Closure

Abstract

A closure is made up of a strap ( 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610 ) and a holder ( 130, 230, 330, 430, 530, 630 ) that engages with the strap while it tightens and loosens, and a retainer ( 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670 ), which retains the holder in one of the two positions relative to the strap. For items opening lengthwise (e.g., sneakers), the closure includes a lace ( 795 ). To unlock the closure, the user moves the holder to the unlocked position. To lock the closure, the user pulls the strap, which automatically moves the closure back to the locked position. The strap has two sets of teeth ( 112, 114, 212, 214, 312, 314, 412, 414, 512, 514, 612, 614 ). One set ( 112, 212, 312, 412, 512, 612 ), the switching teeth, automatically moves the holder from the unlocked position to the locked position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A closure comprising: 
 a strap having locking teeth and at least one switching tooth;    a holder having a locking member and a switching member, and a retainer, said retainer selectively engaging with said holder and said strap to retain said closure in one of a locked position and an unlocked position, said holder being moveable between said locked position and said unlocked position;    wherein, in said locked position, said locking teeth engage with said locking member to permit said strap to move in a first direction to tighten said closure, and    in said unlocked position, movement of said strap in a second direction opposite to said first direction causes said at least one switching tooth to slide past said switching member thereby permitting said strap to move in said second direction to loosen said closure.    
     
     
         2 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said holder rotates between said locked position and said unlocked position.  
     
     
         3 . A closure according to  claim 2 , further comprising a substantially circular male member on one of said holder and said retainer which engages with a substantially circular female member on the other one of said holder and said retainer.  
     
     
         4 . A closure according to  claim 3 , further including a ridge protruding from said substantially circular male member, said ridge preventing removal of said substantially circular male member from said substantially circular female member.  
     
     
         5 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said holder slides between said locked position and said unlocked position.  
     
     
         6 . A closure according to  claim 5 , further comprising a substantially rectangular male member on one of said holder and said retainer which engages with a substantially rectangular female member on the other one of said holder and said retainer.  
     
     
         7 . A closure according to  claim 6 , further including a ridge protruding from said substantially rectangular male member, said ridge preventing removal of said substantially rectangular male member from said substantially rectangular female member.  
     
     
         8 . A closure according to  claim 1 , further comprising a handle on said holder.  
     
     
         9 . A closure according to  claim 8 , wherein said handle has a groove for restraining said strap when said closure is in said locked position.  
     
     
         10 . A closure according to  claim 9 , wherein said strap automatically releases from said groove within said handle during said moving of said holder from said locked position to said unlocked position.  
     
     
         11 . A closure according to  claim 9 , wherein said handle restraining said strap prevents said switching of said holder from said locked position to said unlocked position.  
     
     
         12 . A closure according to  claim 1 , further including a spacer on one of said retainer and said holder to permit unimpeded moving of said holder.  
     
     
         13 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said locking member and said switching member are one piece.  
     
     
         14 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said locking member and said switching member flexes.  
     
     
         15 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said locking teeth and said at least one switching tooth flexes.  
     
     
         16 . A closure according to  claim 1 , further including a string attached to said strap, 
 an item having an adjustable opening, at least two eyelet pairs each having an eyelet, said eyelets of said eyelet pairs disposed on opposite sides of the item,    said string connecting said at least two eyelet pairs,    wherein tension on said strap, to tighten said closure, causes at least two segments of said string to be pulled simultaneously contracting said adjustable opening.    
     
     
         17 . A closure according to  claim 1 , further including a string attached to said strap, 
 a sneaker having an adjustable opening, at least two eyelet pairs each having an eyelet, said eyelets of said eyelet pairs disposed on opposite sides of the sneaker,    said string connecting said at least two eyelet pairs,    wherein tension on said strap, to tighten said closure, causes at least two segments of said string to be pulled simultaneously contracting said adjustable opening.    
     
     
         18 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said locking teeth are disposed on one side of said strap and said at least one switching tooth is disposed on an opposite side of said strap.  
     
     
         19 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said locking teeth and said at least one switching tooth are disposed on one side of said strap.  
     
     
         20 . A closure comprising: 
 a strap having locking teeth and at least one switching tooth;    a holder having a locking member and a switching member, a retainer, said retainer selectively engaging with said holder and said strap to retain said closure in one of a locked position and an unlocked position, said holder being moveable between said locked position and said unlocked position,    wherein, in said locked position, said locking teeth engage with said locking member to permit said strap to move in a first direction to tighten said tie, and in said unlocked position, said at least one switching tooth slides past said switching member to permit said strap to move in a second direction opposite to said first direction to loosen said closure; and    wherein, in said unlocked position initial movement of said strap in said first direction causes said at least one switching tooth on said strap to push against said switching member in said holder and continued movement of said strap in said first direction causes said switching member to automatically move said holder from said unlocked position to said locked position to thereafter permit said closure to tighten.    
     
     
         21 . A closure according to  claim 20 , wherein said holder rotates between said locked position and said unlocked position.  
     
     
         22 . A closure according to  claim 21 , further comprising a substantially circular male member on one of said holder and said retainer, said substantially circular male member engages with a substantially circular female member on the other one of said holder and said retainer.  
     
