US4999889A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shoe lace arrangement with fastener
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-08-11
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Granted: 1991-03-19
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Expires: 2009-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A shoe lace arrangement with fastener where a lace (24) is engaged in a hole attachment (22) and becomes engaged on a groove attachment (23) as it crosses over a shoe frontal opening (21). The lace ends are tied permanently leaving enough slack to disengage the lace from the groove. Once the lace is removed from the groove, a lace loop (26) begins in one of the hole attachment and ends in one of the hole attachment on the same side of the shoe frontal opening; thus allowing the un-restricted opening of the shoe. The slack is adjustable by lace placement in a grove (25). Final tension in the shoe lace arrangement is obtained with a tension lever (20).
Inventors
- 👤 Jacques M. LeCouturer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:57
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43C; A43C1/00; A43C1/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/37; Y10T24/3732; Y10T24/3768
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A lace arrangement with a fastener comprising a hinged tension lever supporting a lace attachment means, wherein said lace goes from hole to groove and from groove to hole as the case may be across the shoe frontal opening, and further comprising: (a) a bulge laterally protruding on a side of the axis of said hinge of said tension lever, (b) a lace catcher gap located underneath said bulge creating a void between said bulge and the shoe upper when said lever is closed, whereby said lace arrangement, once secured on said attachment means and tighten by rotation of said lever, is engaged in said gap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A lace arrangement with a fastener comprising a hinged tension lever supporting a lace attachment means, wherein said lace goes from hole to groove and from groove to hole as the case may be across the shoe frontal opening, and further comprising: (a) a bulge laterally protruding on a side of the axis of said hinge of said tension lever, (b) a lace catcher gap located underneath said bulge creating a void between said bulge and the shoe upper when said lever is closed, whereby said lace arrangement, once secured on said attachment means and tighten by rotation of said lever, is engaged in said gap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A lace arrangement with fastener of claim 1 wherein said bulge with said gap is integral with the rotating part of said hinge of said tension lever.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A lace arrangement with fastener of claim 1 wherein said bulge with said gap is integral with the stationary part of said hinge of said tension lever.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A lace arrangement with fastener of claim 1 wherein said bulge with said gap is integral with the pin of said hinge of said tension lever.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The lace arrangement with fastener of claim 1 wherein said tension lever includes a ridge extending laterally on a side of said attachment means when said lever is in a closed position, whereby said lace, once tighten by rotation of said tension lever, is caused to bank against said ridge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The lace arrangement with fastener of claim 1 wherein a groove attachment member faces away from the shoe upper when said lever is closed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The lace arrangement with fastener of claim 1 further including a twin holes member attached to and above the surface of the shoe upper and having 2 parallel holes facing the frontal opening edge of the shoe upper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The lace arrangement with fastener of claim 1, further including a rotatable ring, attached on the shoe upper near the extremity of said tension lever when closed, whereby once said lever is tightened, said ring is rotated over the extremity of said lever and maintains said lever in its closed position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
A lace arrangement with a fastener wherein said lace goes from hole to groove and from groove to hole as the case may be across the shoe frontal opening and further comprising: (a) a plate supporting a hinge for a rotatable tension lever with attachment means, said plate affixed to the shoe upper underneath said lever, (b) a stud having a cut-out at its footing standing on said plate, (c) an embrasure transversing said attachment means and said tension lever, whereby upon closure of said lever, said stud takes position into said embrasure and said lace becomes engaged in both said attachment means and said cut-out of said stud.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
109 words
A lace arrangement with a fastener wherein said lace goes from hole to groove and from groove to hole as the case may be across the shoe frontal opening and further comprising: (a) a plate supporting a hinge for a rotatable tension lever with attachment means, said plate affixed to the shoe upper underneath said lever, (b) a stud having a cut-out at its footing standing on said plate, (c) an embrasure transversing said attachment means and said tension lever, whereby upon closure of said lever, said stud takes position into said embrasure and said lace becomes engaged in both said attachment means and said cut-out of said stud.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-03-18 | 1994-09-17 | 1995-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-03-18 | 1998-09-17 | 1999-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-03-18 | 2002-09-17 | 2003-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |