GB2428554A - A safety device for footwear - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety device for footwear comprises a device that may be attached to both ends of a shoelace after it has been knotted to prevent the shoelace from coming loose and hanging down the side of the shoe and tripping over the wearer or attached to a footwear's Velcro (RTM) strap fastener (8, fig 5) to highlight to the wearer that the strap is loose. The device has four anchor points (2, fig 1) positioned around the circumference of the device to captivate the lace and binder located at each end of the shoelace. The device also has an opening (7, fig 2) on one side of the device to allow a Velcro (RTM) strap fastener to pass through. The device may also have a recess to accommodate various items in the body of the device such as pictures or electrical circuits for light or sound.

Description

A "FLUGLE" is the name given to this safety shoe accessory. The word

"FLUGLE" was created to give a name to this accessory. The word "FLUGLE" described in this patent must not be confused with the "FLUGELHORN" which is a brass, valve-operated wind instrument (like a Cornet) and spelt "FLUGEL" and not spelt as the "FLUGLE" described in this patent.

A shoelace can inadvertently come loose and hang down the side of a shoe, the wearer of which could trip on the lace and fall to the ground. This can be a frequent and dangerous occurrence. The "FLUGLE' prevents the wearer from tripping over the lace and falling to the ground as described in the features.

On the "FLUGLE" there are four tapered anchor points positioned to captivate a lace and it's binder. The features of the "FLUGLE" are that shoelaces can be inserted in any of the four anchor points positioned on the "FLUGLE" and captivate the shoelace so preventing the laces from dangling down the side of the shoe. Some shoesaçIesigned differently they tighten the shoe onto the wearer's feet by a method called a velcrstrap (velcro is a trade name for the material that can be attached and unattached to perform the same action as a shoelace).

The "FLUGLE" is also designed to attach to these velcro straps as these straps can also be left loose and potentially cause the wearer to fall to the ground. The "FLUGLE" does not prevent the velcro strap from hanging down, but it has the effect of highlighting the strap if the velcro azrv) strap is undone and potentially dangerous.

Other features include an integral recess in the "FLUGLE" which is described in this patent.

This recess can accommodate any material of a determined thickness. The recess in the "FLUGLE" can accommodate various items in the "FLUGLE" body such as pictures, numbers, holographic images or any printable or audio media.

It is well known that shoes and shoelaces, velcrostraps or a combination of both are used throughout the world. These methods of shoe tightening onto to a wearer's foot are known to come loose without notice.

However it is not known that to combin'FLUGLE" as described herein by combination and attachment with a shoelace, or a velcrqstrap whether provided with a shoe or purchased separately, a "FLUGLE" becomes a shoelace holder that will stop a shoelacegerousIy dangling down the side of a shoe. The "FLUGLE" when attached to the velcr9str'ap is more of a visual notification, if the strap is n?1atached properly or defectively the"FLUGLE" can draw attention to the shoelace or velcrqstt'aps used by the shoe wearer so as not to cause a fall that could result in the wearer sometimes sustaining injury.

This holder can also by design hold media described within this patent, this media as described can be used in combination with a "FLUGLE" which is unknown.

Examples of combination with the "FLUGLE" include print, pictures, numbers, holographic or electrical circuits for light, sound or transmittable data present in all formats.

It is the object of the present invention to provide such a system and to provide a combination of the system to all makes of shoes with shoelaces.

According to the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a "FLUGLE" named as the "FLUGLE". The method inventçd is to increase the safety of the shoe wearer when wearing shoes with a shoelace or velcrfrap fastening. M)

The "FLUGLE" is attached to a shoelace or a velcr9 strap in the method described herein and is described in the following.

Preferably all shoelaces or velcro,straps should have provision to be captivated on a shoe. The "FLUGLE" does captivate the shoelace preventing a common occurrence with shoelaces that they can bre hazardous to the wearer of a shoe when they dangle down the side of a shoe. The velcrostrap becomes hazardous as it releases the wearer of the shoe at a greatly increased speed, should it come loose or thro wear and tear become defective. Some manufacturers combine shoelaces and velcrstr'aps oppçre shoes.The "FLUGLE" does not prevent the coming undone of the shoelace or the velcrtráp it merely acts as a shoelace holder and a velcro strap wearer' awareness safety device.

