FR2958126A1 - Device for locking knot of lace of shoe to maintain shoe on foot of e.g. adult, has octagonal shaped upper part and rectangular shaped lower part whose surfaces are arranged opposite to each other when grip is closed again - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a rectangular shaped lower part and an octagonal shaped upper part articulated with respect to each other to form a grip near a knot (4). The lower and upper parts are equipped with hooking units to maintain the grip in a closed position. The lower part includes an anchoring unit i.e. carrier, that anchors the lower part on a strand (5). A surface of the upper part is larger than that of the lower part. The surfaces are arranged opposite to each other when the grip is closed again, where the device is made of elastomer and rubber. An independent claim is also included for a method for installing a knot locking device.

Description

Device for locking a lace knot of a shoe.

The invention relates to the field of lace-up shoes. The invention relates more particularly to a locking means of a lace knot. The maintenance of a shoe on the foot can be achieved in many ways, including the well-known use of a lace snake on the shoe and through various holes or eyelets, to a knot of tightening and maintaining the lace. The lace offers many benefits 10 among which there is a great comfort of maintaining the shoe on the foot, including an excellent distribution of the lace on the shoe. The lace also offers good strength and firmness of maintenance, as long as the knot remains constituted. However a major disadvantage of the lace lies in the fact that the node 15 loosens extremely frequently, which can be very troublesome for both adults and children. The consequences can range from the simple need to redo the knot (which is always painful, especially for young children who do not yet have sufficient autonomy, or for people with reduced mobility), the loss of the shoe. (for example, the case of athletes in action) or endangerment (fall walking, wedging loose lace in the footrest of a motorcycle or pedal bicycle, etc.).

Yaw lock devices (see for example WO2004 / 100694A1) are known, in particular adapted to be placed on the knot itself or on the substantially median axis of the boot. Such devices are bulky, particularly poorly placed since in the area of the instep where the mobility of the foot relative to the leg can conflict with such a device, causing significant discomfort. Known devices also consist of multiple rigid elements, which is still likely to aggravate the inconvenience. In addition, these known devices are of a complex design and assembly (several parts to be assembled) which involve a significant cost. Furthermore, blocking devices having the general shape of a gripper whose upper part is closed on the lower part of -2 are known.

to imprison the knot. In these known devices, the upper and lower parts have general shapes and identical dimensions, which makes handling difficult, especially for a child, and does not optimize the amount of material used.

In addition, these substantially identical shapes and dimensions of the upper and lower parts, as well as the large size of the device, make it possible to dispose the blocking device only in a limited manner: either stack at the location of the node, centrally on the lace thus knotted (and thus centrally on the shoe), so as not to be impeded by the lacing edges of the shoe (where the holes or eyelets crossed by the lace are generally located), away from the knot and even the shoe, which implies that the device is walking or swinging unexpectedly on the shoe.

The invention aims to overcome all or part of the above disadvantages, by proposing a locking device of a lace node of simple design, using a minimum way, so inexpensive, and is particularly comfortable and safe.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a device for blocking a lace knot, to which two strands for holding a boot on the foot by means of this lace, and from which at least one buckle and at least one at least one free strand associated with the loop extending it beyond the knot, the locking device comprising a lower part and an upper part hinged together to form a clamp capable of being closed over at least a part of said at least one loop and at least one free strand, close to the knot, the lower and upper parts being provided with hooking means for holding the clamp in the closed position, the lower part further comprising an anchoring means on one of the strands holding device, characterized in that the upper part has a greater surface than the lower part, these surfaces being considered vis-à-vis one another when the clamp is closed. 2958126 -3

Such a device is located not directly on the node but close to it, which frees the sensitive area of the instep, bringing a great comfort of use. The device may advantageously be arranged near the knot, on the outside of the foot. The device can be closed on a loop and a corresponding free strand or on two loops and their two corresponding free strands. Note that the node mentioned here is of conventional type "lace" traditionally comprising two loops and two free strands extending the loops beyond the node. The clamp-shaped design ensures ease of use. The device according to the invention can also constitute an aesthetic accessory, perfectly assumed and communication support given its installation offset from the node, which can be clearly visible on the side of the foot. The invention can indeed be embellished with various fancies and colors, constituting a fashion object. The device also has good ergonomics of use: the gripping of the upper part is made very convenient by the fact that the upper part protrudes from the lower part. The user can thus grip without difficulty the upper part to open the clamp and release the part of the lace that was trapped. Reducing the lower part to the bare minimum of material with respect to the upper part also reduces the cost of manufacture and the size of the blocking device. This can thus be housed near the node on a holding strand located between the node itself and a hole or eyelet of the shoe, located on the outside of the foot. According to other advantageous features of the invention, the upper part protrudes at least laterally on either side of the lower part, in a direction parallel to the axis of articulation of the clamp.

