Pull-cord and pulley lacing system

Abstract

A convenient lacing system including a drawing mechanism, pulleys or some other form of low friction lace paths, an attachment point, and a lace. The lace terminates at the attachment point, and follows a path around the outside hemispheres of the pulleys (or through the lace paths), criss-crossing between the two rows of pulleys without the lace overlapping. The pulleys are aligned generally in two rows on either side of an area to be drawn together. A drawing mechanism is attached at the non-terminating end of the path of the lace, and through use of a pull-cord draws in the lace and tightens the item to which the system is attached by drawing the pulleys (lace paths) closer together. The use of pulleys allows the system to distribute tension evenly along the path of the lace, and aids in the convenience of tightening.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Provisional Application No. 60 / 591,536 STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not Applicable REFERENCES TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX [0003] Not Applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] This invention relates to a convenient lace tightening system for any thing that can be secured using laces (i.e. shoes, boxing gloves, etc.). [0005] The most common way to secure shoes and other laced objects is using a cord which is run in a criss-cross fashion through a series of holes on either side of an area designed to shorten the distance between the adjascent areas, having the ends of the lace exit two parallel holes at one end of the area. These ends are pulled and tied together in some fashion to secure the tightened lace, which in turn secures the item being laced to a desired level of tightness. The main disadvantages of such a system are: the crossing portions of the lace must be tightened individually to aff...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] This invention consists of a series of pulleys, attached to opposing sides of an area to be tightened in two rows, with an attachment point for one end of a lace at the end of one of the rows of pulleys (pulleys are interchangeable with extremely low friction holes, but pulleys are preferred and are part of the preferred embodiment of the invention). At the other end of one of the rows of pulleys is a mechanism which pulls one end of the lace, shortening it, thereby pulling the rows of pulleys toward each other. The mechanism consists of a self-

Problems solved by technology

The main disadvantages of such a system are: the crossing portions of the lace must be tightened individually to affect the desired level of tightness at the area adjascent to each hole in the lacing series; it is frequent that a laced object will loosen with use and need to be untied, retightened and retied; undoing the object's laces may be difficult after extended or intense usage; and some objects, such as boxing gloves, require the objects be held into a certain position while pulling and tying two lace ends, which makes it hard to secure such object if only two hands are available.

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