A shoe can be printed with media and have attachments but these attachments are not detachable.

The "FLUGLE" becomes a unique vehicle for detachable media as described in this patent.

Advantageously the "FLUGLE a unique way to safeguard accidental occurrences due to the design of shoelaces and velcro,sttaps. The "FLUGLE" by design can be attachable and detachable from the shoe and can incorporate media. An example of media use could be in a nursery where untied shoes are a hazard and where 2 to 3 year old children can find that all shoes seem to look the same. The "FLUGLE" could have a child's own picture captivated in it's designed recess area so the child's shoes would advantageously be easily and instantly recognisable by a child of that age who has not yet mastered word association.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective top view of a "FLUGLE".

Figure 2 is a perspective bottom view of a "FLUGLE".

Figure 3 is a side view of a shoe showing a shoelace dangling down the side of the shoe.

Figure 4 is a side view of a shoe showing a "FLUGLE" attached to the shoelace. The "FLUGLE", as shown, is preventing the shoelace from dangling down. Also shown in the view is a representation of a "FLUGLE" with an inserted picture.

Figure 4 shows the relationship of the shoe and the "FLUGLE".

Figure 5 shows the relationship of the shoe and the "FLUGLE".

The side view is also showing the "FLUGLE" attached to the velcrostrip Figure 1.2.

Shows the "FLUGLE" (1) with the four tapered holes positioned at the anchor points (2) around the circumference. The "FLUGLE" (1) has a reces( that has a wall thickness covering two halves of the diameter, this is halved by the velcrsfap opening (7).

The recess (5) is formed within the wall section, and this recess (5) enables a disc (6) to be inserted which can be printed media etc..

Figure 3 Shows the shoelace cord (4) and the lace binder (3) dangling down the side of the shoe.

Figure 4 Shows the four positioned anchor points (2) on the "FLUGLE" (1). The shoelace cord (4) is inserted through the tapered holes and being restricted in this way the shoelace cord (4) and the lace binder (3) are restricted from dangling down the side of the shoe.

Figure 5 Shows the "FLUGLE' (1) attached to the velcro strip (8) which has passed through the velcrotLrr strap opening (7).

The "FLUGLE" (1) has a recess (5) which can enable a card or paper or plastic message disc to be adhered onto the "FLUGLE" (1) by adhesive materials. This disc (6) can be printed with pictures, numbers or holographic images or any printable media

Claims (7)

1. A "FLUGLE" is a device which is attached to all shoelace binder and to all velcrstrap fastenings.

2. A device as claimed in Claim I being that when attached to a shoelace binder which in turn is attached to the shoelace cord which is in turn attached to a shoe creates a system of connections resulting in the shoelace and it's binder being prevented from dangling down the side of the shoe. If the shoelace and binder are allowed to dangle down the side of the shoe whilst it is being worn it can cause the wearer of the shoe to be wrong footed and fall to the ground, which can cause injury.

3 A device as claimed in Claim I being that when attached to a velcrq1strap which is in turn attached to a shoe creates 9ections that results in a checking system for wearers of velcro strap shoes. The velcrstràp of the shoe may be incorrectly tightened or defective.

the "FLUGLE" is creating a focal checking system for safety.

4. A connection device as claimed in Claim 1,2 or Claim 3 which the "FLUGLE" is an attachaI,r detachable shoe accessory being that the FLUGLE" is attachable, to the shoelace or velcr8,trap or is detachable.

5. A safety device as claimed in any one of the proceeding claims that also has the advantage of being a blackboard platform for print, pictures, numerical or holographic, or electrical circuits for light, sound or transmittable data. These formats can be inserted into or onto the "FLUGLE".

6. A "FLUGLE" as described herein with references to the accompanying drawings and

descriptions.

7. An essential safety device which incorporates additional features as described on all of the above claims.