EP1026969B1 - Device for retaining and/or blocking shoelaces in particular for sport shoes - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for retaining and/or blocking shoelaces, for sport shoes in particular.The device is in the shape of a tube portion (10), with two parts (11, 12) articulated about a hinge (13), that can be locked in the closed position and unlocked to allow for the insertion or removal of the shoelace in the shape of a bundle.The device is fastened by at least one fastening means to a part integral with the shoe, for instance to a shoelace passing through at least two holes (15, 16, 17, 18) formed in at least one (12) of the two parts of the tube.

Description

The subject of the present invention is a retaining device and / or immobilization of laces, in particular for sports shoes. Such devices are for example described in documents EP-A-122,139, US-A-4,553,293 and US-A-3,176,362.

It is well known, in particular by athletes, that shoes more comfortable, which allow the best performance and are also the most attractive, are lace-up shoes. But he is also known that laces are the source of many troubles.

Among the disadvantages of laces, we can note that the node can undo, which entails the obligation to redo it in a place or position that is not always comfortable, a untied knot which can be the source of an accident, in particular a fall, because the sportsman will get his feet in it or the lace will get caught in a derailleur, in particular of mountain bike (V.T.T.).

To avoid this, we can provide a double knot, but besides that this solution is not foolproof, it has the disadvantage that it becomes often very difficult to untie the double knot.

As another drawback of the lace, it can be noted that if the lace drags on the ground, it gets dirty and can get wet or full of mud, which can weakens and may dirty the pants and socks.

If we take very short laces to avoid these drawbacks, we is having trouble tying them.

This is why, many devices have been imagined, in particular elastic clips that we just fix on the lace, near its end or at another level. However, to date, no solution really satisfactory has only been developed, both on a practical level, aesthetic level and cost level.

The subject of the invention is a new retaining device and / or immobilization of laces, in particular for sports shoes, which is both extremely practical to use, reliable, inexpensive, even model adapting to many different types of shoes, many different types of jobs, at the user's discretion, the type of shoes and the sport practiced.

The conforming yaw retention and / or immobilization device to the invention is characterized in that it is in the form of a tube section, articulated in two parts around a hinge constituting a generator of the tube, parallel to its axis, lockable in closed and unlockable position to allow insertion or removal of the lace formed in a bundle, at least one of the two parts aforementioned section of tube comprising a means of attachment to a part for securing the shoe, advantageously constituted by at least two holes for the passage of the lace to be immobilized and its fixing on it, and the opening diameter of the tube in the locked position substantially corresponding to the yaw beam to be immobilized.

Conveniently and advantageously, the opening diameter of the tube (in the locked position) corresponds approximately to the diameter of a bundle of four to eight lace thicknesses. In this way, we understand that it will be possible to lock in the device the lace, for example knotted, by enclosing the two loops and the two ends of the free end of the lace, or if the lace is not tied, all the free ends of the lace assembled into a bundle of reduced length, which will be maintained suitably on the top of the shoe, toward the base, if the device was placed in this place, or upwards, for example towards the ankle, if the device was placed higher on the lace, all of which can then be hidden under the lapel of a sock.

The invention and its implementation as well as various variants of design and use will appear more clearly using the description which follows, also with reference to the drawings attached.

In the drawings, two embodiments of the device of the invention and a mode of use, these embodiments and use being in no way limiting, as will be understood easily from the description which follows.

• la figure 1 montre une vue de dessus d'un dispositif conforme à l'invention, mis en place sur une chaussure de sport, type chaussure de tennis ou de course à pied, comportant un laçage croisé, le dispositif étant montré en position d'ouverture, et les lacets étant défaits ;
• la figure 2 montre la même chaussure que celle de la figure 1, le dispositif de l'invention étant à moitié refermé sur les lacets noués qui vont enfermer une boucle et une extrémité basse de lacet;
• la figure 3 montre le même dispositif en place verrouillé sur le lacet;
• la figure 4 montre en vue perspective, à plus grande échelle, le dispositif de l'invention conforme à la figure 1, en position d'ouverture:
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe médiane faite sensiblement dans le plan V - V de la figure IV;
• la figure 6 montre en coupe médiane le dispositif de l'invention en position fermée, verrouillée.
• la figure 7 montre en vue perspective et en position ouverte un second mode de réalisation d'un dispositif conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 8 montre en vue perspective le même dispositif en position fermée ;
• la figure 9 montre à plus grande échelle, posé à plat selon la direction de la flèche IX de la figure 7, ce dispositif ;
• la figure 10 est une vue en coupe faite dans le plan médian X-X de la figure 9;
• la figure 11 montre à la même échelle que les figures 9 et 10 le dispositif en position de fermeture dans lequel ont été figurés huit cercles illustrant l'encombrement de huit brins de lacets qui ne seraient pas comprimés et qui pourront être maintenus fermement à l'intérieur du dispositif.

