Lace tightening article

Abstract

An article for tightening together the ends of a lace includes a lace end receiving device having a pair of flexible, tubular members joined together lengthwise, each member including a lengthwise retaining passage therein. The end of the lace is received within, looped through and held within the tubular members of the lace end receiving device. By employing two lace end receiving devices, one at each end of the lace, the devices may be tied together, whereby the lace is tightened without the lace itself touching. The ends of the flexible tubular members are flared outwardly. The lengthwise retaining passages are lubricated. An applicator tube is placed on the ends of the shoe lace for pushing the shoe lace through the retaining passages

1 . An improved article for tightening together opposite end portions of a shoe lace on a shoe comprising: 
 a first lace end portion receiving device including; 
 a first elongated tubular body portion of flexible material,  
 a pair of first elongated, flexible tubular members forming the first elongated body portion,  
 each of said first elongated tubular members including a lengthwise retaining passage therein,  
 the first elongated tubular members receiving a loop end portion of one end portion of the shoe lace,  
 the one end portion of the shoe lace extending in one direction through the said passage in one of said first tubular members and in the opposite direction through the said passage in the other first elongated tubular member, thereby holding the one end portion of the shoe lace;  
   a second lace end portion receiving device including; 
 a second elongated tubular body portion of flexible material,  
 a pair of second elongated, flexible tubular members forming the second elongated body portion,  
 each of said second elongated tubular members including a lengthwise retaining passage therein,  
 the second elongated tubular members receiving a loop end portion of one end portion of the other end of the shoe lace,  
 the other end portion of the shoe lace extending in one direction through the said passage in one of said second tubular members and in the opposite direction through the said passage in the other second elongated tubular member, thereby holding the other end portion of the shoe lace; and,  
   means for facilitating movement of a lace into and through the retaining passages of said first and second elongated tubular members.    
   
   
       2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the retaining passages of said first and second pairs of elongated tubular members are lubricated.  
   
   
       3 . The article of  claim 1  including an applicator tube to be placed on the end of the shoe lace for pushing the shoe lace through the retaining passages in said first and second elongated tubular members.  
   
   
       4 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the ends of the elongated members are flared outwardly.