According to other advantageous features of the invention, the device is made of an elastomer, rubber or having similar elastic properties.

According to other advantageous features of the invention, the anchoring means 35 is a loop formed on the lower face of the portion 2958126.

lower, shaped to be traversed by a yarn holding strand in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of articulation.

According to other advantageous features of the invention, the attachment means 5 consist of a male part adapted to be introduced by deformation or clipping into a corresponding female part.

According to other advantageous features of the invention, the lower part has a generally rectangular shape extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of articulation.

According to other advantageous features of the invention, the upper part has a polygonal shape, in particular octagonal.

According to other advantageous features of the invention, the upper part has a general shape contained in a square of 20 × 20 mm having a maximum thickness of 3 mm.

The invention also relates to a lace-up shoe comprising a yaw lock device having all or some of the preceding features.

The invention also relates to a method of setting up a locking device of a lace knot having the above characteristics, to which two strands of holding a shoe on the foot meet by means of this lace. and from which at least one loop and at least one free strand associated with the loop extend beyond the node, the locking device comprising a lower part and an upper part hinged together to form a clamp able to be closed again. On at least a portion of said at least one loop and at least one free end, proximate the node, the lower and upper portions being provided with attachment means for holding the clamp in the closed position, the upper portion having a surface larger than that of the lower part, these surfaces being considered opposite one another.

on the other when the clamp is closed, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - thread the lace in a passing anchoring means of the device and position the latter near the future node, on one of holding strands, on the outside of the foot, - then inserting the lace into a hole or eyelet of the shoe, this hole or eyelet being located on the outside of the foot, - form the knot in a conventional manner with at least one loop and at less than one free end, in particular two loops and two free ends, - placing said at least one loop and said at least one free end on the upper face of the lower part, - folding the upper part on the lower part so as to close the clamp formed by these two parts on said at least one loop and at least one free strand, - maintain the lower and upper parts on each other via the attachment means.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of a non-limiting embodiment of the invention and in the light of the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a locking device of a lace knot according to the invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the blocking device of FIG. 1, respectively from above and from below,

FIGS. 4 to 6 show three successive views of the sequence of placing on the lace of a shoe of the blocking device of a node of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 represents a perspective view of a child's boot provided with the locking device of a node of FIG. 1. 2958126 -6

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the locking device of a lace knot according to the invention, in open configuration. It should be noted that the invention is defined in relation to a lace knot since it adapts to such a knot, it being understood that the device can be manufactured and sold separately from the lace and the shoe.

The shoe and the lace constituting the environment of the locking device according to the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6. A shoe 1 comprises a lace 2 of which a central part 3 is interlaced and passes through holes or eyelets of the boot. The free strands of the shoe are knotted to form a knot 4 which arrives holding strands 5, 6 of the lace 2, located on the side of the central portion of the lace which is interwoven on the shoe. These holding strands 4, 5 are defined as the portions or segments of the lace 2 in an area adjacent to the last two orifices or eyelets of the boot, on each side of a central tongue, just before passing through these last orifices. eyelets ("last" being heard from the bottom or the front of the shoe). These holding strands 5, 6 form between them a determined angle and meet at the node 4 once it formed. From this formed node 4 start two loops 7, 8 and two corresponding free strands 9, 10. Note that each free strand 9, 10 is associated with a corresponding loop 7, 8, in that it constitutes an extension of said loop beyond the loop. This is well perceived when attempting to loosen a knotted lace: a pull of one of the free strands results in a decrease in the associated loop length, with a portion of the lace forming the loop through the knot until the loop is entirely reduced, and the knot is thus undone.

According to the invention, the locking device of the knot 4 forms a clamp 30 intended to be closed on a part of the loops and associated free strands, so as to prevent any slipping of the lace 2 through the knot 4, which guarantees the integrity of the latter.

Referring to Figure 1, the locking device of the invention comprises a lower portion 11 and an upper portion 12 hinged together 2958126 -7

around an axis X. These elements each have a generally flat overall shape, the thickness of which is of the order of a few millimeters, for example between 2 and 5 mm. The locking device is monobloc. It is made in one piece, molded plastic or injected. Preferably, it is made of elastomer or rubber or a material having elastic properties similar to the elastomer (latex, silicone etc.). The hinge X consists of a "film hinge", that is to say of narrowed thickness, allowing localized deformation of the material.

