Shoe fastening mechanism

Abstract

A shoe fastening device comprises an intermediary portion securable to the upper portion of tongue of shoe and supported by extendable members located on either flap of a shoe. Each extendable member has a longitudinal end secured to a flap of shoe and the other to intermediary portion and comprises at least two counter rotating elongate segments each secured to the other via a rotating joint where a said joint is located at either end of each segment. Extendable members extend and collapse in an accordion like fashion away from and towards instep when intermediary portion which is secured upper tongue portion respectively is elevated and lowered. Spring devices acting on the joints continually urge and keep the extendable members extended coincidentally keeping the intermediary portion and secured upper tongue in an elevated state where they remain unless directed downwards by an external force. The joint connecting two segments can be reestablished at different positions along the length of at least one of said segments causing forces effecting lateral displacement of flaps to be generated as intermediary portion is directed downwards incidentally effecting fastening of shoe. A lock and release mechanism serves to keep the intermediary portion in its lowered position until it is released and includes a flap lateral displacement accommodation means. The device can be used to automatically loosen the unfastened lacing of a shoe by urging upwards the segments of lacing traversing opposing flaps and can be combined to be used with another device such as a shoe fastening device.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fastening device comprising an elongated intermediary portion defining a fundamentally planar undersurface, and extendable members each comprising elongated counter rotating segments and where said members define ends rotatably secured to said portion and others rotatably secured to mounts.  
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  where said counter rotating segments number two and where each segment is connected to its respective other via a joint permitting both to rotate in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal median defined through said portion.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  where position of said joint along the length of either of respective said segments is variable.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  having a lock and release means.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  having a means to accommodate lateral displacement of said mounts on opposing sides of a longitudinal median defined through said portion.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  having a means to continually urge extendable members into an extended state.