Patent Application
20220225735
A shoelace receiver attached to a tongue of a shoe and threaded with a shoelace. The receiver orients the shoelace and fixes the shoelace in a tightened condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,709,205B2, Shoelace Lock and System and Method for Lacing Shoes, Charles David Harris, which includes a body having first and second faces, with a cord passage extending through the body between the first and second faces. First and second grip channels are formed in the first face and have respective first ends adjacent to the cord passage and second ends extending away from the cord passage. Each of the grip channels has a pair of grip teeth facing each other on opposite sides of the respective grip channel, ridges of the pairs of grip teeth extending from the first face toward the second face at an angle such that at the first face, the ridges are furthest from the cord passage, while at a point closest to the second face, the ridges are closest to the cord passage.
A broad object of embodiments of the invention afford a shoelace receiver having a delimited interior open area. The receiver further has a first opening which opens into the delimited interior open area. A second opening of the receiver opens into the delimited interior open area. The receiver when in the installed orientation resides proximate a tongue of a shoe. Further at least a portion of the first opening faces in a first direction. The first direction and first opening at an angle with a major axis of the shoe of about 0 degrees to about 75 degrees. The first direction and opening face towards a toe portion of the shoe. At least a portion of said second opening facing in a second direction. The second direction and second opening at an angle with the major axis of the shoe of about 0 degrees to about 75 degrees. The second direction and opening face towards a heal portion of the shoe
Another broad object of embodiments of the invention afford a shoelace receiver, attached to a tongue of a shoe. In an illustrative example a first portion of the first opening of the shoelace receiver resides in a position to receive a first shoelace portion and direct the first shoelace portion to extend away from the receiver towards the toe portion of the shoe. A first portion of the second opening of the shoelace receiver disposed to receive the first shoelace portion extending from an eyelet on a first side of the shoe at an angle with the major axis of the shoe occurring in a range of about 20 degrees to about 160 degrees. A second portion of the first opening of the shoelace receiver disposed to receive a second shoelace portion and direct the second shoelace portion to extend away from the receiver towards the toe portion of the shoe. A second portion of the second opening of the shoelace receiver disposed to receive the second shoelace portion extending from an eyelet on a second side of the shoe at an angle with the major axis of the shoe occurring in a range of about 20 degrees to about 160 degrees. When the shoelace is disposed in said the shoelace receiver and drawn taught, the shoelace receiver fixes the shoelace in a tightened condition.
Another broad object of the embodiments of the invention affords a method of making an and using a shoelace receiver including threading a shoelace through the shoelace receiver when the receiver resides in a laced orientation. Starting from a free end of a first shoelace portion of the shoelace, the first shoelace portion extends upstream away from the toe portion of the shoe and towards the heal portion. The first shoelace portion extends upstream into the first portion of the first opening of the shoelace receiver. From the first opening, the first shoelace portion extends further upstream into the delimited interior open area of the shoelace receiver. From the delimited open area, the first shoelace portion extends out from the first portion of the second opening of the shoelace receiver. The first shoelace portion from said second opening, extends out of the receiver to and into the end eyelet on the first side of the shoe. The first shoelace portion extends along a pathway to the eyelet on the first side of the shoe at an angle with the major axis of the shoe of about from 20 to 160 degrees. The angle can be about 45 degrees to about 135 degrees. It can even be 60 degrees to 120 degrees. The first shoelace portion extends continuously from its free end to the eyelet on the first side of the shoe.
Still referring to the threading of the shoelace through the receiver, a second portion of the shoelace starting from a free end of the second portion, also extends upstream away from the toe portion of the shoe and towards the heal portion. It extends into the second portion of the first opening of the shoelace receiver. From the first opening, the second shoelace portion extends further upstream into the delimited interior open area of the shoelace receiver. The second shoelace portion from the delimited interior open area, extends out from the second portion of the second opening of the shoelace receiver. The second shoelace portion, from the second opening, extends out the receiver and into the eyelet on the second side of the shoe. The second shoelace portion extends along a pathway to the eyelet on the second side of the shoe at an angle with the major axis of the shoe of about from 20 to 160 degrees. The angle can be about 45 degrees to about 135 degrees. It can even be 60 degrees to 120 degrees. The second shoelace portion extends continuously from its free end to the eyelet. When the shoelace threads through the shoelace receiver and drawn taught, the shoelace receiver fixes the shoelace in the tightened condition.
