# US 2017/0280827 A1 · Adjustable Shoelace Fastener and Method of Use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0280827 A1 - Document ID: US20170280827A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/629,329 - Filed: 2017-06-21 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-03 - Inventors: James Parker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280827A1 ## CPC - A43C 7/00: Holding-devices for laces - A43C 1/00: Shoe lacing fastenings (garment fastening devices A41F) - A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL ## Abstract An improved method for fastening shoes with shoelaces having a first end and an opposing second end includes a spanning member having a hole to accommodate the first end, and a slot preferably sized for an interference fit with the second end. The first end is passed through the hole and knotted, preventing it from passing back through the hole. The second end is pulled to tighten the shoelace, knotted and anchored in the slot, maintaining the taut shoelace securely in place. With multiple holes and multiple slots, the tautness of a shoelace can be adjusted. The spanning member remains in place on a shoe when not in use, held by the knot in the first end. For convenience, a user may tie another knot in the second end, with a loop sized to receive a finger, for easily grasping the second end and sliding it into a slot. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shoelace tightening system comprising: a shoe having a top surface including an upper medial eyelet and an upper lateral eyelet aligned along a longitudinal axis; a shoelace having a first end extending through the upper medial eyelet, the first end including a first knot, a second end extending through the upper lateral eyelet, the second end including a second knot, and an unknotted portion between first and second knots; and a tensioning device including a spanning member having a bottom surface positioned against the top surface of the shoe, a top surface opposing the bottom surface, and a perimeter wall extending between the top and bottom surfaces, a hole through the top and bottom surfaces of the spanning member, the hole positioned inward of the perimeter wall and including a circumferential edge, at least one slot through the top and bottom surfaces of the spanning member, the slot extending transversely to the longitudinal axis, the slot including an entrance portion intersecting the perimeter wall, and an end portion terminating inwardly of the perimeter wall; wherein the hole is sized to prevent the knot from passing through the hole; and the second end of the shoelace is held in the slot by an interference fit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein the end portion of the slot is enlarged relative to the entrance portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein the end portion of the slot is rounded and substantially equivalent in diameter and curvature to the hole. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the device has multiple slots having entrance portions intersecting the perimeter wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the top and bottom surfaces of the spanning member are entirely planar. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the spanning member has a uniform thickness. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the second knot is disposed above the top surface of the spanning member. ### Claim 9 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device according to claim 9, wherein the end portion of the slot is enlarged relative to the entrance portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The device according to claim 9, wherein the end portion of the slot is rounded and substantially equivalent in diameter and curvature to the hole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The device according to claim 9, wherein the device has multiple slots having entrance portions intersecting the perimeter wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The device according to claim 9, wherein the top and bottom surfaces of the spanning member are entirely planar. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, wherein the spanning member has a uniform thickness. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The device according to claim 9, wherein the slot is sized to hold the second end of the shoelace in an interference fit.