US20200068996A1

US20200068996A1 - Laced shoe

Info

Publication number: US20200068996A1
Application number: US16/550,295
Authority: US
Inventors: Maya Halahmi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-09-03
Filing date: 2019-08-26
Publication date: 2020-03-05

Abstract

A laced shoe comprising a fastener is presented. The fastener comprises at least one fastening element, configured as an extendable connector which is by its opposite ends attachable to regions of the shoe at, respectively, anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, such that when the shoe is worn by an individual, said at least one fastening element, in desirably extended and attached state thereof, properly fits the shoe to individual's foot.

Description

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND

The present invention is in the field of laced shoes, in particular sport shoes, and relates to a laced shoe with an improvement providing a personalized tight fit for the shoe.
Almost all the types of shoes we wear are tie- or no-tie laced shoes, whether it is sport shoes, elegant shoes or any other type of shoes. The main purpose of the laces is to fit the shoe to the foot of the user making it comfortable when in use. It is a trend to avoid the tying process itself as it is associated with such difficulties as periodically untying/unfastening of the laces, thus requiring to do a double knot that sometimes tightens the shoe too much to the foot and sometimes looks very unaesthetic.
In the art of sport shoes, it is known to use stretchable laces to thereby eliminate the need of the tying process. The known no-tie laced shoes utilize elastic laces and a double eyelet lock to replace the tie-lace mechanism at the anterior/front part of the shoe. Both the elastic laces and the lock may be supplied to the user as a separate unit. The elastic laces are usually made of rubber or any other elastic material. The double eyelet lock is in the form of two orifices for the elastic laces to pass therethrough. The double eyelet is configured to lock and fix upon stretching of the laces to thereby fit the anterior part of the shoe to the respective part of foot of the user.
Another no-tie technology utilizes a fastening device, which is also a separate device, which includes a set of fasteners in place of segments of conventional laces in spaced-apart relationship along the anterior/front part of the shoe. Such fastener is stretchable and passes through holes (similar to those for conventional laces) and its two ends are attachable with one another by clip like mechanism.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

