US20110131773A1

US20110131773A1 - Shoelace structure

Info

Publication number: US20110131773A1
Application number: US12/632,996
Authority: US
Inventors: Chin-Wen Hsieh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-12-08
Filing date: 2009-12-08
Publication date: 2011-06-09

Abstract

A shoelace structure includes an elastic shoelace having two end sections on two ends thereof and a mediate section is located between the two end sections. Two end pieces are connected to the two end sections and each have a securing section and an engaging section which extends along a longitudinal direction from the securing section. The securing sections are respectively mounted to the end sections and the engaging sections extend toward the mediate section. The shoelace is free from the engaging sections which contact against the shoe to keep the shoelace to be tightened by the elasticity of the shoelace.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention
A conventional shoelace extends through holes in the two flips on the shoe so as to pull the two flips toward each other to securely wear the shoe to the foot. The shoelace has to tie to avoid from being loosened.
The conventional way to tie the shoelace is to tie two ends of the shoelace together. When wearing a shoe, the user has to loosen the shoelace so that the foot can put into the shoe and then the shoelace is tied tight. This involves complicated processes which may not be convenient for kids or for those cannot use their fingers conveniently. The shoelace may loose and the user has to tie it again. The loosened shoelace can be stepped by the user and makes the user fall or be injured.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
The present invention intends to provide a shoelace that does not need to tie and the two ends of the shoelace are engaged with the shoe to easily wrap the shoe to the user's foot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shoelace structure and includes an elastic shoelace having two end sections on two ends thereof and a mediate section is located between the two end sections. Two end pieces are connected to the two end sections and each have a securing section and an engaging section which extends along a longitudinal direction from the securing section. The securing sections are respectively mounted to the end sections and the engaging sections extend toward the mediate section. The shoelace is free from the engaging sections.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a shoelace wherein the end pieces extend through the holes in the flips of the shoe, the engaging sections are free from the shoelace and contact against the holes so that the shoelace does not need to tie and can tight the shoe.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show the end piece and a section of the shoelace of the shoelace structure of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view to show that the end piece is mounted to the end section of the shoelace of the shoelace structure of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an end cross sectional view to show that the end piece is deformed and securely mounted to the end section of the shoelace of the shoelace structure of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows that the shoelace of the present invention is used on a shoe;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view to show a second embodiment of the shoelace structure of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view to show a third embodiment of the shoelace structure of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view to show the third embodiment of the shoelace structure of the present invention, and