Naturally, further objects of the invention are disclosed throughout other areas of the specification, drawings, photographs, and claims.
Referring to
The first portion (36a) of the second opening (36a, 36b) receives a portion (38c) of the shoelace (27) from an eyelet (44) on a first side (24a) of said shoe (24) at an angle with a major axis (46) of the shoe (24) from about 20 degrees to about 160 degrees. The angle can be about 45 degrees to about 135 degrees. In particular embodiments, the angle may be 60 degrees to 120 degrees. The second portion (36b) of the second opening receives a portion (40c) of the shoelace (27) from an eyelet (48) on a second side of said shoe (24) at an angle with the major axis of the shoe from about 20 degrees to about 160 degrees. The angle can be about 45 degrees to about 135 degrees In particular embodiments, the angle may be 60 degrees to 120 degrees. In particular embodiments, the shoelace receiver (20) can be removably connected to the tongue (22) of the shoe (24) by a snap coupling or a loop and hook coupling. In other embodiments the shoelace receiver (20) can be attached in fixed spatial orientation to the tongue (22) of the shoe (24) by stitches or adhesive. The shoelace receiver (20) resides in the installed orientation when removable connected or affixed to the tongue (22) of the shoe (24).
Referring in more detail to the threading of the shoelace (27) through the shoelace receiver (20) when the shoelace receiver (20) resides in a laced orientation, the shoelace (27), starting from a free end (37) of a first shoelace portion (38a, 38b, 38c) of the shoelace (27), extends upstream away from the toe portion (25) of the shoe (24) and towards the heal portion (26). The first shoelace portion (38a, 38b, 38c) extends upstream into the first portion (32a) of the first opening (32a, 32b) of the shoelace receiver (20). From the first opening (32a, 32b), the first shoelace portion (38a, 38b, 38c) extends further upstream into the delimited interior open area (34) of the shoelace receiver (20). From the delimited open area (34), the first shoelace portion (38a, 38b, 38c) extends out from the first portion (36a) of the second opening (36a, 36b) of the shoelace receiver (20). The first shoelace portion (38a, 38b, 38c) from said second opening (36a, 36b), extends out of the shoelace receiver (20) to and into the end eyelet (44) on the first side (24a) of the shoe (24). The first shoelace portion (38a, 38b, 38c) extends along a pathway to the eyelet (44) on the first side of the shoe (24) at an angle with the major axis (46) of the shoe of about from 20 to 160 degrees. The angle can be about 45 degrees to about 135 degrees. In particular embodiments, the angle may be 60 degrees to 120 degrees. The first shoelace portion (38a, 38b, 38c) extends continuously from its free end (37) to eyelet (44) on the first side of the shoe (24a).
A second portion (40a, 40b, 40c) of the shoelace (27), when the shoelace receiver (20) resides in a laced orientation, starting from a free end (41) of the second shoelace portion (40a, 40b, 40c) of the shoelace (27), also extends upstream away from the toe portion (25) of the shoe (24) and towards the heal portion (26), it extends into the second portion (32b) of the first opening (32a, 32b) of the shoelace receiver (20). From the first opening (32a, 32b), the second shoelace portion (40a, 40b, 40c) extends further upstream into the delimited interior open area (34) of the shoelace receiver (20). The second shoelace portion (40a, 40b, 40c), from the delimited interior open area (34), extends out from the second portion (36b) of the second opening (36a, 36b) of the shoelace receiver (20). The second shoelace portion (40a, 40b, 40c), from the second opening (36a, 36b), extends out the shoelace receiver (20) to and into the eyelet (48) on the second side of the shoe. The second shoelace portion (40a, 40b, 40c) extends along a pathway to the eyelet (48) on the second side (24b) of the shoe (24) at an angle with the major axis (46) of the shoe (24) of about from 20 to 160 degrees. The angle can be about 45 degrees to about 135 degrees. In particular embodiments, the angle can even be about 60 degrees to about 120 degrees. The second shoelace portion (40a, 40b, 40c) extends continuously from its free end (41) to the eyelet (48). When the shoelace threads through the shoelace receiver and drawn taught, the shoelace receiver (20) fixes the shoelace (27) in the tightened condition.
