WO2003070042A1

WO2003070042A1 - Shoe fastening shoelace in one-touch manner and method of the same

Info

Publication number: WO2003070042A1
Application number: PCT/KR2003/000336
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yun Mi Cho; Young Sang Cho; Yun Su Cho
Original assignee: Yun Mi Cho; Young Sang Cho; Yun Su Cho
Priority date: 2002-02-19
Filing date: 2003-02-19
Publication date: 2003-08-28
Also published as: AU2003212655A1; KR20020025920A; KR100445965B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a shoe and method allowing for fastening/unfastening of a shoelace in a one-step manner using a pair of pulling loop sections formed by a part of the shoelace. The shoe is provided with a pair of holders which are firmly mounted on opposite uppers. The shoelace is laced to form a pair of pulling loop sections around the opposite uppers. To this end, both tips of the shoelace are each inserted into two eyelets which are located on the same upper. Therefore, each of the pulling loop sections is pulled and hooked on the corresponding each holder, so that the shoe can be fastened with the shoelace under the uniform tension as a whole.

Description

SHOE FASTENING SHOELACE IN ONE-TOUCH MANNER AND METHOD OF THE SAME

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shoe with a lacing shoelace, and more particularly to a shoe allowing for fastening/unfastening of a shoelace in a one-step manner using a pair of pulling loop sections made of a shoelace around a shoe-neck, and thereby enabling the shoe to be taken off/on with ease.

Description of the Prior Art Conventionally, a shoe with a lacing shoelace, as shown in FIGs. 22 and 23, is laced by its own shoelace in a widely-known lacing method, for example, in a crisscross lacing method in which both tips 7a and 7b of a shoelace 7 are sequentially inserted from the lowermost first eyelets 6a and 6b to the uppermost last eyelets la and lb, and then both ends of the shoelace 7 are tied to form a bow 8, referred to as a knot tied in a butterfly shape, wherein both tips 7a and 7b of the shoelace 7 are inserted in a transverse direction at the lowermost first eyelets 6a and 6b, and in a crisscross direction at the rest eyelets from lower second eyelets 5a and 5b to the uppermost last eyelets la and lb.

In this manner, the shoelace used for fastening the shoe is inserted into the lower first eyelets 6a and 6b firstly, and then sequentially into the other eyelets from the adjacent diagonal eyelets 5a and 5b to the uppermost last eyelets la and lb in an X-shaped intersected pattern. In this case, of two right and left parts of the shoelace intersecting between diagonal adjacent eyelets, the one located under the other is intimately pressed, so that the shoelace is prevented from being loosened during physical activity. That is to say, when a user pulls the ends 7a and 7b of the intersected and inserted shoelace in order to put on the shoe, the shoelace is pulled and tightened by a pulling force which is transmitted from the first eyelets to the third eyelets. These pulled ends of the shoelace are tied to form the knot 8.

This fastening force, which is generated by an operation pulling the ends of the shoelace 7, is not transmitted to the eyelets below the third eyelets 3a and 3b. The shoelace fastening the shoe in this fastening method comes loose at the upper eyelets during physical activity of its user. This is because the shoelace is incompletely pulled at the lower eyelets. As a result, the shoe is unfastened as a whole, and even a case may be exist wherein the knot may become untied. On taking off the shoe, the wear unties the knot 8 first, and then loosens the shoelace sequentially from the first eyelets to the third eyelets 3a and 3b so as to release his/her foot from the shoe.

Reviewing the prior art in terms of such a shoe, an approach using a ring instead of an eyelet is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Application No. 1988-0001593 (titled "Combat boot allowing for fastening of a shoelace in a one- step manner"). In addition, in Korean Patent No. 0299621 (titled "Shoe designed to be fastened with one shoelace pulled at a time") is disclosed a structure in which a wing piece is integrally sewn into the shoe by a sewing means, wherein the wing piece has auxiliary holes formed at intervals of two eyelets on an inner side of an eyelet tap. In this structure, two shoelaces are inserted into the auxiliary eyelets or holes spaced apart at intervals of two eyelets in order to intersect with each other. Here, the shoe is fastened by the two shoelaces pulled in a forward and backward direction.

However, in these fastening methods, whenever a user takes on the shoe, the shoelace are tightly pulled and tied. Therefore, it is very inconvenient to fasten the shoe. Specifically, to put on the shoe, the shoe need to be fastened with the shoelace by means of the fastening operation of at least three steps, and preferably about six steps. Further, to take off the shoe, the shoe is unfastened by means of an unfastening operation of about four steps in the reverse sequence. In these conventional shoes, when their shoelaces become loose or untied, they must be correctly tied again. When the shoe is taken off or has an untied shoelace, the shoelace may reach the ground, thus becoming unsanitary. In the case of one example, Korean Utility Model Application No. 1988-0001593, of the foregoing prior art, the shoe is intended to considerably reduce frictional resistance of an eyelet, the shoelace is rather smoothly pulled, but it must be pulled sequentially. Nevertheless, there is no separate fixing means to maintain tension of the previously tightened shoelace. Therefore, there may occur a phenomenon wherein the previously tightened shoelace is again loosened during a subsequent tightening operation. The shoelace must be sequentially tightened and firmly tied when a user takes on the shoe. This inconvenience cannot be basically eliminated.