FIG. 8 is an exploded view to show a fourth embodiment of the shoelace structure of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the shoelace structure 100 of the present invention is used on a shoe 200 by extending through the holes 210 in the two flips of the shoe 200. The shoelace structure 100 comprises a shoelace 10 with two end pieces 20 connected to two ends thereof. For clarity purpose, only one end piece 20 and the shoelace 10 is disclosed.
The shoelace 10 is an elastic member and comprises an elastic cable 11 wrapped with a woven outer layer 12. The two end sections 13 are formed on two ends of the shoelace 10 and a mediate section 14 is located between the two end sections 13.
In this embodiment, the two end pieces 20 each are made by metal material
and have a securing section 21 and an engaging section 22 which extends along a longitudinal direction “X” from the securing section 21. The securing section 21 and the engaging section 22 are made integrally to each other. Each securing section 21 has a peripheral wall 212 which has a passage 211 defined therethrough. A slot 213 is defined through the peripheral wall 212 along the longitudinal direction “X”. The securing section 21 of each of the end pieces 20 includes multiple protrusions 214 extending inward from an inner periphery of the peripheral wall 212, the protrusions 214 are cone-shaped protrusions. Two rows of teeth 215 are located on two sides of the slot 213 and extend toward the passage 211. The securing sections 21 are respectively mounted to the end sections 13 and the engaging sections 22 extending toward the mediate section 14. The shoelace 10 being free from the engaging sections 22.
The end pieces 20 are then pressed by a tool (not shown) to narrow the peripheral wall 212 such that the protrusions 214 and the teeth 215 penetrate the outer layer 12 to securely connect securing sections 21 to the end sections 13 as shown in FIG. 3.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the mediate section 14 of the shoelace 10 extends thorough the holes 210 of the shoe 200 and the end pieces 20 are located outside of the holes 210, the engaging sections 22 are stopped by the shoe 10. Because the shoelace 10 is elastic, so that the two flips of the shoe 200 are pulled toward each other to secure the shoe 10 to the wearer's foot. Therefore, the shoelace 10 does not need to tie.
When wearing the shoe 200, because of the elastic feature of the shoelace 10, the user simply pulls the shoelace 10 outward, the foot can be put in the shoe 200. The shoelace 10 is then released, the shoelace 10 bounces back to tightly wrap the shoe 200 to the foot. The engaging sections 22 contact against the shoe 200 so that the shoelace 10 does not loose.
Of course, the shoelace 10 has to be chosen to meet the requirements of the length required and the number of the holes 210 of the shoe 200. The end pieces 20 may have desired colors and/or logos or pattern put thereon.
The shoelace 10 of the present invention has the following advantages:
1. The shoelace 10 extends through the holes 210 and does not need to tie to achieve the purpose of securing the shoe 200 to the foot. Therefore, there will be no loosened shoelace that might be stepped by the wearer.
2. The shoelace 10 can be used to different types of shoes 200 and the tightness can be adjusted according to the holes 210 of the shoe 200.
FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment wherein the end piece 20′ is similar to that of the first embodiment, the difference is that the securing section 21′ of the end piece 20′ includes multiple spikes 214′ extending from the inner periphery of the peripheral wall 212, spikes 214′ are shaped to have a tip. The spikes 214′ replace the protrusions 214 in the first embodiment. The securing section 21′ of the end piece 20′ includes two rows of teeth 215′ which are located on two sides of the slot. The spikes 214′ and the teeth 215′ penetrate the outer layer of the shoelace 10′ as described before. The length of the shoelace 10′ is set according to the number of the holes 210 of the shoe 200.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the present invention wherein the end piece 20″ is made of plastic material and the securing section 21″ is a hollow cylindrical section and the engaging section 22″ extends integrally from the securing section 21″. The securing section 21″ includes a peripheral wall 212″ having a passage 211″ and the end section 13″ is inserted in the passage 211″ and glued to the peripheral wall 212″.
It is noted that the cross section of the shoelace can be any desired shape, such as the disclosed circular shape, or rectangular shape (not shown), or flat oval shape as the fourth embodiment disclosed in FIG. 8. The end piece 40 is made of metal and the securing section 41 is a flat oval section to accommodate the shoelace 30.
The two end pieces 40 each have a securing section 41 which is a flat oval section and has a peripheral wall 312 which has a passage 311 defined therethrough so as to accommodate the end sections 33 of the shoelace 30. A slot 313 is defined through the peripheral wall 312 along the longitudinal direction “X”. The securing section 41 of each of the end pieces 40 includes multiple protrusions 314 extending inward from an inner periphery of the peripheral wall 312. The protrusions 314 are cone-shaped protrusions. Two rows of teeth 315 are located on two sides of the slot 313 and extend toward the passage 311.
Besides, the cross section of the shoelace can be circular, rectangular or flat shape, or any irregular shape. The shoelace can be a non-elastic member and made by way of weaving. The end pieces are made by metal. After the un-elastic shoelace extending through the holes and the user pulls the shoelace to make it tight. The end pieces extend through the holes and the engaging sections are stopped by the flips of the shoe. By this way, the shoelace does not loose.
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A shoelace structure comprising:

a shoelace having two end sections on two ends thereof and a mediate section located between the two end sections, and

two end pieces each having a securing section and an engaging section which extends along a longitudinal direction from the securing section, the securing sections respectively mounted to the end sections and the engaging sections extending toward the mediate section, the shoelace being free from the engaging sections.

2. The shoelace structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shoelace is an elastic member and the end pieces are made of metal, the securing section and the engaging section are made integrally to each other, each securing section has a peripheral wall which has a passage so that the end section is engaged with the passage, a slot is defined through the peripheral wall along the longitudinal direction.

3. The shoelace structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the securing section of the end piece includes multiple protrusions extending inward from an inner periphery of the peripheral wall, the protrusions are cone-shaped protrusions.

4. The shoelace structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the securing section includes two rows of teeth which are located on two sides of the slot and extend toward the passage.

5. The shoelace structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the securing section of the end piece includes multiple spikes extending from the inner periphery of the peripheral wall, spikes are shaped to have a sharp tip.

6. The shoelace structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the securing section of the end piece includes two rows of teeth which are located on two sides of the slot.

7. The shoelace structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end piece is made of plastic material and the securing section is a hollow cylindrical section and the engaging section extends integrally from the securing section, the securing section includes a peripheral wall having a passage and the end section is inserted in the passage and glued to the peripheral wall.

8. The shoelace structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shoelace is a non-elastic member and made by way of weaving.