In the drawings:

• Figure 1 shows a top view of a device according to the invention, placed on a sports shoe, type tennis shoe or running shoe, comprising a crossed lacing, the device being shown in position opening, and the laces being untied;
• Figure 2 shows the same shoe as that of Figure 1, the device of the invention being half closed on the knotted laces which will enclose a loop and a low end of lace;
• Figure 3 shows the same device in place locked on the lace;
• FIG. 4 shows in perspective view, on a larger scale, the device of the invention according to FIG. 1, in the open position:
• FIG. 5 is a view in median section made substantially in the plane V - V of FIG. IV;
• Figure 6 shows in median section the device of the invention in the closed, locked position.
• Figure 7 shows in perspective view and in the open position a second embodiment of a device according to the invention;
• Figure 8 shows in perspective view the same device in the closed position;
• Figure 9 shows on a larger scale, laid flat in the direction of arrow IX of Figure 7, this device;
• Figure 10 is a sectional view taken in the median plane XX of Figure 9;
• Figure 11 shows on the same scale as Figures 9 and 10 the device in the closed position in which have been shown eight circles illustrating the size of eight strands of laces which would not be compressed and which can be held firmly in place. inside the device.

We will now describe first the embodiment and of use described in Figures 1 to 6.

Referring first to Figure 4, we see the device referenced as a whole 10, consisting essentially of two parts 11, 12, joined by a hinge 13. As can be seen in the figures, the device according to the invention is in the form of a section of tube, which in the example illustrated has a circular section, and which is articulated in two parts around the hinge 13, constituting a generator of the tube parallel to its axis referenced z'z in Figure 4. This hinge can be a classic hinge or simply constituted by a weakened generator at this point on the wall of the tube. Both parts 11, 12 of the tube section are substantially symmetrical by relative to their junction plane in the closed position of the device (see figure 6).

To lock the device in the closed position, part 11 has a locking notch 14 which locks in a cooperating retaining notch 14 'formed facing the other part.

In the illustrated embodiment, four holes referenced 15, 16, 17, 18, have been formed in part 12. These holes are formed in pairs, 15, 16, and 17, 18 respectively, each pair of holes being located in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tube. Thus, in Figure 4, we see that the holes 15, 16, are located on a line y'y which is orthogonal to the z'z axis.

Of course, the opening of the holes 15, 16, 17, 18 is made to allow easy passage of the lace, the holes can be circular or by oval example.

As is easily understood, by observing more particularly Figure 1, the positioning of the two pairs of holes 15, 16; 17, 18, close to each other, and in pairs one above the other others, allows to easily position the device in the place of a crossed passage of the lace 19, at any level of the shoe 20. In the example illustrated, the device was placed towards the base of the shoe, between the first stage of eyelets 21, 22, and the second stage of eyelets, 23, 24. More precisely, at least one first strand of lace passed through holes 16 and 17 or 15 and 18, although we can also pass the second strand through the holes complementary correspondents 15 and 18 or 16 and 17; in this last case however, the device is attached with less mobility to the shoe. he is clear, however, that the device could be placed as well between the pairs of eyelets 23, 24 and 25, 26, or between the pairs of eyelets 25, 26 and 27, 28.

It also appears just as clearly that if the lacing is not a cross lacing but a straight lacing, that is to say that the strands of laces appear on the shoe as passing from the eyelet 21 to the eyelet 22, from eyelet 23 to eyelet 24, from eyelet 25 to eyelet 26, etc., the device can be placed on any of these passages, by threading the lace in the holes of the pair 15, 16, or of the pair 17, 18, at the chosen level, by example the stage of eyelets 23, 24.

In Figures 2 and 3, it was illustrated that the user had tied the laces of his shoe normally, and then he imprisoned in a bundle a loop and a low end of the lace and locked the device on the bundle of three strands thus formed. It appears clearly that the user could just as easily have locked the two loops and / or the two ends of the lace as desired. Anyway, it is so assured that the lace thus locked cannot loosen freely and not drag on the ground.

So that the device is effective and on the other hand aesthetically pleasant, it is advantageous that the length of the tube is not too short, neither too large. The tube section will thus preferably have, along the axis z'z, a length of the order of a few centimeters, for example, preferably, between 2 and 4 cm. Such a length will ensure generally good immobilization of the yaw beam. For some specific applications, other dimensions could however be adopted, for example shorter, of the order of 1 cm or less.

If we want even more flexibility of use, we can plan more than two pairs of holes, for example three pairs of holes (not shown), and in the same way, the holes can be provided not only on one of the two parts but on the two parts of the device. In this case, it is possible to use the device both in one direction only in reverse. In particular, if the tube section is molded in plastic, according to a known bi-material molding technique, the device will be easily produced in two colors, one for the part 11, the other for part 12, and the user can present to his either of the two parts of the device, at sight. Of course, the tube sections can be decorated, bear any desired marking, or even support, integrated in material or not, any decorative element such than a figurine for example. If you use a material design molded plastic, the hinge 13 will advantageously be a simple film hinge, again according to well known manufacturing techniques.

In the illustrated mode of use, the device fixed in low position on the shoe. Since the device is placed simply on the lace at any desired height, it can just as easily place at the ankle, and in this case it can allow to immobilize the yaw beam without knotting the laces if you want a greater flexibility of movement at the ankle. In this case, the whole yarn bundle can be hidden under the reverse of a sock folded over the device. This allows to wear as well the laces without having to introduce the lace in the shoe or having buckles hanging out of the shoe, with the risk that present.

