WO1994028749A1

WO1994028749A1 - A shoe fastener

Info

Publication number: WO1994028749A1
Application number: PCT/AU1994/000325
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bradley Joseph Paxton
Original assignee: Whiteway House 247 Pty Limited; Bradley Joseph Paxton
Priority date: 1993-06-16
Filing date: 1994-06-15
Publication date: 1994-12-22

Abstract

A shoe fastener (1) which is used for fastening a shoe (2) having a number of eyelets (4) arranged in two rows located on either side of the shoe opening is disclosed. The fastener (1) has a two-part clip (6), the parts of which are interengageable, the clip (6) having a longitudinal extent corresponding to the length of the rows of eyelets (4). The fastener (1) further includes a number of elongate elastic connecting strips which are fitted through the eyelets and which are connected by their two ends to a different one of the two-part clip (6).

Description

-1-

A SHOE FASTENER

The present invention relates to shoe fasteners and, in particular, to a shoe fastener which is fitted to the eyelets of a shoe and which clips together.

BACKGROUND ART 5 It is known to use resilient clips instead of laces to fasten shoes. However, with such known shoe fasteners, it has been found that there is difficulty in ensuring that the ^■ fastener is aesthetically pleasing and that the fastener remains fastened at all times when the shoes are being worn. It has been found that the fastener has to be sized correctly for the fastener to remain fastened. This may cause difficulty for the wearer, if different 0 thickness socks are worn and if the wearer's feet swell during the course of wearing the shoes.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved shoe fastener which substantially overcomes or ameliorates the above mentioned disadvantages. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a shoe fastener for fastening a shoe having a plurality of eyelets, said eyelets being arranged in two rows located one to either side of the shoe opening, said fastener comprising an elongate two part clip the parts of which are releasably interengageable, said clip having a longitudinal extent substantially equal to at least a substantial portion of the length of said row, and at least one elongate elastic connecting strip to interconnect each part of said clip with the eyelets of the corresponding row.

Preferably each eyelet has a corresponding strip which is used to connect that eyelet with the corresponding part of the clip. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe having a shoe fastener of the preferred embodiment with the shoe fastener illustrated when fastened, Fig. 2A is a top view of a two-part clip of the shoe fastener of Fig. 1, illustrated when not fastened and without its connecting strips,

Fig. 2B is a top view of the two-part clip of Fig. 2A illustrated when fastened, Fig. 3A is a transverse cross sectional view along the line IIIA-IIIA of Fig. 2A, Fig. 3B is a transverse cross sectional view along the line IHB-IIIB of Fig. 2B, and

Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of the fastener illustrated in Fig. 1 illustrating the procedure where a connecting strip is attached to the clip.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION -2-

A shoe fastener 1 of a preferred embodiment is illustrated attached to a shoe 2.

The shoe fastener 1 takes the form of a number of elongate elastic connecting strips 3 which are fitted through the eyelets 4 of the shoe 2. The connecting strips 3 have ends which are connected to a different one of a two-part clip 6. 5 The two-part clip 6 includes a top part 7 and a bottom part 8. The bottom part 8 includes a flat bar 9 with five perpendicularly extending limbs 10. Each of the limbs 10 ■■ has a lug 11 extending therefrom. The lugs 11 extend in a different plane to that of the bar 9 and limbs 10 and have a slight elbow 12 so that the lugs 11 follow the shape of the shoe 2. 0 Each of the lugs 11 has a pair of holes 13 to which the end of the connecting strips 3 are able to be threaded.

The top part 7 of the two-part clip 6 includes a flat bar 14 which corresponds to the flat bar 9. Extending downwardly from the bar 14 are four overhanging L-shaped extensions 15 which are each able to clip over the flat bar 9 of the bottom part 8 which 5 results in the bar 14 being on top of the bar 9 when clipped into position. The bar 14 also includes five perpendicularly extending limbs 16 which have a lug 17 on the end thereof. An elbow 12 is also positioned on the lug 17 in a similar manner to the elbow 12 on the lug 11. Each of the lugs 17 have a pair of holes 18 in a similar manner to that of the lugs 11 and the other end of the connecting strips 3 are able to be threaded therethrough. 0 The lugs 11 and 17 are substantially in the same horizontal plane when the shoe fastener 1 is clipped together, which assists in the aesthetic qualities of the shoe fastener 1.

The shoe fastener 1 is fitted to the shoe 2 firstly by threading one end of the connecting strip through the holes 18 of the lugs 17. Due to the elasticity and elastomeric 5 nature of the connecting strips 3, once the needs of the strips 3 have been threaded through the holes as illustrated in Fig. 4, the strips are effectively secured thereto. There is no need in this embodiment to more securely connect the connecting strips 3 to the lugs 17. However, it is within the scope of the present invention to have a different method of connection thereto. 0 The other end of the connecting strips 3 are then threaded through the eyelets 4 of the shoe 2 while the two-part clip 6 is clipped together and while the use has his foot within the shoe 2. The other end of each of the connecting strips 3 is then able to be threaded through the holes 13 in the lugs 11. The connecting strips 3 are slightly stretched during the fitting and therefore the elasticity and the elastomeric nature of the 5 material of the connecting strips 3 ensure that the connecting strips 3 remain in place. It is noted that the strips 3 are flat ribbon like strips and that the holes are round, and that this assists in the connection therebetween.

The connecting strips 3 are slightly stretched when the shoe fastener 1 is fitted to the shoe 2. The connecting strips 3 are in tension and therefore tend to urge the two-part clip 6 apart when the shoe 2 is worn, thus ensuring that the clip 6 remains together during wearing of the shoe 2. If the elastic strips 3 were not in tension, the clip 6 could disengage thus the shoe fastener 1 could become unfastened.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example a single strip 3 can be used to interconnect all of the eyelets 4 and the lugs 11, 16 in a zig-zag pattern extending along each row of eyelets 4.

Claims

-4-CLAEVIS

1. A shoe fastener for fastening a shoe having a plurality of eyelets, said eyelets being arranged in two rows located one to either side of the shoe opening, said fastener comprising an elongate two part clip the parts of which are releasably interengageable, said clip having a longitudinal extent substantially equal to at least a substantial portion of the length of said row, and at least one elongate elastic connecting -• strip to interconnect each part of said clip with the eyelets of the corresponding row.

2. The shoe fastener according to claim 1, wherein each said eyelet has a corresponding said elongate elastic connecting strip which is used to connect that eyelet with the corresponding part of the clip.

3. The shoe fastener according to claim 2, wherein said two pan clip includes a top part and a bottom part, said top part being releasably interengageable with said bottom half.

4. The shoe fastener according to claim 3, wherein said top part includes at least one overhanging L-shaped extension(s) which is interengageable with said bottom half.

5. The shoe fastener according to claims 3 or 4, wherein said top and bottom parts include lugs extending perpendicularly therefrom, each said lug corresponding to each said eyelet and each said elongate connecting strip.

6. The shoe fastener according to claim 5, wherein said lugs are substantially in the same horizontal plane when said two part clip is engaged together.

7. The shoe fastener according to claim 6, wherein each said lug includes a pair of holes through which the end of said corresponding elongate connecting strip is able to be threaded and be retained therein.

8. The shoe fastener according to claim 7, wherein said elongate connecting strips are in the form of a flat ribbon.

9. The shoe fastener according to claim 8, wherein said flat ribbon is made from an elastomeric material.

10. A shoe fastener substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.