Shoe clip

• US 20030000053A1
• Filed: 07/18/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Rooney, James, Fyfe, Kipling, Fyte, Ken, Bortz, Wade
• Granted Patent: US 7,152,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/712.6
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0054 provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/26 Tongues for shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/00 Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 7/00 Holding-devices for laces
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 7/04 Hinged devices
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 999/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/37 Drawstring, laced-fastener, or separate essential cooperating device therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3716 with pivotal connection therebetween

Abstract

A shoe clip (100) includes two members (10, 12) that attach together in positions above and beneath shoe laces (20), to grip the shoe laces (20) between them and position the clip (100) on the shoe (22). A first member (10) is shaped and sized to slide under one or more laces (10) of the shoe, without requiring unlacing thereof. A second member (12) rotatably attaches at one end to the first member and, after insertion of the first member (10) beneath the laces (10), rotates to overlie the first member (10). The members then fasten to one another at their free ends (15, 17), such that the members grip the laces (20) between them. The second member supports or is integral with a component that is to be attached to the shoe.

Claims

1. A shoe clip including:

A) a first member that is shaped to slide beneath one or more shoe laces, the first member having first and second ends;

B) a second member that is positioned to overlie the first member, the second member having first and second ends;

C) a hinge that attaches the first ends of the first and second members; and

D) a fastening device that releasably locks the second member in the overlaid position relative to the first member with the one or more laces gripped between the members.

2. The shoe clip of claim 1 wherein the second member supports a component to be positioned on the shoe.

3. The shoe clip of claim 1 wherein the second member includes a component to be positioned on the shoe.

4. The shoe clip of claim 1 wherein the clip is U-shaped and

a) the first and second members are legs, and

b) the hinge is integral with the legs and forms a spring connection between the first ends of the legs.

5. The shoe clip of claim 4 wherein the fastening device includes one or more tabs on the second end of one of the members and one or more indents for receiving the one or more tabs on the second end of the other member.

6. The shoe clip of claim 4 wherein the fastening device is a magnetic catch.

7. The shoe clip of claim 1 wherein the hinge rotatably attaches the first ends of the first and second members.

8. The shoe clip of claim 7 wherein the fastening device includes one or more tabs on the second end of one of the members and one or more indents for receiving the one or more tabs on the second end of the other member.

9. The shoe clip of claim 7 wherein the hinge is spring-controlled.

10. The shoe clip of claim 1 wherein the hinge releasably attaches the first ends of the first and second members.

11. The shoe clip of claim 10 wherein the fastening device includes one or more tabs on the second end of one of the members and one or more indents for receiving the one or more tabs on the second end of the other member.

12. The shoe clip of claim 11 wherein the hinge further rotatably attaches the first ends of the members.

13. The shoe clip of claim 11 wherein the hinge further pivotably attaches the first ends of the members.

14. The shoe clip of claim 10 wherein the hinge comprises a catch that attaches the first ends of the members together when the first member overlies the second member.

15. The shoe clip of claim 14 wherein the hinge is a magnetic catch.

16. The shoe clip of claim 1 wherein the fastening device includes

a) a crossbar on the second end of the first member, and

b) arms on the second end of the second member, the arms shaped to receive the ends of the crossbar.

17. The shoe clip of claim 16 wherein

i) the crossbar includes on either end an outwardly extending tab,

ii) the arms include one or more slots for receiving the tabs.

19. The shoe clip of claim 18 wherein the second member supports a component to be positioned on the shoe.

20. The shoe clip of claim 18 wherein the second member includes a component to be positioned on the shoe.

21. The shoe clip of claim 18 wherein the fastening device includes

a) one or more outwardly extending tabs at the second end of one of the members, and

b) at the second end of the other member one or more indents for receiving the tabs.

22. The shoe clip of claim 21 wherein the hinge is spring-controlled.

23. The shoe clip of claim 21 wherein the hinge further releasably connects the first ends of the members.

24. The shoe clip of claim 18 wherein the fastening device includes

a) a crossbar on the second end of the first member, and

b) arms on the second end of the second member, the arms shaped to receive the ends of the cross bar.

25. The shoe clip of claim 24 wherein

i) the crossbar includes on either end an outwardly extending tab,

ii) the arms include one or more slots for receiving the tabs.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of positioning the second member includes rotating the second member about a hinge that interconnects first ends of the first and second members.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein

a) the step of positioning the second member further includes pushing the second member closer to the first member until the laces are tightly gripped, and

b) the step of fastening the two members includes fastening the members in the relative positions in which they tightly grip the laces.

29. The method of claim 26 further including wherein

a) a step of separating a first member and a second member by rotating one member relative to the other member before the first member slides beneath the laces;

and

b) the step of positioning the second member includes rotating the members relative to one another until the second member overlies the first member.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein:

i) the step of separating the members includes moving the members against the urging of a spring hinge; and

ii) the step of positioning the members includes releasing the members to rotate in accordance with the urging of the spring hinge.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of fastening includes receiving at a second end of one of the members one or more tabs that extend from a second end of the other member.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the step of fastening further includes receiving the one or more tabs in indents that correspond respectively to relative separations between the first and second members.

18. A shoe clip comprising:

A) more shoe laces, the first member having first and second ends;

B) a second member that moves relative to the first member to a position that overlies the first member, the second member having first and second ends;

C) a hinge that rotatably connects the first ends of the first and second members; and

D) a fastening device on the second ends of the first and second members, the fastening device releasably locking the second member in the overlaid position relative to the first member with the one or more laces gripped between the members.

26. A method for mounting an article to a shoe having one or more laces, the method including the steps of:

A) sliding a first member between the one or more laces and the shoe until a second end the first member extends outwardly from the one or more laces;

B) positioning a second member to overlay the first member with the one or more laces are between the two members;

C) clamping the two members together to grip the one or more laces between the members and secure the clip in position on the shoe.

33. A shoe clip comprising:

E) a first member that is shaped to slide beneath one or more shoe laces, the first member having first and second ends;

F) a second member that is positioned to overlie the first member, the second member having first and second ends;

G) a spring hinge that connects the first ends of the first and second members and urges the members together along their lengths, wherein the first and second members move against the urging of the hinge to position the first member beneath the laces and the members move with the urging of the hinge to grip the laces between the members.

34. The shoe clip of claim 33 further including a fastening device on the second ends of the first and second members, the fastening device releasably locking the second member in the overlaid position relative to the first member.