WO2008156347A1

WO2008156347A1 - Method of tying string and footwear employing the same

Info

Publication number: WO2008156347A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/003558
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yun Su Cho
Original assignee: Yun Su Cho
Priority date: 2007-06-21
Filing date: 2008-06-23
Publication date: 2008-12-24
Also published as: KR20070077155A; CN101677654A; KR100878743B1; CN101677654B

Abstract

Provided is a footwear which is tied with a piece of string all at a time, in which pressure of the string that is imposed in the instep at the time of tying the string in the shoe is imposed uniformly evenly to the instep, so that a wearer can put on the shoe comfortably. Provided is also a footwear tying method of tying a string to thereby enable a person who sees the footwear to feel a beauty of balance. An angle of binding the left and right pulling string annular portions on the respective engagement plates by the respective engagement locker ears equals an angle of inserting the string into the eyelets, so that the string is uniformly aligned all over the eyelets at the time of tying the string with the footwear.

Description

METHOD OFTYING STRINGAND FOOTWEAREMPLOYINGTHE SAME

Technical Field The present invention relates to a footwear tied by tightening a string which may be referred to as a shoelace, and more particularly, to a method of tying a string of a footwear in which a pair of pulling string annular portions are provided in both left and right upper ends of the neck of the footwear, respectively, to thereby enable a user to pull or release the pair of the pulling string annular portions to be bound on engagement plates one time in order to put on or take off the footwear conveniently.

Background Art

In general, a footwear is tightened by tying a string. For this purpose, the footwear includes a number of eyelets through which a string can smoothly pass in which the eyelets are provided in an identical number in both sides of the instep strap cover in the footwear. The string is passed crossways from the lower eyelet to the upper eyelet. A wearer pulls a string to fit for the foot, and then tightens the footwear and makes or releases a ribbon-style knot in the ends of the string when putting on or taking off the footwear. However, since the string should be tightened and tied whenever a wearer puts on or takes off the conventional footwear, it may cause wearers to be inconvenienced. Further, the conventional footwear has a number of defectives of causing inconveniences and consuming time to tie and untie the knots when putting on or taking off the footwear. In order to solve these disadvantagesr the same applicant as that of this application disclosed Korean Patent Registration No. 0445965 entitled "Footwear for rapidly tying strings and string tying method thereof" in which the footwear has a feature of enabling a wearer to easily perform tightening and binding of the string.

However, the conventional technology of rapidly tying a string with a footwear as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, has the following defectives. In FIGS. 6 and 7, V-shaped pulling string annular portions 19a and 19b formed at the uppermost end of the instep of the footwear are crossed substantially horizontally with each other when they are bound on engagement plates made of a sticking member, for example, Velcro™ tape. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, four lines of the two pulling string annular portions overlap each other, to accordingly make pressure of the string partially concentrated into a particular ankle portion of a wearer and thus make the wearer easily feel a fatigue. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the pulling string annular portions 19a and 19b which have transversely overlapped over each other look unbalanced since alignment of the string is not uniform all over the whole footwear.

Disclosure of the Invention To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of tying a string with a footwear, with an equal tightening force which is applied to all over the whole instep of the footwear so that a wearer can put on or take off the footwear comfortably during walking or exercising. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of tying a string with a footwear, which enables a string uniformly aligned up and down in eyelets, to thus provide a balanced and good-looking footwear.

To accomplish the above object of the present invention, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of tying a string of a footwear having a plurality of eyelets which are punched along left and right ends of an instep cover of the footwear at a time, the footwear string tying method comprising: inserting the string into intermediate eyelets crossways with every other eyelet; preparing a pair of left and right pulling string annular portions which are prepared using the string so as to be extended in a V-shaped form at the second and third eyelets from the upper end of an instep cover; securing a respective engagement space near the uppermost eyelet at the left and right ends of the instep cover of the footwear; adhering a respective engagement plate in the respective engagement spaces secured near the uppermost eyelet on the left and right sides of the instep cover, in which the respective engagement plates are made of. a sticking member such as Velcro™ tape; and forming a respective engagement locker ear which is formed at the end of the respective engagement plates to bind the left and right pulling string annular portions on the respective engagement plates, so that respective directions of the left and right pulling string annular portions do not change, in which the respective engagement locker ears are made of a sticking member such as Velcro™ tape, wherein an angle of binding the left and right pulling string annular portions on the respective engagement plates by the respective engagement locker ears equals an angle of inserting the string into the eyelets, so that the string is uniformly aligned all over the eyelets at the time of tying the string with the footwear. Preferably but not necessarily, in the footwear string tying method, the uppermost eyelet may not exist, that is, may not be formed in the instep of the footwear.

