Protective shoelace cover

• US 5,701,688 A
• Filed: 04/18/1996
• Issued: 12/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fila USA Incorporated (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fila USA Incorporated (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Crowley, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, B.
• Application Number:
  US08/634,404
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 36/133, 36/132, 36/136, 36/72 R, 36/50.1, 36/54, 36/100, 36/101
• US Class Current: 36/72.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0081 made at least partially of hook-and-loop type material hook and loop-type straps for fastening purpose A43C11/1493
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/26 Tongues for shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/00 Shoe lacing fastenings garment fastening devices A41F
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 13/00 Wear-resisting attachments

Abstract

A shoelace cover having a translucent window is detachably secured to the upper of a shoe to display and protect the lacings. The shoelace cover comprises a generally triangular edge element, a translucent window composed of tubular elements and connected to the edge element, and fasteners attached beneath the edge element to detachably secure the cover over the throat area of a shoe upper. The translucent window permits the shoelaces to be seen therethrough, may be of different colors and may house a decorative emblem or feature.

Claims

1. A protective shoelace cover for substantially covering the shoelaces of a shoe, wherein the shoe comprises a sole and an upper having a throat, the shoelace cover comprising:

a generally triangular edge element sized to fit over the throat of the shoe, the edge element having an inner portion;

fastening means connected to the underside of the edge element for detachably securing the cover to the upper on opposite sides of the throat; and

a translucent window of deformable, shock-absorbing material connected to the inner portion of the edge element.

2. The shoelace cover of claim 1, wherein the fastening means comprises:

a hook and loop fastener.

3. The shoelace cover of claim 1, wherein the edge element is fully detachable from the upper of a shoe.

4. The shoelace cover of claim 1, wherein a toe section of the edge element is permanently attached to the upper of a shoe, and wherein other portions of the edge element are detachably connectable.

5. The shoelace cover of claim 1, wherein the translucent window is comprised of a plurality of rod-shaped members.

6. The shoelace cover of claim 5, wherein the rod-shaped members are filled with air.

7. The shoelace cover of claim 5, wherein the rod-shaped members are filled with gel.

8. The shoelace cover of claim 5, wherein the rod-shaped members are composed of a deformable plastic material.

9. The shoelace cover of claim 1, wherein the translucent window is tinted.

10. The shoelace cover of claim 1, wherein the translucent window contains an insignia.