shoelace

Abstract

To provide a shoe lace which is unlikely to come loose and is excellent in durability.SOLUTION: A shoe lace 1 is a braid-like shoe lace 1 that uses a plurality of doubled yarns 2 each of which is composed of one yarn or more, and is formed by crossing and braiding them. The doubled yarn 2 includes: a first doubled yarn 21 composed of 1 to 8 yarns; and a second doubled yarn 22 composed of more yarns than the first doubled yarn 21. The shoe lace has recesses 3 and protrusions 4 formed by the first doubled yarns 21 and the second doubled yarns 22 on the surface of the shoe lace 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to shoelaces.

Background Art

[0002] Shoelaces are used in many shoes to fit the shoes to the wearer's feet. Conventional shoelaces are made of synthetic fibers such as nylon and polyester, or natural materials such as cotton, and further have shapes such as flat laces, round laces, and flat-round laces.

[0003] An important role required for shoelaces is the difficulty of loosening. As shoelaces that are difficult to loosen, for example, the following shoelaces are disclosed.

[0004] Patent Document 1 describes a cord having a tubular cord body made of an elastic material having bumps that are repeatedly arranged at intervals and whose diameter changes depending on the magnitude of the axial tension applied to itself. And it is described that by adopting such a configuration, it is possible to provide a cord that is difficult to break and is excellent in economy and efficiency in that loosening and slackening hardly occur even without tying.

[0005] Patent Document 2 describes a shoelace that has been subjected to an anti-slip treatment by a silicone rubber print to make the knot of the shoelace (shoelace) difficult to loosen. And it is described that by increasing the frictional force by the silicone rubber print, the knot is held and there is an effect of creating a state where it is difficult to loosen.

[0006] Patent Document 3 describes a shoelace woven using non-elastic woven yarns, characterized in that woven yarns having an anti-slip function are exposed in a state of being scattered on the surface of the portion that forms a knot when worn, and it is described that it does not become loose or slack during walking.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2014-12909 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-69889 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-52614 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] The following is a possible mechanism for how shoelaces come undone. For example, when a person wearing lace-up shoes is walking, maximum tension acts on the knot of the shoelace at the moment the foot hits the ground. After that, the tension on the knot decreases, increases as the foot swings forward, and reaches maximum tension again when the foot hits the ground again. This process is repeated. Therefore, in order to prevent shoelaces from coming undone, it is necessary that the shoelaces do not loosen easily even when the tension on the knot repeatedly increases and decreases.

[0009] In demanding sports that place a heavy load on the feet, such as marathons and soccer, shoelaces are repeatedly subjected to high tension. If the shoelaces are not strong enough, they may break during the competition. Therefore, shoelaces need to be not only resistant to coming undone, but also durable enough to resist breaking.

[0010] While Patent Documents 1 to 3 described above contain shoelaces that are less likely to come undone, the elastic material described in Patent Document 1 and the anti-slip yarn described in Patent Document 3 contain rubber material, and these shoelaces may not be strong enough depending on their intended use. Furthermore, in the case of the shoelaces described in Patent Document 2, the silicone rubber printed on the surface of the shoelaces is relatively low in strength, and may wear down or peel off from the base material and disappear with prolonged use (low durability).

[0011] This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide shoelaces that are less likely to come undone and have excellent durability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The shoelace of the present invention is a braided shoelace formed by using multiple strands of plywood, each consisting of one or more threads, and braiding them together in an intersecting manner, wherein the plywood includes a first plywood consisting of 1 to 8 threads and a second plywood consisting of more threads than the number of threads that make up the first plywood, and the shoelace surface has recesses and protrusions formed by the first plywood and the second plywood.

[0013] The shoelaces described above are characterized by being made of 10 to 100 strands of the aforementioned composite thread.

[0014] The ratio of the number of strands of the first plywood described above to the number of strands of the second plywood described above is 3:7 to 7:3.

[0015] The above yarn is characterized by being a twisted yarn of aramid fibers or polyester fibers.

[0016] The shoelaces described above are characterized by being flat, braided laces with a width of 2mm to 20mm.

[0017] The tensile strength of the shoelaces described above is characterized by being between 500N and 1200N. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] The shoelace of the present invention includes a first plywood composed of 1 to 8 threads and a second plywood composed of more threads than the first plywood. The shoelace surface has recesses and protrusions formed by the first and second plywoods, so that the shoelaces do not slip when they come into contact with each other and have excellent strength. As a result, the shoelace of the present invention is less likely to come undone and has excellent durability.

[0019] Shoelaces are made from 10 to 100 strands of yarn, making them stronger.

[0020] Since the ratio of the number of the first combined yarns to the number of the second combined yarns is 3:7 to 7:3, unevenness is likely to be formed on the surface of the shoelace, and the contacting shoelaces are more difficult to slip.