A first section (38a) of the shoelace (27) resides at and extends into the first portion (32a) of the first opening (32a, 32b). The first section has free end (37). A second section (40a) of the shoelace (27) resides at and extends into the second portion (36b) of said first opening. The second section (40a) has free end (41). A third section (38b) of the shoelace (27) resides in the delimited interior open area (34). A fourth section (40b) of the shoelace (27) also resides in the delimited open area (34). A fifth section (38c) of the shoelace (27) extends along the pathway from the eyelet (44) to said first portion (36a) of the second opening (36a, 36b). A sixth section (40c) of the shoelace (27) extends along the pathway from the end eyelet (48) to the second portion (36b) of the second opening (36a, 36b). The eyelet (44) on the first side (24a) of the shoe (24) can be an end eyelet (44) of a first group of eyelets residing on the first side of a shoe upper of the shoe (24). The end eyelet (44) can reside as a last eyelet of a linear sequence of eyelets on the first side (24a) of the shoe moving along the shoe upper from the toe portion (25) to the heel portion (26) of the shoe (24). The eyelet (48) of the second side (24b) of the shoe (24) can be an end eyelet (48) of a second group of eyelets residing on the second side (24b) of the shoe upper of the shoe (24). The end eyelet (48) resides as a last eyelet of a linear sequence of eyelets on the second side (24b) of said shoe (24) moving along the shoe upper from the toe portion (25) to the heal portion (26) of the shoe (24). The first shoelace portion (38a, 38b, 38c) includes the first (38a), third (38b) and fifth (38c) shoelace sections. The second shoelace portion (40a, 40b, 40c) includes the second (40a), fourth (40b) and sixth (40c) shoeless sections. The term eyelet as used in the present disclosure broadly encompasses all structures which can engage a shoelace. Illustrative examples of the structures include loops such as those shown in
When the shoelace receiver (20) resides in the installed orientation and the laced orientation, the shoelace (27) can be threaded through the first and second group of eyelets. Further, the first shoelace section (38a) can pass through the first portion (32a) of the first opening (32a, 32b) and the first portion (36a) of the second opening (36a, 36b) without the first shoelace section (38a) passing through said second portion (32b) of the first opening and the second portion (36b) of said second opening; the fifth shoelace section (38c) at the first portion (36a) of said second opening; the second shoelace section (40a) at the second portion (32b) of said first opening (32a, 32b). Alternatively, the first shoelace section (38a) can have been passed through the second portion (32b) of the first opening and second portion (36b) of the second opening before being passed through the first portion (36a) of the second opening and first portion (32a) of the first opening. In this case, the shoelace second section free end (41) does not pass through the second portion (32b) of the first opening (32a, 32b) or second portion (36b) of the second opening (36a, 36b).
When a user tightens the shoelace (27) in the shoe (24), the user pulls at the shoelace (27) first and second sections in a direction away from the second and first opening. The pulling draws the shoelace (27) through the eyelets, and through the second opening and out the first opening. Once a user has tightened the shoelace (27), a user stops pulling on the shoelace (27). The shoelace receiver (20) fixes the location of the shoelace (27) in the tightened condition. The shoelace receiver (20) prevents the shoelace (27) from backing out of the shoelace receiver (20) by passing through the first opening and out the second opening. The shoelace (27) can be made from natural or synthetic materials and combinations thereof. In particular embodiments, the shoelace (27) can include elastomeric materials or be elastomeric. The free ends of the shoelace (27) can, but need not necessarily, be coupled or tied together. The shoelace (27) can be without free ends. The shoelace (27) can be a cord which can include elastomeric elements or can be elastomeric.
Now referring more particularly to the orientation of the shoelace receiver (20) relative to the shoe (24), a line (50) extending from a first end (52) to a second end (54) of the shoelace receiver (20) extends away from an interior facing surface (22a) of the tongue (22) and a sole (24c) of the shoe (24). A second line (51) extending from the first side (30) to the second side (23) of the shoelace receiver (20) extends away from a tongue attachment to a tongue free end. Further, the shortest straight line (51) drawn to extend through said first opening (32a, 32b) and the second opening (36a, 36b) extends towards the tongue free end away from the tongue attachment. At least a portion of the first opening (32a, 32b) faces in a first direction towards the toe portion (25) of the shoe (24) at an angle with the major axis (46) of the shoe (24) in a range of 0 degrees to about 75 degrees. In particular embodiments, the angle can be 0 to about 45 degrees. At least a portion of the second opening (36a, 36b) faces in a second direction towards the heal portion (26) of the shoe (24) at an angle with the major axis of the shoe of about 0 degrees to about 75 degrees. The angle can be about 0 to about 45 degrees. A shortest straight line drawn from the end eyelet (44) of a first group of eyelets of the shoe to the second opening (36a, 36b) extends at an angle with the shoe major axis (46) of about 20 degrees to about 160 degree. The angle can be about 45 degrees to about 135 degrees. It can even be 60 degrees to 110 degrees. A shortest straight line drawn from the end eyelet (48) of the second group of eyelets to the second opening (36a, 36b) extends at an angle with the shoe major axis of about 20 degrees to about 160 degrees. The angle can be about 45 degrees to about 135 degrees. It can even be 60 degrees to 110 degrees.