Preferably but not necessarily, the number of the eyelets is at least three, in which one end of the string is inserted into the lowermost eyelet formed at the first side of the left and right sides of the instep cover, to then be inserted into the third lowermost eyelet formed at the second side of the instep cover, to then be inserted into the second lowermost eyelet formed at the second side of the instep cover, to then be inserted into the third lowermost eyelet formed at the first side of the instep cover, to then be inserted into the second lowermost eyelet formed at the first side of the instep cover, to then be inserted into the lowermost eyelet formed at the second side of the instep cover, and to then bind both the ends of the string so as to be knotted together.

Preferably but not necessarily, the footwear further comprises: two fastening lockers made of a plastic material which are adhered on the lowermost instep cover of the footwear; adjust pins substituting for the string end knot through which both the string ends come in and out, respectively; and a cloth cover which covers the adjust pins into which the string ends have been inserted and are formed on the surface of the instep cover, wherein two string paths formed in the inside of the fastening lockers are bent with a predetermined tilt angle of for example, 45 degrees from the upper side of the fastening lockers to the inner side thereof, and wherein the adjust pins are formed of the two string paths which closely contact in parallel with each other and an aperture which controls the string to restrictively go in and out. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a footwear comprising: a number of eyelets which are formed along the left and right sides of an instep of the footwear; engagement plates and engagement locker ears which are made of a sticking member such as Velcro™ tape, in which pulling string annular portions which are respectively hooked up by the engagement locker ears are respectively sticked on the engagement plates, wherein one end of the string is inserted into the lowermost eyelet formed at the first side of the left and right sides of the instep cover, to then be inserted into the third lowermost eyelet formed at the second side of the instep cover, to then repeat the string insertion process into the empty eyelets until the string is completely inserted into the second uppermost eyelet formed at the second side of the instep cover, the one end of the string is inserted into the third uppermost eyelet formed at the first side of the instep cover, to then be inserted into the fourth uppermost eyelet formed at the second side of the instep cover, to then repeat the string insertion process into the empty eyelets until the string is completely inserted into the lowermost eyelet formed at the second side of the instep cover, to then be protruded as the other end of the string, and wherein both the ends of the string is knotted together as a knot end portion.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a footwear comprising: a number of eyelets which are formed along the left and right sides of an instep of the footwear; engagement plates and engagement locker ears which are made of a sticking member such as Velcro tape, in which pulling string annular portions which are respectively hooked up by the engagement locker ears are respectively sticked on the engagement plates, wherein in the case of the eyelets is six, both ends of the string are transversely fitted into the fifth eyelets, respectively, then both the ends of the string are fitted into the third eyelets, respectively, crossways in the form of an X-shape, then both the ends of the string are fitted into the second eyelets, respectively, which are formed at the same line as those of the third eyelets, to accordingly form V-shaped left and right pulling string annular portions, likewise, both the ends of the string are fitted into the fourth eyelets, respectively, crossways in the form of an X-shape, finally both the ends of the string are fitted into the sixth eyelets, respectively, crossways in the form of an X-shape, to thereby bind both the ends of the string having passed through the sixth eyelets, respectively, to thus form a knot.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a footwear according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view schematically illustrating positions of pulling string annular portions according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a front view showing alignment of a string at the state where the string has been completely tied;

FIG. 4 is a front view showing positions of adjust pins and fastening lockers;

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state where the adjust pins are used; FIG. 6 is a front view showing alignment of a string according to the conventional art; and

FIG. 7 is a front view showing alignment of a string at the state where the string has been completely tied, according to the conventional art.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

Hereinbelow, a method of rapidly tying a string of a footwear according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, like reference numerals denote like elements. The terminology used in the present invention is used to define functions of the respective elements.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a footwear which is applied in the present invention includes pulling string annular portions 19a and 19b, engagement plates 22b, and engagement locker ears 21a. In addition, a footwear which is applied in the present invention includes pulling string annular portions 19a and 19b, engagement plates 22b, engagement locker ears 21a, and adjust pins 20 which is positioned at the lowermost end of the instep of the footwear.

Detailed description of a footwear according to an embodiment of the present invention whose elements are same as those of "Footwear for rapidly tying strings and string tying method thereof" disclosed the Korean Patent Registration No. 0445965 will be omitted. The other elements of the present invention differing from those of the Korean Patent Registration No. 0445965 will follow.