[0021] Since the yarn is a twisted yarn of aramid fiber or polyester fiber, it is further superior in strength compared with the case where a yarn of rubber-based material is used.

[0022] Since the shoelace is a flat plain lace with a width of 2 mm to 20 mm, the deformation of the lace when tied is larger than that of a round lace or the like, and it is even more difficult to come loose.

[0023] Since the tensile strength of the shoelace is 500 N to 1200 N, it is excellent in strength while maintaining ease of tying, and can also be used for competitive sports that instantaneously apply a large load.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] [Figure 1] It is a plan view of the shoelace of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is an enlarged plan view of the shoelace of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view of a laced shoe provided with the shoelace of the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] The shoelace of the present invention is a braided lace. The braided lace is a lace formed by braiding combined yarns so as to cross each other, and is different from a lace of a fabric obtained by weaving yarns vertically and horizontally. When using a lace of a fabric as a shoelace, it is not easy to maintain both sufficient mechanical strength so as not to break even when a large load is applied like in sports while maintaining appropriate elasticity. On the other hand, in the present invention, by making the shoelace a braided lace with a predetermined structure, while maintaining appropriate elasticity, sufficient mechanical strength is ensured, it is excellent in durability, and furthermore, its looseness resistance is improved.

[0026] An example of the shoelace of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a plan view of the shoelace, and Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the shoelace shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, the shoelace 1 is formed in a braided shape by interlacing multiple strands of braiding thread 2. For example, the shoelace 1 has a total of 24 strands of braiding thread, consisting of 12 first braiding threads 21 made up of 3 strands each (hereinafter also called "base threads"), and 12 second braiding threads 22 made up of 7 strands each, which is more than the number of strands that make up the first braiding threads. In this case, the shoelace 1 is formed from a total of 120 base threads. The number of braiding threads corresponds to the number of so-called "knots".

[0027] The shoelace 1 in this example is a flat lace having recesses 3 and protrusions 4 formed on its surface by a first plywood 21 and a second plywood 22. More specifically, the shoelace 1 has recesses 3 formed by the first plywood 21 and protrusions 4 formed by the second plywood 22. The shoelace 1 has a flat portion 5 which is a substantially planar part that occupies most of its surface, and selvage portions 6 on the sides of the shoelace 1, each of which has recesses 3 and protrusions 4. Here, the shoelace 1 has the protrusions 4 further outward than the recesses 3, and the protrusions 4 are raised higher than the recesses 3.

[0028] The ply threads 2 intersect diagonally with other ply threads 2 that are arranged in a nearly perpendicular direction, but do not intersect with other ply threads that are arranged facing the same direction. Multiple ply threads 2 arranged facing the same direction are arranged such that, for example, the first ply thread 21 and the second ply thread 22 are arranged alternately facing the same direction. In this case, the difference between the highest and lowest positions from the average plane of the surface irregularities of the shoelace 1 formed by the recesses 3 and protrusions 4 is maximized (the protrusion of the protrusions 4 relative to the recesses 3 is maximized), making it difficult for the shoelaces to slip against each other.

[0029] The ply yarn 2 is, for example, a twisted yarn made up of multiple base yarns. The thickness of the second ply yarn 22 is greater than the thickness of the first ply yarn 21. The yarns that make up the first ply yarn 21 and the second ply yarn 22 are each of roughly the same thickness. The base yarn is, for example, a twisted polyester yarn with a thickness of 50 count. Note that the base yarn of the present invention may be not only a single monofilament, but also a multifilament made by twisting together several to tens of monofilaments.

[0030] The shoelaces of the present invention have numerous recesses 3 and protrusions 4 formed by the first and second plywood threads 21 and 22 on their surface, so that the recesses and protrusions on the shoelace surface that come into contact with each other interlock easily, preventing the shoelaces from slipping. Furthermore, since multiple plywood threads are interwoven to form a braided cord, it has moderate elasticity while also being strong. As a result, the shoelaces of the present invention are less likely to come undone and have excellent durability.

[0031] Shoelaces can be formed by using multiple strands of plywood, each consisting of one or more threads, and braiding them together in a crisscross pattern; they are not limited to flat laces. The first plywood is not limited to three strands, but may consist of one to eight threads. From the viewpoint of resistance to unraveling, the number of threads constituting the first plywood is preferably five or less, more preferably four or less, and even more preferably three or less. The second plywood is not limited to seven strands, but may consist of more threads than the number of threads constituting the first plywood. In particular, from the viewpoint of resistance to unraveling, the difference between the number of threads constituting the first plywood and the number of threads constituting the second plywood is preferably two or more, more preferably three or more, and even more preferably four or more.

