Apparatus and method for fastening a shoe

The present invention relates to an apparatus that provides an easy and quick method of fastening a shoe.

The conventional means of fastening a shoe with laces that needed to be tied is difficult to operate for many people with disabilities or for people that have difficulty bending over to access the instep of the shoe. Many solutions for fastening shoes that do not utilize laces instead include buckles or straps with a hook-and-loop fastening system, commonly known as Velcro®. However, in some shoes, such as sneakers, the strap closure does not look attractive. In addition, many users do not like to wear shoes that they perceive to be specially made for the handicapped, and many users simply prefer the look of the conventional lacing system.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,081,916 to Salisbury, 4,414,761 to Mahood, and 5,027,482 to Torppey, respectively, disclose methods that combine laces with a hook-and-loop fastening system. A series of parallel laces that extend through the eyelets in the shoe flap on one side of the shoe-access-opening are attached to an elongated closure flap having hook-and-loop elements on its underside. In Mahood, the laces are secured beneath those same eyelets, and in Salisbury and Torppey, the laces are secured to the eyelets in the other shoe flap. Pulling the flap across the shoe-access-opening towards the other side of the shoe-access-opening tightens the shoe, and the closure flap is secured to the shoe via mating hook-and-loop elements on the upper surface of the other shoe flap. One drawback to all these systems is that the elongated flap affects the design and the appearance of the shoe, making the shoe look cumbersome. Another drawback is that, in all these systems, the laces lie across the shoe-access-opening, not in a criss-cross pattern, and thus do not have the appearance of a traditional lacing system.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,941,683 to Freed discloses a lacing system for a shoe that also combines laces with a strap, and is based on one elongated lace loop that forms four lace segments that extend from a strap on one side of the shoe, through several lace openings on that side\'s shoe flap, and criss-cross each other over the shoe-access-opening. Alternatively, the one elongated lace loop forms two lace segments that extend from a strap on each side of the shoe, through several lace openings on both shoe flaps, and criss-cross each other over the shoe-access-opening. When the straps are pulled, the multiple lace segments move through all the eyelets and tighten the shoe-access-opening.

One major drawback to U.S. Pat. No. 6,941,683 is that it does not offer a solution to shoes with fewer than four pairs of eyelets, since this system requires at least three middle lace segments, and at least two bottom lace segments that criss-cross the shoe-access-opening. In addition, the plethora of lace segments criss-crossing over one another lends the show a cluttered and messy appearance. Another drawback is that this system is susceptible to high friction, which is caused by the configuration of the lace system, wherein some lace segments extend from the eyelets in a narrow angle, increasing the pressure and friction between the laces and the eyelets. The high friction makes it difficult to pull the lace through all the eyelets and prevents some lace segments from moving freely, resulting in shoe-access-opening that may not be tightened evenly, and may lead to laces tearing or wearing out more frequently.

It is an object of the present invention to provide for a low friction apparatus for fastening a shoe that can be easily tightened by the user.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide for an apparatus for easily fastening a shoe that can be used by people with difficulties fastening and tying a conventional lacing system.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide for an apparatus for fastening a shoe, which can be applied to shoes with different number of eyelets.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for an apparatus for fastening a shoe, wherein the bottom element of the shoe-access-opening has the general appearance of a shoe with conventional lacing system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a shoe, having two eyelets on the second side of the adjustable gap and one eyelet on the first side of the adjustable gap, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the two laces and the second fastener element before the laces are secured to the second fastener element.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the two laces and the second fastener element after the laces are secured to the second fastener element;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the adjustable gap of the shoe of FIG. 1 in the fastened position;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a shoe, having two eyelets on the second side of the adjustable gap and one eyelet on the first side of the adjustable gap, constructed and operative in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a shoe, having two eyelets on the second side of the adjustable gap and two eyelets on the first side of the adjustable gap, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

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