Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Drawstring – laced-fastener – or separate essential... – Includes separate device for holding drawn portion of lacing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-05
2001-10-02
Sakran, Victor N. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Drawstring, laced-fastener, or separate essential...
Includes separate device for holding drawn portion of lacing
C024S306000, C024S712200, C024S712900
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295704
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of footwear and more specifically to an apparatus for securing laces for footwear.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Flexible laces are typically used to securely fasten shoes, sneakers, boots and other types of footwear. In most instances, after the lace is tightened on the footwear, the ends are tied in conventional bow-knots. It is well known that such bow-knots have a tendency to loosen or become untied, which is inconvenient and hazardous, particularly when the footwear is to be used in a dangerous occupation. Such occupations include those in which the laces could become tangled with machinery or other equipment, such as in construction, military, law enforcement, emergency services and the like.
Because of the danger posed by exposed laces, in many fields of work it is often required that laces on a boot or other article of footwear be secured in the interior of the footwear for safety purposes. For example, one requirement of a military dress code requires that, after a boot has been tied, the extra laces be tucked inside the boot. A typical method of securing the laces is to lace and knot the boots, circle the laces around the boot, tie the laces and tuck any remainder portions of the laces inside the boot. One problem with this method is that when boots are secured in this manner, over the course of the day in which the boots are worn the laces tend to bind into the leather of the boot and produce pressure on the lower portion of the wearer's leg. The pressure cuts of circulation, and may produce uncomfortable swelling and unnecessary fatigue for the wearer.
Many devices have been developed for retaining shoelaces. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,888 describes a device wherein the bow-knotted laces are rolled in a shoelace retainer. While such a solution may preclude a wearer from tripping over the ends of the laces, the shoelace retainer forms an exterior protrusion from the footwear which could likely become caught on dangerous equipment. It would be desirable to determine a method and apparatus for securing laces without adding any dangerous protrusions to the footwear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, an expandable self-fastening strap for securing laces on footwear is provided. The strap includes a pair of fastening ends separated by a band, at least a portion of which is expandable. Located on one of the fastening ends is at least one eyelet. A portion of the laces of a boot may be forwarded through the eyelet and wrapped around the boot. The strap is wrapped over the laces and around the boot such that the fastening ends of the strap meet. The fastening ends are then fastened together. Because at least a portion of the band is expandable, when the band is wrapped around the boot pressure is placed upon the laces, thereby precluding them from slipping under the strap. In addition, because the strap includes an expandable portion, the strap may expand over the course of the day to comfortably accommodate the leg. The strap thus secures the laces without undesirably constricting circulation of the wearer. As a result, wearer fatigue and discomfort is reduced. In addition, because the strap is tightly affixed to the boot, the device presents no extraneous protrusions that may become entangled in machinery or the like.
According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for securing laces of an article of footwear including a strap having a first fastening end, a second fastening end and a band disposed between the first fastening end and the second fastening end, at least a portion of which is expandable and at least one eyelet disposed on one of the first or second fastening ends, for receiving at least a portion of the laces of the article of footwear to engage the strap to the article of footwear.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for securing laces on an article of footwear includes the steps of forwarding laces of the article of footwear through at least one eyelet of an expandable strap, the expandable strap comprising a first fastening end in which the eyelet is disposed and a second fastening end and winding the expandable strap and the laces around the article of footwear such that the laces are disposed between the expandable strap and the article of footwear; and securing the first and second fastening ends of the expandable strap where they meet.
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McGuiness, Esq. Linsay G.
Sakran Victor N.
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