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US 10,463,108 B2Granted
Lacing device and systems and method therefor
AssigneeNite Ize, Inc.
InventorDaniel J. Martinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lacing device includes a lace body, the lace body having a length, width, depth, and cross-sectional area spanning the width and the depth of the lace body, the cross-sectional area of the lace body shaped such that the lace body is prone to folding about a middle area of the width when the lace body is compressed.
Claims23
A lacing device comprising:
- a lace body, the lace body having a length, a width defined between opposing side edges, a depth defined between opposing top and bottom surfaces, and a cross-sectional area spanning the width and the depth of the lace body, the cross-sectional area of the lace body shaped such that the lace body is prone to folding about a middle area of the width when the lace body is compressed,
- wherein the cross-sectional area of the lace body has a narrow profile in the depth in the middle area as compared to edge areas outside the middle area of the width, the narrow profile defining a point of minimum thickness, the point of minimum thickness defined along a longitudinal centerline of the lace body and about which the lace body folds when compressed by a force applied between the opposing side edges.
A lacing device comprising:
- a lace body, the lace body having a length, a width defined between opposing side edges, a depth defined between opposing top and bottom surfaces, and a cross-sectional area spanning the width and the depth of the lace body, the cross-sectional area of the lace body shaped such that the lace body is prone to folding about a middle area of the width when the lace body is compressed, the lace body having a first configuration where the lace body is not under compressive force, and a second configuration where the lace body is under compressive force, the first configuration characterized by the lace body having a flat profile, and the second configuration characterized by the lace body being folded about the middle area of the width,
- wherein the cross-sectional area of the lace body has a narrow profile in the depth in the middle area as compared to edge areas outside the middle area of the width, the narrow profile defining a point of minimum thickness, the point of minimum thickness defined along a longitudinal centerline of the lace body and about which the lace body folds when compressed by a force applied between the opposing side edges.
A method of using a lacing device, the method comprising:
- providing the lacing device, the lacing device having a lace body, the lace body having a length, a width defined between opposing side edges, a depth defined between opposing top and bottom surfaces, and a cross-sectional area spanning the width and the depth of the lace body, the cross-sectional area of the lace body shaped such that the lace body is prone to folding about a middle area of the width when the lace body is compressed, wherein the cross-sectional area of the lace body has a narrow profile in the depth in the middle area as compared to edge areas outside the middle area of the width, the narrow profile defining a point of minimum thickness, the point of minimum thickness defined along a longitudinal centerline of the lace body and about which the lace body folds when compressed by a force applied between the opposing side edges;
- lacing a shoe with the lacing device;
- and
- tying the lacing device, wherein the tying causes the lace body to fold about the middle area of the width.
1 more element
A lacing device comprising:
- a lace body, wherein the lace body includes a plurality of ridges, and the plurality of ridges runs parallel to the length of the lace body,
- wherein the lace body has a length, a width defined between opposing side edges, a depth defined between opposing top and bottom surfaces, and a cross-sectional area spanning the width and the depth of the lace body, the cross-sectional area of the lace body shaped such that the lace body is prone to folding about a middle area of the width when the lace body is compressed, and
- wherein the cross-sectional area of the lace body has a narrow profile in the depth in the middle area as compared to edge areas outside the middle area of the width, the narrow profile defining a point of minimum thickness, the point of minimum thickness defined along a longitudinal centerline of the lace body and about which the lace body folds when compressed by a force applied between the opposing side edges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.