Final tensioning device for laced closure

• US 6,327,750 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2000
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Don Scott Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Don Scott Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Scott, Donald W., Muldowney, Loren S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US09/519,941
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 24/68.SK, 24/70.SK, 24/71.SK, 24/69.SK, 247/121, 247/135, 247/122, 36/501
• US Class Current: 24/68.0SK
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/00 Shoe lacing fastenings garment fastening devices A41F
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/22 Fastening devices with elastic tightening parts between pairs of eyelets, e.g. clamps, springs, bands
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2106 Ski boot and garment fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2183 Ski, boot, and shoe fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3703 Includes separate device for holding drawn portion of lacing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3705 Device engages tie in lacing

Abstract

A lace-tensioning device which is a rigid cylindrical body (64) with two passages (58, 60) aligned parallel to the cylindrical axis and a handle element (62) projecting from the body (64) perpendicular to the cylindrical axis and functioning as a lever. The device is used in a laced closure by modifying the lacing pattern from the standard alternating pattern at one of the pairs of guide elements (68, 70) of the closure and threading the lace (75) through both passages (58, 60) of the tensioning device. A segment of lace (76) from one side (82) of the closure goes through one passage (60) in the device and then back to the same side (82) of the closure from which it came. A segment of lace (78) from the opposing side (84) of the closure goes through the other passage (58) in the tensioning device and back to the same opposing side (84) from which it came. The lace (75) is otherwise laced conventionally and its ends are tied together in a secure knot. The device is used by rotating the handle element (62) about the cylindrical axis until it is stopped by contact with the material on the opposite side (84) of the closure. The user gains mechanical advantage in applying tensioning force to the lace (75) whereby the sides (82, 84) of the closure are pulled together with more force than the same user would otherwise be able to generate.

Claims

1. A tensioning device for the lace at the throat of a laced shoe, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical element, said cylindrical element having through it two passages approximately parallel to the axis of said cylindrical element, said passages offset one from the other by a predetermined distance, said cylindrical element having a rigid projection therefrom, said projection being oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of said cylindrical element and along with said cylindrical element being rotatable about the axis of said cylindrical element from an open position into a closed position and vice versa,

wherein a first of said passages can slidably enclose a first segment of said lace and a second of said passages can slidably enclose a second segment of said lace,

wherein said tensioning device cooperates with said lace, said first segment having each of its two ends slidably connected to a first side of said throat, said second segment having each of its two ends slidably connected to a second side of said throat,

whereby the moving of said projection from said open position to said closed position causes the first of said passages with its enclosed said first segment to move away from said first side and toward said second side and the second of said passages with its enclosed said second segment to move away from said second side and toward said first side,

thereby increasing the tension in said lace,

thereby urging each of said first side and said second side to move closer to the other,

thereby causing said shoe to fit an enclosed foot more tightly than would be otherwise achievable without a tensioning device.

2. In an article of footwear including a pliant upper formed to substantially surround the foot of a wearer and a sole attached to said upper, said upper including an opening defined by a first edge and an opposing second edge substantially parallel to said first edge and a plurality of eyelet means disposed on either side of said opening proximate said first edge and said second edge, said first edge and said second edge held together by an elongated shoe lace, said shoe lace extending between said first edge and said second edge and through said eyelet means on opposite sides of said opening, the improvement comprising:

a tensioning device, said tensioning device comprising;

a substantially cylindrical element, said cylindrical element having through it two passages approximately parallel to the axis of said cylindrical element, said passages offset one from the other by a predetermined distance, said cylindrical element having a rigid projection therefrom, said projection being oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of said cylindrical element and along with said cylindrical element being rotatable around the axis of said cylindrical element from an open position into a closed position and vice versa,

wherein the axis of said cylindrical element is oriented substantially parallel to and between said first edge and said second edge,

wherein a first of said passages slidably encloses a first segment of said lace, said first segment having each of its two ends slidably connected to said first edge and a second of said passages slidably encloses a second segment of said lace, said second segment having each of its two ends slidably connected to said second edge,

wherein the moving of said projection from said open position to said closed position causes the first of said passages with its enclosed said first segment to move away from said first edge and toward said second edge and the second of said passages with its enclosed said second segment to move away from said second edge and toward said first edge,

thereby increasing the tension in said shoe lace,

thereby urging each of said first edge and said second edge to move closer to its opposing edge,

thereby increasing the tension of said pliant upper around said foot to a value not achievable in the same said article of footwear without a tensioning device.

3. A lace tensioning system adapted to tighten a pliant enclosure around a body, said enclosure having two approximately parallel rows of guide elements for slidably attaching a lace, said parallel rows separated by a variable distance, said parallel rows being held together by an elongated lace of predetermined length, said lace having its ends tied together to form a continuous lace, said continuous lace cooperating with a tensioning device, said tensioning device comprising:

a substantially cylindrical element, said cylindrical element having through it two passages approximately parallel to the axis of said cylindrical element, said passages offset one from the other by a predetermined distance, said cylindrical element having a rigid projection therefrom, said projection being oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of said cylindrical element and along with said cylindrical element being rotatable around the axis of said cylindrical element from an open position into a closed position and vice versa,

wherein said cylindrical element is oriented with its axis substantially parallel to and between said parallel rows,

wherein a first of said passages slidably encloses a first segment of said continuous lace, said first segment having each of its two ends slidably connected to a first of said parallel rows and a second of said passages slidably encloses a second segment of said continuous lace, said second segment having each of its two ends slidably connected to a second of said parallel rows

wherein the moving of said projection from said open position to said closed position causes the first of said passages with its enclosed said first segment to move away from said first of said parallel rows and toward said second of said parallel rows and the second of said passages with its enclosed said second segment to move away from said second of said parallel rows and toward said first of said parallel rows,

thereby increasing the tension in said continuous lace,

thereby urging each of said parallel rows to move closer to the other,

thereby increasing the tension of said pliant enclosure around said body to a value not achievable in the same said lace tensioning system without a tensioning device.

4. The lace tensioning system of claim 3, wherein said body is a human foot.

5. The lace tensioning system of claim 3, wherein said enclosure is the combined upper and sole of an athletic shoe.

6. The lace tensioning system of claim 3, wherein said guide elements are eyelets.

7. The lace tensioning system of claim 3, wherein said lace is a shoe lace.