Moreover, due to frequent bending of shoe uppers during physical activity, tension continues to unevenly act on the whole shoelace, and thus the problem wherein the shoelace may be easily untied always remains. Further, the shoelace untied from the shoe may be tread upon by the shoe itself or the other shoe, or is easily fouled by various contaminants on the ground, thus incurring an unsatisfactory feeling. In addition, to avoid this situation caused by the untied shoelace to a certain extent, an attempt may be made to shorten the shoelace. In this case, the shoelace has a shortened length used to form a bow, but it escapes from the upper eyelets in proportion to the shortened length when the user takes off the shoe. As a result, there is generated inconvenience that the escaped shoelace must be inserted again when the user takes on the shoe. Further, in the case of the other, Korean Patent No. 0299621, of the foregoing prior arts, the shoe, i.e. combat boot, is designed so that two shoelaces are inserted into two kinds of eyelets (one for the auxiliary eyelets) , and then two shoelaces are separately pulled. The shoe is tightly fastened, but it requires a duration of two times or more to be fastened with such shoelaces as compared with the typical shoe, accompanying a substantially increased frictional force. For this reason, it is expected to bring considerable inconvenience in the practical respect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problems and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a shoe allowing for fastening of a shoelace in a one-step manner and a method of the same, capable of being fastened with a shoelace at a time without repeatedly tying or untying a knot of the shoelace when a user takes on/off the shoe, by a different fastening structure from an existing one.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shoe providing an excellent wearing comfort and a method for fastening the same, in which a shoelace inserted into each eyelet maintain a maximum fastening angle and at the same time has a minimum frictional force, so that a tension acting on both pulling loop sections made of the shoelace can be transmitted to all the eyelets in a uniform and rapid manner.

In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a shoe allowing for fastening of a shoelace in a one-step manner, comprising: a pair of right and left uppers formed with a plurality of eyelets around a foot-instep tongue; the shoelace inserted into the plurality of eyelets located at the uppers in an up and down direction in an repeatedly intersected state; a pair of right and left pulling loop sections extending in a V-shaped form on upper sides of the uppers using the shoelace inserted into uppermost first eyelets of the uppers and uppermost second eyelets in succession; a knot formed on both ends of the shoelace which have passed though upper eyelets, is inserted into right and left lower eyelets in an intersected state and reaches lower eyelets; and a pair of holders attached on outer sides of the uppers to pull and hook the V-shaped pulling loop sections in a direction opposite to each other.

Here, each of the pulling loop sections may be attached with a fastener. This fastener comprises a knuckle enclosing any one of the pulling loop sections so that each of the pulling loop sections can freely move around the knuckle, a flexible hoop integrally coupled to the knuckle on one end, a fastener coupled to the other end of the flexible hoop and forming as a hand grip, wherein a chuck is provided between the flexible hoop hooked on any one holder and the hand grip, so as to regulate right and left movement of the flexible hoop.

Securing this flexibility is not only to cover a physical difference between users when the shoe is initially fastened with the shoelace, but also to prevent the shoelace from being loosened locally during physical activity, thus preventing the shoe from being taken off.

According to the present invention, a shoe, which is taken on and fastened with a shoelace inserted into a plurality of eyelets which are formed along edges of the right and left uppers while right and left parts of the shoelace are intersected with each other in an X-shaped pattern, allows for be taken on by various fastening methods. In the present invention, the most basic kind of a fastening structure is adapted to insert a shoelace into uppermost first eyelets in a transverse direction, to support a middle part of the shoelace into right and left eyelets, to insert both tip of the shoelace into lower eyelets continuously while right and left parts of the shoelace are intersected with each other in an X-shaped pattern, and to tie the ends of the shoelace at lowermost eyelets to form a knot. In this case, because the shoelace is uniformly inserted into each eyelet on opposite sides, a frictional force between the shoelace and each eyelet is rather great. Therefore, it is preferred that a guiding means for reducing a frictional force is attached to at least one pair of eyelets, as an effort for reducing the frictional force.

An improved fastening structure, which complements the foregoing fastening structure, can be obtained by changing a shoelace lacing sequence. That is, the improved structure is the same as the conventional structure in that both ends of the shoelace are tied to form a knot at the lowermost eyelets, but the improved structure is different from the conventional structure in that a shoelace starts to be inserted at lower eyelets, and is inserted at interval of two eyelets in an upward direction, and then forms pulling loop sections on both sides of uppers when it arrives at an upper position. Subsequently, when the shoelace is inserted in a downward direction, it is sequentially inserted into vacant eyelets.

This fastening of every second eyelet has a very wide insertion angle of the shoelace compared with the fastening of every first eyelet. Therefore, a frictional force between the shoelace and each eyelet is significantly reduced, so that a rapid satisfactory fastening operation can be guaranteed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a shoe according to a first embodiment, in which a shoelace is laced with respect to a half of all the eyelets;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a shoe according to a first embodiment, in which a shoelace is laced with respect to all the eyelets;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a holder for a shoe according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fastener for a shoe according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a shoe according to a first embodiment, in which a shoelace is formed with a knot;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining how a shoelace locking device is used;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a shoe according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a shoe according to a second embodiment, in which a shoelace is laced with respect to a half of all the eyelets;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a shoe according to a second embodiment, in which a shoelace is laced with respect to all the eyelets;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of outer and inner uppers of a double upper of a shoe according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a shoe according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a shoe according to a third embodiment, in which a shoelace is laced with respect to a half of all the eyelets;

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of a shoe according to a third embodiment, in which a shoelace is laced with respect to all the eyelets;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a fastener for a shoe according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a roller-type eyelet guide for a shoe according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of a shoe according to a third embodiment, in which a shoelace is formed with a knot on its upper side;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a shoe according to a four embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a shoe according to a fourth embodiment, in which a shoelace is not laced;

FIG. 20 is a front perspective view of a shoe according to a fourth embodiment, in which a shoelace is laced with respect to a half of all the eyelets;

FIG. 21 is a front perspective view of a shoe according to a fourth embodiment, in which a shoelace is laced with respect to all the eyelets;

FIG. 22 is a front perspective view of a shoe according to the prior art, in which a shoelace is laced with respect to all the eyelets; and FIG. 23 is a front perspective view of a shoe according to the prior art, in which a shoelace is completely laced with a knot formed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Various preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings .

First embodiment FIGs. 1 to 3 show a shoe according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Both opposite uppers of a shoe are provided with a plurality of eyelets in an up-down direction so that a shoelace is in turn inserted, in which the eyelets are arranged at a uniform interval. Description will be made under the assumption that, in the shoe disclosed as an embodiment of the present invention, both uppers are each provided with six eyelets. For the sake of convenience, these eyelets in any one upper are named first to sixth eyelets 11a to 16a or lib to 16b from top to bottom.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, both right and left parts of a shoelace 17, which have inserted into the eyelets, are formed with a pair of right and left pulling loop sections 19a and 19b and a single knot 18 which eliminates necessity for repetitive tying/untying. The knot 18 can be generated in various ways, for instance, in which both tips of the shoelace 17 pass through the uppermost or top eyelets, and then are inserted into intermediate eyelets in a crisscross direction. Subsequently, both tips of the shoelace 17 arrive at the lowermost or bottom eyelets, and then both ends of the shoelace 17 are tied to form such a knot.

To be more specific, first, both tips 17a and 17b of the shoelace 17 are inserted in a transverse direction into fifth eyelets 15a and 15b referred to as start-reference eyelets, which are located fifth from the top eyelets, and then third eyelets 13a and 13b, while the right and left parts of the shoelace having passed from the fifth eyelets 15a and 15b to the third eyelets 13a and 13b are intersected with each other in an crisscross or X-shaped pattern without passing through fourth eyelets 14a and 14b. The tips 17a and 17b of the shoelace 17 are finally inserted into first eyelets 11a and lib referred to as return-reference eyelets while right and left parts of the shoelace are intersected with each other in an X-shaped pattern. The two tips 17a and 17b of shoelace 17, which have passed through the first eyelets 11a and lib, are inserted into the other eyelets downward again. To be more specific, the tips 17a and 17b of the shoelace turn around in a direction opposite to that passing through the first eyelets 11a and lib. Then, the tips 17a and 17b of the shoelace are inserted into second eyelets 12a and 12b which are nearest to the first eyelets 11a and lib, so that a pair of right and left pulling loop sections 19a and 19b are formed which extend in a generally V-shaped form. Then, the tips 17a and 17b of the shoelace 17 are inserted into fourth eyelets 14a and 14b, and then sixth eyelets 16a and 16b, while right and left parts of the shoelace are intersected with each other. Both free ends of the shoelace 17, which have passed through the sixth eyelets 16a and 16b, are tied to form the knot 18. As mentioned above, after the tips 17a and 17b of the shoelace 17 are inserted into the first eyelets 11a and lib and the second eyelets 12a and 12b, two right and left parts of the shoelace 17, which form the V-shaped pulling loop sections 19a and 19b extending in a rather long length, each maintain a relatively wide insertion angle with respect to the lower eyelets, for example, the third eyelets. In the embodiment of the present invention, a stable structure is obtained because the shoelace 17 passes through only one eyelet on the basis of lower start-reference eyelets, which have initially inserted in a transverse direction. Therefore, when the V-shaped pulling loop sections 19a and 19b, which are formed by both tips of the shoelace 17 which have been inserted through two upper eyelets neighboring on the same side, are pulled, the four oriented shoelace parts running up to each of the pulling loop sections 19a and 19b located on right and left sides are simultaneously supplied with a uniform stable pulling force.

In this manner, the pulled shoelace 17 is adapted to be regulated by eyelets to which the shoelace is temporarily fixed and by holders 25 which are spaced apart from the eyelets and hooked by the pulling loop sections 19a and 19b, in order to maintain a length tensioned to the maximal extent. Here, the holders 25 is provided with at least two crooks 26a and 26b spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction so as to alternatively hook the pulling loop sections 19a and 19b depending to the maximal tensioned length of the shoelace.

These holders 25 are provided in pair on the right and left outer sides of the uppers. Each of the holders 25 is to be maintained under a sufficiently tensioned condition according to physical properties, in particular, the characteristics of the foot of a user and an allowance length of each of the pulling loop sections 19a and 19b, and preferably is mounted parallel to a surface of a shoe sole. This mounting structure is to eliminate interference between the crooks and the pulling loop sections 19a and 19b. More specifically, such interference, which may be generated while each of the pulling loop sections 19a and 19b is hooked on any one of the crooks 26a and 26b, must be avoided. To this end, at least two crooks, for example, the first crook 26a located at a front position, the second crook 26b located at a middle position and a third crook located at a rear position, are arranged spaced apart from one another so as to sufficiently cover the allowance length of the pulled shoelace 17, and moreover any one of the crooks is subjected to a pulling force caused by each pulling loop sections 19a and 19b.

Meanwhile, each of the pulling loop sections 19a and 19b is connected with a fastener 20. This fastener 20 includes a knuckle 21 enclosing any one of the pulling loop sections 19a and 19b so that each of the pulling loop sections 19a and 19b can freely pivot around the knuckle, a flexible hoop 22 integrally coupled to the knuckle on one end and responding to a tension change of a tensioned shoelace in a stable manner by elastically maintaining the tension of the shoelace 17, and a hand grip 23 coupled to the other end of the flexible hoop 22.

As shown in FIG. 5, this fastener 20 is also provided with a chuck 24 between the flexible hoop 22 and the hand grip 23, so as to regulate right and left movement of the flexible hoop 22 by alternative hooking on any one crook of the holder 25. This chuck 24 is formed with a pair of annular rings 24a and 24b. These annular rings 24a and 24b are installed spaced apart from each other by the width of the crook of the holder 25, and thereby the connection of flexible hoop 22 with the holder 25 is maintained in a more stable manner.

In the shoe of this first embodiment, to tie the shoelace 17 after a user takes on the shoe, the user pulls the fastener 20 in an upward direction of the shoe upper. Here, the shoelace 17, which has passed through the eyelets 11a to 16a and lib to 16b in a zigzag pattern and is connected with the fastener 20, is uniformly pulled through each eyelet under a pulling force from the user. That is to say, when the user pulls one pulling loop section 19b (on the right side of FIG. 3), one, which has been inserted into the first eyelet lib, of two parts constituting the right pulling loop section 19b in a closed loop form, allows the pulling force from the user to be applied only to the third eyelet 13a, while the other inserted into the second eyelet 12b allows a fastening force to be applied only to the fourth eyelet 14a. Similarly, when the user pulls one pulling loop section 19b (on the left side of FIG. 3) , one, which has been inserted into the first eyelet 11a, of two parts constituting the left pulling loop section 19a allows the pulling force from the user to be applied only to the third eyelet 13b, while the other inserted into the second eyelet 12a allows a fastening force to be applied only to the fourth eyelet 14b.