The footwear proposed in the present invention includes eyelets which are punched along left and right ends of an instep cover of the footwear. For example, the number of eyelets may be at least three. In this embodiment, the number of eyelets is six.

The six eyelets are named first to sixth eyelets 11a to 16b from the upper portion to the lower portion. Here, as it can be seen from FIG. 2, a string 17 forms a pair of pulling string annular portions 19a and 19b which are formed in the left and right upper portions of the neck portion of a footwear. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, one end of the string 17, that is, a knot end 17b is fitted into eyelets cross ways in the form of an X- shape, starting from the lowermost, sixth eyelet 16a to the third eyelet 14b, and then to the second eyelet 12a, in every other eyelet, and is formed into one pulling string annular portion 19a by being fitted into the third eyelet 13a formed at the same side as that of the second eyelet 12a. Then, the string 17 having passed through the third eyelet 13a is inserted into the fifth eyelet 15b formed at the opposite side to that of the third eyelet 13a. Then, the string 17 having passed through the fifth eyelet 15b is inserted into the fifth eyelet 15a formed at the opposite side to that of the fifth eyelet 15b, to then be inserted into the third eyelet 13b formed at the opposite side to that of the fifth eyelet 15a, and to then be inserted into the second eyelet 12b formed at the same side as that of the third eyelet 13b, to thus form the other pulling string annular portion 19b at the opposite side to the one pulling string annular portion 19a. Then, the string 17 having passed through the second eyelet 12b is inserted into the fourth eyelet 14a formed at the opposite side to that of the second eyelet 12b, to then be inserted into the sixth eyelet 16b formed at the opposite side to that of the fourth eyelet 14a, and then be protruded as the knot end 17b. Here, the other knot end 17a is knotted with the one knot end 17b, to thus form a knot 18. Accordingly, the string 17 need not be untied repeatedly, since the string 17 may be untied through only the single knot 18.

For another method of tying a string, both ends 17a and 17b of the string 17 are transversely fitted into the fifth eyelets 15a and 15b, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2. Then, both the ends 17a and 17b of the string 17 are fitted into the third eyelets 13a and 13b, respectively, crossways in the form of an X-shape. Then, both the ends 17a and 17b of the string 17 are fitted into the second eyelets 12a and 12b, respectively, which are formed at the same line as those of the third eyelets 13a and 13b, to accordingly form V-shaped left and right pulling string annular portions 19a and 19b. Likewise, both the ends 17a and 17b of the string 17 are fitted into the fourth eyelets 14a and 14b, respectively, crossways in the form of an X-shape. Finally, both the ends 17a and 17b of the string 17 are fitted into the sixth eyelets 16a and 16b, respectively, crossways in the form of an X-shape, to thereby bind both the ends 17a and 17b of the string 17 having passed through the sixth eyelets 16a and 16b, respectively, to thus form a knot 18. The method of tying a string according to the present invention is same as that of the Korean Patent Registration No. 0445965. However, the first eyelets 11a and l ib in the present invention are not used to form the pulling string annular portions 19a and 19b, respectively. Accordingly, clearance spaces are secured at the portions of the first eyelets instead of using the first eyelets. In other words, the clearance spaces are formed at the upper portions of the pulling string annular portions, respectively. This reason is because the engagement directions of the pulling string annular portions are not horizontally performed but diagonally performed. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 1, engagement plates 22a and 22b are attached at the lateral sides of the first eyelets Ha and lib, respectively, as a means of engaging the pulling string annular portions on the instep of the footwear. Engagement locker ears 21a and 21b which are engaged in pairs with the engagement plates 22a and 22b, respectively, are hooked up with the pulling string annular portions 19a and 19b, respectively. The engagement locker ears 21a and 21b and the engagement plates 22a and 22b are made of a sticking member such as Velcro™ tape. Accordingly, the pulling string annular portions 19a and 19b keep a predetermined tilt angle so that the directions of the pulling string annular portions do not change at the time when the string 17 is tied with the footwear.

