Drawstring puller and fastener for shoelaces

• US 5,335,400 A
• Filed: 10/09/1992
• Issued: 08/09/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Buenaventura Z. Sales
• Original Assignee: Buenaventura Z. Sales
• Inventors: Sales, Buenaventura Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brittain, James R.
• Application Number:
  US07/959,123
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 24/712.1, 24/712.5, 24/715.4, 24/30.5 R, 24/30.5 L, 24/136 L, 24/136 R, 24/715.6
• US Class Current: 24/712.5
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 7/00 Holding-devices for laces
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 7/005 the devices having means to hold the traditional knots or part of it tightened
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3713 having relatively movable holding components or surfaces

Abstract

A drawstring puller and fastener that laces separable members of a shoe or the like. The free ends of a shoelace pass through openings formed in a hollow, bell-shaped socket and are formed with a knot disposed in an axial opening of the tapered plug. The axial opening is formed with an oval cross-sectional area. The plug draws the shoelace for the tightening of the shoelace lacing the separable members. While the plug draws the shoelace for the tightening of the shoelace, the knot engages the inner wall of the plug surrounding the axial opening at the oval cross-sectional area. While the shoelace is tightened by the pulling of the plug, the socket is in abutment with the separable members. While the loop of the shoelace extending from the socket is held taut, the plug, which is formed with ridges on the outer wall, is inserted and press fitted into the socket wedging securely the shoelace therebetween. The inner wall of the socket is free of ridges to enable the ridged plug to enter the socket freely. The openings formed in the socket through which the free ends of the shoelace pass are located adjacent to the closed top of the socket for maintaining the socket flat against the separable members while obviating the tendency of the socket to rise upwardly from the top members.

Claims

1. A drawstring puller and fastener for separable members having drawstring engaging means, said drawstring puller and fastener comprising:

(a) a drawstring received by said drawstring engaging means to draw said separable members toward one another, said drawstring having free ends;

(b) a hollow socket with a closed end from which a frustoconical hollow wall has a taper widening toward an open end, apertures formed in said frustoconical wall through which pass the free ends of said drawstring, the free ends of said drawstring continue therefrom to pass through the open end of said hollow socket, said frustoconical wall having a smooth inner surface without projections; and

(c) a tapered drawstring pull plug having a wide end and a narrow end, said plug having an axial opening at the wide end thereof for receiving the free ends of said drawstring which have passed through said open end of said hollow socket, the free ends of said drawstring received by said plug being disposed within said axial opening, said plug at its narrow end being inserted into said open end of said socket and press fitted into and directly with said socket after said drawstring has been tightened and while said drawstring remains taut for wedging said drawstring between said frustoconical wall of said socket and said plug to interlace securely the separable members, said plug having an outer wall formed with ridges to provide a non-slip fit for the wedging of the drawstring between said socket and said plug, said plug having a smooth entry into said socket without interference from said socket except to provide a direct press fit therebetween.

2. A drawstring puller and fastener as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apertures formed in said frustoconical wall are located contiguous to the closed end of said socket and sharing a common edge therewith for disposing and maintaining said socket flat against the separable members and obviating the tendency of said socket to rise upwardly from the separable members.

3. A drawstring puller and fastener as claimed to claim 2 wherein said free ends of said drawstring between the wide end of said plug and the open end of said socket are in the form of loops.

4. A drawstring puller and fastener as claimed in claim 2 wherein said apertures formed in said frustoconical wall and located contiguous to the closed end of said socket extend substantially midway between said open end of said socket and said closed end of said socket.

5. A drawstring puller and fastener as claimed in claim 1 wherein said free ends of said drawstring extending between the wide end of said plug and the open end of said socket are in the form of loops.

6. A drawstring puller and fastener as claimed in claim 1 wherein said axial opening of said plug is formed with an oval cross-sectional area, said free ends of said drawstring being formed with a knot disposed in engagement with an inner wall of said plug adjacent said oval cross-sectional area of said axial opening.

7. A drawstring puller and fastener for separable members having drawstring engaging means, said drawstring puller and fastener comprising:

(a) a drawstring received by said drawstring engaging means to draw said separable members toward one another, said drawstring having free ends;

(b) a hollow socket with a closed end from which a frustoconical hollow wall has a taper widening toward an open end, apertures formed in said frustoconical wall through which pass the free ends of said drawstring, the free ends of said drawstring continue therefrom to pass through the open end of said hollow socket; and

(c) a tapered drawstring pull plug having a wide end and a narrow end, said plug having an axial opening at the wide end thereof for receiving the free ends of said drawstring which have passed through said open end of said socket, the free ends of said drawstring received by said plug being disposed within said axial opening, said plug at its narrow end being inserted into the open end of said socket and press fitted into said socket after said drawstring has been tightened and while said frustoconical wall of said socket and said plug to interlace securely the separable members, said plug having an outer wall formed with ridges to provide a non-slip fit for the wedging of said drawstring between said socket and said plug,

(d) said apertures formed in said socket being located contiguous to the closed end of said socket and sharing a common edge therewith for disposing and maintaining said socket flat against the separable members and for obviating the tendency of said socket to rise upwardly from the separable members.

8. A drawstring puller and fastener as claimed in claim 7 wherein said free ends of said drawstring extending between the wide end of said plug and the open end of said socket are in the form of loops.

9. A drawstring puller and fastener as claimed in claim 7 wherein said apertures formed in said frustoconical wall and located contiguous to the closed end of said socket extend substantially midway between said open end of said socket and said closed end of said socket.