Shoe tongue bracket

• US 9,756,902 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2015
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Wesley Shirley
• Original Assignee: Robert Wesley Shirley
• Inventors: Shirley, Robert Wesley
• Primary Examiner(s): Gracz, Katharine
• Application Number:
  US14/832,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20170049188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 36 501, 2484411, 248448
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 19/00 Shoe-shaped inserts; Inserts covering the instep
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/26 Tongues for shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/14 Clamp fastenings , e.g. strap fastenings; Clamp-buckle fastenings; Fastenings with toggle levers
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/20 Fastenings with tightening devices mounted on the tongue
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 19/00 Attachments for footwear, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 5/00 Eyelets machines for setting eyelets A43D100/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3703 Includes separate device for holding drawn portion of lacing

Abstract

A shoe tongue bracket is provided. The bracket is formed of a band having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion in between. A middle bend is formed at the middle portion and is shaped to contour with an underside of a shoe tongue. A first end bend is formed at the first end and bends in an opposite direction of the middle bend. A second end bend is formed at the second end and is bending in an opposite direction of the middle bend. A first aperture is formed through the band at the first end and a second aperture is formed through the band at the second end.

Claims

1. A method of centering a shoe tongue comprising:

providing a shoe comprising a sole, an upper attached to the sole, wherein the upper comprises opposing side walls each comprising a plurality of shoe lace apertures, and a tongue disposed in between the opposing sidewalls;

providing a shoe tongue bracket comprising a first end and a second end, and comprising a middle bend, a first end bend forming a first channel and a second end bend forming a second channel, wherein a first aperture is formed through the first end and a second aperture is formed through the second end;

placing the middle bend underneath and adjacent to the tongue of the shoe;

placing a first side edge of the tongue within the first channel so that the first aperture is adjacent to a first shoe lace aperture of the plurality of shoe lace apertures;

placing a second side edge of the tongue within the second channel so that the second aperture is adjacent to a second shoe lace aperture of the plurality of shoe lace apertures;

placing a first end of a shoe lace through the first aperture and then through the first shoe lace aperture; and

placing a second end of a shoe lace through the second aperture and then through the second shoe lace aperture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first bend and the second bend are formed on opposite sides of the middle bend, wherein each bend in an opposite direction of the middle bend.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first aperture is formed in between a tip of the first end and the first bend, and the second aperture is formed in between a tip of the second end and the second bend.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first bend and the second bend are U-shaped bends.