Therefore, when the pulling loop sections 19a and 19b are simultaneously pulled, the shoelace 17 is subjected as a whole to a uniform pulling force applied speedily, because a frictional resistance caused by the shoelace 17 folded in a V-shaped form acts on only one eyelet which is present with respect to each part of the pulling loop sections. In this manner, the pulled fasteners 20 are each hooked on a pair of right and left holders 25, which are firmly mounted on the outer side of the shoe upper, in an intersected pattern. As a result, fastening the shoe with the shoelace 17 is finished.

The pulling force causes elastic tension to be applied between the shoelace 17 and the flexible hoop 22 of the fastener 20, and thus the shoelace 17 as a whole can guarantee the stable maintenance of the tension in a whole even if the shoelace 17 comes loose during physical activity. Further, when the user takes off the shoe, the user first releases flexible hoop 22, which is under an elastic force caused by the tensioned shoelace, from the holder 25, and then the user causes both shoe uppers with the eyelets 11a to 16a and lib to 16b to be slightly widened away from each other. Subsequently, the user applies very little muscular force to his/her own foot-instep, so that, because the shoelace 17 is easily restored to its initial loose state, the user can simply take off the shoe.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, a structure fastening the shoe with the shoelace 17 is illustrated and described, in which both ends of the shoelace 17 are tied to form the knot 18 after passing through the sixth eyelets 16a and 16b in such a manner that both free tips of the shoelace 17 are sequentially inserted into the fifth eyelets 15a and 15b at the beginning in a transverse direction, the third eyelets 13a and 13b which is the even- ordinal eyelets, i.e. the second eyelets, upward from the fifth eyelets, spaced apart at intervals of two eyelets in an intersected state, and the first eyelets 11a and lib which are also spaced apart at intervals of two eyelets away from the third eyelets, and subsequently both tips of the shoelace 17 are reversed and inserted into the second eyelets 12a and 12b neighboring the first eyelets 11a and lib, the fourth eyelets 14a and 14b, and the sixth eyelets. However, an embodiment of the present invention may change a position starting the insertion of the shoelace 17 as shown in FIG. 6. In this case, it is expected that the same objects and effects required by the present invention can be obtained. That is to say, as specifically illustrated in FIG. 6, both tips of the shoelace 17, which are inserted into the lower eyelets in a transverse direction, start at the sixth eyelets 16a and 16b acting as start-reference eyelets which are the first of the lower eyelets, and then are inserted into the fourth eyelets 14a and 14b which are upwardly spaced apart at intervals of two eyelets away from the fifth eyelets in an intersected state, and subsequently inserted into the second eyelets 12a and 12b as return-reference eyelets while right and left parts of the shoelace are intersected with each other in an X-shaped pattern. Next, both tips of the shoelace 17, which have passed through the second eyelets 12a and 12b, are reversed and inserted into the first eyelets 11a and lib neighboring the second eyelets 12a and 12b, being maintained parallel to each other without intersection at the first eyelets 11a and lib. Thus, the shoelace 17 forms a pair of right and left pulling loop sections 19a and 19b in a V-shaped form. Subsequently, both tips of the shoelace 17 are inserted into the third eyelets 13a and 13b, which are the third from the top, and then the fifth eyelets 15a and 15b, which are the fifth from the top. Finally, after both tips 17a and 17b of the shoelace 17 pass through the fifth eyelets 15a and 15b, both ends of the shoelace 17 are tied to form the knot 18.

The pulling loop sections 19a and 19b, each of which is pulled in right or left direction, are hooked on the holders 25, each of which is firmly mounted on the outer side of the shoe upper. As a result, fastening the shoe with the shoelace is finished. The pulling loop sections 19a and 19b may be tightened either using the holders 25 provided on the outer sides of the shoe uppers as mentioned above, or using a shoelace locking device 45 which is connected with a connecting belt 41 on the upper side of a foot-instep guard or tongue 40.

This shoelace locking device 45 is provided with a locking button 47 for preventing the shoelace from being released or loosened. Further, the shoelace locking device 45 is formed with right and left fitting holes 46a and 46b into which a pair of pulling loop sections 19a and 19b are inserted in an anti-separation manner, wherein the pulling loop sections 19a and 19b extend upward while both being inserted continuously into the two sets of eyelets 11a and lib and 12a and 12b on the upper sides of the shoe uppers as shown in FIG. 7.

The locking button 47 of the shoelace locking device 45 connected with the connecting belt 41 on the upper side of the foot-instep tongue 40 elastically supports the pulling loop sections 19a and 19b which are inserted into the fitting holes 46a and 46b, so that the locked shoelace is prevented from being released. By contrast, this locked shoelace 17 is released from the fitting holes by pressing the locking button 47.

Meanwhile, the connecting belt 41, which is connected to the foot-instep tongue 40 on one end, is connected to a mounting nose 48 projected on the front of the shoelace locking device 45 on the other end. The connecting belt 41 has a length shorter than an allowance length of respective pulling loop sections 19a and 19b which extend upward with each other inserted continuously into the two sets of eyelets 11a and lib and 12a and 12b on the upper sides of the shoe uppers. This is to prevent the pulling loop sections 19a and 19b from separating from the fitting holes 46a and 46b, so that it is always possible to rapidly lock or release the shoelace. When the mounting nose 48 connected with the connecting belt 41 has a decorative ribbon (or string) inserted into another hole on its extended upper side as in FIG. 7, it is naturally possible to render a decorative effect such as that of a typical knot. Second embodiment FIGs. 8 to 11 show a shoe according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment has the same fastening of a shoelace and its structure as those of the first embodiment, but it has a difference in that it makes use of a double upper 30 in order to facilitate insertion or alignment of a laced shoelace 37.