There is a need in the art for a novel approach in customized/personalized fit and comfort of shoes worn on individual's feet. In this connection, it should be understood that the above described known solutions for no-tie laced shoes are aimed at and configured to eliminate the tying process itself while improving the attachment/fitting of the shoe to the anterior part of foot.
The inventor has found that it is important for shoes wearer's comfort and safety, especially in case of sport shoes which are intended for use during continuous activity, such as walking, running, sport practice, that the shoe is properly fitted to both the anterior part of the foot and its posterior part (heel/ankle part).
The present invention provides a fastener configured for elastic/stretchable connection between anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, in particular between the lace of the shoe (irrespective of whether the lace is of the stretchable type or not) and the external surface of the posterior part of the shoe (associated with the ankle part of the shoe) or for elastic connection with a second fastener.
According to one broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laced shoe comprising a fastener comprising at least one fastening element, configured as an extendable connector which is by its opposite ends attachable to regions of the shoe at, respectively, anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, such that when the shoe is worn by an individual, said at least one fastening element in desirably extended and attached state thereof properly fits the shoe to individual's foot.
It should be noted that, for the purposes of the present application, the anterior part of a shoe should be understood/interpreted as a front portion of a shoe (corresponding to the front of foot) and is typically the portion from the tongue to the toe cap. As for the posterior part of a shoe, this term should be interpreted broadly covering practically the entire portion outside the anterior part, i.e. a back portion of the shoe (corresponding to heel/ankle portion of a foot) and also side portions of the shoe (e.g. a side portion closer to (or in a vicinity of) the back portion), and is thus typically a shoe portion starting from some distance from the tongue and extending towards the heel cap. Accordingly, a region of the shoe at the posterior part thereof, to which the fastener is attachable, should be interpreted broadly, being either a region located at a heel portion of the shoe, or region(s) located in at least one side portion of the shoe at some distance from the anterior part.
It should also be understood that a fastening element configured as an extendable connector is an element having at least a portion thereof which is extendable.
In some embodiments, said at least one fastening element is by its one end fixed to either one of the anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, and by its opposite free end is removably attachable to a region in a vicinity of the other of said anterior and posterior parts of the shoe. According to some examples, said at least one fastening element is by its one end fixed to or integral with the lace at the anterior part of the shoe and by the other opposite end is attachable to the region in the vicinity of the posterior part of the shoe. In some other examples, said fastener comprises a pair of the fastening elements, both configured as the extendable connectors, each being by its one end fixed to either one of the anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, and by its opposite free end being removably attachable to the respective region in the vicinity of the other of said anterior and posterior parts of the shoe. In this case, the configuration may be such that each of the fastening elements of the pair is by its one end fixed to the lace and by the other opposite end is attachable to the respective region at the posterior part of the shoe.
The fastening element may be stretchable element thereby forming said extendable connector. Such fastening element may be configured as a closed loop stretchable element.
In some embodiments, the laced shoe comprises at least one lock assembly associated with the at least one fastening element, respectively. The lock assembly comprises first and second engageable portions located at, respectively, the region of the shoe and the fastening element. The lock assembly may be of one of the following configurations: (a) the first and second parts of the lock assembly may a hook-and-loop or loop-and-hook, respectively, removably engageable with one another, e.g. configured as Velcro™ type assembly; (b) the first and second parts of the lock assembly may comprise, respectively, a fixed element configured as a substantially loop-like element (holding element) fixed to the shoe and a Velcro™ portion at said free end of the fastener.
According to another broad aspect of the invention, there is provided a laced shoe comprising a fastener configured as an extendable connector which is attachable by its opposite ends to a lace at an anterior part of the shoe while encircling the shoe around a posterior part of the shoe, such that when the shoe is worn by an individual, said fastener in a desirably extended and attached state thereof properly fits the shoe to individual's foot.
The laced shoe may comprise a holding element fixed to the shoe at the posterior part of the shoe and configured for engaging with and supporting the fastening element when in the extended and attached state of the fastening elements encircling the shoe around the posterior part of the shoe. The holding element may be configured as a hook or loop allowing the fastening element to pass through said holding element when encircling the shoe.
According to yet another broad aspect of the invention, it provides a laced shoe comprising a fastener having a pair of fastening elements, each of the fastening element being configured as an extendable connector which is by its one end fixed to a lace at an anterior part of the shoe and has its opposite free end, the free ends of the fastening elements of the pair comprising, respectively, first and second parts of an engageable assembly, such that when the shoe is worn by an individual, the fastening elements are brought to their extended states while extending along opposite sides of the shoe towards a posterior part of the shoe to enable engagement of the first and second parts of the engageable assembly, thereof properly fitting the shoe to individual's foot.
The engageable assembly may be of one of the following configurations: (i) the first and second parts of the engageable assembly may be first and second parts of a clip; (ii) the first and second parts of the engageable assembly may be first and second parts of a knob; (iii) the first and second parts of the engageable assembly may be first and second parts of a hook-and-loop assembly.
As indicated above, the laced shoe may further comprise a pair of fixed elements fixed to the shoe at opposite side portions thereof and configured for supporting the fastening elements, respectively when in the extended states of the fastening elements. Each of the fixed elements may be configured as a hook or loop allowing the respective fastening element to pass through said holding element when in the extended state thereof.
The invention in its yet further broad aspect provides a fastener for use with a laced shoe, the fastener comprising at least one fastening element, the fastening element being configured as a stretchable element which is by its opposite ends removably attachable to regions of the shoe at, respectively, anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, such that when the shoe is worn by an individual, said at least one fastening element in desirably extended and attached state thereof properly fits the shoe to individual's foot.
The fastener may comprise a pair of the fastening elements, each being configured as the stretchable element which is by its opposite ends removably attachable to regions of the shoe at, respectively, anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, such that the fastening elements in the stretched states extend along opposite side portions of the shoe towards respective regions in a vicinity of the posterior parts of the shoe.
The fastening element may be configured as a closed loop stretchable element.
The fastening element may comprise first and second lock elements at opposite ends of the fastening element, respectively, each of said first and second lock elements being configured for engaging with first and second locks located at regions on anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, respectively for removably engaging with said first and second locks. Each of the first and second locking elements may be of one of the following configurations: comprises a hook for engaging with a loop lock at the shoe; comprises a loop for engaging with a hook lock at the shoe; comprises a first part of a knob like locking assembly for engaging with the lock at the shoe being configured as a second part of the knob assembly; comprises a Velcro portion for self-closing around a loop lock at the shoe, forming together a hook-and-loop Velcro type assembly; comprises a Velcro portion for engagement with a matching Velcro lock on the shoe.
According to yet further aspect, the invention provides a fastener configured as an extendable connector which is configured with first and second lock elements at its opposite ends for removably engaging with first and second locks, respectively at an anterior part of the shoe while encircling the shoe around a posterior part of the shoe, such that when the shoe is worn by an individual, said fastener in a desirably extended and attached state thereof properly fits the shoe to individual's foot.
The invention also provides a kit comprising a laced shoe and one or more fasteners. The laced shoe comprises at least first and second locks located at either one or both of anterior or posterior parts of the shoe, and the fastener is configured as described above, and comprises first and second lock elements configured for removable engagement with the first and second locks of the shoe, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate two examples, respectively of laced shoes with fasteners configured according to the present invention;

