Shoe fastening and closure device and method of using same

Abstract

A shoe fastening device for providing releasable securement for shoes and having a continuous movement between open and closed positions as well as memory for predetermined adjustable tightness.

1 . A shoe fastening device to facilitate movement of the shoe between an open and a closed position comprising: 
 a base plate including a flat surface, and distal and proximal ends;    a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart rod-like members;    a sliding tightener device;    a central tightening member having two spaced apart arms each having distal and proximal ends, the distal ends pivotally connected to the base plate at the proximal end of the base plate;    wherein the base plate further includes two spaced apart protruding flange-like edges with connection points for receiving ends of the pair of substantially parallel spaced apart rod-like members and permitting the members to rotate or pivot at those points;    wherein the substantially parallel spaced apart rod-like members are pivotally connected to opposite sides of the sliding tightener device;    the device movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the sliding tightener device moves toward the proximal ends of each of the arms of the central tightening member when the device is in a closed position;    the device being connectable to the shoe, the shoe having an upper portion with two sides having spaced apart ends, wherein the base plate is connectable to the inside of the tongue and the central tightening member arms connectable to the ends of the sides, such that when the sliding tightener device is moved upward along the central tightening member arms, the device collapses into a closed position, compressing the arms toward each other, establishing a predetermined tightness for the closed position.    
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flange-like edges of the base plate further include a nodule for releasably locking the device in the closed position.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the arms of the central tightening member form a substantially V-shaped member.  
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein movement of the sliding tightener provides for continuous, smooth tightening and release between the open and closed positions of the device.  
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1 , further including a button attached to the distal end of the base plate for connecting and/or affixing the device to the tongue of the shoe.  
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the button has magnetic properties with respect to the sliding tightener device such that when the device is in a closed position, the button provides further releasable securement of the sliding tightener device to maintain it in the closed position.  
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein components of the device are formed of a lightweight material.  
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein components of the device are formed of plastic.  
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein components of the device are formed of metal.  
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the sliding tightener device further includes at least one slotted opening sized, constructed and positioned for receiving the central tightening member arms to provide for smooth, continuous movement of the sliding tightener device along the arms.  
   
   
       11 . A shoe having a device to facilitate tightening and releasing the shoe from a user's foot, the device comprising: 
 a base plate including a flat surface, and distal and proximal ends;    a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart rod-like members;    a sliding tightener device;    a central tightening member having two spaced apart arms each having distal and proximal ends, the distal ends pivotally connected to the base plate at the proximal end of the base plate;    wherein the base plate further includes two spaced apart protruding flange-like edges with connection points for receiving ends of the pair of substantially parallel spaced apart rod-like members and permitting the members to rotate or pivot at those points;    wherein the substantially parallel spaced apart rod-like members are pivotally connected to opposite sides of the sliding tightener device;    the device movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the sliding tightener device moves toward the proximal ends of each of the arms of the central tightening member when the device is in a closed position;    the device being connectable to a shoe, the shoe having an upper portion with two sides having spaced apart ends facing a tongue, wherein the base plate is connectable to the inside of the tongue and the central tightening member arms connectable to the ends of the sides, such that when the sliding tightener device is moved upward along the central tightening member arms, the device collapses into a closed position, compressing the arms toward each other and pulling the tongue downward, establishing a predetermined tightness for the closed position.    
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the flange-like edges of the base plate further include a nodule for releasably locking the device in the closed position.  
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the arms of the central tightening member form a substantially V-shaped member.  
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein movement of the sliding tightener provides for continuous, smooth tightening and release between the open and closed positions of the device.  
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 11 , further including a button attached to the distal end of the base plate for connecting and/or affixing the device to the tongue of the shoe.  
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the button has magnetic properties with respect to the sliding tightener device such that when the device is in a closed position, the button provides further releasable securement of the sliding tightener device to maintain it in the closed position.  
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein components of the device are formed of a lightweight material.  
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein components of the device are formed of plastic.  
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein components of the device are formed of metal.  
   
   
       20 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the sliding tightener device further includes at least one slotted opening sized, constructed and positioned for receiving the central tightening member arms to provide for smooth, continuous movement of the sliding tightener device along the arms.  
   
   
       21 . A method fastening a shoe on a user's foot, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a shoe having the device according to  claim 10;     positioning the device in the open position by pulling the tongue of the shoe upward;    a user inserting a foot into the shoe;    the user applying pressure on the tongue of the shoe, thereby moving the sliding tightener device in a continuous, smooth manner, from the distal end of the central tightening members to the proximal end thereof to move the device into the closed position.    
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further including the step of: 
 adjusting the tightness of the shoe when in the closed position by adjusting the substantially parallel spaced apart members to a different connection point toward either the distal or proximal ends of the base plate.