US20080313925A1

US20080313925A1 - Crazy strangs

Info

Publication number: US20080313925A1
Application number: US11/699,800
Authority: US
Inventors: Deborah Ruth Fucles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-01-30
Filing date: 2007-01-30
Publication date: 2008-12-25

Abstract

The present invention was created for the purpose of allowing individuals to make a casual pair of shoes unique and trendy. The fashion laces do not require tying and are made exclusively for shoes that have eyelets for shoe laces. The laces are strung through the eyelets on the shoe that provides the wearer with the ability to customize the fitting of the shoe. The laces are especially designed to accommodate the open shoe style trend, but are versatile enough for the wearer to wear loose shoes that you can slip on or off the foot, thus allowing for a more comfortable fit, or the wearer can use a smaller size lace, thus allowing for more tension to be applied for a more snug fit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Shoe laces have been in use for hundreds of years. The conventional shoe string is a smooth long narrow shoe lace made of cloth, plastic, or leather. Current closure systems are used to tighten a shoe around the foot.
The most common type of closure system for footwear is a lacing system. In a conventional lacing system, a shoelace is strung between two sets of eyelets, one set on each side of the throat of the shoe. Although many lacing conventions are used to lace footwear, it is common for the show lace to extend from the bottom eyelet of each set to the second most bottom eyelet of the opposite and continues back and forth until each eyelet of each set of eyelets has been laced. Pulling on the ends of the lace at the top of the eyelet sets will tighten the lace in all the eyelets.
Conventional shoe lace arrangements experience various disadvantages that revolve around the need to tie the two ends of the shoe laces together; or the knots tied in the shoestrings become loose so that the shoe unintentionally becomes unjoined at inconvenient or sometimes hazardous times.
Laces can be tied tightly of loosely, depending upon the preference of the wearer. Even a custom-made shoe benefits from the adjustability provided by laces, since both the dimensions of a foot and the tightness looseness preference can change in the course of the day. To accommodate a nearly unlimited range of foot shapes and sizes, however, a sufficient amount or a limited amount of slack must be provided. Many laces, while easy to adjust, fail to stay tied, once knotted.
In regards to sport activities, it has interfered with some game plays, the game is stopped until the laces are tied to avoid the shoe from dislodging from the foot, or the wearer from tripping over the laces by stepping on the loosened end.
In relation to children playing, it is a burden on parents or other individuals around them because the tying of the laces may be a task beyond the child's ability to perform, thus requiring some additional help from someone else.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided shoe laces that are easily strung through the eyelets of a shoe or sneaker, that will not require any tying. It is further the object of this invention to provide a lace system for shoe, sneaker, or the like suitable for the use by individuals having a physical disability, such as arthritis, which makes tying laces difficult by eliminating the necessity of tying and untying the laces for each time the shoe is engaged or disengaged.
It also is an object of the present invention to provide such a system that is of simple inexpensive construction. The multiple versions are designed to be trendy as well as simple to maintain.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved lace for a shoe or sneaker.
It is another object of the invention to provide shoe laces that are easily strung through the eyelet of a shoe or sneaker.
While the foregoing embodiments are at present considered to be preferred it is understood that numerous variations and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover in the claim all such variations and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 The Twurly-Whurly version is approximately 7 inches in length that will stretch out to about 20 inches and is designed to hang over the sides of the shoe. The lace in one preferred embodiment for use in popular athletic shoes can be made of nylon, polyester/spandex tubing, or elastic cord in bright fluorescent colors, multicolored with stripes such as candy cane design, or can be co-extruded in many colors, have metallic flakes or have grooves with a different colors.
FIG. 2 The Flow-Bow version is approximately 9 inches in length and requires velcro for closure. It can be made with polyester, cotton, or nylon in various colors.
FIG. 3 The Pop-Knot version is approximately 9 inches in length and requires a cord lock fastener for closure or some other locking mechanism or the wearer can simply tie knots where desired. Plastic can go on the ends or the ends can be frayed.
FIG. 4 The Criss-Cross version is approximately 9 inches in length and require velcro for closure. The ends can be squared or plastic tips. Laces can be made with polyester, cotton, or nylon in various colors.

Claims

1. A lacing system suitable for lacing shoes that have eyelets. The shoes are adjoined together, in various widths, with mechanisms for closure.