FIGS. 3A to 3D more specifically illustrate various examples of the fasteners; and

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of using a single extendable fastener;

FIG. 5 exemplifies a kit of the invention including a pair of sport shoes with sets of fasteners.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, an example of a sport shoe (constituting a general laced shoe) according to the present invention is shown. A typical laced shoe 10 is shown having a lace 14 on an anterior part 12A of the shoe body and being further equipped/provided with a fastener 16 formed by one or more fastening elements, one such fastening element 19 being seen in the figure. The fastening element 19 is configured as an extendable connector which has opposite ends 19B and 19A attachable to regions of the shoe 10 at, respectively, the anterior part 12A of the shoe and an posterior part 12B of the shoe. In this manner, when the shoe 10 is worn by an individual and the fastener 16 (at least one fastening element thereof) is in a desirably extended and attached state thereof, the shoe 10 properly fits to individual's foot.
It should be understood that, although only one fastening element 19 is seen in the figure, in this specific not limiting example, the fastener 16 includes a pair of fastening elements located at opposite side region of the posterior part 12B of the shoe. Each one of fastening elements is configured as an extendable connector as described above.
It should be noted, as well as described above, that for the purposes of the present application, the anterior part 12A of a shoe should be understood as a front portion of a shoe (corresponding to the front of foot) and is typically the portion from the tongue to the toe cap. As for the posterior part 12B of a shoe, it should be understood that for the purposes of the present application, this portion should be interpreted broadly covering a back portion of the shoe (corresponding to heel/ankle portion of a foot) and also side portions of the shoe, at some distance from anterior or closer to (or in a vicinity of) the back portion. Considering a laced shoe, the posterior part of such shoe is a shoe portion starting from some distance from the first eyelet, e.g. the upper eyelet which is closer to the tongue-part, and extending to the heel cap.
As described above, the fastening element 19 is configured as an extendable connector, namely the fastening element 19 is extendable and contractible (like a rubber). The extendable connector is configured to be in its extended state upon being pulled to attach to the respective region of the shoe and is configured to be in its contracted state when released or at a default loose state thereof. Such extendable connector may be made of any known stretchable/elastic material which enables the connector to extend from a region on the anterior part 12A of the shoe 10 to a region on the posterior part 12B of the shoe or vice versa.
In this example, the extendable connector is connectable or permanently connected (e.g. fixed) by a first end 19B to a lace 14 on the anterior part 12A of the shoe and by its second opposite end 19A can removably connect to a region on the posterior part 12B of the shoe 10. For example, the first end of fastening element may be integral with the lace, i.e. the fastening element is an extension of the lace.
The engagement between the end portion 19A of the fastening element and the portion of the shoe may be using the known Velcro™ type engagement. This may be suitable for shoes made of fabrics.
In some embodiments, the shoe may be provided with at least one lock assembly configured to provide engagement with the fastening element, e.g. with corresponding lock element(s) at the fastening element. As indicated above, the first end of the fastening element may be fixed to/integral with the lace. In this case, the lock assembly is associated only with the opposite end of the fastening element, i.e. is located at the region of the posterior part of the shoe.
Generally speaking, in some embodiments, the lock assembly of the shoe may be associated with of the first and second ends of each fastening element, i.e. one of the first and second ends of the fastening element is fixed to one of the anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, while the opposite end of the fastening element is removably attachable to the other end of the anterior and posterior parts of the shoe by engagement with the lock assembly of the shoe. In some other embodiments, the lock assembly of the shoe is associated with both the first and second ends of each fastening element, i.e. the fastening element is by both ends removably attachable to the anterior and posterior parts of the shoe via the lock assembly of the shoe.
For example, a portion of the lock assembly associated with the anterior part of the shoe may be constituted by the lace itself, i.e. the fastening element by its first end can be tied to the lace. The other portion of the lock assembly is located (fixed or configured for attachment/fixation) at the posterior part of the shoe and is engageable with the second end of the fastening element. In other words, the portion of the lock assembly associated with the shoe region at the posterior part thereof may be an integral part of the shoe or may be configured for integration/engagement with the shoe.
Reference is made to FIG. 2 exemplifying a laced shoe 10 having a lace 14 on an anterior part 12A of the shoe body, and being further provided with a lock assembly 40 for engagement with a fastener 16. In this example, the fastener 16 includes a pair of the fastening elements 19, associated with (extendable along) two opposite sides of the shoe body. As indicated above, each fastening element is configured as an extendable connector, i.e. having at least a portion thereof which is extendable. In the specific but non-limiting example of FIG. 2 such fastener is in the form of/has a portion in the form of an elastic closed loop. Each fastening element 19 is by its one end 19B (at one segment 19B of the loop) connectable (tied) to the lace 14 and is extendable such that its other opposite end 19A (segment of the loop) is attachable to a lock element 40B configured as a hook-like element of the lock assembly 40 located in the vicinity of a heel portion (posterior part 12B) of the shoe 10. Thus, in this example the segment of the closed-loop fastening element acts as a lock element 40A associated with the fastening element to engage with the lock element 40B of the lock assembly 40 of the shoe.