[0032] As mentioned above, the plywood may include not only two types of plywood, but also three or more types. If the shoelace contains three types of plywood, it may have a total of 36 plywood strands, for example, 12 first-type plywood strands made of 3 strands each, 12 second-type plywood strands made of 5 strands each (more than the number of strands in the first-type plywood), and 12 third-type plywood strands made of 7 strands each (more than the number of strands in the second-type plywood). In this case, the shoelace has a large number of strands, totaling 180, and therefore is superior in strength.

[0033] The total number of strands of yarn that make up a shoelace is not limited to 24. For example, a shoelace can consist of 10 to 100 strands of yarn. From the viewpoint of balancing durability and ease of tying, the number of strands of yarn in a shoelace is preferably 20 to 75, more preferably 20 to 40, and even more preferably 20 to 30. For example, when shoelaces are braided diagonally, using 20 to 30 strands of yarn makes it easy to handle, such as easy to thread through the eyelets and easy to tie, while also providing excellent strength.

[0034] The ratio of the number of first and second plywood threads can be freely set, as long as concave and convex parts are formed on the surface of the shoelace. For example, the ratio of the number of first and second plywood threads is 3:7 to 7:3, and from the viewpoint of resistance to unraveling, 4:6 to 6:4 is preferable, and 5:5 is more preferable. When the ratio of the number of first and second plywood threads is within the above range, there is not an excessive amount of either thin or thick plywood threads, so that unevenness is easily formed on the surface of the shoelace, and the shoelaces that come into contact with each other are less likely to slip. When the ratio of the number of first and second plywood threads is 5:5, and the first and second plywood threads are arranged alternately in the same direction, the unevenness is most easily formed on the surface of the shoelace, and the shoelaces that come into contact with each other are particularly less likely to slip.

[0035] The base yarn that makes up the ply yarn may be any of the following: natural fibers such as cotton, silk, hemp, or wool; or chemical fibers (including regenerated fibers) such as rayon, acrylic, nylon, aramid, polyester, or carbon fiber. The base yarn and the ply yarn may be either untwisted or twisted. For example, twisted chemical fibers can be used as the base yarn, and from the viewpoint of strength, twisted aramid or polyester fibers are preferred. For example, sewing threads with a thickness of 20 to 80 can be selected as the base yarn, and from the viewpoint of ease of tying, a thickness of 30 to 70 is preferred, 40 to 60 is more preferred, and 40 to 50 is even more preferred.

[0036] From the perspective of environmental protection through decarbonization (de-chemical use), natural fibers and recycled polyester are preferred as the base yarn. Furthermore, from the perspective of cost, cotton yarn is preferred, for example, and from the perspective of aesthetics and comfort, silk yarn or wool is preferred. The base yarn or ply yarn may be dyed or its surface may be coated with a resin material or the like.

[0037] When a single ply yarn is composed of multiple base yarns, the ply yarn may be composed of base yarns of the same type or of different types. A single base yarn may be a yarn produced by spinning one type of fiber, or it may be a blended yarn or mixed fiber yarn produced by blending two or more different types of fibers.

[0038] The braided laces for shoes can be freely selected from options such as flat braid, round braid, and square braid. For flat and square braids, the Naiki braid can be used. For round braids, the Tsuri-yotsu braid, Edo braid, and Kongo braid can be used. The weave of the laces can also be diagonal or horizontal. The shape of the shoelaces can be freely selected from options such as flat laces, round laces, square laces, and flat-round laces, corresponding to the braiding methods mentioned above. From the standpoint of preventing unraveling, flat laces are preferable because they are easily deformed and have a relatively large contact surface between the laces. When the shoelaces are flat laces, the width of the laces is preferably, for example, 2mm to 20mm, more preferably 3mm to 10mm, even more preferably 4mm to 8mm, and even more preferably 4mm to 6mm. When the width of the shoelaces is within the above range, flat laces are easy to handle, such as easy to thread through the eyelets and easy to tie, and when tied, the deformation of the laces is greater than that of round laces, making them even more difficult to unravel.

[0039] Shoelaces can be hollow braided laces, or solid braided laces, where the inside is filled with strands of yarn. Alternatively, another string or thread can be passed through the hollow space inside a hollow braided lace. Hollow braided laces are more easily deformed than solid braided laces, allowing for a more secure knot. Flat, hollow braided laces are particularly resistant to coming undone.

[0040] From the viewpoint of durability and ease of tying, the tensile strength of the shoelaces is preferably 500N to 1200N, and more preferably 580N to 1200N. As a result, the shoelaces of the present invention are stronger while maintaining ease of tying, and can be used in competitive sports where large loads are applied instantaneously and where higher strength is required to prevent the laces from coming undone.