The lower 11 and upper 12 portions are held folded over one another by means of attachment means 13, 14, ensuring that the loops 7, 8 and the free strands 9, 10 remain gripped / trapped in the clamp. These attachment means consist of a male portion 13 adapted to be introduced by deformation or clipping in a corresponding female part 14 15. In the example described, the male part 13 is formed of an enlarged spherical end lug, connected at its base to the lower / inner face 15 of the upper part 12. The female part 14 consists of a circular through hole thickness. The edges of this orifice are deformed by the passage in force of the male part 13. It is noted that the female part 14 may comprise one or more peripheral notches facilitating the deformation of its edge during the introduction of the part. male 13. The attachment means 13, 14 are located at a distance from the hinge X, close to opposite edges of the lower 11 and upper 12, so that the loops 7, 8 and the free strands 9, 10 of the lace 2 are 25 housed between the hinge X and these attachment means.

The lower portion 11 has a generally rectangular shape having a longitudinal direction extending perpendicular to the direction of the X axis (Figures 1 to 3). The upper portion 12 has a surface-covering shape, that of the lower portion 11. Specifically, the upper portion has a larger area than the lower portion opposite which it is when the clip is closed. In the example described, the upper part protrudes on either side of the lower part, in a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis X of articulation of the clamp. 2958126 -8

By way of illustration, the upper part 12 has an octagonal shape, it being understood that other shapes are conceivable, for example a circular shape, an oval or elliptical shape, without departing from the scope of the invention. It is also conceivable that the upper part has a more complex shape with localized ears or extensions projecting from the lower part. This overflow may be partial at the periphery of the lower part. In a variant, the upper part may overflow from the lower part over most of its periphery or over its entirety. The lower portion 11 may be of other shape than rectangular without departing from the scope of the invention.

It is also noted that the device comprises anchoring means 16 ensuring its attachment to a fixed part of the lace 2, in this case one of the holding strands 5 of the lace 2. It will be advantageous to choose the holding strand 5 located on the outer side of the foot, so as not to interfere with the instep, and to ensure the folding of loops 7, 8 and free ends 9, 10 of the same outer side of the foot, that is to say on the less troublesome side. The anchoring means 16 consist of a loop formed integrally in the same element as the lower part 11. This loop has the general shape of a tunnel (FIGS. 1 and 3) extending over the width of the lower part 11, and more particularly on the lower face of this lower part 11, which is opposite to the upper part 12. The term tunnel here refers to a passage, without predicting its length which may be less than or greater than its width. The tunnel extends in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the articulation X. This tunnel has a thickness (or length) of the order of 2 to 5 mm, and is intended to be traversed by the lace 2 , so that the device is positioned on the zone of the holding strand 5, outer side of the foot, between the two orifices or upper eyelets of the shoe 1. The tunnel comprises a wall provided with a relief or a shape convex means for exerting a constraint or a tightening on the lace, to prevent the inadvertent sliding of the latter. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the wall having this convex shape on the inside of the tunnel is the wall opposite the lower face of the lower part 11. In the example 2958126 -9

illustrated, the passer is located on the half of the lower portion 11 located on the side of the articulation X.

The implementation of the device is performed as follows: 5 Once the shoe is threaded to the foot, it is necessary to remove the lace of the last hole or eyelet ("last" being heard from the bottom or the front of the shoe), outside of the foot. The lace is then threaded in force and slipped into the loop of the anchoring means 16 (Figure 4). The device is thus positioned slightly to the right of the future node. The lace 10 previously out of the orifice or the eyelet is then reintroduced into this hole or eyelet. The knot is then formed as usual. The device is thus anchored on the shoe, that is to say, prisoner of it as long as the node remains in place. The loops 7, 8, as well as the free ends 9, 10 are then placed on the upper face 17 of the lower part 11, of course by projecting beyond the device on the right side of the shoe 1. the faces vis-à-vis the lower and upper parts, that is to say the cooperating faces in contact with the lace may be smooth, or rough. The upper part 12 is then folded over the lower part 11 of 20 material to close the clamp on the loops 7, 8 and the free strands 9, 10. The lower 11 and upper 12 are kept folded one on the other via the attachment means 13, 14. Thus the free parts of the lace are partially trapped in the locking device, which prevents relative sliding of the free strands or loops with respect to the node 4, and prohibited from this made sure that it does not go out unexpectedly.

A device according to the invention may be provided in several sizes, especially suitable for adults and children. By way of example, the upper part has a general shape and dimensions which are preferably contained / included in a square having dimensions of 20 × 20 mm and a maximum thickness of 3 mm, for example 2 mm. "Thickness" refers only to the functional part for closing the clamp, and therefore without regard to decorative or informational elements or even equipment.

additional electronics as will be discussed below. Thus the upper and lower parts closed one on the other have a maximum cumulative thickness of the order of 7-8 mm, taking into account the anchoring means 16 (passage), which is relatively compact and compact on the top of a shoe.