Thus, the lock assembly 40 may include first and second engageable locking elements 40B and 40A located at, respectively, the posterior-part region of the shoe and the fastening element 19. It should be understood that, generally, the shoe may carry several locking elements 40B arranged at different locations of the posterior-part region of the shoe, and an individual (wearer) chooses that/those of them which are most suitable to properly fit the shoe.
In the example of FIG. 2, the first locking element 40A is constituted by the fastener 16 itself, while the second locking element 40B is configured as the hook like unit located on the posterior part of the shoe. As shown in the figure, the two fastening elements 19 are associated with two opposite side-regions of the posterior part of the shoe and attachable to the two locking elements 40A, respectively, at two regions of the posterior part of the shoe.
To this end, it should be understood the “engageable portions” of the lock assembly are first and second potions located at, respectively, the posterior-part region(s) of the shoe 10 and the fastening element(s) of the fastener. The attachment and detachment of the fastening element(s) to the locking element(s) on the shoe correspond to the locked and unlocked states of the lock assembly.
The locking elements of the lock assembly may be of any known suitable configuration. FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate in a self-explanatory manner some examples of the locking assemblies suitable to be used in the present invention. All these examples relate to a general hook-and-loop type assembly, in which the first and second locking elements are removable engageable with one another. In the example of FIG. 3B, such hook-and-loop type assembly utilize a Velcro fastener; in the example of FIG. 3C this is in the form of a knob-type assembly; and in FIG. 3D the locking assembly is generally as that of FIG. 2 utilizing a loop-and-hook arrangement.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the fastener 16 is in the form of a single element 19 that is provided separately from the shoe. In this connection, reference is made to FIG. 4. The figure shows a laced shoe 10 and a fastener 16 having a fastening element 19 configured as an extendable connector which is attachable by its opposite ends 19A and 19B to a lace 14 at an anterior part 12A of the shoe while encircling the shoe body around a posterior part 12B of the shoe. In this manner, when the shoe 10 is worn by an individual, the fastener is in a desirably extended and attached state thereof, and properly fits the shoe 10 to individual's foot.
Generally, there may be no lock assembly on the shoe. However, practically, in order to avoid a situation that the fastener moves up when in use with a low-heel shoe, the shoe may be provided with a lock assembly 40. Such lock assembly 40 has at least one holding/supporting element 50 fixed to the shoe 10 in at least one region of the posterior part 12B of the shoe. In this specific not limiting example of FIG. 4, a single holding element is shown, but it should be understood that the locking assembly may include an array of at least two such holding elements arranged in a spaced-apart relationship along the posterior part of the shoe. The holding element 50 is configured to engage with the fastening element 19 in at least one region thereof and for supporting the fastening element 19 at an extended and attached state thereof, namely for preventing the fastening element 19 from stirring/deviating downwards or upwards at the heel portion of the posterior part 12B of the shoe 10. For example, the holding element 50 is configured as a hook or loop allowing the fastening element 19 to pass through the holding element when encircling the shoe. It should be understood that the fastening element 19 may be fixed to or integral with the anterior part 12A of the shoe 10 by its one end, and after passing through the loop/hook 50, be attached by its other end to the anterior part 12A of the shoe.
In the above examples, the part of the lock assembly 40 associated with the show is a part of/integral with the shoe. It should, however, be noted that in some other embodiments, the entire lock assembly or at least the shoe-related part thereof may be a separate element/structure configured for attachment to respective region(s) on the posterior part of the shoe. Turning back to the example of FIG. 2, both the lock elements 40A and 40B or either one of them may be configured as a separate elements capable of attachment to the shoe/lace. For example, the lock 40B may be configured as a knob structure, e.g. that of FIG. 3D.
It should be noted that a pair of laced shoes can be supplied with one or more fasteners. Such a kit 50 including a pair of laced shoes 10 and a set of fasteners and locks is exemplified in FIG. 5. In this example, the shoes are formed with a lock 40B, and the fasteners 19 and locks 40A are separate elements configured such that locks 40A can easily be attached to the lace and the fastener by its opposite ends 19A and 19B is connectable to, respectively the lock elements 40A and 40B. The fasteners in the set may be of different colors, and the kit may possibly also include a set of laces of different colors.
Generally, the shoes are formed with lock assemblies of any known suitable type, e.g. those described above to provide desired engagement with the fastener. Such lock assembly may be in the form of holding element(s) or first and second locking elements associated with matching to/engageable with corresponding locking elements at the fasteners.
In yet another example, although not specifically illustrated, a kit may be include one or more fasteners and one or more pairs of laces provided separately from shoes to be used with/applied to any pair of shoes. Turning back to the example of FIG. 4, the fastener(s) 16 and pairs of laces 14 may be separately supplied and used, for example, with shoes of the type having a decorative loop-like element at the heel part thereof, which is often the case with modern shoes.

