(19)
(11) EP 0 704 175 A2

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
03.04.1996 Bulletin 1996/14

(21) Application number: 95115056.4

(22) Date of filing: 25.09.1995
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6A43C 7/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB

(30) Priority: 28.09.1994 DE 9415687 U

(71) Applicant: ADIDAS AG
D-91074 Herzogenaurach (DE)

(72) Inventor:
  • Fumy, Richard
    D-91315 Höchstadt/Aisch (DE)

(74) Representative: Lohrentz, Franz et al
Louis, Pöhlau, Lohrentz & Segeth, Patentanwälte, Ferdinand-Maria-Strasse 12
D-82319 Starnberg
D-82319 Starnberg (DE)

   


(54) A clip device for fixing the bow ends of a tied lace


(57) A clip device for fixing the ends of the bows of a tied shoelace on a shoe comprises a base plate which can be fixed to the shoe. The base plate has at least one spring clip portion which extends along the base plate. The spring clip portion can be lifted away from the surface of the base plate against its spring force to provide an insertion opening for the shoelace bow ends to be introduced between the spring clip portion and the base plate.




Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION



[0001] The present invention concerns a clip device for fixing the bow ends of a tied lace on a shoe. In this specification the term shoe is used to denote any its of footwear having a lace for securing the its of footwear in position on the foot of the wearer and the term therefore includes for example boots.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION



[0002] When a shoelace is tied to hold a shoe in position on the foot of a wearer, the tied shoelace frequently forms loops or bows, the ends of which hang freely around the lacing of the shoe. It is known that the freely hanging ends of the loops or bows of the shoelace can be troublesome and can occasionally even be found to be dangerous. For example, the fact that the ends of the loops or bows of the tied shoelace can flap around when the wearer of the shoe is walking or running can very frequently result in the loop or bow formed by the shoelace cling loose so that the shoe lacing has to be re-tied. In any cases there is even the risk that the bows, by virtue of flapping around as the wearer of the shoe moves, may become caught up on some obstacle and as a result cause the wearer to trip or stumble. For that reason various proposals have already been put forth in regard to holding the lace bow ends to the laced shoe, but in practice such proposals have not proven successful partly because they have been found to be too expensive and partly because they have been found to be a nuisance in terms of use thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION



[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide a clip device for fixing the free ends of a tied shoelace, which is of a simple structure and which is so designed that it is easy to use.

[0004] Another object of the present invention is to provide a clip for holding the free ends of a tied shoelace to the shoe, which is practically insignificant in terms of price in relation to the cost of a shoe but which is effective in function and convenient to use.

[0005] In accordance with the principles of the present invention the foregoing and other objects are attained by a clip device for fitting the free ends of a tied shoelace and in particular the bow end portions thereof to the shoe, comprising a base portion having bans for fitting the base portion to the shoe. A spring clip portion is disposed on the base portion at the side thereof which in the fitted condition on the shoe is remote from the shoe. The spring clip portion is adapted to be lifted against its spring force away fro said base portion, thereby to open an insertion opening for insertion of the shoelace end portions.

[0006] As will be seen in greater detail from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, the clip device according to the invention operates in the manner of a clamping device which can be connected to the shoe in various ways. For example the base portion of the clip device, which is in the general form of an elongate base plate, can be sewn or glued to the shoe upper, preferably in front of the front end of the lacing opening, or on the tongue of the shoe. In the latter case, the clip device, in the laced condition of the lacing, projects upwardly through the lacing between individual transversely extending portions of the lace where the lace extends over the tongue of the shoe. It is also possible for the base plate, at the end parts thereof, to be provided with thin projecting extension portions which can engage under the side edges of the lacing opening in the shoe upper and sewn fast in that position. In that case the clip device is desirably disposed at the front end of the lacing opening in the shoe upper.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the clip device according to the invention however the base portion, in the form of an elongate base plate, is not connected directly to the shoe but is fitted in position by being threaded on to the shoelace. In that case, the shoelace passes through eyes or openings in the region of each of the end parts of the base plate so that the clip device is carried freely on the lacing, desirably at the front end thereof, with the spring clip portion facing upwardly away fro the shoe so that the insertion opening can receive the bow ends of the tied shoelace.