     
         23 . A closure according to  claim 22 , further including a ridge protruding from said substantially circular male member, said ridge preventing removal of said substantially circular male member from said substantially circular female member.  
     
     
         24 . A closure according to  claim 20 , wherein said holder slides between said locked position and said unlocked position.  
     
     
         25 . A closure according to  claim 24 , further comprising a substantially rectangular male member on one of said holder and said retainer, said substantially rectangular male member engages with a substantially rectangular female member on the other one of said holder and said retainer.  
     
     
         26 . A closure according to  claim 25 , further comprising a ridge protruding from said substantially rectangular male member, said ridge preventing removal of said substantially rectangular male member from said substantially rectangular female member.  
     
     
         27 . A closure according to  claim 20 , further comprising a handle on said holder.  
     
     
         28 . A closure according to  claim 27 , wherein said handle restrains said strap when said closure is in said locked position.  
     
     
         29 . A closure according to  claim 28 , wherein said strap automatically releases from said handle during said moving of said holder from said locked position to said unlocked position.  
     
     
         30 . A closure according to  claim 28 , wherein said handle restrains said strap to prevent said moving of said holder from said locked position to said unlocked position.  
     
     
         31 . A closure according to  claim 20 , further including a spacer on one of said retainer and said holder to permit unimpeded moving of said holder from said locked position to said unlocked position.  
     
     
         32 . A closure according to  claim 20 , wherein said locking member and said switching member are one piece.  
     
     
         33 . A closure according to  claim 20 , wherein said at least one of said locking member and said switching member flexes.  
     
     
         34 . A closure according to  claim 20 , wherein said at least one of said locking teeth and said at least one switching tooth flexes.  
     
     
         35 . A closure according to  claim 20 , wherein during said automatic move of said holder from said unlocked to said locked position, said holder rotates.  
     
     
         36 . A closure according to  claim 20 , wherein during said automatic move of said holder from said unlocked to said locked position, said holder slides.  
     
     
         37 . A closure according to  claim 20 , further including a string attached to said strap, 
 an item having an adjustable opening, at least two eyelet pairs each having an eyelet, eyelets of said eyelet pairs disposed on opposite sides of the item, said string connecting said at least two eyelet pairs,    wherein tension on said strap, to tighten said closure, causes at least two segments of said string to be pulled simultaneously, contracting said adjustable opening.    
     
     
         38 . A closure according to  claim 20 , further including a string attached to said strap, 
 an sneaker having an adjustable opening, at least two eyelet pairs each having an eyelet, eyelets of said eyelet pairs disposed on opposite sides of the sneaker, said string connecting said at least two eyelet pairs,    wherein tension on said strap, to tighten said closure, causes at least two segments of said string to be pulled simultaneously, contracting said adjustable opening.    
     
     
         39 . A closure according to  claim 20 , wherein said locking teeth are disposed on one side of said strap and said at least one switching tooth is disposed on an opposite side of said strap.  
     
     
         40 . A closure according to  claim 20 , wherein said locking teeth and said at least one switching tooth are disposed on one side of said strap.  
     
     
         41 . A method for operating a closure comprised of a holder and a strap, said method comprising the steps of: 
 moving said holder into an unlocked position in which the closure is free to loosen,    pulling one end of the strap to automatically move said holder into a locked position in which the closure is prevented from loosening and to tighten said closure.    
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 41 , wherein the moving step includes rotating said holder.  
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 41 , wherein the moving step includes sliding said holder.  
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 41 , wherein the moving step includes pushing on said holder.  
     
     
         45 . A method according to  claim 41 , wherein said moving step automatically releases said one end of said strap.  
     
     
         46 . A method of operating a closure according to  claim 41 , further comprising the steps of: 
 attaching a string to said strap,    weaving said string through eyelets of at least two eyelet pairs, said eyelets disposed on opposite sides of an item having an adjustable opening,    pulling on said strap to tighten said closure, thereby causing simultaneous contracting of said adjustable opening between said eyelets.    
     
     
         47 . A method of operating a closure according to  claim 41 , further comprising the steps of: 
 attaching a string to said strap,    weaving said string through eyelets of at least two eyelet pairs, said eyelets disposed on opposite sides of a footwear article having an adjustable opening,    pulling on said strap to tighten said closure, thereby causing at least two segments of said string to pull simultaneously with substantially equal tension, thereby contracting said adjustable opening.    
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 47 , further comprising the steps of: 
 weaving said string through eyelets of at least four eyelet pairs, said eyelets disposed on opposite sides of a footwear article having an adjustable opening,    pulling on said strap to tighten said closure, thereby causing at least four segments of said string to pull simultaneously with substantially equal tension, thereby contracting said adjustable opening.    
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 49 , wherein said pulling step contracts substantially an entire length of said adjustable opening.  
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 47 , further comprising the step of: 
 applying tension on said strap to loosen said closure, thereby causing at least two segments of said string to loosen, thereby expanding said adjustable opening.    
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 48 , further comprising the step of: 
 applying tension on said strap to loosen said closure, thereby causing at least four segments of said string to loosen, thereby expanding said adjustable opening.