Shoe clip

• US 7,559,127 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2006
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder; Jack W.
• Application Number:
  US11/600,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20070089322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 24/712
• 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 component to be held in place on a shoe;

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

C. a second member that is positioned to overlie the first member, the second member having first and second ends and a middle for supporting the component;

D. a hinge that attaches the first ends of the first and second members, wherein the hinge includes a pivot point about which the second member rotates relative to the first member and the hinge biases the members toward one another; and

E. 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 and the component positioned above the laces, and holding the component against movement relative to the shoe,

wherein the laces are rigidly gripped between the members along the length of the members.

2. The shoe clip of claim 1 wherein the second member is integral with the component to be positioned on the shoe.

3. 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.

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

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

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

B. second positioning a second member that is integral with or supports the article to overlay the first member with the one or more laces between the two members; and

C. third rigidly clamping the two members together to grip the one or more laces tightly between the members and secure the article in position on the shoe and against movement relative to the shoe,

wherein the laces are rigidly clamped between the members along the length of the members.

6. The method of claim 5 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.

7. The method of claim 5 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 retaining the members in the relative positions in which they tightly grip the laces.

8. The method of claim 5 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. wherein the step of positioning the second member includes rotating the members relative to one another until the second member overlies the first member.

9. The method of claim 5 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 urging of the spring hinge.

10. A shoe clip including:

a component to be held in place on a shoe;

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

a second member that is positioned to overlie the first member, the second member having first and second ends and a middle for supporting the component;

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

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 and the component positioned above the laces, and holding the component against movement relative to the shoe; and

wherein the clip is U-shaped and

the first and second members are legs, and

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

11. A shoe clip including:

a component to be held in place on a shoe;

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

a second member that is positioned to overlie the first member, the second member having first and second ends and a middle for supporting the component;

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

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 and the component positioned above the laces, and holding the component against movement relative to the shoe; and

wherein the fastening device further includes a crossbar on the second member, and arms on the second end of the second member, the arms shaped to receive the ends of the crossbar.

12. The shoe clip of claim 11 wherein

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

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

13. A shoe clip including:

a component to be held in place on a shoe;

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

a second member that is positioned to overlie the first member, the second member having first and second ends and a middle for supporting the component;

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

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 and the component positioned above the laces, and holding the component against movement relative to the shoe; and

wherein the first member is shaped at the first end to retain a second end of an elasticized retainer band, and the elasticized retainer band includes a first end and the second end and between the first and second ends is split with the first and second legs that extend along opposite sides of the component when the members are in the overlaid position and the second end of the retainer band is held by the first end of the first member.

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

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

B. second positioning a second member that is integral with or supports the article to overlay the first member with the one or more laces between the two members, said positioning including rotating the first member with respect to the second member about a hinge having a discrete pivot point; and

C. third rigidly clamping the two members together to grip the one or more laces tightly between the members and secure the article in position on the shoe and against movement relative to the shoe.