FASTENER FOR FASTENING TOGETHER TWO LACE SEGMENTS

• US 20080250617A1
• Filed: 04/11/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kun-Chung Liu
• Original Assignee: Kun-Chung Liu
• Inventors: LIU, Kun-Chung
• Granted Patent: US 7,681,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/712.5
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 7/08 Clamps drawn tight by laces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3703 Includes separate device for holding drawn portion of lacing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3713 having relatively movable holding components or surfaces

Abstract

A fastener for fastening together two lace segments includes a base, a pull unit, and two clamp units. The base has an intermediate portion, and two openings disposed on two opposite sides of the intermediate portion. Each of the openings is adapted to permit one of the lace segments to extend therethrough. The pull unit includes a middle portion fixed to the base, and two opposite pull members extending outwardly from the middle portion. The clamp units are respectively connected to the pull members and are disposed above the openings. Each of the clamp units defines a through hole adapted to permit one of the lace segments to extend therethrough. The clamp units are movable toward the openings to effect clamping and are movable away from the openings when the pull members are pulled away from the base.

Claims

1. A fastener for fastening together two lace segments, comprising:

a base having an intermediate portion, and two openings disposed on two opposite sides of said intermediate portion, each of said openings being adapted to permit one of the lace segments to extend therethrough;

a pull unit including a middle portion fixed to said base, and two opposite pull members extending outwardly from said middle portion; and

two clamp units respectively connected to said pull members and disposed above said openings, each of said clamp units defining a through hole adapted to permit one of the lace segments to extend therethrough, said clamp units being movable toward said openings to effect clamping and being movable away from said openings when said pull members are pulled away from said base.

2. The fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base is a one-piece plate.

3. The fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base further has two looped edges respectively defining said openings, each of said looped edges having a clamping edge portion disposed away from said intermediate portion, said clamping edge portion cooperating with a respective one of said clamp units to effect clamping.

4. The fastener as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said pull members has a first string segment that extends outward from said middle portion and a second string segment that returns toward said middle portion, and each of said clamp units has a ring fixed to said first and second string segments and defining a respective one of said through holes, said ring being movable toward said clamping edge portion of a respective one of said looped edges to effect clamping.

5. The fastener as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an anchoring member made of metal, and having a press part pressing said middle portion of said pull unit against said base, and a plurality of anchoring legs extending from said press part, penetrating said middle portion of said pull unit, and fixed to said base.

6. The fastener as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a ring surrounding said base and said middle portion of said pull unit.

7. The fastener as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a curved retaining member fixed to said base opposite to said anchoring member so as to embrace a portion of said ring, said curved retaining member including two opposite end portions fixed to said base.