A shoelace receiver first end surface (53) at the shoelace receiver first end (52) faces in a direction away from the direction that the interior facing surface (22a) of the tongue (22) of the shoe faces. A second shoelace receiver end surface (55) at the shoelace receiver second end (54) faces in a same direction as the direction that the interior facing surface (22a) of the tongue (22) faces. Movement of the tongue (22) relative to a shoe sole and said shoe upper moves said shoelace receiver (20).
The shoelace receiver (20) construction can include a third opening (58). The third opening (58) opens into the delimited interior open area (34). The third opening (58) resides at the second end (54) of the shoelace receiver (20). The second end surface (55) of the shoelace receiver (20) can form part of an annular flange (56) about the third opening (58). The shoelace receiver first side surface (28) and shoelace receiver second side surface (21) form a continuous annular surface which can be circumferential. The first openings (32a, 32b) and second openings (36a, 36b) can open through the continuous annular surface.
The shoelace receiver (20) can comprise a flexible polymer. The flexible polymer can be selected from a group of polymers consisting of a polyurethane, a thermoplastic urethane, a polyvinyl chloride, a nylon, a poly-para-phenylene xerophthalmies, a polyethylene, and combinations thereof. The flexible polymer can comprise a polyurethane or a thermoplastic urethane. More specially, the flexible polymer can comprise thermoplastic urethane. The flexible polymer can have a durometer in a range of about Shore 40A to about Shore 70A. More specifically, the durometer of said flexible polymer can be selected from a group of durometers consisting of Shore 45A to Shore 50A, Shore 50A to Shore 60A, and Shore 60A to Shore 65A. The shoelace receiver composition helps ensure the shoelace receiver surface delimiting the delimited interior open area (34) keeps a fixed shape after direct movement of the shoelace receiver (20) relative to the shoe upper. The movement occurring when the receiver resides in the installed and laced orientation.
The shoelace receiver composition, construction and orientation help enable a portion of a shoelace receiver surface delimiting an open area of the first opening (32a 32b), an open area of the second opening (36a, 36b), or the delimited interior open area (34) to provide a resistive force against movement of the shoelace first section (38a) away from the first opening (32a, 32b) towards said second opening (36a, 36b). The composition, construction, and orientation also help enable the portion of the shoelace receiver delimiting surface to provide a resistive force against movement of the shoelace second section (40a) away from the first opening (32a, 32b) towards the second opening (36a, 36b). The resistive force resists movement of the first section (38a) of the shoelace (27) under a force applied directly to the fifth section (38c) of said shoelace along a vector pointing in a direction away from the shoe major axis (46); the vector at an angle of between about 20 degrees to about 160 degrees with the major axis of the shoe. The angle can be about 45 degrees to about 135 degrees. In particular embodiments, the angle can even be 60 degrees to 120 degrees. The resistive force resists movement of the second section (40a) of the shoelace under a force applied directly to said sixth section (40c) of the shoelace along a vector pointing in a direction away from the shoe major axis (46); the vector at an angle of between about 20 degrees to about 160 degrees with the major axis of the shoe. The angle can be about 45 degrees to about 135 degrees. In particular embodiments, the angle can even be 60 degrees to 120 degrees. The resistive force can be at least sufficient to resist an applied force in the range of 0 to about 25 newtons. More specially the applied force can be selected from a group of applied forces in the range of 2 newtons to about 5 newtons, about 5 newtons to about 9 newtons, about 9 newtons to about 15 newtons, about 15 newtons to about 20 newtons, about 20 newtons to about 25 newtons. The resistive force can be increased or decreased by adjusting the durometer of the flexible polymer making up the composition of the shoelace receiver. The force coefficient of friction can be between about 0.30 and about 0.50.
As can be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts of the present invention may be embodied in a variety of ways. The invention involves numerous and varied embodiments of a shoelace receiver (20) fixing a shoelace (27) in place and methods for making and using such a shoelace receiver (20).