[0008] In all embodiments of the invention, after the shoelace has been tied to form a bow or loop, the ends of the bows or loops and the free ends of the shoelace can be brought together in a bunch or bundle and the bunch can be inserted, so-to-speak as a self-contained assembly, under the spring clip portion. In that way the spring clip portion presses the bunch of lace portions against the upwardly facing surface of the base plate and holds it fast in position by friction even against vigorous movements, as for example when the wearer of the shoe is running. Desirably the spring clip portion is disposed at a certain spacing fro the surface of the base plate and, at its end towards the insertion opening, has a thickened part which provides that the ends of the shoelace and the bows are held within the insertion opening by a positively locking engagement, that is to say by the thickened part constituting a form of abutment or stop to prevent the lace portions from sliding out of the spring clip portion at the end thereof.

[0009] Desirably, the clip device can be integrally made from a resiliently bendable plastic material, for example polyamide, and it can be so small and light, for example of the order of magnitude of 1 gram, that it does not give rise to any fear of use of the shoe being adversely affected in terms of weight. Handling of the clip device is very simple for the reason that the bunched ends of the shoelace can be fixed with a single movement in the longitudinal direction of the spring clip portion, and there is no need for a fixing arrangement to be subsequently closed or locked after the lace portions have been inserted. The clip device also permits individual choice in regard to the location in the lacing, which is suited to the length of the free lace and bow ends. Desirably the clip device can be fixed to the foremost transverse portion of the lacing where it is drawn through the lacing eyes, as generally the wearer of the shoe does not have to loosen that part of the lacing in order to make it easier to put the shoe on or take it off. It will be appreciated however that the clip device can also be mounted in one of the adjacent transverse portions of the lacing by suitable displacement on the shoelace and rethreading it into the lace eyes.

[0010] Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING



[0011] 

Figure 1 is a perspective plan view of a sports shoe with a clip device according to the invention fitted thereto,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of the clip device shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 shows two views in longitudinal section through the clip illustrated in Figure 2 and through a modified form thereof.


DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS



[0012] Referring firstly to Figure 1, shown therein is a sports shoe such as for example a tennis shoe which has lacing that is generally indicated by reference numeral 1. The lacing includes a lacing opening 2 in the shoe upper, a row of lace eyes 3 at the oppositely disposed parts of the shoe upper, which form the edges of the lacing opening 2, and a shoelace 4 which is suitably passed through the lace eyes 3. In the illustrated embodiment in Figure 1 the shoelace 4 is so threaded through the lace eyes 3 over the entire length of the lacing opening 2 that the individual portions of the shoelace, which extend from one part of the shoe upper to the opposite part of the shoe upper, extend precisely transversely across the lacing opening 2. At the upper end of the lacing opening 2 the shoelace 4 is tied to form bows as indicated at 5, together with the loose shoelace end portions.

[0013] A clip device 6 for fixing the bow ends and if appropriate the loose end portions of the shoelace 4 is fixed on the foremost shoelace portion which is therefore towards the toecap of the shoe 1. The clip device 6 comprises a base portion in the form as illustrated of an elongate, substantially rectangular base plate 7 which is slightly curved to adapt it to the instep of the foot, as can be best seen from Figure 3. Near its mutually oppositely disposed ends the base plate 7 has respective openings 8 which serve as eyes for the shoelace 4 to be passed therethrough. Reference numeral 10 denotes a spring clip portion which extends in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 7 and which is connected thereto in one piece therewith on the top side of the base plate 7, that is to say the side which, in the fitted condition of the clip device 6, faces upwardly away from the shoe 1. The spring clip portion 10 is integrally joined by its one end to the base plate 7 while its other free end has a thickened part 12 by way of which the spring clip portion 10 resiliently bears against the adjoining surface of the base plate 7. In that way an intermediate space is formed between the surface of the base plate 7 and the underside of the spring clip portion 10. The thickened part 12 is bevelled towards the adjoining surface of the base plate 7 thereby to form a guide surface 13 which extends inclinedly relative to the surface of the base plate 7 and towards the above-mentioned intermediate space, to guide the shoelace into the insertion opening defined by the spring clip portion and the base plate 7.

[0014] As can be seen from Figure 1, the clip device 6 is threaded on to the shoelace 4 in such a way that the shoelace 4 passes through the openings 8 at the end parts of the base plate 7 from above, and extends transversely under the base plate 7. As a result, the end of the spring clip portion 10 with the thickened part 12 is free and easily accessible, and this freedom of access is further promoted by the above-mentioned curved configuration of the base plate 7, as can be clearly seen from Figure 3. For the purposes of fixing the ends of the bow 5 they are brought together to form a bunch or bundle which is inserted under the guide surface 13 and into the insertion opening defined between the base plate 7 and the spring clip portion 10. As a result of this, the spring clip portion 10 is lifted away from the adjoining surface of the base plate 7, against its spring action or elasticity, so that the ends of the bows can then pass into the space under the spring clip portion 10. By virtue of its spring resiliency, the spring clip portion 10 then presses the bow ends firmly against the surface of the base plate 7 and thus holds the fast in position. Lateral forces which would possibly produce sideways movement of the bow ends cannot cause the bow ends to come loose fro the spring clip portion 10 because that is partly prevented by friction and at any event by virtue of the presence of the thickened part 12 which acts as a stop at the end of the spring clip portion 10 to retain the lace bow ends in the insertion opening.

