GB2563610A

GB2563610A - A shoelace retainer

Info

Publication number: GB2563610A
Application number: GB1709825.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mcconnie Luke; Mckay James; Jordison Graham
Original assignee: Inoveight Ltd
Current assignee: Inoveight Ltd
Priority date: 2017-06-20
Filing date: 2017-06-20
Publication date: 2018-12-26
Also published as: GB201709825D0; WO2018234750A1

Abstract

A lace retainer 100 has at least one elongate strap guide member 102, attachable along the longitudinal axis of a tongue 202 of a footwear 200. The guide 102 has first 104 and second 106 end portions provided towards proximal and distal ends of the tongue 202, and a slide portion 108 to be positioned along the tongue 202. At least one fastener 112 is slidably coupled to the portion 108 and adapted to removably retain an end portion of a shoelace of the boot 200. The fastener 112 may comprise an elastic loop which is adapted to extendably receive and secure an end of the shoestring. This band may have a handle 114 which can be gripped to stretch it and/or move position the fastener 112 anywhere between the ends 104, 106 of the guide 102. Also disclosed is an article of footwear 200 including the lace retainer 100.

Description

A SHOELACE RETAINER

The present invention generally relates to footwear and, in particular, fasteners for footwear, such as, for example, shoelaces. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an improved shoelace retainer, suitable to secure the knot of tied shoelaces, as well as, prevent unwanted movement of the loops and tails of tied shoelaces.

Introduction

Generally, common and athletic footwear, such as, for example, trainers, leather shoes, boots or any other type of specialised sports shoe, require some kind of fastener for comfortably securing the footwear to the foot of as user. Most commonly, a lacing system is used with the upper to tighten or loosen at least a portion of the upper around the foot of a user. In particular, and as shown in Figure 1, an upper 10 of a footwear may include a vamp area 12 defining a throat 14 that extends along an instep portion of the footwear. Eyelets 16 or any other apertures are provided adjacent to the throat 14, and a shoelace 18 is threaded through the eyelets and across the throat 14, for example, in a zigzag pattern, such that the ends of the shoelace 18 are located at the last eyelets 16 adjacent to the ankle opening of the footwear. Usually, a tongue 20 is attached to the vamp area 12 and is positioned within the throat 14 and under the shoelace 18, so as to separate the shoelace 18 from the user’s foot, when in use. During use, the edges of the throat 14 are pulled together when tension is applied to the ends of the shoelace 18, thereby decreasing the dimensions of the upper 10 and conform the upper 10 to the user’s foot. The ends of the shoelace 18 are then tied into a knot and/or bow to maintain the tension in the shoelace 18.

Depending on the overall length of the shoelace 18, the length of the loops and tails of the tied shoelace ends can vary greatly. It is commonly known that random movement (i.e. during walking, running or jumping) of the loose loops and tails may untie the knotted bow, presenting an unwanted disturbance and may even present a hazard to the user. In the prior art, there have been various attempts to secure loose tails and loops of tied shoelace ends, but most of them are very impractical, bulky and/or complicated devices that require cumbersome implementation. Also, none of the available devices take into account the varying nature of the length of the loops and tails of the tied shoelace adding, again, another obstacle for the user to tie the shoelace so that the loose loops and tails fit the device provide to secure the loose loops and tails.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved shoelace retainer, that is not only simple and easy to use, but that is adjustable to fit any length of the loose loops and tails of tied shoelace ends. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved shoelace retainer that is easy to implement either during manufacture of the footwear, or retrospectively.

Summary of the Invention

Preferred embodiment(s) of the invention seek to overcome one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, there is provided a lace retainer for a footwear, comprising: at least one elongate strap guide member, fixedly attachable to a footwear tongue along its longitudinal axis, having a first end portion, provided towards a proximal end of the footwear tongue, and a second end portion, provided towards a distal end of the footwear tongue, and adapted to provide a slide portion along the longitudinal axis of the footwear tongue between said first end portion and said second end portion when in situ, and at least one fastener member, slidably coupled to said slide portion of said at least one elongate strap guide member and adapted to removably retain an end portion of a shoelace of said footwear.

This provides the advantage, that the shoelace retainer member can be adjusted to the actual length of the loops and tails of the tied shoelace, therefore providing a more secure shoelace retainer and preventing unwanted movement of any part of the loose loops and tails.

Advantageously, the at least one fastener member may comprise an elastic loop adapted to extendably receive and secure an end portion of a shoelace. Preferably, the elastic loop may comprise a handle portion engageable so as to stretchably extend said elastic loop and/or move and position said at least one fastener member anywhere between said first end portion and said second end portion of said at least one elongate strap guide member. Even more preferably, the handle portion may be formed from a fold of said elastic loop.

This provides the advantage of improved ease of use for the user when threading the loose loops and tails of the tied shoelace through the elastic fastener member.