It is easy to open the locking device by manually lifting the upper portion 12 (gripping by the front edge or by the sides of the upper portion 12 projecting on either side of the lower portion 11). The attachment means are unlocked, so as to release the loops 7, 8 and the free strands 9, 10. Despite its opening, the device remains in place via the anchoring means 16. The shoe can be unwound and the foot barefoot without any difficulty. To remove the locking device, the lace must be removed from the last hole or eyelet, located on the outside of the foot. The device can then be released by sliding it along the lace to its free end.

It is noted that the material of the device (elastomer or rubber or "gum" type material having similar anti-slip properties) has excellent adhesion to the laces, regardless of the material generally used for the latter (cotton, synthetic material, etc.). ), which ensures that once the upper part folded on the lower part by pinching the lace, the latter does not slip vis-à-vis the device. The device is further adaptable to any lace shape, flat section, or round, and of varying thickness).

The device according to the invention may furthermore incorporate electronic equipment (not shown) such as a pedometer or a "short distance" transmitter intended to identify a passage, for example in the case of foot races (registration of the departure and the arrival of a competitor in a running etc.). The device may also include locating equipment, particularly by radar system, such as a "recco ®" system, for example for rescuing lost or distressed hikers, or even a "GPS" type geolocation system. 2958126 -11-

The electronic equipment may take the form of a chip housed for example in the lower part or in the upper part of the device. In the case of a pedometer, it can be provided that the upper part comprises a liquid crystal screen, visible from above and suitably oriented by the pavement person, when this upper part is folded down on the lower part.

Thus the lace yaw lock device can not only constitute a comfort and safety accessory preventing any modification of the lace knot, while at the same time constituting an aesthetic element, but can also constitute an accessory incorporating electronic functionalities. very rich, in terms of identification, location, or information record.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the means just described and includes all the technical equivalents.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Device for blocking a lace knot (4) (2), to which two holding strands (5; 6) of a shoe on the foot are joined by means of this lace, and from which at least one loop (7 8) and at least one free strand (9; 10) associated with the loop extending beyond the node, the locking device comprising a lower portion (11) and an upper portion (12) hinged together to form a clamp capable of being closed over at least a portion of said at least one loop (7; 8) and at least one free end (9; 10), close to the knot (4), the lower (11) and upper ( 12) being provided with hooking means (13; 14) for holding the clamp in the closed position, the lower part (11) further comprising anchoring means (16) on one (5) strands of characterized in that the upper portion (12) has a larger area than the lower portion (11), these surfaces being considered to each other when the clamp is closed. 2. Device for blocking a node (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper part (12) projects at least laterally on either side of the lower part (11), in a direction parallel to the axis of articulation of the clamp. 3. Device for blocking a node (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is made of an elastomer, rubber or having similar elastic properties. 4. Locking device of a node (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the anchoring means (16) is a guide formed on the underside of the lower part (11). , shaped to be traversed by a holding strand (5) of the lace (2) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the hinge axis. 5. Device for locking a knot (4) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the attachment means (13; 14) consist of a male portion (13). adapted to be introduced by deformation or clipping into a corresponding female part (14). 6. Knot locking device (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lower part (11) has a generally rectangular shape extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the articulation axis (X). 7. Device for locking a knot (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the upper portion (12) has a polygonal shape, in particular octagonal. A knuckle blocking device (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the upper part (12) has a general shape contained in a square of 20 X 20 mm having a thickness maximum of 3 mm. 9. Shoe (1) with lace characterized in that it comprises a locking device of the lace knot (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 8. 10. A method of placing a locking device of a knot (4) lace (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, which are joined two holding strands (5; 6) of a shoe on the foot by means of this lace, and from which at least one loop (7; 8) and at least one free strand (9; 10) associated with the loop extend beyond the knot, the locking device comprising a lower portion (11) and an upper portion (12) hinged together to form a clip closable on at least a portion of said at least one loop (7; 8) 30 and at least one free strand (9; 10), near the node (4), the lower (11) and upper (12) being provided with hooking means (13; 14) for holding the clamp in the closed position, the upper part (12) having a surface larger than that of the lower part (11), these surfaces being considered opposite one another 29581 -14- when the clamp is closed, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - thread the lace (2) in a passing anchoring means (16) of the device and position the latter near the future node on one (5) of the holding strands on the outer side of the foot, - then inserting the lace (2) into an opening or eyelet of the shoe, this opening or eyelet being located on the outside of the foot; forming the knot conventionally with at least one loop (7; 8) and at least one free strand (9; 10), in particular two loops and two free strands, 10 - placing said at least one loop (7, 8) and said at least one free strand (9, 10) on the face upper part (17) of the lower part (11), - fold down the upper part (12) on the lower part (11) so as to close the clamp formed by these two parts on the said at least one loop (7; at least one free strand (9; 10), - keeping the lower (11) and upper (12) parts one over the other via the hooking means (13, 14).