As such, the particular embodiments or elements of the invention disclosed by the description or shown in the figures or tables accompanying this application are not intended to be limiting, but rather exemplary of the numerous and varied embodiments generically encompassed by the invention or equivalents encompassed with respect to any particular element thereof. In addition, the specific description of a single embodiment or element of the invention may not explicitly describe all embodiments or elements possible; many alternatives are implicitly disclosed by the description and figures.
It should be understood that each element of an apparatus or each step of a method may be described by an apparatus term or method term. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. As but one example, it should be understood that all steps of a method may be disclosed as an action, a means for taking that action, or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each element of an apparatus may be disclosed as the physical element or the action which that physical element facilitates. As but one example, the disclosure of a “receiver” should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of “receiving”—whether explicitly discussed or not—and, conversely, were there is disclosure of the act of “receiving”, such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of a “receiver” and even a “means for threading”. Such alternative terms for each element or step are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.
In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with such interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood to be included in the description for each term as contained in the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition, each definition hereby incorporated by reference.
All numeric values herein are assumed to be modified by the term “about”, whether or not explicitly indicated. For the purposes of the present invention, ranges may be expressed as from “about” one particular value to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value to the other particular value. The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all the numeric values subsumed within that range. A numerical range of one to five includes for example the numeric values 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, 5, and so forth. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint. When a value is expressed as an approximation by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term “about” generally refers to a range of numeric values that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited numeric value or having the same function or result. Similarly, the antecedent “substantially” means largely, but not wholly, the same form, manner or degree and the particular element will have a range of configurations as a person of ordinary skill in the art would consider as having the same function or result. When a particular element is expressed as an approximation by use of the antecedent “substantially,” it will be understood that the particular element forms another embodiment.
Moreover, for the purposes of the present invention, the term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity unless otherwise limited. As such, the terms “a” or “an”, “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein.
Further, for the purposes of the present invention, the term “coupled” or derivatives thereof can mean indirectly coupled, coupled, directly coupled, connected, directly connected, or integrated with, depending upon the embodiment.
Additionally, for the purposes of the present invention, the term “integrated” when referring to two or more components means that the components (i) can be united to provide a one-piece construct, a monolithic construct, or a unified whole, or (ii) can be formed as a one-piece construct, a monolithic construct, or a unified whole. Said another way, the components can be integrally formed, meaning connected together so as to make up a single complete piece or unit, or so as to work together as a single complete piece or unit, and so as to be incapable of being easily dismantled without destroying the integrity of the piece or unit.
Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to claim at least: i) each of the embodiments of the shoelace receiver and its combination with a shoe herein disclosed and described, ii) the related methods disclosed and described, iii) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of these devices and methods, iv) those alternative embodiments which accomplish each of the functions shown, disclosed, or described, v) those alternative designs and methods which accomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplish that which is disclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, and step shown as separate and independent inventions, vii) the applications enhanced by the various systems or components disclosed, viii) the resulting products produced by such systems or components, ix) methods and apparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to any of the accompanying examples, x) the various combinations and permutations of each of the previous elements disclosed.
The background section of this patent application recites subject matter form a publication. It is not intended that any United States patent, patent application, publication, statement or other information cited or incorporated herein be interpreted, construed or deemed to be admitted as prior art with respect to the invention.
The claims set forth in this specification, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference as part of this description of the invention, and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or a portion of such incorporated content of such claims as additional description to support any of or all of the claims or any element or component thereof, and the applicant further expressly reserves the right to move any portion of or all of the incorporated content of such claims or any element or component thereof from the description into the claims or vice-versa as necessary to define the matter for which protection is sought by this application or by any subsequent application or continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, reduction in fees pursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws, rules, or regulations of any country or treaty, and such content incorporated by reference shall survive during the entire pendency of this application including any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof or any reissue or extension thereon. The elements following an open transitional phrase such as “comprising” may in the alternative be claimed with a closed transitional phrase such as “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of” whether or not explicitly indicated the description portion of the specification.
Additionally, the claims set forth in this specification, if any, are further intended to describe the metes and bounds of a limited number of the preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as the broadest embodiment of the invention or a complete listing of embodiments of the invention that may be claimed. The applicant does not waive any right to develop further claims based upon the description set forth above as a part of any continuation, division, or continuation-in-part, or similar application.