The double upper 30 is constructed by combination of an outer upper 30a with an inner upper 30b, in which the outer upper 30a allows the shoelace 37 to be sequentially inserted and guided into even-numbered eyelets, while the inner upper 30b allows the shoelace 37 to be sequentially inserted and guided into odd-numbered eyelets. Here, a space between one eyelet and another adjacent eyelet in both uppers is designed to have a width to the maximum extent possible in order to enhance bending performance .

The outer upper 30a has a plurality of pairs of eyelet taps protruded in a direction facing one another. The pairs of eyelet taps are each provided with even-numbered eyelets, such as second eyelets 32a and 32b, fourth eyelets 34a and 34b and sixth eyelets 36a and 36b. Similarly, the inner upper 30b has also a plurality of eyelet taps protruded in a direction facing one another. The pairs of eyelet taps are also provided with odd-numbered eyelets, such as first eyelets 31a and 31b, third eyelets 33a and 33b and fifth eyelets 35a and 35b.

When two uppers 30a and 30b are overlapped and attached to each other, a layer corresponding to a thickness of any one upper is formed, so that right and left parts of the shoelace 37 intersected in an X-shaped pattern do hardly incur a friction to each other, and thus the shoelace 37 can fasten the shoe with ease. This layer generated by overlapping provides an advantage in that it not only facilitates insertion of the shoelace 37 into each eyelet, but also improves bending performance of the shoe during physical activity, and thus a wearing comfort is very excellent. This is proper to introduce a lacing sequence of the shoelace as the purpose of teaching. This second embodiment is very important to understand a fastening principle of the shoelace of the present invention. The outer upper 30a formed with the even-numbered eyelets and the inner upper 30b formed with the odd-numbered eyelets act as a lacing guide used to insert the shoelace into the eyelets.

That is to say, in case of fastening the shoe with its shoelace according to the present invention, the shoelace inserted into the outer upper 30a and the inner upper 30b is divided into two halves. These two halves of the shoelace are each inserted into the corresponding eyelets from below to above, and then vice versa. Here, these two halves of the shoelace each leave an allowance length at the uppermost position, and generate a knot by tying ends of the right and left parts of the shoelace at the lowermost position. In this case, except that the position of the knot is changed, the laced pattern is the same as that of FIG. 3 or 5 illustrated in the foregoing embodiments.

These two right and left parts of the shoelace inserted into the eyelets are capable of maintaining a relatively wide angle. Therefore, frictional resistance, which is applied to all the eyelets during fastening/unfastening of the shoelace, is minimized, so that it is easy to use the shoelace so as to fasten the shoe.

Third embodiment

FIGs. 12 to 16 show a method for fastening the shoe with its shoelace, together with a structure of a shoe according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, also, both uppers of a shoe are formed with first to sixth eyelets 51a to 56a and 51b to 56b from top to bottom. For these eyelets 51a to 56a and 51b, both right and left parts of a shoelace 57 are repetitively intersected in an X-shaped pattern from top to bottom or vice versa.

To be more specific, both tips of the shoelace 57 are inserted into the upper first eyelets 51a and 51b located at the top position in a transverse direction so that two right and left parts of the shoelace 57 have the same lengths after both tips of the shoelace have passed through the first right and left eyelets. Here, the upper first eyelets 51a and 51b function as start-reference eyelets and at the same time as return-reference eyelets. Both tips of the shoelace 57, which have passed through the first eyelets 51a and 51b, are then inserted into the upper second eyelets 52a and 52b located on the same side, and then form pulling loop sections 59a and 59b having a predetermined length of allowance. Subsequently, both tips of the shoelace are sequentially inserted into the third eyelets 53a and 53b, the fourth eyelets 54a and 55b, the fifth eyelets 55a and 55b and the sixth eyelets 56a and 56b while right and left parts of the shoelace are intersected with each other in an X-shaped pattern. Finally, after both tips of the shoelace have passed through the sixth eyelets, both ends of the shoelace are tied with each other. In this manner, the right and left tips 57a and 57b of the shoelace are sequentially inserted downward while the right and left parts of the shoelace are intersected with each other in an X-shaped pattern within each region between two eyelets adjacent to each other. After both tips of the shoelace 57 have passed through the sixth eyelets 56a and 56b, both ends of the shoelace 57 are tied to form a knot 58.

As a result, a pair of right and left pulling loop sections 59a and 59b are formed, each in a V-shaped form, around the top edges of the shoe uppers, and the knot 58 is formed at the ends of the shoelace 57 having passed through the lower eyelets 56a and 56b. The pulling loop sections 59a and 59b are pulled, and then intersected with each other, and finally each hooked on a pair of holders 25 mounded on the outer sides of the shoe uppers. Thus, fastening the shoe with the shoelace at which the present invention aims can be obtained. Each of the pulling loop sections 59a and 59b is provided with a fastener 60. Similar to the foregoing fastener, this fastener 60 includes an annular coupler 61 which is inserted to allow each of the pulling loop sections 59a and 59b to freely move, a connecting flexible band 62 which is integrally coupled to the annular coupler 61, and a hand grip 63 which is connected to connecting flexible band 62 by means of an annular hoop 64.

In the shoe of this third embodiment, when the pulling loop sections 59a and 59b are pulled, a frictional force applied to any one of the pulling loop sections 59a and 59b acts on three eyelets. Specifically, the frictional force of the right pulling loop section 59a acts on the left third eyelet 53a, the right eyelet 54b and the left eyelet 55a, respectively, while the frictional force of the left pulling loop section 59b acts on the right third eyelet 53b, the left eyelet 54a and the right eyelet 55b, respectively.

