Fastener for use with shoes
OwnerRoy L. Fortuneinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener device for use with shoes of the type having eyelets therein is disclosed which is a simple, inexpensive, aesthetically pleasing substitute for shoe laces. The improved fasteners of the present invention each include a segment of elastic tubing connected between pairs of opposing eyelets through which elastic tubing urges the two flaps of the shoes together in a manner allowing both easy installation of the shoes and comfortable wearing of the shoes without removing the fasteners. The fasteners include mounting apparatus which allows for simple installation into the eyelets through the use of mating fasteners which snap together in removable but sturdy fashion.
Claims32
A fastener apparatus for use with shoes of the type having opposed pairs of eyelets therein, said fastener apparatus comprising:
- a first mating member comprising a segment having an aperture extending therethrough and a shaft extending outwardly from the side of said segment;
- a second mating member having a thin mounting post extending essentially orthogonally from a thin base member, said thin mounting post for extending through one of the eyelets in a shoe;
- means for removably securing said thin mounting post of said second mating member in said aperture in said segment of said first mating member;
- and
- a segment of elastomeric tubing having a first end and a second end, said first end of said segment of elastomeric tubing being attached to said shaft of a first one of said first mating members, said second end of said segment of elastomeric tubing being attached to said shaft of a second one of said first mating members.
A fastener apparatus for use with shoes of the type having opposed pairs of eyelets therein, said fastener apparatus comprising:
- a first mating member comprising a cylindrical segment having an aperture extending longitudinally therethrough and a cylindrical shaft extending radially outwardly from the side of said segment;
- a second mating member having a thin mounting post extending essentially orthogonally from a thin base member, said thin mounting post for extending through one of the eyelets in a shoe;
- means for removably securing said thin mounting post of said second mating member in said aperture in said cylindrical segment of said first mating member;
- a third mating member comprising a cylindrical segment having an aperture extending longitudinally therethrough and a cylindrical shaft extending radially outwardly from the side of said segment;
- a fourth mating member having a thin mounting post extending essentially orthogonally from a thin base member, said thin mounting post for extending through another one of the eyelets in a shoe;
- means for removably securing said thin mounting post of said fourth mating member in said aperture in said cylindrical segment of said third mating member;
- and
- a segment of elastomeric tubing having a first end and a second end, said first end of said segment of elastomeric tubing being attached to said cylindrical shaft of said first mating member, said second end of said segment of elastomeric tubing being attached to said cylindrical shaft of said third mating member.
A fastener apparatus for use with shoes of the type having opposed pairs of eyelets therein, said fastener apparatus comprising:
- a first mating member comprising a segment having an aperture extending therethrough and an attachment member located on said segment;
- a second mating member having a mounting post extending from a thin base member for extending through one of the eyelets in a shoe;
- means for removably securing said mounting post of said second mating member in said aperture in said segment of said first mating member;
- and
- an elongated tubular elastomeric member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said elastomeric member being attached to said attachment member of a first one of said first mating members, said second end of said elastomeric member being attached to said attachment member of a second one of said first mating members.
A method of making a fastener apparatus for use with shoes of the type having opposed pairs of eyelets therein, said method comprising:
- providing a pair of first mating members each comprising a segment having an aperture extending therethrough and a shaft extending outwardly from the side of said segment;
- attaching a first end of a segment of elastomeric tubing to said shaft of a first one of said first mating members;
- attaching a second end of said segment of elastomeric tubing to said shaft of a second one of said first mating members;
- and
- providing a pair of second mating members each having a thin mounting post extending essentially orthogonally from a thin base member, said thin mounting posts being insertable into said apertures in said segments of said first mating members, said thin mounting posts of said second mating members being removably securable in said apertures in said segments of said first mating members.
A closure fastening device for securing opposed eyelets in a shoe, comprising:
- a) a pair of first mating members having segments with apertures therein and shafts extending therefrom;
- b) a pair of second mating members having base members and longitudinally extending posts secured to said base members;
- c) means for removably securing said posts to said first mating members when said posts are disposed within said apertures in said first mating members, and
- d) elongated elastomeric material having a first end secured to one of said shafts and having an opposite end secured to another of said shafts.
A method of making a fastener apparatus for use with shoes of the type having opposed pairs of eyelets therein, said method comprising:
- providing a pair of first mating members each comprising a segment having an aperture extending therethrough and a shaft extending outwardly from the side of said segment;
- attaching a first end of a segment of elastomeric material to said shaft of a first one of said first mating members;
- attaching a second end of said segment of elastomeric material to said shaft of a second one of said first mating members;
- and
- providing a pair of second mating members each having a thin mounting post extending essentially orthogonally from a thin base member, said thin mounting posts being insertable into said apertures in said segments of said first mating members, said thin mounting posts of said second mating members being removably securable in said apertures in said segments of said first mating members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.