Adjustable stop piece for lacings and method of use

A stopper for securing an end of a lace in an article

• having at least one eyelet, said stopper comprising;
• a thin, generally flat body member having first and second sides each configured to directly engage said article proximate said eyelet, said body member being formed of a substantially rigid material;
• a series of closed perimeter through openings formed entirely through said body member from said first side to said second side thereof and sized to permit said lace to pass substantially freely therethrough, said through openings being arranged generally in a row and comprising:
• a first through opening for passage of said lace therethrough from said eyelet;
• a second through opening located a spaced distance from said first opening for passage of said lace therethrough from said first through opening;
• said first and second through openings each comprising:
• a generally round opening having a diameter sized to permit said lace to pass substantially freely therethrough;
• a third through opening located a spaced distance from said first through opening on a side opposite said second through opening for passage of said lace therethrough, said third through opening further comprising a generally slot-shaped portion that is sufficiently narrow to spread said lace into a flattened form therein, said slot-shaped portion having a long axis extending generally perpendicular to said row in which said through openings are arranged;
• and
• a generally straight edge on said thin, flat body member located on a side of said second through opening generally opposite said first through opening for passage of said lace thereover from said second through opening to said third through opening, said edge extending substantially perpendicular to said row in which said through openings are arranged.