US1741640A

US1741640A - Shoe fastening

Info

Publication number: US1741640A
Application number: US322979A
Authority: US
Inventors: Love Andrew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1928-01-03
Filing date: 1928-12-01
Publication date: 1929-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1946-12-31

Description

Dec. 31, 1929. A. LOVE 1,741,640

SHOE FASTENING Filed Dec. 1, 1928 Patented Dec. 31, 1929 ANDRE? LOVE, OF PADDING'ION,

SOUTH TALES, AUSTRALIA SHOE FASTENING Application. filed December 1, 1928, Serial No. 322,979, and in Australia January 3, 1928.

There have been devised many substitutes for the ordinary laces by which shoes are usually adjusted and secured on the feet of the wearer, and-the object of this invention is to provide a fastener which can be rapidly and easily adjusted and released, which is sufficiently elastic to allow for the expansion of the foot and thus avoid uncomfortable pressure on the instep, and which, when in use, presents a marked resemblance to ordinary lacing while avoiding the disadvantages thereof.

Fastening means according to this invention comprise a pair of light stiff rods loosely hinged together at one end, one of them having near its other end a catch to releasably engage the other rod, and both of them being terminally formed at the ends remote from the hinge to provide finger grips whereby they are manipulated as hereinafter described, and, in association with said rods, a plurality of loops of rubber for engagement thereby and for threading through and anchoring in the shoe eyelets as hereinafter described.

When the fastener is applied to a shoe, the rubber loops project through the eyelets on either side of the shoe opening being anchored on the inside thereof, one of the rods being threaded through the loops on each side of the opening. To draw the edges of the opening together and fasten the shoe, the finger grips are grasped between the thumb and the finger and the rods drawn together thus stretching the loops, while at the same time the catch-carrying rod is slightly rotated to enable its catch to pass under and engage the other. To release or unfasten the shoe. the catch-carrying rod is slightly rotated to free the catch and the finger grips are then released so that under the tension of the loops the rods spring apart.

thin strip, so as to lie fiat against the inside according to this invention and in which- Fig. 1 shows the fastener applied to a shoe and with the parts closed and fastened.

Fig. 2 showing the shoe with the parts unfastened.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing portion of the inside of one side of the shoe front and the preferred means of anchoring the loops.

Fig. 4 shows the two rods complete;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View showing two rings in position on opposite sides of the shoe opening;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing a modification of the method of anchoring the rings, a single rin serving two adjacent eyelets.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, rubber loops A.A are threaded through the eyelets 13.13 of the shoe on each side of the opening and are secured on the inside by a flexible anchor bar C (Fig. 3) threaded through them, said bar being formed at its ends with palms D.D to prevent its longitudinal displacement. This anchor bar consists of a comparatively of the shoe front, and is preferably of rubber to avoid a hard excrescen'ce on the inside of the shoe.

Through the outwardly projecting portions of the loops A.A on one side of the shoe-opening is threaded the rod E and through those on the other side, the rod F. These rods are clearly shown in Fig. 4E, and are formed respectively at one end to constitute the elements of a hook-and-eye hinge G. This constitutes a loose connection of which the elements are preferably separable to facilitate the threading of the rods through the loops. At its other end the rod E is bent or shaped to form a finger grip H, the extreme end being upturned to form a catch J. The corresponding end of rod F is also bent or shaped to form a finger grip K. These parts are so formed that as the finger grips are moved towards each other with a slight lifting of grip K and a slight turning of grip H (and rod E) to depress catch J, the latter Will pass under rod F so that when the grips are released the catch engages rod F as shown (in Fig 1,) the parts being retained in this position by the tension of the loops. To release the parts, the grip H is manipulated to again depress catch J against the natural resilience of the foot of the wearer, to release it from rod F, whereupon the rods spring apart and the shoe is unfastened. It will be noted that the catch J is on that side of rod E which is nearer to rod F and that its heel bears upon the surface ofthe shoe upper, so that the normal tension or pull exerted by the rubber loops does not result in depressing the catch and releasing it from its engagement with rod F; to do this it is necessary to apply lifting pressure to that end of grip H on the side of the rod E remote from the rod F.

Referring to Fig. 6, one rubber loop A is shown threaded through two adjacent eyelets, that portion A of the loop extending, on the inside of the shoe, between said eyelets constituting the anchoring means.

lVhen a shoe has been secured on the foot of the wearer by the means herein described, the elasticity of the rubber rings, allows a considerable expansion of the shoe-front during walking, running or dancing, thus materially adding to the comfort of the wearer.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1.. Shoe fastening means, comprising a pair of metal rods hinged together at one end and equipped with means for mutually and releasably engaging their other ends, and a plurality of elastic members for connecting one of said rods to eyelets in one side of a shoe front, and the other rod to eyelets in the other side of a shoe front.

2. Shoe fastening means, comprising a I pair of metal rods hinged together at one end and equipped with means for mutually and releasably engaging their other ends, and a plurality of rubber loops for connecting one of said rods to eyelets in one side of a shoe front, and the other rod to eyelets in the other side of a shoe front.

3. Shoe fastening means according to claim 1, including means for anchoring the elastic members respectively in the eyelets of a shoe front.

l. Shoe fastening means according to claim 1, in whichone rod, at the end remote from the hinge, carries a catch member to releasably engage the other rod.

5. Shoe fastening means according to claim 1, further characterized in that each rod at the end remote from the hinge is formed to constitute a finger grip for facilitating manipulation.

6. Shoe fastening means, comprising a pair of metal rods loosely hinged together at one of July, A. D. 1928.

ANDREW LOVE.