Therefore, in the third embodiment, to reduce this frictional force significantly, intermediate sections, i.e., the right and left third eyelets 53a and 53b and fourth eyelets 54a and 54b, where the frictional force is generated to almost the maximum extent are provided with a roller-type eyelet guide 65 upon which the shoelace 57 is supported. The roller-type eyelet guide 65 is provided with a cylindrical roller 67 at the front side of a shoelace supporting ring 66. The cylindrical roller 67 is supported to freely rotate on the shoelace supporting ring 66 without any interference.

In this manner, when the roller-type eyelet guide 65 is attached to the third eyelets 53a and 53b and the fourth eyelets 54a and 54b, the shoelace 57 exerts a necessary fastening force to almost the maximum extent. This is because, when the shoelace 57 is tightened, the portion on which the fastening force acts in reality is a region ranged at least from the first eyelets 51a and 51b to the fourth eyelets 54a and 54b, and because the fastening force of the shoelace inserted into the fifth eyelets 55a and 55b and the sixth eyelets 56a and 56b is typically so negligible as to allow for the minimum unfastening of the shoelace.

To take on the shoe according to the third embodiment of the present invention, when a user pulls each fastener 60 upward the shoe uppers, the shoelace 57 supported in a region between the first eyelets 51a and 51b and the fourth eyelets 54a and 54b is evenly pulled under a flexible fastening force. Here, the frictional resistances applied to the third eyelets 53a and 53b and the fourth eyelets 54a and 54b at which the shoelace 57 is folded in a V-shaped form are each counterbalanced by each roller-type eyelet guide 65. Therefore, when the annular hoop 64 of each pulled fastener 60 is hooked on a predetermined position or crook of each holder 25 being opposite to each other on each shoe upper, the fastening operation is finished.

The shoelace 57 is subjected to such an elastic fastening force by means of the connecting flexible band 62 of the fastener 60, the shoelace 57 maintains its flexibility when it becomes rather loose during physical activity. When a user takes off the shoe, the user first releases the annular hoop 64 from the holder 25, and then the user causes both shoe uppers with the eyelets 51a to 56a and 51b to 56b to be slightly widened away from each other. Subsequently, the user applies only a little muscular force to his/her own foot-instep, so that, because the shoelace 57 is easily restored to its initial loose state, the user can simply take off the shoe. In this manner, lacing the shoelace at an interval one eyelet may be carried out by means of a method of FIG. 17, in addition to the foregoing embodiment.

FIG. 17 shows a typical fastening structure of a shoelace, except that a pair of right and left pulling loop sections 59a and 59b are formed on the upper sides of shoe uppers .

Both tips of the shoelace 57 are each inserted into the lower start-reference eyelets 56a and 56b in a transverse direction so that right and left parts of the shoelace 57 have the same lengths after both tips of the shoelace have passed through the right and left lower eyelets, and then the right and left tips 57a and 57b of the shoelace 57 are inserted upward to be intersected with each other in an X- shaped pattern. When both tips of the shoelace 57, which are sequentially inserted intersecting with each other in an alternating manner between right and left, arrive at the second eyelets 52a and 52b acting as return-reference eyelets, the tips of the shoelace 57 having passed through the second eyelets 52a and 52b are inserted the adjacent first eyelets

51a and 51b located on the same side, and then form pulling loop sections 59a and 59b having a predetermined length of allowance. Subsequently, both ends of the shoelace are tied to form such a knot 58. This allows the length the pulling loop sections 59a and 59b to be very conveniently adjusted.

Fourth embodiment

FIGs. 18 to 21 show a construction of a shoe for implementing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, both shoe uppers of the shoe are provided with first to sixth eyelets 71a to 76a and 71b to 76b from above to below.

Unlike to the foregoing embodiments, a foot-instep tongue 40, which is interposed between the right and left shoe uppers, is formed with a transverse tunnel part 42 on its middle portion. Typically, such a transverse tunnel part 42 is provided on an approximate middle region between_ above and below arranged eyelets, and has a width narrower than an interval between adjacent two eyelets of all the eyelets provided on the right and left shoe uppers. According to the present invention, the transverse tunnel part 42 is provided on the region where the fourth eyelets 74a and 74b are located.

Any one of the right and left tips of the shoelace 77 is first inserted into the transverse tunnel part 42, and then the shoelace 77 is positioned at its middle portion. After the middle portion of the shoelace 77 is positioned in the transverse tunnel part 42, as shown in FIG. 18, both tips of the shoelace 77 are inserted upward into the third eyelets 73a and 73b acting as start-reference eyelets and the second eyelets 72a and 72b acting as return-reference eyelets, forming in a crisscross pattern between the adjacent two eyelets. This fastening is allowed to provide an upper fastening section as shown in FIG. 20.

Subsequently, both tips 77a and 77b of the shoelace are inserted into the first eyelets 71a and 71b without intersecting with each other, while forming a pair of pulling loop section 79a and 79b. Then, the tips of the shoelace each travel along a space between an inner edge of the upper below the first eyelets and a longitudinal edge of the foot- instep tongue 40, and then stop to travel at the forth eyelets. The tips of the shoelace are sequentially inserted downward into the forth eyelets 74a and 74b, the fifth eyelets 75a and 75b and the sixth eyelets 76a and 76b, forming in a crisscross pattern between the adjacent eyelets. This fastening is allowed to provide a lower fastening section as shown in FIG. 21. After the tips of the shoelace pass through the sixth eyelets 76a and 76b,, both ends ofthe shoelace are tied to form a knot 78. As mentioned above, after both tips of the shoelace 77 are sequentially inserted from the upper fastening section to the lower fastening section starting at the transverse tunnel part 42, both ends of the shoelace are tied under the situation that the intermediate parts of the shoelace, in particular within the upper fastening section, are covered up by the right and left uppers. Therefore, the resulting fastening is not distinguished from the typical fastening in the outer profile, so that it provides a fastening structure in which physical activity is guaranteed together with an ornamental capability.