As described above, the pulling string annular portions 19a and 19b are engaged with the engagement plates 22b and 22a which are formed at the opposite sides to those of the pulling string annular portions 19a and 19b, respectively. Accordingly, the pulling string annular portions form a predetermined tilt angle diagonally, and the tilt angles of the pulling string annular portions are substantially same as those of the string 17 which is fitted into the other eyelets. The tilt angles of the string 17 which is fitted into the whole eyelets means that a resistance force applied to the string 17 which passes through the eyelets is substantially same. Accordingly, since all the directional angles of the string which is fitted into the whole eyelets from the lower end of the footwear to the upper end thereof, are substantially same, pressure of the string applied to the instep is uniformly distributed all over the whole footwear, and alignment of the string is balanced to thus enable people to feel a sense of uniformity or balance. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, adjust pins 20 are provided as a substitute of a string end knot 18 in a final stage of the string installation process. As shown, two fastening lockers 20a and 20b are adhered on the lowermost instep cover of the footwear near both sides of the adjust pins 20 substituting for the string end knot through which both the string ends come in and out, respectively. Two string paths formed in the inside of the fastening lockers 20a and 20b are bent with a predetermined tilt angle of about 45 degrees from the upper side of the fastening lockers 20a and 20b to the inner side thereof, so that the string secured in the adjust pins 20 is not seceded when the string is pulled at the upper portions of the pulling string annular portions. That is, string tunnels are formed in the inside of the two fastening lockers 20a and 20b so that the entrance and exit portion where the adjust pins 20 and the fastening lockers 20a and 20b contact each other forms a minimum angle.

The adjust pins 20 and the fastening lockers 20a and 20b are made of a soft plastic material, preferably. The adjust pins are inserted between the two fastening lockers 20a and 20b, and laterally contact in parallel with each other so that the two string ends 17a and 17b can go in and out through the adjust pins 20. The entrance and exit portions of the adjust pins 20 are configured to have a minimized diameter, respectively, so that entrance and exit of the string is restricted. A cloth cover 2Od which covers the adjust pins 20 into which the string ends have been inserted is an elastic cloth and formed in a sewing line on the surface of the instep cover.

The functional operation of the present invention will be described below.

First, when a wearer wants to tie a string with a footwear, pulling string annular portions are pulled up and engaged with the engagement plates which are formed on the opposite sides to those of the pulling string annular portions. Accordingly, the directional angles of the pulling string annular portions form a naturally diagonally crossing linkage. That is, the directional angles of the pulling string annular portions are same as the insertion angles of the string inserted into the whole eyelets. Thus, since all the directional angles of the string which is fitted into the whole eyelets from the lower end of the footwear to the upper end thereof, are substantially same, pressure of the whole string is uniformly distributed all over the whole footwear, and alignment of the string in the instep of the footwear is balanced. In addition, the two string ends 17a and 17b having passed through the sixth eyelets pass through the fastening lockers which are divided into two and adhered on the lowermost instep of the footwear, and are inserted into the adjust pins which are formed between the fastening lockers.

Meanwhile, the string inserted into the adjust pins is primarily bent by a string path in which a tilt angle of the string having passed through the fastening lockers is tilted from the upper end to the lower end, and is secondarily bent into a minimum angle when the primarily bent string is again inserted into the adjust pin. Accordingly, even if the string is pulled from the upper end, the string is not seceded by a bent resistance of the string by the fastening lockers and the adjust pins, to thereby provide an effect of enabling a wearer to feel stable during wearing the footwear which employs the method of tying a string according to the present invention.

Further, when the whole length of the string is controlled, the two strings which have been inserted into the adjust pins come simultaneously in and out. Accordingly, the length of the left and right pulling string annular portions which are formed at the upper portions of the footwear are kept constant.

As described above, the present invention minimizes pressure applied to a footwear, in particular, an ankle portion during walking or exercising of a wearer, to thus provide an equal tightening force. Accordingly, the present invention assists a smooth blood circulation and mitigates a stress applied to an ankle portion sensitive to a pain. As a result, even if a wearer wears a footwear for a long time, he or she feels little fatigue, but feels comfortable.

The angles of the string which is inserted into the eyelets are almost same in whole, and the string is uniformly aligned without having no overlapping portions. Therefore, people feel a sense of fashion of a beauty of balance.

Further, in the case that the whole length of the string of the footwear is controlled according to size of a foot or favor of a wearer, the string adjust pins through which the string simultaneously goes in and out provides the whole string a sense of stability since the lengths of the pulling string annular portions are identical.

