the custom manufacturing method. After the method is disclosed, the latter portion of the document discusses further detail in regard to the components involved in the custom manufacturing process and the resulting product of such manufacturing method.
For the preferred embodiment of the custom manufacturing method, first a lace is fed from a box and/or spool through a first print head, where the first print head applies a plurality of knobs 18 on the first side of the lace 10. The first print head applies the plurality of knobs 18 at a production speed of 60 feet per minute.
Next, the lace traverses through a UV tunnel station which cures each knob 18 from the plurality of knobs of the first side of the lace at a rate of one inch per five seconds at a 50 percent intensity.
Then, the lace 10 traverses through rollers which are connected to a linear servo controlled drive with an encoder to flip the lace and prepare for printing on the second side.
The linear servo controlled drive with an encoder determines the staggered print position. Lastly, the plurality knobs 18 are applied on the second side of the lace 10 via the second print head. The lace then traverses back through the UV tunnel station for curing of the plurality of knobs from the second side of the shoelace. The lace 10 then traverses back to the exit location where the lace 10 is deposited into a box and/or spool.
The aforementioned steps for the preferred embodiment of the custom manufacturing method are not limited by the aforementioned description. Therefore, any variation which is an obvious modification of the steps and/or components disclosed in the aforementioned description is still to be considered within the scope of the present invention.
It is important to note that the preferred embodiment for the present invention comprises a Nordson Jet spray system dispensing head for the first print head and the second print head.
The Nordson Jet spray system printer head and all relating matters is best seen in U.S. Pat. No. 10,022,744, U.S. Pat. App. No. 2016/0339467, and U.S. Pat. App. No. 2016/0339471 all hereby incorporated by reference. As noted in these applications, the printer head may print viscous materials including epoxies, cyanoacrylate, and UV curable adhesives.
The scope of the present invention is not limited to such arrangement or configuration. Therefore, any dispensing head which fulfills manufacturing, client, and/or design requirements is considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Similarly, if a different dispensing is implemented and the production speed changes from 60 feet per minute, the new production speed is also considered to be within the scope of the present invention.
Furthermore, it is important to note that the UV light tunnel station functions as a curing station with 12 to 14 standard UV lamps. However, the configuration for the UV tunnel station is not limited to such arrangement and may comprise a different number of standard UV lamps arranged as best to fulfill manufacturing, user, and/or design requirements.
Lastly, an embodiment of the final product from the custom manufacturing method is best seen in
The invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Obvious changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by those skilled in the art to achieve the same purpose of the invention.
Generally, in one embodiment, the present invention aims to prevent shoelaces from becoming untied while also being the most user-friendly shoelace available. The present invention avoids shoelaces inadvertently becoming untied, provides a true custom fit, and adds an attractive fashion feature. However, it is not only important to design and create a product which provides a solution to the aforementioned problem. It is also important to create a manufacturing method which is specifically designed to efficiently and effectively produce as many of the disclosed shoelaces as possible.
The exemplary embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It is intended that the present invention cover all other embodiments that are within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
The term acrylate material is intended to include but not be limited to cyanoacrylate adhesives and acrylic resins.
Certain terminology is used herein for purposes of reference only, and thus is not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “above”, and “below” refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Terms such as “front”, “back”, “rear”, “bottom” and “side”, describe the orientation of portions of the component within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the component under discussion. Such terminology may include the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Similarly, the terms “first”, “second” and other such numerical terms referring to structures do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context.
When introducing elements or features of the present disclosure and the exemplary embodiments, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of such elements or features. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements or features other than those specifically noted. It is further to be understood that the method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
It is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein and the claims should be understood to include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims. All of the publications described herein, including patents and non-patent publications, are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties
To aid the Patent Office and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wish to note that they do not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.
This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 63/168,145 filed Mar. 30, 2021, and hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63168145 | Mar 2021 | US |