[0015] In the modified embodiment of the clip device as shown in Figure 3, there are two spring clip portions 10' on the base plate 7'. The spring clip portions 10' are integrally joined to the base plate 7' at the oppositely disposed end parts thereof, and extend towards each other. Their free ends are at a small spacing from each other, thus defining an insertion opening as indicated at 14. In this embodiment, for the purposes of fixing the free shoelace bow ends in position on the shoe, the bow ends are brought together to form a bunch or bundle which is either pressed through the insertion opening 14 or on to one of the two spring clip portions 10' and then pushed laterally under the opposite spring clip portion 10'.

[0016] It will be appreciated that the above-described embodiments of the clip device according to the invention have been set forth solely by way of example and illustration of the principles of the present invention which is not restricted thereto. Thus, the eyes in the base plate 7 for threading in the lace do not have to be in the form of through openings, but can be provided by downwardly extending tongue portions with openings formed therethrough. It is also not necessarily the case that the clip device is connected to a single one of the lacing portions extending across the lacing opening 2, and accordingly extends transversely relative to the lacing opening 2. On the contrary, it is also possible, if the eyes in the base plate 7 are suitably oriented by being turned through 90°, for the clip device to be fixed to two successively disposed shoelace portions extending across the lacing opening 2, so that the clip device extends in the longitudinal direction of the lacing opening. In this case the spring clip portion 10 also extends lengthwise of the lacing opening 2 and the free bow ends are then pushed under the spring clip portion in the longitudinal direction of the shoe, in a forward or rearward direction, for the purposes of fixing them in position.


Claims

1. A clip device for fixing bow end portions of a tied shoelace to a shoe comprising a base portion, bans on the base portion for fitting it to the shoe, and a spring clip portion on the base portion at the side thereof which in the fitted condition on the shoe is remote from the shoe, the spring clip portion being adapted to be lifted against its spring action away from said base portion to open an insertion opening for insertion of the shoelace bow end portions.
 
2. A clip device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base portion is adapted to be sewn on the shoe upper outside the lacing opening.
 
3. A clip device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base portion is adapted to be sewn on the shoe tongue.
 
4. A clip device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base portion is adapted to be glued to the shoe upper outside the lacing opening.
 
5. A clip device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base portion is adapted to be glued to the shoe tongue.
 
6. A clip device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base portion comprises end parts adapted to engage under oppositely disposed edges of the lacing opening and to be sewn to said edges.
 
7. A clip device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base portion comprises end parts adapted to engage under oppositely disposed edges of the lacing opening and to be glued to said edges.
 
8. A clip device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base portion comprises end parts having eyes adapted to be threaded on to the shoelace.
 
9. A clip device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base portion comprises resiliently bendable plastic material and the spring clip portion is in one piece with the ball portion.
 
10. A clip device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spring clip portion extends along the base portion at a spacing from the surface at said side thereof.
 
11. A clip device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spring clip portion has a thickened part in the region of the insertion opening.
 
12. A clip device as set forth in claim 11 wherein the thickened part is bevelled towards the adjoining surface of the base portion to form a guide surface for the insertion opening.
 
13. A clip device as set forth in claim 11 wherein the thickened part bears against the adjoining surface of the base portion.
 
14. A clip device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base portion has two end parts and the insertion opening is disposed in the vicinity of one end part of the base portion.
 
15. A clip device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base portion has two end parts and wherein a respective spring clip portion is connected to the base portion in the region of each of the end parts of the base portion and the spring clip portions form an insertion opening at least adjacent the longitudinal center of the base portion.
 
16. A clip device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the eyes in the base portion are through openings in the end parts thereof.
 
17. A clip device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the eyes in the base portion are apertured tongue portions projecting downwardly from the underside of the base portion.
 
18. A clip device as set forth in claim 17 wherein the base portion is elongate and the tongue portions are directed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base portion.
 
19. A clip device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base portion is an elongate generally rectangular plate portion.
 




Drawing