[0041] The method for manufacturing shoelaces according to the present invention is described below. The method for manufacturing shoelaces according to the present invention includes a yarn-joining step of creating a first yarn composed of 1 to 8 threads and a second yarn composed of more threads than the number of threads that make up the first yarn, and a braiding step of braiding the first yarn and the second yarn so that they intersect to form a braided cord, and the shoelace has a recess formed by the first yarn and a protrusion formed by the second yarn.

[0042] By manufacturing braided shoelaces using the method described above, the resulting laces have numerous recesses and protrusions, and are also highly strong, making them less likely to unravel and providing excellent durability.

[0043] An example of using the shoelaces of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a shoelace equipped with the shoelaces of the present invention. As shown in Figure 3, when the shoelaces 1 are attached to the shoe body 7 and tied, the shoelaces 1 come into contact with each other at the knot 8. At the knot 8, the concave and convex parts of the contacting shoelace surfaces interlock, so even when tension is applied to the knot 8 when wearing the shoes and exercising, a counteracting frictional force is generated. As a result, even in applications where large tension is repeatedly applied to the knot 8, the shoelaces 1 are less likely to slip and are less likely to come undone. [Examples]

[0044] The durability and resistance to unraveling of the shoelaces of the present invention (Examples 1-5) and conventional shoelaces (Comparative Examples 1 and 2) were evaluated. The shoelaces of Examples 1-5 are flat braided cords (hollow braided cords with a core thread inside) formed from a first and second plywood, with an uneven surface. The shoelaces of Comparative Examples 1 and 2 are woven cords formed from cotton plywood of the same thickness.

[0045] <Durability evaluation> To evaluate durability, tensile strength (yarn strength and elongation measurement) was performed in accordance with JIS L1013. Using a test apparatus, the cord was pulled in opposite directions, and the maximum strength at which it broke (breaking strength) was adopted as the tensile strength. The test apparatus and test conditions are shown below.

[0046] Measurement device: Tensilon tensile testing machine Measurement method: Wrap-around self-tightening chuck Gripping interval: 10 cm (Examples 1-4, Comparative Example 1), 20 cm (Example 5, Comparative Example 2) Pulling speed: 20cm / min Number of measurements: 6 times (Examples 1-4, Comparative Example 1), 5 times (Example 5, Comparative Example 2)

[0047] Table 1 below shows the shoelaces used in the evaluation and the results of the durability evaluation.

[0048] [Table 1]

[0049] <Evaluation of resistance to unraveling> For each shoelace in the examples, Examples 1 and 2 were evaluated for hockey, volleyball, and rugby; Example 3 for baseball; Example 4 for soccer; and Example 5 for soccer, baseball, track and field, volleyball, basketball, and rugby (adults) for each sport. The shoelaces were attached as laces to cleats and tied in a bow when putting on the shoes. The evaluation results showed that in all cases, the shoelaces in each example did not come undone or break even once during the competition.

[0050] As the evaluation results above show, the shoelaces of Examples 1-5 were resistant to coming undone even during strenuous exercise. Furthermore, regarding durability, the tensile strength of the shoelaces of Examples 1-5 was all 500N or higher (especially 580N or higher), and they did not break even during strenuous exercise. From this, it was found that the shoelaces of Examples 1-5 excel in both resistance to coming undone and durability.

[0051] The shoelace of the present invention has been described above with reference to the figures, but the present invention is not limited to the above configuration. [Industrial applicability]

[0052] The shoelaces of the present invention are less likely to come undone and have excellent durability, so they can be widely used as shoelaces for a wide range of shoes, from everyday lace-up shoes to lace-up shoes for competitive sports (soccer, track and field, baseball, volleyball, basketball, hockey, rugby, etc.). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0053] 1 Shoelaces 2 Plywood 21 First thread 22 Second Ply Thread 3 recesses 4. Convex part 5 Plane part 6 ears 7. Shoe body 8 knots

Claims

1. A braided shoelace is formed by using multiple strands of yarn made from two or more threads and braiding them together in a crisscross pattern. The aforementioned ply yarn includes a first ply yarn composed of two or more threads, and a second ply yarn composed of at least two more threads than the number of threads constituting the first ply yarn. The first and second strands of the string are arranged alternately, facing the same direction, and are crossed diagonally to form a flat, hollow braided cord. It has a recess formed by the first plywood and a protrusion formed by the second plywood, and the recess and protrusion are formed by the difference in thickness caused by the difference in the number of threads between the first plywood and the second plywood. The shoelaces are characterized by the fact that the recessed portion and the protruding portion interlock when the knot is formed, making it difficult for the shoelaces to slip against each other even when tension is repeatedly applied to the knot.

2. The shoelace according to claim 1, characterized in that the yarn is a twisted yarn of aramid fibers or polyester fibers.

3. The shoelace is a flat braided shoelace with a width of 2 mm to 20 mm, as described in claim 1 or 2.

4. The shoelace according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tensile strength of the shoelace is 500 N to 1200 N.

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