Advantageously, the lace retainer may further comprise a tag portion extending from said second end portion of said at least one elongate strap guide member, adapted to be graspingly engaged allowing to apply a pulling force to said at least one elongate strap guide member and footwear tongue when in situ. Preferably, the tag portion may be formed from a looped second end portion of said least one elongate strap guide member. Alternatively, the tag portion may be formed from a loop fixedly attached to said second end portion of said least one elongate strap guide member.

This provides the advantage of improved ease of use for the user when fitting the footwear to a foot, allowing the tongue to be positioned accurately.

Advantageously, the at least one elongate strap guide member may be permanently attached to a footwear tongue with any one or any combination of a seam, a weld and an adhesive joint. Alternatively, the at least one elongate strap guide member may be removably attached to a footwear tongue utilising any one of a hook-and-loop fastener mechanism or a snap fastener mechanism. When using a removable hook-and-loop fastener or snap fastener, the shoelace retainer can be easily removed, repositioned and/or used with different shoes.

Preferably, the at least one elongate strap guide member may be made from a synthetic textile material.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, there is provided an article of footwear, comprising a sole and an upper, said upper having a tongue having a proximal end attached at the toe vamp portion of said upper and a distal end extending rearward towards a heel portion along a longitudinal axis of said footwear, said upper further comprising eyelets through which a shoelace is laced, wherein a lace retainer according to the first embodiment is fixedly attached to an outer surface of said tongue so as to allow loops and tails from said shoelace to be retained.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an example illustration of a footwear (shoe) with a typical shoelace system;

Figure 2 shows an example illustration of a footwear with the shoelace retainer of the present invention permanently affixed to the tongue without the shoelace in place;

Figure 3 shows (a) a front view (without shoelace) and (b) a side view (with shoelace in situ) of an example of the shoelace retainer of the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a front view of another example of a shoelace retainer of the present invention when attached to a tongue using box stitches;

Figure 5 shows an illustration of a footwear and affixed shoelace retainer when in use, i.e. with the loose loops and tails of tied shoelace ends retained by the elastic fastener member of the shoelace retainer.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment(s)

The exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described in relation to the footwear having an upper with throat and tongue using a shoelace fastener system. However, it should be appreciated that the adjustable shoelace retainer may be used with any type of footwear having a fastener system that provides loose ends once fastened.

Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 4, a preferred design of the shoelace retainer 100 is affixed, either permanently or removably, to a portion of the tongue 202 of a footwear 200. Typical footwear 200, includes a sole structure 204, an upper 206 and a lacing system 208 (not shown in Figure 2, see Figure 5). The upper 206 is attached to the sole structure 204 in a conventional manner. The upper 206 comprises a vamp area 210 and throat 212. The tongue 202 is attached to the vamp area and extends along the throat 212 of the upper 206. Eyelets 214 (or any other aperture) are provided adjacent to the throat 212 (see Figure 5) and a shoelace 208 is threaded through the eyelets 214 across the throat 212, for example, in a zigzag pattern.

In this particular example, the shoelace retainer 100 of the present invention comprises an elongate strap 102 having a first end portion 104 and a second end portion 106. The first end portion 104 is permanently affixed to a proximal portion of the tongue 202 with regards to the vamp area 210. The second end portion 106 is permanently affixed to a distal portion of the tongue 202 with regards to the vamp area 210. The detached strap portion between the affixed first end portion 104 and the affixed second end portion 106 forms the slide portion 108 of the shoelace retainer 100 of the present invention. A tag 110 is attached to the distal end portion 106, so that the tag 110 extends past the proximal end of the tongue 202, allowing the user to still grasp the end of the tag 110, even if the tongue 202 has inconveniently moved towards the vamp area 210. Alternatively, the tag 110 may be an extended integral part of the elongate strap 102 that may be looped around and attached at the distal end of the tongue 202, so as to form a finger loop.

The first and second end portions 104, 106 of the elongate strap 102 may be affixed to the tongue 202 using a box stitch seam, but it is understood by the person skilled in the art that any other means for attaching/affixing the first and second end portions 104, 106 to the tongue 202 may be used. For example, the first and second end portions 104, 106 may be glued or welded to the top surface of the tongue 202. In addition, the first and second end portions 104, 106 may be removably affixed to the surface of the tongue 202, using any suitable fastener system, such as, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener system or a snap fastener (e.g. snap button). Furthermore, the elongate strap 102 may be made of any suitable material, such as, for example a synthetic textile material, leather or polymer material. A fastener member 112 (i.e. the loop and tail lace keeper) is looped around the slide portion 108 of the elongate strap 102, allowing it to be moved slidably between the affixed first end portion 104 and the affixed second end portion 106. The fastener member 112 is of a dimension suitable to fit around the elongate strap member 102 without being to loose or too tight, so as to allow a user to slide the fastener member 112 along the elongate strap 102 and to remain at the position put by the user. In this particular example, the fastener member 112 is an elastic loop or bungee suitable to be extended and increase the opening of the loop, so as to allow the user to thread the loops and tails of the shoelace ends through the elastic loop before the loop retracts and securingly closes around the loops and tails of the shoelace ends 208. In addition, the fastener member 112 comprises a grip portion 114 suitable to allow the user to grasp the fastener member 112 when stretching, for example, the elastic loop to thread the loops and tails of the shoelace ends 208 therethrough. The grip portion 114 may be provided by a folded section of the fastener member 112. The fold may be stitched, glued, tacked or stapled to maintain its shape. Alternatively, any other type of grip member may be operably coupled to the fastener member 112, such as, for example, ab pull tab (not shown) that may be clipped to the loop of the fastener member 112. The pull tab may be made of any suitable flexible or rigid material, such as, for example, a polymer, metal, leather or textile.

