Apparatus and method for fastening a shoe

Abstract

A fastening apparatus for a shoe including an adjustable gap and a fastener with two elements, wherein one fastener element is attached to the first side of the adjustable gap. Two laces are attached at a first end to the second fastener element, and extending from the second fastener element to the second side of the adjustable gap, and at least one lace extends from the second side of the adjustable gap to the first side of the adjustable gap. For tightening the shoe, the second fastener element is pulled towards the first side of the adjustable gap, and is attached to the first fastener element for keeping the shoe fastened.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to an apparatus that provides an easy and quick method of fastening a shoe.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The conventional means of fastening a shoe with laces that needed to be tied is difficult to operate for many people with disabilities or for people that have difficulty bending over to access the instep of the shoe. Many solutions for fastening shoes that do not utilize laces instead include buckles or straps with a hook-and-loop fastening system, commonly known as Velcro®. However, in some shoes, such as sneakers, the strap closure does not look attractive. In addition, many users do not like to wear shoes that they perceive to be specially made for the handicapped, and many users simply prefer the look of the conventional lacing system.[0003]U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,081,916 to Salisbury, 4,414,761 to Mahood, and 5,027,482 to Torppey, respectively, disclose methods that combine laces with a hook-and-loop fastening system. A s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]It is an object of the present invention to provide for a low fricti

Problems solved by technology

The conventional means of fastening a shoe with laces that needed to be tied is difficult to operate for many people with disabilities or for people that have difficulty bending over to access the instep of the shoe.

However, in some shoes, such as sneakers, the strap closure does not look attractive.

In addition, many users do not like to wear shoes that they perceive to be specially made for the handicapped, and many users simply prefer the look of the conventional lacing system.

One drawback to all these systems is that the elongated flap affects the design and the appearance of the shoe, making the shoe look cumbersome.

Another drawback is that, in all these systems, the laces lie across the shoe-access-opening, not in a criss-cross pattern, and thus do not have the appearance of a traditional lacing system.

One major drawback to U.S. Pat. No. 6,941,683 is that it does not offer a solution to shoes with fewer than four pairs of eyelets, since this system requires at least three middle lace segments, and at least two bottom lace segments that criss-cross the shoe-access-opening.

In addition, the plethora of lace segments criss-crossing over one another lends the show a cluttered and messy appearance.

Another drawback is that this system is susceptible to high friction, which is caused by the configuration of the lace system, wherein some lace segments extend from the eyelets in a narrow angle, increasing the pressure and friction between the laces and the eyelets.

The high friction makes it difficult to pull the lace through all the eyelets and prevents some lace segments from moving freely, resulting in shoe-access-opening that may not be tightened evenly, and may lead to laces tearing or wearing out more frequently.

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