US20020178559A1

US20020178559A1 - Shoelace protection device

Info

Publication number: US20020178559A1
Application number: US09/871,950
Authority: US
Inventors: Tzu Hsu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-04
Filing date: 2001-06-04
Publication date: 2002-12-05

Abstract

A shoelace protection device includes a first part fixed on one flap of a shoe and a second part fixed on the other flap of the shoe. A first engaging member is connected to the first part and a second engaging member is connected to a second end of the second part. The first part is overlapped on the second part to cover shoelace therebeneath, and the first engaging member is engaged with the second engaging member.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shoelace protection device which comprises two parts on two flaps of a shoe and one of the two parts has a magnetic member so that the other part is attracted by the magnetic member to cover the shoelace.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional footwear generally includes a shoelace that is used to pull two flaps of the shoes together so as to let the wearer's feet be wrapped by the shoes. The shoelace has two ends which are tied together to keep the two flaps close to each other. The tie of the shoelace is exposed by any object so that the loops of the tie could be tangled by objects or even be stepped by the other foot of the wearer. Besides, the shoelace is easily worn out and get dirty if it is too long and contacts the ground. Furthermore, the tie of the shoelace is gradually loosened due to the wearer runs or jumps, and the loosened tie could become an extra length on one side of the tie and the extra length could be stepped by other people.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shoelace protection device which comprises a first part having a first end fixed on one flap of a shoe. A first engaging member is connected to a second end of the first part. A second part has a first end fixed on the other flap of the shoe and a second engaging member is connected to a second end of the second part. The first engaging member is engaged with the second engaging member when the first part is overlapped on the second part and the shoelace of the shoe is covered by the two parts.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a shoelace protection device that covers on the shoelace so as to prevent the shoelace from being accessed by objects and the tie of the shoelace will not loosen.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show the two engaging members of the shoelace protection device of the present invention; [0006]
FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the two assembled engaging members of the shoelace protection device of the present invention; [0007]
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view to show the two engaging members are connected with each other; [0008]
FIG. 4 is an exploded view to show the two parts each have the respective engaging member of the shoelace protection device of the present invention; [0009]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view to show the two parts are overlapped with each other; [0010]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view to show the shoelace protection device is used on a shoe and the two parts are not yet overlapped with each other; [0011]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view to show the two parts of the shoelace protection device are overlapped with each other to cover the tie of shoelace, and [0012]
FIG. 8 is a perspective view to show that four sets of the shoelace protection device are used on a shoe.[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and [0014] 6, the shoelace protection device of the present invention comprises a first part 10 having a first end fixed on one flap of a shoe 50 and a first engaging member 30 is connected to a second end of the first part 10. A second part 20 has a first end fixed on the other flap of the shoe 50 and a second engaging member 40 is connected to a second end of the second part 20. The first engaging member 30 can be engaged with the second engaging member 40 when the first part 10 is overlapped on the second part 20 to cover the shoelace 51 or the tie of the shoelace 51 therebeneath as shown in FIG. 7.
Referring to FIGS. [0015] 1 to 4, the first part 10 has a slot 23 defined therethrough and the second part 20 has a hook 23 which is engaged with the slot 23 when the first part 10 is overlapped on the second part 20. The first engaging member 30 includes a first disk 31 and a washer 32 connected to a surface of the first disk 31, a rivet 33 extending through the washer 32 and the first disk 31 to connect the washer 32 and the first disk 31 together. The first disk 31 has a plurality of holes 311 defined in the first disk 31 so that the first disk 31 can be securely embedded in the first part 10.
The second [0016] engaging member 40 includes a second disk 41 having four apertures 412 and a magnetic member 42 connected to a surface of the second disk 41. A position member 43 has four legs 431 on a periphery of the position member 43, and the four legs 431 of the position member 43 are bent to engage with the four apertures 412 to clamp the magnetic member 42 between the second disk 41 and the position member 43. Another rivet 44 is used to be engaged with a central hole of the second disk 41. The position member 43 has a central hole 432 so that a flange 331 of the rivet 33 can be inserted in the central hole 432 of the position member 43 and contacts the rivet 44 when the first engaging member 30 is attracted by the magnetic member 42. The second disk 41 also has a plurality of holes 411 defined therethrough so as to be firmly connected to the second part 20.
The number of the shoelace protection device of the present invention may be multiple as shown in FIG. 8 so as to cover the whole shoelace. [0017]
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. [0018]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A shoelace protection device comprising:

a first part having a first end adapted to be fixed on one flap of a shoe, a first engaging member connected to a second end of said first part, and

a second part having a first end adapted to be fixed on the other flap of the shoe, a second engaging member connected to a second end of said second part, said first engaging member being engaged with said second engaging member.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first part has a slot defined therethrough and said second part has a hook which is engaged with said slot.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first engaging member includes a first disk and a washer connected to a surface of said first disk, a rivet extending through said washer and said first disk to connect said washer and said first disk together.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a plurality of holes defined in said first disk.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second engaging member includes a second disk having four apertures and a magnetic member connected to a surface of said second disk, a position member having four legs on a periphery of said position member, said four legs of said position member engaged with said four apertures to clamp said magnetic member between said second disk and said position member.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said position member has a central hole.

7. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second disk has a plurality of holes defined therethrough.