# US 5,701,688 A · Protective shoelace cover

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- Number: US 5,701,688 A
- Document ID: US5701688A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/634,404
- Filed: 1996-04-18
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1996-04-18
- Assignees: Fila U.S.A., Inc.
- Inventors: Kevin J. Crowley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701688A

## CPC

- A43B 23/26: Tongues for shoes
- A43B 1/0081: {made at least partially of hook-and-loop type material (hook and loop-type straps for fastening purpose A43C11/1493)}
- A43C 1/00: Shoe lacing fastenings (garment fastening devices A41F)
- A43C 13/00: Wear-resisting attachments
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A shoelace cover having a translucent window is detachably secured to the upper of a shoe to display and protect the lacings. The shoelace cover comprises a generally triangular edge element, a translucent window composed of tubular elements and connected to the edge element, and fasteners attached beneath the edge element to detachably secure the cover over the throat area of a shoe upper. The translucent window permits the shoelaces to be seen therethrough, may be of different colors and may house a decorative emblem or feature.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A protective shoelace cover for substantially covering the shoelaces of a shoe, wherein the shoe comprises a sole and an upper having a throat, the shoelace cover comprising:
a generally triangular edge element sized to fit over the throat of the shoe, the edge element having an inner portion;
fastening means connected to the underside of the edge element for detachably securing the cover to the upper on opposite sides of the throat; and
a translucent window of deformable, shock-absorbing material connected to the inner portion of the edge element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The shoelace cover of claim 1, wherein the fastening means comprises:
a hook and loop fastener.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The shoelace cover of claim 1, wherein the edge element is fully detachable from the upper of a shoe.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The shoelace cover of claim 1, wherein a toe section of the edge element is permanently attached to the upper of a shoe, and wherein other portions of the edge element are detachably connectable.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The shoelace cover of claim 1, wherein the translucent window is comprised of a plurality of rod-shaped members.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The shoelace cover of claim 5, wherein the rod-shaped members are filled with air.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The shoelace cover of claim 5, wherein the rod-shaped members are filled with gel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The shoelace cover of claim 5, wherein the rod-shaped members are composed of a deformable plastic material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The shoelace cover of claim 1, wherein the translucent window is tinted.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The shoelace cover of claim 1, wherein the translucent window contains an insignia.