As described above, the present invention has been described with respect to particularly preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it is possible for one who has an ordinary skill in the art to make various modifications and variations, without departing off the spirit of the present invention. Thus, the protective scope of the present invention is not defined within the detailed description thereof but is defined by the claims to be described later and the technical spirit of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides a method of tying a string of a footwear in which a pair of pulling string annular portions are provided in both left and right upper ends of the neck of the footwear, respectively, to thereby enable a user to pull or release the pair of the pulling string annular portions to be bound on engagement plates one time in order to put on or take off the footwear conveniently.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of tying a string of a footwear having a plurality of eyelets which are punched along left and right ends of an instep cover of the footwear at a time, the footwear string tying method comprising: inserting the string into intermediate eyelets crossways with every other eyelet; preparing a pair of left and right pulling string annular portions which are prepared using the string so as to be extended in a V-shaped form at the second and third eyelets from the upper end of an instep cover; securing a respective engagement space near the uppermost eyelet at the left and right ends of the instep cover of the footwear; adhering a respective engagement plate in the respective engagement spaces secured near the uppermost eyelet on the left and right sides of the instep cover, in which the respective engagement plates are made of a sticking member such as Velcro™ tape; and forming a respective engagement locker ear which is formed at the end of the respective engagement plates to bind the left and right pulling string annular portions on the respective engagement plates, so that respective directions of the left and right pulling string annular portions do not change, in which the respective engagement locker ears are made of a sticking member such as Velcro™ tape, wherein an angle of binding the left and right pulling string annular portions on the respective engagement plates by the respective engagement locker ears equals an angle of inserting the string into the eyelets, so that the string is uniformly aligned all over the eyelets at the time of tying the string with the footwear.

2. The footwear string tying method of claim 1, wherein the uppermost eyelet does not exist.

3. The footwear string tying method of claim 1, wherein the number of the eyelets is at least three, in which one end of the string is inserted into the lowermost eyelet formed at the first side of the left and right sides of the instep cover, to then be inserted into the third lowermost eyelet formed at the second side of the instep cover, to then be inserted into the second lowermost eyelet formed at the second side of the instep cover, to then be inserted into the third lowermost eyelet formed at the first side of the instep cover, to then be inserted into the second lowermost eyelet formed at the first side of the instep cover, to then be inserted into the lowermost eyelet formed at the second side of the instep cover, and to then bind both the ends of the string so as to be knotted together.

4. The footwear string tying method of claim 1, wherein the footwear further comprises: two fastening lockers made of a plastic material which are adhered on the lowermost instep cover of the footwear; adjust pins substituting for the string end knot through which both the string ends come in and out, respectively; and a cloth cover which covers the adjust pins into which the string ends have been inserted and are formed on the surface of the instep cover, wherein two string paths formed in the inside of the fastening lockers are bent with a predetermined tilt angle from the upper side of the fastening lockers to the inner side thereof, and wherein the adjust pins are formed of the two string paths which closely contact in parallel with each other and an aperture which controls the string to restrictively go in and out.

5. A footwear comprising: a number of eyelets which are formed along the left and right sides of an instep of the footwear; engagement plates and engagement locker ears which are made of a sticking member such as Velcro™ tape, in which pulling string annular portions which are respectively hooked up by the engagement locker ears are respectively sticked on the engagement plates, wherein one end of the string is inserted into the lowermost eyelet formed at the first side of the left and right sides of the instep cover, to then be inserted into the third lowermost eyelet formed at the second side of the instep cover, to then repeat the string insertion process into the empty eyelets until the string is completely inserted into the second uppermost eyelet formed at the second side of the instep cover, the one end of the string is inserted into the third uppermost eyelet formed at the first side of the instep cover, to then be inserted into the fourth uppermost eyelet formed at the second side of the instep cover, to then repeat the string insertion process into the empty eyelets until the string is completely inserted into the lowermost eyelet formed at the second side of the instep cover, to then be protruded as the other end of the string, and wherein both the ends of the string is knotted together as a knot end portion.

6. A footwear comprising: a number of eyelets which are formed along the left and right sides of an instep of the footwear; engagement plates and engagement locker ears which are made of a sticking member such as Velcro™ tape, in which pulling string annular portions which are respectively hooked up by the engagement locker ears are respectively sticked on the engagement plates, wherein in the case of the eyelets is six, both ends of the string are transversely fitted into the fifth eyelets, respectively, then both the ends of the string are fitted into the third eyelets, respectively, crossways in the form of an X-shape, then both the ends of the string are fitted into the second eyelets, respectively, which are formed at the same line as those of the third eyelets, to accordingly form V-shaped left and right pulling string annular portions, likewise, both the ends of the string are fitted into the fourth eyelets, respectively, crossways in the form of an X-shape, finally both the ends of the string are fitted into the sixth eyelets, respectively, crossways in the form of an X-shape, to thereby bind both the ends of the string having passed through the sixth eyelets, respectively, to thus form a knot.