Adjustable Shoelace Fastener and Method of Use

A device for adjustably tensioning a shoelace in a shoe having an upper medial eyelet and an upper lateral eyelet aligned along a longitudinal axis, the shoelace having a first end including a first knot, an opposing second end including a second knot, and an unknotted portion between the first and second knots, the device comprising:

• a spanning member having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a perimeter wall extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the perimeter wall including a medial side and a lateral side;
• a hole extending through the top and bottom surfaces of the spanning member, the hole positioned inward of the perimeter wall and sized to prevent the first knot from passing through the hole;
• and
• at least one slot configured to receive and hold the second knotted end, the slot having an entrance portion intersecting the perimeter wall and an end portion terminating inwardly of the perimeter wall, the slot oriented such that when the spanning member is placed on the shoe with the lateral side of the spanning member adjacent to the lateral eyelet and the medial side of the spanning member adjacent to the medial eyelet, the slot extends transversely to the longitudinal axis;
• wherein
• the entrance portion of the slot is sized to permit the unknotted portion of the shoelace to pass in a transverse direction into and out of the end portion;
• and
• the end portion of the slot is sized to prevent the second knot from passing upwardly or downwardly through the slot.