Shoelace keeper

Claim 2

A shoelace keeper for an infant''s shoelace comprising an enclosure having a wall adjacent a shoe, said wall including a first wall portion having an edge including at least one shoelace passage having a periphery open at said edge, a second wall portion having an edge and movable with respect to said first portion to bring said second wall portion edge adjacent said shoelace passage to close said shoelace passage periphery, and latch means for releasably securing said second wall portion to said first wall portion.

Claim 3

A shoelace keeper according to claim 1, further including a structural rib carried on said first wall portion, said rib extending outwardly from said section and overlying said second wall portion when said wall portions are secured together, said rib cooperating with said first wall portion edge to define two said shoelace passages.

Claim 4

The shoelace keeper of claim 1 wherein said enclosure comprises a first enclosure portion providing said first wall portion, a first circumferential side wall section connected to said first wall portion, and a resiliently flexible rib extending past said first wall portion edge and cooperating therewith to define two said shoelace passages, and a second enclosure portion providing said second walL portion, a second circumferential side wall section connected to said second wall portion, and hinge means joining said first and second circumferential side wall sections for motion of said first enclosure portion with respect to said second enclosure portion to bring said second wall portion edge adjacent said shoelace passages to close said shoelace passage peripheries.

Claim 5

The shoelace keeper of claim 3, wherein said second enclosure portion further provides a cover portion spaced from said second wall portion, said motion of said first enclosure portion with respect to said second enclosure portion bringing said cover portion adjacent said first circumferential side wall section to close said enclosure.

Claim 6

A shoelace keeper according to claim 3, said latch means comprising a flexible, resilient member projecting from said first circumferential side wall section toward said second circumferential side wall section, an inward directed boss on said member, a receiving channel in said second circumferential side wall section, and a receiving cavity in said second circumferential side wall section for said boss, said boss being seatable in said cavity to lock said enclosure in a closed position, and unseatable therefrom by outward flexing of said flexible resilient member, thereby enabling said enclosure to be opened by partially rotating said side wall sections about said hinge means.

Claim 7

A shoelace keeper according to claim 3, said hinge means comprising, in combination, a flexible web connecting said first and second circumferential side wall sections, and first and second interlockable members projecting respectively from one and the other of said side wall sections adjacent to the inward enclosure side of said web, said members being shaped for mutual interlocking engagement, when said enclosure is closed, along surface orientations ranging from an orientation generally transverse to the plane of the side wall near the hinge, to an orientation generally parallel to said side wall plane.

Claim 8

A shoelace keeper according to claim 3, and further including an upper wall for said enclosure carried by one of said side wall sections, said upper wall being generally parallel with said first and second wall portions, a receiving channel for said upper wall in the other of said side wall sections, said upper wall mating with said receiving channel when said side walls are closed about said hinge means.

Claim 9

A shoelace keeper according to claim 3, and further including a cap for said enclosure, a flexible strap connecting said cap to the remainder of said enclosure, and means for releasably locking said cap over said enclosure when said enclosure side walls are closed, said keeper thereby comprising a one-piece construction.

Claim 10

A shoelace keeper according to claim 8, and further including an outward extending ledge at the lower portions of the enclosure side wall sections, said strap being formed from a resilient material and attached to the outer portion of said ledge at an acute angle to the enclosure side wall sections, said strap being bent away from said enclosure at a distance from its attachment to the ledge substantially equal to the width of the ledge, such that the cap is held clear of the enclosure when the enclosure is opened and the strap is in a relaxed position, said strap being flexible about its connection with said ledge to overlie said ledge and extend upwardly between the cap and the enclosure side wall when the cap is emplaced over the enclosure.

Claim 11

A shoelace keeper according to claim 8, said cap including a central wall adapted to overlie said enclosure and a circumferential side wall surrounding the enclosure side wall sections when the cap is emplaced on the enclosure, said cap locking means comprising the combination of an inward directed boss on the side wall of said cap, a pocket in the side wall of said enclosure for receiving said boss, said keeper being formed from a resilient material of sufficient flexibiliTy to deform when the cap is emplaced on the enclosure until the boss is seated in the pocket, and mutually opposed finger supports extending outwardly from the lower portions of said cap and enclosure side walls in the vicinity of said boss and pocket, said finger supports providing a base for the application of mutually opposed forces to said cap and enclosure for dislodging said boss from said pocket.

Claim 12

A shoelace keeper according to claim 10, said boss and pocket being located respectively on said cap and enclosure opposite to said strap, and further including additional inward directed bosses on the side wall of said cap near and on each side of said strap, and pockets in the side wall sections of said enclosure for releasably receiving said additional bosses when said cap is pressed down over the enclosure.

Claim 13

A shoelace keeper for an infant''s shoelace, comprising an enclosure having a first enclosure portion providing a first wall portion having an inner edge including an indented portion defining a passage having a periphery open at said edge, a first side wall section connected to said first wall portion and surrounding a part thereof, said first wall portion inner edge extending between the ends of said first side wall section, and a resiliently flexible rib formed integrally with said first wall portion exterior surface, extending past said first wall portion edge and cooperating with the indented portion thereof to define two shoelace passages each having a periphery open at said edge, said rib having a free end, and a second enclosure portion providing a second wall portion having an edge, and movable with respect to said first portion to bring said second wall portion edge adjacent said shoelace passages to close said shoelace passage peripheries, a second side wall section connected to said second wall portion, and a cover portion spaced from said second wall portion and generally parallel therewith, hinge means joining said first and second side wall sections for motion of said first enclosure portion with respect to said second enclosure portion to bring said second wall portion below said rib free end and to bring said second wall portion edge adjacent said shoelace passages to close said shoelace passage peripheries when said keeper is closed, said first and second wall portions, in the closed condition of said keeper, together defining a bottom wall adapted to be placed adjacent the shoe, and latch means for releasably securing said first enclosure portion to said second enclosure portion to close said keeper.

Claim 14

A shoelace keeper for an infant''s shoelace, comprising an enclosure having a first enclosure portion providing a first wall portion having an inner edge including an indented portion defining a passage having a periphery open at said edge, a first side wall section connected to said first wall portion and surrounding a part thereof, said first wall portion inner edge extending between the ends of said first side wall section, and a resiliently flexible rib formed integrally with said first wall portion exterior surface, extending past said first wall portion edge and cooperating with the indented portion thereof to define two shoelace passages each having a periphery open at said edge, said rib having a free end, and a second enclosure portion providing a second wall portion having an edge, and movable with respect to said first portion to bring said second wall portion edge adjacent said shoelace passages to close said shoelace passage peripheries, a second side wall section connected to said second wall portion, and a cover portion spaced from said second wall portion and generally parallel therewith, hinge means joining said first and second side wall sections for motion of said first enclosure portion with respect to said second enclosure portion to bring said second wall portion below said rib free end and to bring said second wall portion edge adjacent said shoelace passages to close said shoelace passage peripheries when said keeper is closed, said first and second wall portions, in the closed condition of said keeper, together defining a bottom wall adapted to be placed adjacent the shoe, and latch means for releasably securing said first enclosure portion to said second enclosure portion to close said keeper.