Enhanced speed lacing device with an integrated adjustable width, adjustable tension system

Claim 2

A lacing device, for attachment along the periphery of the throat of an article of footwear to uniquely receive and provide guidance to shoelaces of a lacing configuration, comprising: An integral, eyelet-bearing lacing device adapted to be attached along the periphery of the shoe throat, said lacing device provided with a pair of rigid, upwardly elongated, laterally spaced, sinuous side members, said side members curving inwards and downwards at the top along convex lines to form outwardly bevelled, converging primary hook members, said convex line configuration of said primary hook members resulting in the formation of a V-shaped, lace-introducing primary notch; said primary notch communicating with a central slit which leads into a primary eyelet, said primary eyelet having an opening large enough to loosely receive a shoelace, and formed on each side of said primary eyelet, front and back, a substantially bevelled, oblique upward groove which provides security and guidance, to said shoelace drawn taut in a diagonal manner; a pair of upwardly bevelled, converging secondary hook members, said secondary hook members curving inwardly and downwardly along convex lines and being extensions of said side members as well as circumscribing a downward interior portion of said primary eyelet, convex line configuration of said secondary hook members creating a flared, lace-introducing secondary notch, said secondary notch being sufficiently wide to engage said shoelace and communicating with a central slit which leads into a secondary eyelet, said secondary eyelet having an opening large enough to loosely receive said shoelace, and formed on each side of said secondary eyelet, front and back, a substantially bevelled, oblique, upward groove which provides security and guidance, to said shoelace when drawn taut in a diagonal manner.

Claim 3

A lacing device of claim 1 wherein said upwardly elongated, sinuous side members arise integrally from a rigid base member which also circumscribes the downward interior portion of said secondary eyelet.

Claim 4

A lacing device of claim 2 wherein said base member forms an integral, downward extending member, said downward member being rigid and tapered.

Claim 5

A lacing device of claim 1 wherein said secondary eyelet being a bridged but communicating extension of said primary eyelet provides width and tension adjustment capacity to the lacing system.

Claim 6

A lacing device of claim 1 wherein said elongated side members being formed of plastic or metal material are inherently capable of lateral flexion and are adapted when said shoeless is introduced through said flared notches.

Claim 7

A lacing device of claim 1 wherein said eyelet grooves being angulated and bevelled on both sides provides a smooth rounded surface to said shoelace.

Claim 8

A lacing device of claim 1 wherein a visible anterior portion of said lacing device faces inward toward the periphery of said throat.

Claim 9

A lacing device of claim 1, wherein said slits enter said primary and secondary eyelets in a narrow manner, and thus resists opening by the strain of said shoelace once inside said eyelet.

Claim 10

A lacing device for attachment along the periphery of the throat of an article of footwear to uniquely receive and provide guidance to laces of a lacing configuration, said lacing device provided with a pair of rigid, upwardly elongated, laterally spaced, sinuous side members, said side members curving inwards and downwards at the top along convex lines to form outwardly bevelled primary hook members which overlap one another to form a lace-introducing flared notch and a normally closed joint which separates said overlapping hook members when engaged by a lace, and permits said lace to pass between said overlapping hook members into a primary eyelet; said primary eyelet having an opening large enough to loosely receive a shoelace, and formed on each side of said primary eyelet, front and back a substantially bevelled, oblique, upward groove which provides security and guidance to said shoelace drawn taut in a diagonal manner; a pair of bevelled, overlapping secondary hook members, said overlapping secondary hook members curving inwardly and downwardly along convex lines and being extensions of said side members as well as circumscribing a downwardly interior portion of said primary eyelet, said overlapping secondary hook members also form a lace-introducing flared notch and normally closed joint which separates said overlapping secondary hook members when engaged by said lace, and permits said lace to pass between said overlapping secondary hook members into a secondary eyelet, said secondary eyelet having an opening large enough to loosely receive said lace, and forming on each side of said secondary eyelet, front and back, a substantially bevelled, oblique up ward groove which provides security and guidance to said lace when drawn taut in a diagonal manner; said upwardly elongated, sinuous side members arising integrally from a rigid base member which also circumscribes the downward interior portion of said secondary eyelet, said base member further forms an integral, downward extending member, said downward member being rigid and tapered.

Claim 11

A lacing device for attachment along the periphery of the throat of an article of footwear to uniquely receive and provide guidance to laces of a lacing configuration, said lacing device provided with a pair of rigid, upwardly elongated, laterally spaced, sinuous side members, said side members curving inwards and downwards at the top along convex lines to form outwardly bevelled primary hook members which overlap one another to form a lace-introducing flared notch and a normally closed joint which separates said overlapping hook members when engaged by a lace, and permits said lace to pass between said overlapping hook members into a primary eyelet; said primary eyelet having an opening large enough to loosely receive a shoelace, and formed on each side of said primary eyelet, front and back a substantially bevelled, oblique, upward groove which provides security and guidance to said shoelace drawn taut in a diagonal manner; a pair of bevelled, overlapping secondary hook members, said overlapping secondary hook members curving inwardly and downwardly along convex lines and being extensions of said side members as well as circumscribing a downwardly interior portion of said primary eyelet, said overlapping secondary hook members also form a lace-introducing flared notch and normally closed joint which separates said overlapping secondary hook members when engaged by said lace, and permits said lace to pass between said overlapping secondary hook members into a secondary eyelet, said secondary eyelet having an opening large enough to loosely receive said lace, and forming on each side of said secondary eyelet, front and back, a substantially bevelled, oblique up ward groove which provides security and guidance to said lace when drawn taut in a diagonal manner; said upwardly elongated, sinuous side members arising integrally from a rigid base member which also circumscribes the downward interior portion of said secondary eyelet, said base member further forms an integral, downward extending member, said downward member being rigid and tapered.

Claim 12

A lacing device for attachment along the periphery of the thread of an article of footwear to uniquely receive and provide guidance to laces of a lacing configuration, said lacing device provided with a pair of rigid, upwardly elongated, laterally spaced, sinuous side members, said side members curving inwards and downwards at the top along convex lines to form outwardly bevelled primary hook members which overlap one another to form a lace-introducing flared notch and a normally closed joint which separates said overlapping hook members when engaged by a lace, and permits said lace to pass between said overlapping hook members into a primary eyelet; said primary eyelet having an opening large enough to loosely receive a shoelace, and formed on each side of said primary eyelet, front and back, a substantially bevelled, oblique, upward groove which provides security and guidance to said shoelace drawn taut in a diagonal manner; said upwardly elongated, sinuous side members arising integrally from a rigid base member which also circumscribes a downward interior portion of said primary eyelet, said base member further forms an integral, downwardly extending member, said downward member being rigid and tapered.

Claim 13

A lacing device for attachment along the periphery of the thread of an article of footwear to uniquely receive and provide guidance to laces of a lacing configuration, said lacing device provided with a pair of rigid, upwardly elongated, laterally spaced, sinuous side members, said side members curving inwards and downwards at the top along convex lines to form outwardly bevelled primary hook members which overlap one another to form a lace-introducing flared notch and a normally closed joint which separates said overlapping hook members when engaged by a lace, and permits said lace to pass between said overlapping hook members into a primary eyelet; said primary eyelet having an opening large enough to loosely receive a shoelace, and formed on each side of said primary eyelet, front and back, a substantially bevelled, oblique, upward groove which provides security and guidance to said shoelace drawn taut in a diagonal manner; said upwardly elongated, sinuous side members arising integrally from a rigid base member which also circumscribes a downward interior portion of said primary eyelet, said base member further forms an integral, downwardly extending member, said downward member being rigid and tapered.