Lacing device

Abstract

A lacing stud for slidably retaining a lace is disclosed which comprises a curved groove defined transversely by an inner side surface, an outer side surface and a bottom surface in between said inner side surface and said outer side surface. The curved groove features a braking means that partially restricts the sliding motion of the lace and is located within a portion of the curved groove which is engaged to the lace during the exertion of a pulling force on the lace in the normal upward lace tightening direction. When the pulling force is reduced, the lace is restricted from sliding back through the curved groove by the braking means thereby allowing the user to easily bring the lace across the front of the footwear to either complete the knot or to engage the lace to a subsequent lacing stud.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A lacing stud for slidably retaining a lace, said lacing stud comprising: 
 a post having a top portion, a lower portion and an intermediate portion between said top portion and said lower portion;    mounting means for mounting said lacing stud to a footwear, said mounting means being connected to said post;    said post including a curved groove generally parallel to said mounting means and extending at least partially around the periphery of said post in said intermediate portion thereof for defining a neck portion for guiding and slidably retaining a lace engaged therein, said curved groove having braking means for impeding sliding motion of the lace when a pulling force is applied to the lace in a normal upward lace tightening direction; said braking means being disposed within a portion of said curved groove which is engaged by the lace during exertion of a pulling force applied to the lace in a normal upward lace tightening direction; said braking means restricting the lace from sliding back through said curved groove even when the pulling force applied to the lace is substantially less than that required for normal lace tightening.    
     
     
         2 . A lacing stud as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said mounting means comprises a thin planar anchoring base extending at least partially around said post.  
     
     
         3 . A lacing stud as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said curved groove is defined transversely by an inner side surface, an outer side surface and a bottom surface extending between said inner side surface and said outer side surface.  
     
     
         4 . A lacing stud as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said braking means comprises at least one braking tooth protruding from said inner side surface or said outer side surface.  
     
     
         5 . A lacing stud as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said braking means comprises a pair of opposing teeth, one of said pair of opposing teeth protruding from said inner side surface, the other of said pair of opposing teeth protruding from said outer side surface, said pair of opposing teeth defining a braking zone.  
     
     
         6 . A lacing stud as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said braking means comprises a first tooth protruding from said inner side surface or said outer side surface and a second and third opposing tooth protruding from the other of said inner side surface or said outer side surface; said first, second and third tooth disposed in a triangle formation defining a braking zone.  
     
     
         7 . A lacing stud as defined in  claim 4 , further comprising an insertion restriction adapted to partially enclose the lace within said curved groove such that a lace has to be snapped in and out of engagement with said curved groove.  
     
     
         8 . A lacing stud as defined in  claim 7  wherein said insertion restriction is shaped as a snapping knob protruding from said inner side surface or said outer side surface.  
     
     
         9 . A lacing stud as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a marker adapted to position said curved groove relative to a boot opening during installation of said lacing stud onto a boot.  
     
     
         10 . A skate boot comprising a sole and an upper; said upper including a left quarter and a right quarter disposed at opposite sides of said upper and defining an opening therebetween for insertion of the user's foot inside said boot; said boot including a tongue depending from a toe area and connected thereto, said tongue closing said opening and providing cushioning means for a front portion of the user's foot and ankle; said upper further comprising: 
 a plurality of side loops disposed on both sides of said opening;    at least one pair of lacing studs for slidably retaining a lace, said lacing stud comprising: 
 a post having a top portion, a lower portion and an intermediate portion between said top portion and said lower portion;  
 mounting means for mounting said lacing stud to a footwear, said mounting means being connected to said post;  
 said post including a curved groove generally parallel to said mounting means and extending at least partially around the periphery of said post in said intermediate portion thereof for defining a neck portion for guiding and slidably retaining a lace engaged therein, said curved groove having braking means for impeding sliding motion of the lace when a pulling force is applied to the lace in a normal upward lace tightening direction; said braking means being disposed within a portion of said curved groove which is engaged by the lace during exertion of a pulling force applied to the lace in a normal upward lace tightening direction; said braking means restricting the lace from sliding back through said curved groove even when the pulling force applied to the lace is substantially less than that required for normal lace tightening.  
   
     
     
         11 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said mounting means comprises a thin planar anchoring base extending at least partially around said post.  
     
     
         12 . A skate boot as defined in claims  10 , wherein said curved groove is defined transversely by an inner side surface, an outer side surface and a bottom surface extending between said inner side surface and said outer side surface.  
     
     
         13 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said braking means comprises at least one braking tooth protruding from said inner side surface or said outer side surface.  
     
     
         14 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said braking means comprises a pair of opposing teeth, one of said pair of opposing teeth protruding from said inner side surface, the other of said pair of opposing teeth protruding from said outer side surface, said pair of opposing teeth defining a braking zone.  
     
     
         15 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said braking means comprises a first tooth protruding from said inner side surface or said outer side surface and a second and third opposing tooth protruding from the other of said inner side surface or said outer side surface; said first, second and third tooth disposed in a triangle formation defining a braking zone.  
     
     
         16 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising an insertion restriction adapted to partially enclose the lace within said curved groove such that a lace has to be snapped in and out of engagement with said curved groove.  
     
     
         17 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 16  wherein said insertion restriction is shaped as a snapping knob protruding from said inner side surface or said outer side surface.  
     
     
         18 . A lacing stud for slidably retaining a lace, said lacing stud comprising: 
 a post having a top portion, a bottom portion and an intermediate portion between said top portion and said bottom portion;    a mounting means for mounting said lacing stud to a footwear, said mounting means integrally connected to said post;    said post including a curved groove in said intermediate portion for guiding and slidably retaining a lace engaged therein, said curved groove having braking means for impeding a sliding motion of the lace when a pulling force is applied to the lace in a normal upward lace tightening direction; said braking means restricting the lace from sliding back through said curved groove when the pulling force applied to the lace is reduced.    
     
     
         19 . A lacing stud as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said mounting means comprises a thin planar anchoring base surrounding at least a portion of said bottom portion of said post.  
     
     
         20 . A lacing stud as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said curved groove extends above said thin planar anchoring base and across said intermediate section.  
     
     
         21 . A lacing stud as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said curved groove is defined transversely by an inner side wall, an outer side wall and a retaining wall in between said inner side wall and said outer side wall.  
     
     
         22 . A lacing stud as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said braking means comprises at least one braking tooth protruding from said inner wall or said outer wall.  
     
     
         23 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said braking means comprises a pair of opposing teeth, one of said pair of opposing teeth protruding from said inner side surface, the other of said pair of opposing teeth protruding from said outer side surface, said pair of opposing teeth defining a braking zone.  
     
     
         24 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said braking means comprises a first tooth protruding from said inner side surface or said outer side surface and a second and third opposing tooth protruding from the other of said inner side surface or said outer side surface; said first, second and third tooth disposed in a triangle formation defining a braking zone.