In the shoe which is represented in implementing the fourth embodiment of the present invention, when the pulling loop sections 79a and 79b are pulled, of two parts of the shoelace constituting each pulling loop section 79a or 79b, one fastens the upper fastening section of an upper half of the tongue, while the other fastens the lower fastening section of an lower half of the tongue. To be more specific, of two parts made of the right pulling loop section 79b, one inserted into the second eyelet 72b acts a fastening force on the left third eyelet 73a, while the other inserted into the first eyelet 71b acts on a fastening force on the right fourth eyelet 74b, the left fifth eyelet 75a and the right sixth eyelet 76b.

Similarly, of two parts made of the left pulling loop section 79a, one inserted into the second eyelet 72a acts a fastening force on the right third eyelet 73b, while the other inserted into the first eyelet 71a acts on a fastening force on the left fourth eyelet 74b, the right fifth eyelet 75b and the left sixth eyelet 76a. This fourth embodiment is for utilizing the division of the fastening sections, so that it is expected to provide the same effect as the first embodiment, in which the frictional force is generated to the minimum extent owing to the repeated fastening at intervals of two eyelets.

To take on the shoe which is represented in implementing the fourth embodiment, a user pulls the pulling loop sections 79a and 79b upward the uppers, in which each pulling loop sections is connected with the fastener 20 or 60. Here, the shoelace 77 within the upper fastening section from the first eyelets 71a and 71b to third eyelets 73a and 73b is subjected to a pulling force, thus being pulled uniformly. Simultaneously, the shoelace 77 within the lower fastening section from the fourth eyelets 74a and 74b to sixth eyelets 76a and 76b is also subjected to the same pulling force. Therefore, the shoelace 77 within the upper and lower fastening sections is simultaneously tensioned as a whole, and thus a rapid fastening is performed.

Industrial Applicability

As can be seen from the above, the present invention is designed to fasten the shoe using a pair of pulling loop sections formed on the upper side of the shoe without untying a tied knot unlike to the conventional shoe, so that fastening of the shoelace can be carried out when the pulling loop sections are pulled and hooked on a pair of holder, and so that taking off the shoe can be easily performed when the user releases the pulling loop sections from the holders. Moreover, because a frictional force between the shoelace and each eyelet is minimized, a desired fastening force can be obtained under the minimum tension.

Additionally, the shoe according to the present invention can effectively prevent the shoelace from being loosened or a knot of the shoelace from being untied by means of a fastener detachably connected to the holder and of a flexible band during using the shoe. Further, it is possible to fasten the shoe in various fastening methods.

While the present invention mentioned above has been shown and described in connection with the preferred embodiment, it is intended that the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment but those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the principle of the invention as defined in the appended claims .

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A shoe allowing for fastening of a shoelace in a one- step manner, comprising: a pair of right and left uppers formed with a plurality of eyelets around a foot-instep tongue; the shoelace inserted into the plurality of eyelets located at the uppers in an up and down direction in an repeatedly intersected state; a pair of right and left pulling loop sections extending in a V-shaped form on upper sides of the uppers using the shoelace inserted into uppermost first eyelets of the uppers and uppermost second eyelets in succession; a knot formed on ends- of the shoelace which passes though upper eyelets, is inserted into right and left lower eyelets in an intersected state and reaches lower eyelets; and a pair of holders attached on outer sides of the uppers to pull and hook the V-shaped pulling loop sections in a direction opposite to each other.

2. A shoe in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the pulling loop sections comprises a fastener, the fastener including a knuckle enclosing any one of the pulling loop sections so that each of the pulling loop sections can freely move around the knuckle, a flexible hoop integrally coupled to the knuckle on one end, and a hand grip coupled to the other end of flexible hoop, and wherein a chuck is provided between flexible hoop hooked on any one holder and the hand grip, so as to regulate right and left movement of flexible hoop.

3. A shoe in accordance with claim 2, wherein the chuck is provided with a pair of annular rings which are installed spaced apart from each other by the width of the holder.

4. A shoe in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the holders comprises at least two crooks having a differently separated distance in a longitudinal direction to allow for alternatively fixing the fastener based on a maximum tensioned length.

5. A shoe in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the uppers formed with the plurality of eyelets in a up and down direction on both sides is a double upper in which both an outer upper 30a forming even-numbered eyelets 32a and 32b; 34a and 34b; and 36a and 36b to be protruded in a inward direction and an inner upper 30b forming odd-numbered eyelets 31a and 31b; 33a and 33b; and 35a and 35b to be protruded in a inward direction are fixed in a layered and overlapped state.

6. A shoe in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one eyelet inserted by the shoelace is provided with a roller- type eyelet guide coupled to allow a cylindrical roller supported by the shoelace to be rotated about a shoelace supporting ring.

7. A shoe in accordance with claim 6, wherein the roller- type eyelet guide is provided at one or more intermediate eyelet of eyelets inserted by the shoelace, the intermediate eyelet being subjected to a frictional force to the maximum extent and being formed in at least two right and left pairs.

8. A shoe in accordance with claim 1, wherein the foot- instep tongue has an intermediate portion provided with a transverse tunnel part into which an intermediate portion of the shoelace is inserted to divide the whole fastening section of the shoelace into an upper fastening section and an lower fastening section.

9. A shoe in accordance with claim 1 or 8, wherein the foot-instep tongue has an upper side provided with a shoelace locking device connected with the connecting belt, and wherein the shoelace locking device includes a locking button for preventing the shoelace from being loosened and two right and left fitting holes into which a pair of pulling loop sections extending upward after being inserted into two upper eyelets of the uppers in succession are inserted in an anti-separation state.

