US1862047A - Shoe fastening device - Google Patents

Description

June 7, 1932. R. BOULET ET AL 1,862,047

SHOE FASTENING DEVICE Filed July 8, 1950 Jivif i l/zzam/Z 500257:

A iiorney Patented June 7, 1932 UNETED flTATES arnar ent ies ROBERT L. BOULET, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, AND WILLIAIM E. BOULET, OF CANTON, NEW YORK SHOE rnsrnnme DEVICE Application filed. J'uIy 8,

This invention relates to improvements in shoe fastening means.

The primary object of the invention resides in a shoe fastening device to take the place of the usual shoe laces, and which relieves the pressure placed upon the instep of a foot caused by tight lacing.

Another object is to provide a shoe fastening device which includes a flexible elastic strip or tongue adapted to be drawn into a position to close the fly of a shoe, means for guiding the tongue in its sliding movement, and means for securing the same in fly closing position and preventing accidental shifting of the tongue.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a shoe fastening means which is simple of construction, inexpensive of manufacture, and quick and easy to operate.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the certain novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claim, and

are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe illustrating my invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail vertical transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail plan view of the elastic strip or tongue.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the tubular eye members and a coactin cylindrical member.

Reierring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral 10 designates a shoe of the oxford or low type provided with an open front or fly 11, but instead of the opposite edges of thefly being provided with the usual eyelet, we attach thereto a plurality of tubular eye members 12, the same being split lengthwise to provide a slot 13 for a purpose to be presently explained. The eye members 12 are provided with openings 1 1 by which the same may be sewed or otherwise secured to the opposite side edges of the fly opening. These eye members are arranged in close 1930. Serial No. 466,609.

proximity to each other, and extend along the entire side of the fly, the opposite ends being flared outwardly asat 12 F or closing the fly opening 11 we provide a flexible elastic strip or tongue 15 of a length and width to cover the open front or" the shoe and attached to the upper side of the elastic strip 15 are parallel rows of cylindrical members 16, each of which is provided with an attaching ear or flange 17 having openings 18 therein by which the members may be sewed or otherwise secured tothe strip. These members 16 are arranged in close proximity to each other and extend in parallel rows adjacent the opposite edges of the strip, as best seen in Figure 3 of the drawing. The members 16 are of solid construction and have their ends rounded or beveled as at 19 so as to freely and positively slide into the rows of eye members 12. Threaded up through openings19 in the members 16 are tie strings 20 which extend crosswise at the bottom of the strip to provide a loop 21.

In use, the elastic strip 15 is inserted into the fly opening so that the rows of cylindrical members 16 aline with the rows of the eye members 12 and by pulling upward upon the laces20 after through the eye members 12, the strip may be drawn to a position to entirely cover the fly opening 11, it being appreciated that when the strip 15 is in fly closing position, the members 16 are disposed within the respective tubular-eye members 12, the flanges 17 passing through the slots 18. By this arrangement the flexible joint'between the interengaglng elements permits flexing of the instep without injury to the wearer while the fly opening is entirely closed to exclude dust and the like from entering the shoe.

After the strip 15 has been pulled to the limit of its upward movement, the lace strings 20 are inserted through eyelets or openings 22 provided in the shoe at the top of the fly opening and the free end of the strings are knotted or tied'together. This prevents accidental sliding of the closure strip relative to the shoe. JV hen it is desired to open the fly opening, the tie strings the same has been passed are untied and the strip pulled downward, it being appreciated that the tie strings 20 are of sufiicient length as to remain in the respective eyelets 22 of the shoe when the strip is in a fully pulled out position. In order to eifect a closing of the strip after having been pulled to an open position, it is only necessary "to pull up upon thestrings until the strip reaches its closing position, 10 whereupon the said strings are tied in the manner hereinbefore mentioned.

While we have shown and described what we deem to be the most desirable embodiment of our invention, it will be understood that 15 various changes in construction may be re sorted to if desired, and we do not wish to limit ourselves to anything less than the Whole of our invention limited only by the appended claim.

V 2; Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In a device of the character specified, a plurality of cylindrical members of elon- 5 gated form having the end portions thereof tapered, the adjacent end portions of said cylindricalmembers being disposed in abutting relation, said elongated cylindrical members being provided With laterally proto jecting attaching flanges, a plurality of tubu lar members having the end portions thereof open and flared to define gradually restricted entrance openings for the tapered reduced terminal portions of said cylindrical Eso'members, said tubular members being provided with longitudinal slots extending for the full length thereof for the reception of said flanges of the cylindrical members and a flexible element connected to said cylindri- QQ: cal members for operating the same.

In testimony whereof We aifix our signatures.

ROBERT L. BOULET. V r WILLIAM E. BOULET.

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