Improved laces for use with footwear, sports equipment and the like

Abstract

Laces for footwear or sporting equipment comprised of yarns made from liquid crystal polymer (LCP) fibers. The laces may comprise 100% liquid crystal polymer, or may comprise between about 30% to 99% liquid crystal polymer fibers and a portion of other fibers. The laces may be solid braid construction.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to improved laces for use with footwear, sports equipment and the like.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Laces for footwear, such as shoes and boots, and for sports equipment, such as skates, rollerblades, boxing gloves and sports padding, are typically made from conventional fibers—cotton, nylon or polyester. One problem with these prior art laces is that they wear out as a result of abrasion and break frequently, usually at inopportune moments and thus render the associated footwear or sports equipment inoperable. Laces made of aramid fiber, such as that sold under the trademark KEVLAR by DuPont, have recently been made available, but testing and experience has shown that these do not last even as long as those made of the traditional materials. Accordingly, it is desirable to use laces that are significantly stronger and resistant to wear and are less prone to breakage than the laces of the prior art.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIO...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]LCP fiber is a high-modulus fiber, meaning that it is stiffer in tension and does not stretch as much as conventional fibers. It was determined that LCP fiber is very resistant to abrasion, more than most conventional fibers. LCP fiber is also much stronger than the conventional fibers. As well, the greater tensile stiffness and strength of LCP fiber allows pulling the laces tighter. This is especially advantageous in sporting equipment where generally greater force is required to pull the parts of the equipment together.

[0008]The increased strength and reduced abrasion of laces made from LCP fiber result in fewer breaks, increased reliability and longer lifetime of the footwear or sporting equipment.

[0009]The greater tensile stiffness of laces made from LCP fiber means that these laces will stretch less as a person walks, runs, skates, etc. with the associated footwear or sports equipment. Repeated stretching and relaxing of conventional laces causes the laces to move through the eyelets in the footwear or equipment and abrade against the eyelets as well as against other parts of the footwear or equipment, or against the laces themselves. This abrasion leads to deterioration and breakage of the laces. It was determined that the laces made from LCP fiber do not stretch as much and thus are subjected to less abrasion and will last longer than the prior art laces.

[0010]The greater tensile stiffness of laces made from LCP fiber also means that after the LCP fiber laces are tied at a desired tightness, they will remain tied at that tightness. In contrast, conventional fiber laces stretch and loosen, and thus require frequent retightening.

Problems solved by technology

One problem with these prior art laces is that they wear out as a result of abrasion and break frequently, usually at inopportune moments and thus render the associated footwear or sports equipment inoperable.

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