US3168769A - Lace for shoes and other articles - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 9, 1965 R. D. SMITH 3, 68,

LACE FOR SHOES AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed April 11 1963 INVENTOR. 5 055161 D. SMITH United States Patent 3,168,769 LACE FOR SHOES AND OTHER ARTICLES Robert ll). Smith, 2742 E. Tremont Ave, Bronx, N51. Filed Apr. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 272,360 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-440) This invention relates generally to laces. More specifically it relates to shoe laces, corset laces and the like.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a lace having self-contained means whereby the lace ends will at all times remain equal in length.

It is generally well known by almost all persons that in the repetitious daily tying up and untying of ones shoe laces, the lace ends eventually become of unequal length due to the alternate tugging thereupon and loosening thereof. Such situation becomes annoying because a person must then move a portion of the longer end through all the lace'holes of the shoe to add the length of such portion to the opposite shorter end.

Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide a lace which will permanently remain in stationary position relative to a shoe at its longitudinally center position and whereby the lace will not be eventually entirely pulled toward one end.

Still another object is to provide a lace which will not become twisted and make an unsightly appearance, it being observed that such twisting is caused by longitudinal movement of a lace through the lacing holes. Accordingly, the present lace will remain untwisted, be more comfortable and make a neat appearance.

A still further object is to provide a lace adaptable for shoes, corsets and other garments.

A still further object is to provide a lace that is ornamental in design and which will offer a trend for a new style.

Other objects are to provide a lace which will wear longer, is inexpensive to produce, and easy to use in centering thereof upon a garment or shoe.

These and other objects will be readily apparent upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation view of a lace shown fragmentarily and shown incorporating the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a shoe showing the invention incorporated therewith.

FIGURE 4 is a side edge view showing a modified form of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a top elevation view thereof.

FIGURE 6 is a top elevation view showing a further modified form of the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a similar view of still another form of the invention, and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of still another form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail the numeral 10 represents a lace according to the present invention wherein there is a main body member 11 and a bow member 12.

The main body member comprises a length of lace 13 made from conventional lacing material. As shown in the drawing it may be of flat type having a fiat upper Fatenteel Feb. 9, 1955 and lower side 14 with a relatively thin side edge 15. A metal tip 16 is affixed each end 17 thereof.

The bow member shown in FIGURES l to 5 is made from similar lacing material and comprises a pair of loops l7, tails 18 and a knot 19. As shown in FIGURE 1, the bow may be attached to the main body by a single row i stitch 20 made diagonally as shown or transversely across the elements as preferred. In FIGURES 4 and 5, a pair of spaced apart rows of stitching 21 are shown to further limit the longitudinal movement of a lace respective to the lacing holes. Rivets can be used instead (FIGURE 6).

If preferred, various other objects may be attached to the main body instead of a bow or may be incorporated with a bow. FIGURE 6 shows a button or buckle 22. FIGURE 7 shows a varied type of bow material which may be in a variety of tones to match a pair or" shoes or the like. FIGURE 8 shows costume jewelry 23 affixed to a bow and main body. In every representation a large object is afiixed to a lace to *block movement thereof through either of the adjacent openings 24 in a shoe 25 or other garment.

In operative use the lace is laced to an object with the bow between the center openings thereof, from which position it will not move and each lace end is laced thereafter in conventional manner.

Thus there has been shown a lace that will maintain both ends in equal length, and which will not twist.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In a lace for shoes or the like, the combination of a length of flat lacing, said lacing having shielded tips at each opposite end to aid the introduction of said tips into the lacing openings of a shoe or the like, said lacing having a flexible bow at the midpoint between the opposite longitudinal ends of said lacing for preventing longitudinal movement of said lace through lacing holes of a shoe, said how being on one side of said flat lacing and being afiixecl to said lacing by a pair of rows of stitching, each of said rows f stitching extending transversely across said lacing at positions between the said midpoint and one of said longitudinal ends, said bow comprising a folded length of lacing having a loop and a terminal end on each side of a central knot, said stitching extending on each side of said knot, each of said loops being in longitudinal alignment with said lacing and said loops extending unattached over said lacing for the purpose of covering an adjacent said lacing opening of a shoe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 578,066 Munsell Mar. 2, 1897 647,824 Girtanner Apr. 17, 1900 931,949 Morrow Aug. 24, 1909 1,058,345 Berkstresser Apr. 8, 1913 2,022,554 Williams Nov. 26, 1935 2,230,915 Spiro Feb. 4, 1941

Images