Claims

1. A laced shoe comprising a fastener comprising at least one fastening element, configured as an extendable connector which is by its opposite ends attachable to regions of the shoe at, respectively, anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, such that when the shoe is worn by an individual, said at least one fastening element in desirably extended and attached state thereof properly fits the shoe to individual's foot.

2. The laced shoe of claim 1, wherein said at least one fastening element is by its one end fixed to either one of the anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, and by its opposite free end is removably attachable to a region in a vicinity of the other of said anterior and posterior parts of the shoe.

3. The laced shoe of claim 2, wherein said fastener has one of the following configurations: (a) said at least one fastening element is by its one end fixed to or integral with the lace at the anterior part of the shoe and by the other opposite end is attachable to the region in the vicinity of the posterior part of the shoe; and (b) said fastener comprises a pair of the fastening elements, both configured as the extendable connectors, each being by its one end fixed to either one of the anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, and by its opposite free end being removably attachable to the respective region in the vicinity of the other of said anterior and posterior parts of the shoe.

4. The laced shoe of claim 2, wherein said fastener comprises a pair of the fastening elements, each of the fastening elements being by its one end fixed to the lace and by the other opposite end being attachable to the respective region in the vicinity of the posterior part of the shoe.

5. The laced shoe of claim 1, wherein the fastening element is a stretchable element thereby forming said extendable connector.

6. The laced shoe of claim 5, wherein the fastening element is configured as a closed loop stretchable element.

7. The laced shoe of claim 1, comprising at least one lock assembly associated with the at least one fastening element, respectively, said lock assembly comprising first and second engageable portions located at, respectively, the region of the shoe and the fastening element.

8. The laced shoe of claim 7, wherein the lock assembly has one of the following configurations:

(a) the first and second parts of the lock assembly comprise a hook and a loop removably engageable with one another;

(b) the first and second parts of the lock assembly comprise, respectively, first and second parts of a knob removably engageable with one another;

(c) the first and second parts of the lock assembly comprise, respectively, a fixed element configured as a substantially loop-like element fixed to the shoe and a Velcro portion at said free end of the fastener;

(d) the first and second parts of the lock assembly are configured as a hook-and-loop Velcro type assembly.

9. The laced shoe of claim 1, wherein said at least one region is located at either one of the following: (i) is located at the posterior part of the shoe at a heel portion thereof; and (ii) is located in, respectively, at least one side portion of the shoe closer to the posterior part of the shoe.