10. A method of fastening a shoe with a shoelace, in which the shoelace is inserted into a plurality of eyelets and interlaced in crisscross shapes, the eyelets being arranged along edges of right and left uppers, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the shoelace into lower start-reference eyelets in a transverse direction so that right and left parts of the shoelace having passed through the lower start- reference eyelets have equal lengths; inserting right and left tips of the shoelace, a middle part of which has been inserted in and regulated by the reference eyelets, into eyelets arranged upward from the lower start-reference eyelets at intervals of two eyelets, so that the right and left parts of the shoelace having been inserted through the eyelets above the lower start-reference eyelets form crisscross shapes; when the right and left tips of the shoelace having been sequentially inserted through the eyelets above the reference eyelets in an alternating manner between right and left reach upper return-reference eyelets, leaving a predetermined length of allowance from the right and left parts of the shoelace to form pulling loop sections; inserting the right and left tips of the shoelace into eyelets which are adjacent to and located on a side equal to the upper return-reference eyelets; inserting the right and left tips of the shoelace into vacant eyelets arranged downward from the upper return- reference eyelets at intervals of two eyelets so that the right and left parts of the shoelace having been inserted through the eyelets below the upper return-reference eyelets form crisscross shapes; and when the right and left tips of the shoelace reach lower end-reference eyelets, tying right and left ends of the shoelace to form a knot, whereby when the pulling loop sections of the shoelace having been serially inserted into the upper return-reference eyelets and the adjacent eyelets are pulled, the pulling loop sections and the right and left parts of the shoelace running from the pulling loop sections are simultaneously pulled in two crisscross directions to fasten the shoe.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the shoelace having been inserted into the lower start-reference eyelets in a transverse direction is laced in such a manner that the right and left tips of the shoelace start at eyelets located first of the lower eyelets, and are inserted upward and subsequently downward into the odd ordinal numbered eyelets at intervals of two eyelets, so that the right and left parts of the shoelace having been inserted through the odd-ordinal numbered eyelets form crisscross shapes, and reach eyelets located second of the lower eyelets, and the ends of the shoelace being tied to form a knot.

12. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the shoelace having been inserted into the lower start-reference eyelets in a transverse direction is laced in such a manner that the right and left tips of the shoelace start at eyelets located first from the lowermost eyelets, and are inserted upward and subsequently downward into the even ordinal numbered eyelets at intervals of two eyelets, so that the right and left parts of the shoelace having been inserted through the even-ordinal numbered eyelets form crisscross shapes, and reach eyelets located at the lowermost position, and the ends of the shoelace being tied to form a knot.

13. A method in accordance with any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the pulling loop sections having been pulled in respective direction of right and left are hooked on the holders provided on the outer sides of both uppers while the pulling loop sections are intersected with each other.

14. A method in accordance with any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the pulling loop sections having been pulled in respective direction of right and left are locked in a shoelace locking device connected with a connecting belt on an upper side of a foot-instep tongue.

15. A method of fastening a shoe with a shoelace, in which the shoelace is inserted into a plurality of eyelets and interlaced in crisscross shapes, the eyelets being arranged along edges of right and left uppers, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the shoelace into start-reference eyelets and a tunnel part provided on an intermediate portion of a foot- instep tongue in a transverse direction; inserting both tips of the shoelace into right and left eyelets at an interval of one eyelet in an upward direction while right and left parts of the shoelace are intersected with each other in an crisscross pattern, so as to form an upper fastening section; when both tips of the shoelace reach upper return- reference eyelets located first from uppermost eyelets, inserting both tips of the shoelace having passed through the upper return-reference eyelets into the uppermost eyelets adjacent to the upper return-reference eyelets, so as to form pulling loop sections having a predetermined length of allowance; passing the tips of the shoelace along inner sides of the edges of right and left uppers to be inserted into intermediate upper eyelets which are adjacent to the tunnel part and into which the tips of the shoelace are not inserted; inserting the tips of the shoelace having passed through the intermediate eyelets into right and left eyelets below the intermediate upper eyelets, so that right and left parts of the shoelace having been inserted through the right and left eyelets below the intermediate upper eyelets form crisscross shapes; passing^' the tips of the shoelace through the lowermost eyelets to form an lower fastening section; and tying both ends of the shoelace having passed through the lowermost eyelets to form a knot, whereby, when the pulling loop sections are pulled, the upper and lower fastening sections are simultaneously tightened.

16. A method of fastening a shoe with a shoelace, in which the shoelace is inserted into a plurality of eyelets and interlaced in crisscross shapes, the eyelets being arranged along edges of right and left uppers, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the shoelace into lower start-reference eyelets in a transverse direction so that right and left parts of the shoelace having passed through the lower start- reference eyelets have equal lengths; inserting right and left tips of the shoelace into upper return-reference eyelets located at the uppermost position; inserting the right and left tips of the shoelace having passed through the upper return-reference eyelets into eyelets which are adjacent to the upper return-reference eyelets and located on the same sides as the upper return- reference eyelets, so as to form pulling loop sections having a predetermined length of allowance; inserting right and left tips of the shoelace into eyelets arranged downward from the lower start-reference eyelets at intervals of two eyelets, so that the right and left parts of the shoelace having been inserted through the eyelets below the lower start-reference eyelets form crisscross shapes; and tying both ends of the shoelace having been sequentially inserted through the eyelets below the lower start-reference eyelets in an crisscross pattern to form a knot.

17. A method of fastening a shoe with a shoelace, in which the shoelace is inserted into a plurality of eyelets and interlaced in crisscross shapes, the eyelets being arranged along edges of right and left uppers, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the shoelace into lower start-reference eyelets in a transverse direction so that right and left parts of the shoelace having passed through the lower start- reference eyelets have equal lengths; inserting right and left tips of the shoelace into eyelets arranged upward from the lower start-reference eyelets, so that the right and left parts of the shoelace having been inserted through the eyelets above the lower start-reference eyelets form crisscross shapes; when the right and left tips of the shoelace having been sequentially inserted through the eyelets above the start-reference eyelets in an alternating manner between right and left reach upper return-reference eyelets located first from^' the uppermost eyelets, inserting the right and left tips of the shoelace having passed through the return- reference eyelets into eyelets located at the uppermost position to form pulling loop sections having a predetermined length of allowance; and tying both ends of the shoelace on an upper position to form a knot .