Attachable Lace Tightening Hook and Lace Securing Device

A. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to attachable/wearable devices for lacing, tightening, and securing laces for shoes, sneakers, skates, and any other footwear utilizing laces.

B. Description of Related and Prior Art:

Oftentimes when children or adults are trying to tighten the laces on their skates or footwear there is great difficulty in tightening the laces. When parents are required to do the aforementioned for their child, they have no way of telling when the laces are tight enough or too tight because their own foot is not in the footwear. In addition, small children lack the nimbleness and small motor control and coordination to tighten the successive number of crossed-laces successfully with their fingertips. Adults often have arthritis, or fingers too large to fit around the laces, or have long fingernails that will break, all of which often makes tightening laces a nightmare. Should one be so lucky as to get their laces tight, just when they are trying to tie the first bow loop, the laces loosen and one must start over again.

While a metal hook for pulling skate laces does exist within a very narrow distribution, children and adults have found it difficult and/or ineffective to use. The hook is too short and thick to catch under or onto the laces. In addition, when pulling on the laces for tightening, the hook slips off. The handle is awkward. Small fingers can get stuck in the loop of the handle, and the handle is too large for a child to manage. Conversely, the handle is too narrow for large or arthritic hands to grasp. Because the device is also unnecessarily long, the lacing motion is awkward, particularly for young hands. A number of parents of young children are anxious about their child handling a device resembling a poker. One must also find a place to keep it in order to have it on hand when laces loosen. The unattractive form and lack of successful function of the metal device do little to attract usage. For these reasons, the metal hooks often lie dormant in a drawer while the child and adult continue to struggle through the lace tightening and tying process.

Repeated frustration with the aforementioned device inspired us to resolve these difficulties. The Attachable Lace Tightening Hook and Lace Securing Device is the end product of a long design and experimentation process which solved the above problems, whether for children or adults. We paid attention to the details necessary for the design in the hook, the handle, and the body of the device. The hook is shaped for ease in reaching around and under the laces without slipping off. The concave curve of the device facilitates a smoother hooking and pulling motion. The handle has been sized to accommodate the average child's or adult's hand. There are no areas within which a child's fingers can get stuck or pinched. The shape of the device is more compact and does not resemble a poker. In addition, the slots in the handle of the device hold the laces securely for tying. This solves the problem of the laces loosening before they are tied. Once the laces are tied onto the handle, the device is affixed to the footwear. This provides a very natural and decorative place to always have it "on foot" for use. A hole in the handle provides a means for alternative options for carrying or wearing the device on one's person, i.e. by passing a string, chain, ring, and the like, through the hole.

This lace tightening and securing device is comprised of a body having a curved shaft portion which has a hook at one end for pulling and tightening the laces and a slotted handle at the other end, the hook is bent and the tip is narrowly tapered in such a way to be easily slipped under a crossed-section of laces and to stay hooked to the crossed-section for both pulling and tightening that crossed-section of laces, and also for securing the hook of the device to the footwear, while the handle has slots through which the top portion of the shoelaces are pulled and thusly secured to be held tight for tying, whereupon the device is firmly affixed by the handle in combination with the laces to the footwear to be worn. All portions of the device are designed with shape, size and safety considerations in handling for all ages, i.e. no sharp edges, or potential pinching areas. The device is also designed and shaped to be worn as a decoration on the footwear, as well as to be readily accessible when needed.

It is the object of this invention to provide a device to make lacing and tying easier and more fun for a full range of the population. The added feature of its capability to be affixed to the footwear, or worn elsewhere on the person also contributes to the convenience, fun and fashion in having the device on hand or "on foot" when needed.

For illustration of our invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing the embodiment of the Attachable Lace Tightening Hook and Lace Securing Device.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 1 detailing the curvature of the shaft and the bend and taper of the hook.

FIG. 3 is a view of the device ensnaring, pulling, and thus tightening the laces.

FIG. 4 is a view of the [tool] device hooked to a lower crossed-section of laces and attached by tied laces so as to be worn on the footwear.

As shown in the drawings, the preferred Attachable Lace Tightening Hook and Lace Securing Device FIG. 1 shows a small device which comprises a hook (#6) as a means for catching hold onto a crossed-section of laces, a curved shaft (#5) for ease in handling and conforming to the footwear, and a handle (#1) with slots for holding the device, the specifications and proportions of which have been designed to contribute to the embodiment of the integrity of the device for its function as well as its wearability.

The drawing FIG. 2 shows a side view of the embodiment of the invention wherein is shown the hook [end] (#6) with a tip bent and tapered in such a way as a means for catching around the laces. As shown in FIG. 2, this hook (#6) is bent in such a way so as to ensnare a section of crossed laces (#7) as seen in FIG. 3. This hook (#6) is also bent in such a way as to keep a hold on a crossed-lace section (#7) when pulling so as to tighten. Once a crossed-lace section (#7) has been pulled tight, a slight wrist movement allows for the hook (#6) to be easily removed from that crossed-lace (#7). Once all the crossed-sections of laces have been pulled tight, this hook (#6) is then hooked onto a lower crossed-section of laces (#7) as in FIG. 4 so as to attach said hook (#6) to the footwear. With the hook (#6) secured, the handle [end] (#1) is then tied to the footwear by way of the shoelaces being pulled up into the handle (#1) through the slots (#3) which allows the device to be worn and carried on the footwear.

The drawing, FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of the embodiment of the invention wherein is shown the handle (#1) which comprises a finger hold (#2), slots (#3), and an aperture (#4). As shown in FIG. 3, when using the device the index and middle fingers hold onto the handle on the specifically shaped finger hold area (#2) on the bottom edge of the handle (#1). The device is designed in such a way so as to allow sufficient space for the user's knuckles between the finger hold (#2) and the rest of the device.

As shown in FIG. 4, once the hook (#6) has been used to tighten all the laces, it is then hooked onto one of the lower crossed-laces (#7). The slots (#3) allow for the laces to then be slipped up into the handle (#1) where the laces are thus held in place in preparation for tying. When the laces are tied, the Attachable Lace Tightening and Lace Securing Device is conveniently secured onto the footwear as also shown in FIG. 4.

The shaft (#5) of the device, as shown in FIG. 1, is concavely curved. The specific concave curve of the shaft (#5) of the device, as seen in FIG. 2, minimizes the flexion and extension of the wrist when engaged in the lacing process. The concave curve of the shaft (#5) is also specifically designed so the device will rest comfortably along different lengths and shapes of lacing areas of a variety of footwear, once it is affixed to footwear as shown in FIG. 4. The length of the shaft (#5) is designed in such proportions so as to allow for the device to be affixed to footwear, as seen in FIG. 4. This will hold true with lacing areas of varying lengths because the hook (#6) can be hooked onto any crossed-lace section.

As shown in FIG. 1, the handle (#1) also contains an aperture (#4). This aperture (#4) provides an alternative means for the user to easily carry, hang, or wear the device on their person, by passing a string, chain, ring, etc. through the aperture.

The proportions and relationship of all the above elements create the integrity of the device which is necessary for function and wearability. The outside decorative shape and/or color and/or material of the device may change; however, the integral elements of the device as described above remain the same.