10. A laced shoe comprising a fastener configured as an extendable connector which is attachable by its opposite ends to a lace at an anterior part of the shoe while encircling the shoe around a posterior part of the shoe, such that when the shoe is worn by an individual, said fastener in a desirably extended and attached state thereof properly fits the shoe to individual's foot.

11. The laced shoe of claim 10, further comprising a holding element fixed to the shoe at the posterior part of the shoe and configured for engaging with and supporting the fastening element when in the extended and attached state of the fastening elements encircling the shoe around the posterior part of the shoe.

12. The laced shoe of claim 11, wherein the holding element is configured as a hook or loop allowing the fastening element to pass through said holding element when encircling the shoe.

13. A laced shoe comprising a fastener having a pair of fastening elements, each of the fastening element being configured as an extendable connector which is by its one end fixed to a lace at an anterior part of the shoe and has its opposite free end, the free ends of the fastening elements of the pair comprising, respectively, first and second parts of an engageable assembly, such that when the shoe is worn by an individual, the fastening elements are brought to their extended states while extending along opposite sides of the shoe towards a posterior part of the shoe to enable engagement of the first and second parts of the engageable assembly, thereof properly fitting the shoe to individual's foot.

14. The laced shoe of claim 13, wherein the engageable assembly has one of the following configurations: (i) has the first and second parts of a clip; (ii) has the first and second parts of a knob; (iii) has the first and second parts of a hook-and-loop assembly.

15. The laced shoe of claim 13 or 14, further comprising a pair of fixed elements fixed to the shoe at opposite side portions thereof and configured for supporting the fastening elements, respectively when in the extended states of the fastening elements.

16. The laced shoe of claim 15, wherein each of the fixed elements is configured as a hook or loop allowing the respective fastening element to pass through said holding element when in the extended state thereof.

17. A fastener for use with a laced shoe, the fastener comprising at least one fastening element, the fastening element being configured as a stretchable element which is by its opposite ends removably attachable to regions of the shoe at, respectively, anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, such that when the shoe is worn by an individual, said at least one fastening element in desirably extended and attached state thereof properly fits the shoe to individual's foot.

18. The fastener of claim 17, comprising a pair of the fastening elements, each being configured as the stretchable element which is by its opposite ends removably attachable to regions of the shoe at, respectively, anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, such that the fastening elements in the stretched states extend along opposite side portions of the shoe towards respective regions in a vicinity of the posterior parts of the shoe.

19. The fastener of claim 17, wherein the fastening element has one of the following configurations: (1) the fastening element is configured as a closed loop stretchable element; (2) the fastening element comprises first and second lock elements at opposite ends of the fastening element, respectively, each of said first and second lock elements being configured for engaging with first and second locks located at regions on anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, respectively for removably engaging with said first and second locks.

20. The fastener of claim 17, wherein the fastening element comprises first and second lock elements at opposite ends of the fastening element, respectively, each of said first and second lock elements being configured for engaging with first and second locks located at regions on anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, respectively for removably engaging with said first and second locks, each of the first and second locking elements has one of the following configurations:

(1) comprises a hook for engaging with a loop lock at the shoe;

(2) comprises a loop for engaging with a hook lock at the shoe;

(3) comprises a first part of a knob like locking assembly for engaging with the lock at the shoe being configured as a second part of the knob assembly;

(4) comprises a Velcro portion for self-closing around a loop lock at the shoe, forming together a hook-and-loop Velcro type assembly;

(5) comprises a Velcro portion for engagement with a matching Velcro lock on the shoe.

21. A fastener for use with a shoe, the fastener being configured as an extendable connector which is configured with first and second lock elements at its opposite ends for removably engaging with first and second locks, respectively at an anterior part of the shoe while encircling the shoe around a posterior part of the shoe, such that when the shoe is worn by an individual, said fastener in a desirably extended and attached state thereof properly fits the shoe to individual's foot.

22. A kit comprising a laced shoe and one or more fasteners, wherein the laced shoe comprises at least first and second locks located at either one or both of anterior or posterior parts of the shoe, the fastener being configured as the fastener of any one of claims 17 to 21, and comprising first and second lock elements configured for removable engagement with the first and second locks respectively.

23. A kit for use with laced shoes, the kit comprising: one or more fasteners, each configured as the fastener of any one of claims 17 to 21; one or more pairs of laces for tying through eyelets at an anterior part of the shoe; and one or more lock assemblies for attaching the fasteners to the lace and the shoe at one or more regions within a posterior part of the shoe.