In an alternative example embodiment of the shoelace retainer (not shown) of the present invention, the elongate strap 102 may be provided with one of the two opposing surfaces of a hook and loop fastener system at its bottom surface (i.e. the surface engaging with the top surface of the tongue 202), where the other surface of the hook and loop fastener is affixed to the tongue 202 surface. The alternative elongate strap 102 further comprises slide portion strap (not shown) that is affixed to the top surface of the elongate strap 102 by attaching the end portions of the slide portion strap to the top surface of the elongate strap 102 forming a detached slide portion between the attached end portions of the slide portion strap. A fastener member 112 is slidably coupled to the slide portion of the slide portion strap. Accordingly, the alternative shoelace retainer (not shown) adapted to be removably attached to the tongue 202 by simply engaging the opposing hook and loop fastener surfaces. The alternative shoelace retainer can therefore be easily removed form one shoe 200 and used with another shoe.

During use, and as shown in Figure 5, the shoelace 208 may be zigzagged through the slide portion 108 of the shoelace retainer 100, so as to position the elongate strap 102 on top of the threaded shoelace 208, allowing the fastener member 212 to move freely between the affixed first end portion 104 and the affixed second end portion 106. Once the user has put the foot into the shoe 200 and tied the shoelace ends into a knot and bow, the user grasps the grip portion 114 and stretches the elastic loop of the fastener member 112 to allow the loose loops and tails of the tied shoelace ends 208 to be threaded through. The user may then slide the fastener member 112 to a position suitable for the length of the loose loops and tails of the tied shoelace ends 208 and releases the grip portion 114 so that the elastic loop of the fastener member 112 can retract and securingly close around the loose loops and tails of the tied shoelace ends 208.

In order to untie the shoelace ends 208, the user simply grasps the grip portion 114 and stretches the elastic loop of the fastener member 112, so as to increase the opening of the fastener member 112. The user then removes the loose loops and tails of the tied shoelace ends 208 and releases the elastic loop of the fastener member 112. The knot and bow of the shoelace 208 can now be opened to remove the shoe 200 from the foot.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiment(s) have been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A lace retainer for a footwear, comprising: at least one elongate strap guide member, fixedly attachable to a footwear tongue along its longitudinal axis, having a first end portion, provided towards a proximal end of the footwear tongue, and a second end portion, provided towards a distal end of the footwear tongue, and adapted to provide a slide portion along the longitudinal axis of the footwear tongue between said first end portion and said second end portion when in situ, and at least one fastener member, slidably coupled to said slide portion of said at least one elongate strap guide member and adapted to removably retain an end portion of a shoelace of said footwear.

2. A lace retainer according to claim 1, wherein said at least one fastener member comprises an elastic loop adapted to extendably receive and secure an end portion of a shoelace.

3. A lace retainer according to claim 2, wherein said elastic loop comprises a handle portion engageable so as to stretchably extend said elastic loop and/or move and position said at least one fastener member anywhere between said first end portion and said second end portion of said at least one elongate strap guide member.

4. A lace retainer according to any one of claims 2 and 3, wherein said handle portion is formed from a fold of said elastic loop.

5. A lace retainer according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a tag portion extending from said second end portion of said at least one elongate strap guide member, adapted to be graspingly engaged allowing to apply a pulling force to said at least one elongate strap guide member and footwear tongue when in situ.

6. A lace retainer according toe claim 5, wherein said tag portion is formed from a looped second end portion of said least one elongate strap guide member.

7. A lace retainer according to claim 5, wherein said tag portion is formed from a loop fixedly attached to said second end portion of said least one elongate strap guide member.

8. A lace retainer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one elongate strap guide member is permanently attached to a footwear tongue with any one or any combination of a seam, a weld and an adhesive joint.

9. A lace retainer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said at least one elongate strap guide member is removably attached to a footwear tongue utilising any one of a hook-and-loop fastener mechanism or a snap fastener mechanism.

10. A lace retainer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said least one elongate strap guide member is made from a synthetic textile material.

11. An article of footwear, comprising a sole and an upper, said upper having a tongue having a proximal end attached at the toe vamp portion of said upper and a distal end extending rearward towards a heel portion along a longitudinal axis of said footwear, said upper further comprising eyelets through which a shoelace is laced, wherein a lace retainer according to any one of claims 1 to 10 is fixedly attached to an outer surface of said tongue so as to allow loops and tails from said shoelace to be retained.