Obviously, although the device illustrated has been shown with a circular section, we can give the device any other section, particular polygonal, for example square or oval, and in this case, the term "diameter" used corresponds to the diameter of a circle which would have the same opening surface as that of the device.

According to a second embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 to 11, the device has the general shape of an ovalized tube. In these figures, for simplify the description and to avoid repetition, similar elements to those of the first embodiment were referenced in the second embodiment by the same prime indexed numbers.

There is thus a device referred as a whole 10 'consisting essentially two parts 11 'and 12' joined by a hinge 13 '. The device also includes a locking notch 30, plus particularly visible in Figures 9 to 11, which in the closed position of the device, is locked in a slot 31 under a tab 32 slightly projecting outwardly on a edge of the device. In part 11 'have been provided, as in the first mode of realization, four holes 15 ', 16', 17 ', 18' for fixing the device in the shoe by passing in at least some of these holes of a part laces as explained in relation to the first mode of production.

Compared to the first embodiment, the differences essentials that appear are as follows.

First, as seen clearly in Figure 11, the device has a generalized oval section that is flattened rather than rounded circular.

On the other hand, the hinge 13 'is of a known type with opening and elastically assisted closing, the hinge joint 13 'is doing in the illustrated embodiment around two lines articulation 33, 34, connecting the two parts 11 ', 12' of the device, while that a deformable elastic tongue 35 assists the device for a clear opening, as illustrated in figure 10, and also for assist closing, the presence of the tongue requiring in some way so the device is either open or closed. The hinge mechanism elastic is not part of the invention insofar as it belongs in the public domain as described in particular in France patent 1,595,023 or 2,007,294 to which reference may be made.

In Figure 11, we see that the device will enclose with suitable compression eight strands of laces. In one embodiment, if the device is given an overall height h of the order of 12 mm and an overall width of the order of 18.5 mm, it will thus be possible to enclose eight laces of a uncompressed diameter of 4.5 mm. For such sizing, the overall length of the tube L may for example be of the order of 25 mm. We also observe that for ease of use and better aesthetics, the two ends of the "tube section" that form in the closed position the device have rounded cutouts, as it appears more clearly in particular in Figures 8 to 10.

Also with particular reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, we see that the part 12 'in which the holes 15' to 18 'are formed for the passage of the laces is not flat but slightly curved towards the interior towards its middle (at the level of the arrow referenced 36 in the figure 10), which will further facilitate the passage and good performance of the laces in the pairs of corresponding holes 15'-16 ', 17'-18'.

Although the use of the device of the invention has been described in relationship with shoes, which will be the most practical case, it is clear that the device can also be applied to other objects, in particular ankle boots, corsets, jackets, that is, so general, any item of clothing with eyelets and a lace Tightening.

In addition, the device although advantageously fixed by simple threading on a strand of lace, in the most appropriate place, may include another means of attachment to a part for securing the object, such as a shoe, a means of attachment which could be a ring, a bridle, loop or any other link that will attach to the device, using the mentioned holes or, for example, by gluing, and which will itself be fixed on the object, either permanently, or removably.

Claims (13)

1. Device for retaining and/or blocking shoelaces, in particular for sport shoes, characterized in that it is in the shape of a tube portion (10) with two parts (11, 12) articulated about a hinge (13) forming a generatrix of the tube parallel to its axis, that can be locked in the closed position and unlocked to allow for the insertion or removal of the lace (19) in the form of a bundle, one at least of said two parts of the tube portion having at least one fastening means to an integral part of the shoe and the opening diameter of the tube in its locked position corresponding essentially to the diameter of the lace bundle to be blocked.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the fastening means comprises at least two holes (15, 16, 17, 18) for the insertion of the shoelace to be blocked and its fastening onto it.
3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the opening diameter of the tube corresponds essentially to the diameter of a bundle of four to eight strands of lace.
4. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holes (15, 16, 17, 18) are designed by pairs (15, 16; 17, 18) in a plane essentially perpendicular to the tube axis.
5. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has at least two pairs of holes (15, 16; 17, 18).
6. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has at least three pairs of holes.
7. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two parts (11, 12) of the tube portion are essentially symmetrical vis-à-vis their junction plane in the closed position of the device.
8. Device according to any of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the two parts of the tube portion are dissymmetrical vis-à-vis their junction plane in the closed position of the device.
9. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made in one piece in two parts, obtained from plastic casting, the junction part being of the type film-hinge, one of the two parts (11) being provided with a locking mechanism (14) that comes to lock itself in a corresponding holding catch (14') designed in the corresponding opposite location on the other part (12).
10. Device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the hinge opening and closing is of the elastically-assisted type.
11. Device according to any of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the hinge is essentially formed by a generatrix of said tube, advantageously weakened.
12. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner section of the portion of tube is essentially circular or ovalized.
13. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tube portion is a few centimeters long, preferably 2 to 4 cm long.

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