GB2416185A

GB2416185A - Elastomeric fastener for footwear

Info

Publication number: GB2416185A
Application number: GB0415705A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert George Albert Gilder
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-14
Filing date: 2004-07-14
Publication date: 2006-01-18
Also published as: WO2006005958A1; GB0415705D0

Abstract

A fastening device for fastening an item of footwear of the lace-up variety comprises an elastomeric material 10 with a hook 14 formation (preferably of moulded plastic) at each end. In use, the fastening device is secured between opposed eyelets on opposite sides of the item of footwear thereby providing a fastening means so that the item of footwear can be held on the foot. When the fastening device is released, the elastomeric section returns to its un-stretched length, and the item of footwear can be removed. The fastening device may be of any desired colour and may carry logos or other forms of visual indicia.

Description

Fastening devices for footwear of the lace-up type The present invention

relates to devices for fastening shoes or other footwear articles of the lace-up type, for example trainers, without using laces.

A number or arrangements have been proposed hitherto for fastening footwear articles of the lace-up type but avoiding the need to use laces, in order to make the footwear easier to fasten. These arrangements have been generally of limited effectiveness, complex in construction or insufficiently easy to use. I have now devised a fastening device which overcomes these drawbacks.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fastening device for use in fastening an article of footwear of the lace-up type, the fastening device comprising a length of elastomeric material provided with a hook formation at each of its opposite ends, the two hook formations being inwardly-directed towards each other, the device serving to couple between a single pair of opposed eyelets of the article of footwear.

It will be appreciated that the fastening device may be stretched sufficiently in order to engage the hook formations, at its opposite ends, into respective eyelets on opposite sides of the article of footwear: when the stretching force is released, the length of elastomeric material of the device tends to return to its normal or at-rest length, and so pulls the opposite sides of the article of footwear towards each other.

In practice, a number of such fastening device are used, these devices being applied in turn to successive pairs of eyelets of the article of footwear, after the article of footwear has been placed on the foot. The fastening devices are easy to apply in order to fasten the article of footwear, but are also easy to disengage subsequently, when the article of footwear is to be removed.

The length of elastomeric material may be provided with end-pieces which include the respective hook formations. The end-pieces may be formed of plastics material and moulded onto the ends of the length of elastomeric material.

The fastening devices may be of any desired colours or patterns selected by the user: the set of devices used to fasten an article of footwear may all be of the same colour or pattern, or they may be of a variety of different colours or patterns.

The fastening device may carry logos, brand names, images or other indicia or visual features. These markings may be provided on upper or outwardly-directed surfaces of the end pieces of the device, or on the upper or outwardly-directed surface of the length of elastomeric material of the device.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a view of two trainers, one shown fastened with laces and the other shown fastened using a series of devices in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of a fastening device in accordance with the present invention, shown in its normal or at-rest condition; FIGURE 3 is a similar view of the fastening device, shown in an expanded or stretched condition; FIGURE 4 is a side view of the fastening device, shown in it normal or at-rest condition; and FIGURE 5 is a similar view of the fastening device, shown in an expanded or stretched condition. , Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a first trainer T1 is shown, fastened by laces L threaded through its two opposed series of lace hole or eyelets E. Figure 1 also shows a like trainer T2 which is fastened by a number of devices D in accordance with the present invention, each device D coupling between corresponding eyelets E on the opposite sides of the trainer.

Referring to Figures 2 to 5 of the drawings, each fastening device D in accordance with the present invention comprises a length of elastomeric material 10 extending between two enlarged end-pieces 12. The undersides of the two end pieces 12 are provided with hook formations 14 which are directed downwardly and inwardly, towards each other. In the example shown, each of the end pieces is generally rectangular in plan view, side view and end view and the length of elastomeric material 10 is similarly generally rectangular in plan view, side view and end view. The endpieces 12 may be formed of plastics material and moulded onto the respective ends of the length of elastomeric material 10.

Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings show the device D in its normal or atrest condition. The two end-pieces 12 may however be pulled away from each other to a limited extent, so stretching the length of elastomeric material 10, the device being shown in its expanded or stretched condition in Figure 3 and 5 of the drawings. When the stretching force is released, the device D returns to its normal or at-rest condition, owing to the resilient nature of the length of elastomeric material 10.

In use, therefore, and after the trainer or other shoe has been placed on the foot, the device D may be stretched in length in order to engage the hook formations 14, on its opposite end-pieces, in an opposed pair of eyelets of the trainer or other shoe. Each pair of opposing eyelets are coupled together in turn, using successive fastening devices D. In order subsequently to remove the shoe from the foot, the successive fastening devices are disengaged from eyelets of the shoe, at least on one side thereof.

As previously mentioned, the fastening devices D may be of any selected colours or patterns, chosen by the wearer to match the colour or pattern of the shoe or to accord with the team colours, where the user is participating in a team sport.

Further, the end-pieces 12 of the devices may carry logos, brand names, images or other indicia or visual features, preferably on their upper surfaces 11.

It will be appreciated that he fastening device which has been described is of simple and inexpensive construction yet is easy and effective to use.

Claims

Claims 1. A fastening device for use in fastening an article of footwear

of the lace-up type, the fastening device comprising a length of elastomeric material provided with a hook formation at each of its opposite ends, the two hook formations being inwardly-directed towards each other, the device serving to couple between a pair of opposed eyelets of the article of footwear.
2. A fastening device as claimed in claim 1 in which said elastomeric material is arranged to return to its normal or un-stretched length when the fastening device is released from the article.
3. A fastening device as claimed in claims 1 or 2 in which said hook formations are provided as moulded elements on the ends of the length of elastomeric material.
4. A fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim in which said hook formations are of a plastic material.
5. A fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim in which said fastening device is of a coloured material.
6. A fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim in which said fastening device includes indicia on a surface of the fastening device which is visible when the device is coupled between a pair of opposed eyelets of an article of footwear.
7. An item of footwear of the lace-up type incorporating a fastening device, said fastening device comprising a length of elastomeric material provided with a hook formation at each of its opposite ends, the two hook formations being inwardly-directed towards each other, the device serving to couple between a single pair of opposed eyelets of the article of footwear.
8. A fastening device substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.