Shoelace lock

• US 4,790,048 A
• Filed: 11/05/1987
• Issued: 12/13/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharon M. Arnt
• Original Assignee: Sharon M. Arnt
• Inventors: Arnt, Sharon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US07/116,979
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 24/117 R, 24/118, 24/119, 24/120, 24/140, 24/142, 24/144, 24/141, 24/147, 24/148, 24/115 R, 36/50
• US Class Current: 24/712.1
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 7/00 Holding-devices for laces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3703 Includes separate device for holding drawn portion of lacing

Abstract

A shoelace lock including top and bottom plates that cross and grip the laces as the top plate is rotated 180 degrees to the bottom plate and snap locked thereto.

Claims

1. A shoelace lock for threaded shoelaces terminating with a pair of lace end portions extending from spaced shoe eyelets, comprising;

a bottom member having spaced openings therein adapted to receive the lace end portions, a top member over the bottom member having means thereon for holding the lace end portions in a spaced condition, a gripping means projecting from at least one of the top and bottom members for gripping the laces as they cross when the top member is rotated 180 degrees with respect to the bottom member with the lace end portions therethrough, and snap lock means for attaching the top and bottom members together after the top member is rotated 180 degrees with respect to the bottom member.

2. A shoelace lock for threaded shoelaces terminating with a pair of lace end portions extending from spaced shoe eyelets, as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for holding the laced end portions in a spaced condition includes spaced openings in the top member.

3. A shoelace lock for threaded shoelaces terminating with a pair of lace end portions extending from spaced shoe eyelets, as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for gripping the laces when crossed includes downward projection means on the top member and cooperating upward projection means on the bottom member.

4. A shoelace lock for threaded shoelaces terminating with a pair of lace end portions extending from spaced shoe eyelets, as defined in claim 3, wherein the top member is somewhat flexible and constructed to bend as the top member is snap locked to the bottom member.

5. A shoelace lock for threaded shoelaces terminating with a pair of lace end portions extending from spaced shoe eyelets, as defined in claim 3, wherein the gripping projections each include a plurality of aligned small projections.

6. A shoelace lock for threaded shoelaces terminating with a pair of lace end portions extending from spaced shoe eyelets, as defined in claim 1, wherein the snap lock means includes widely spaced posts on one of the said members and cooperating slightly interfering apertures in the other of said members.

7. A shoelace lock for threaded shoelaces terminating with a pair of lace end portions extending from spaced eyelets, as defined in claim 4, wherein each of the posts has an enlarged locking head on the top thereof.

8. A shoelace lock for threaded shoelaces terminating with a pair of lace end portions extending from spaced shoe eyelets, comprising;

a bottom member having spaced openings therein adapted to receive the lace end portions, a top member over the bottom member having means therein for holding the lace end portions in a spaced condition, a gripping means in at least one of the top and bottom members for gripping the laces as they cross when the top member is rotated 180 degrees with respect to the bottom member with the lace end portions therethrough, and snap lock means for attaching the top and bottom members together after the top member is rotated 180 degrees with respect to the bottom member including widely spaced posts on one of the said members and cooperating slightly interferring apertures in the other of said members, the means for gripping the laces when crossed including downward projection means on the top member and cooperating upward projection means on the bottom member.

9. A shoelace lock for threaded shoelaces terminating with a pair of lace end portions extending from spaced shoe eyelets, as defined in claim 8, wherein the means for holding the laced end portions in a spaced condition includes spaced openings in the top member.

10. A shoelace lock for threaded shoelaces terminating with a pair of lace end portions extending from spaced shoe eyelets, as defined in claim 9, wherein the top member is somewhat flexible and constructed to bend as the top member is snap locked to the bottom member.

11. A shoelace lock for threaded shoelaces terminating with a pair of lace end portions extending from spaced shoe eyelets, comprising;

a bottom member having spaced openings therein adapted to receive the lace end portions, a top member over the bottom member having means therein for holding the lace end portions in a spaced, condition, a gripping means in at least one of the top and bottom members for gripping the laces as they cross when the top member is rotated 180 degrees with respect to the bottom member with the lace end portions therethrough, and snap lock means for attaching the top and bottom members together after the top member is rotated 180 degrees with respect to the bottom member including widely spaced posts on one of said members and cooperating slightly interferring apertures in the other of said members, the means for gripping the laces when crossed including downward projection means on the top member and cooperating upward projection means on the bottom member, the top member being somewhat flexible and constructed to bend as the top member is snap locked to the bottom member, said gripping projection means each including a plurality of aligned small projections.