Unique systems and methods for fastening footwear

Abstract

A unique system comprises a tongue of a predetermined footwear, a lace, a lace-end fastener, and at least one lace-section fastener. The footwear has two opposite sides and a plurality of lace receivers disposed thereon. The footwear is laced with the lace to define opposite lace sections, each of which extends between two of the lace receivers on the same side. The tongue has at least one opening. The tongue comprises a plurality of layers. The lace is threaded through the at least one opening. The lace ends are fastened by the lace-end fastener. The lace ends are hidden inside the tongue. The at least one lace-section fastener is for at least one of the lace sections to be fastened thereon and for at least one of the lace sections to be unfastened therefrom, to fasten the footwear on and to unfasten the footwear from a foot, respectively.

1 . A unique system comprising a tongue of a predetermined footwear, lacing means, lace-end-fastening means, and at least one lace-section-fastening means, the footwear having two opposite sides and a plurality of lace-receiving means disposed thereon, said lacing means having a plurality of lace sections and lace ends, the footwear laced with said lacing means so that each of said lace sections extends between two of said lace-receiving means on the same side, said tongue having at least one opening and outer and inner surfaces, each of said at least one opening extending from said outer surface to said inner surface, said tongue comprising a plurality of layers, said lacing means threaded through said at least one opening, said lace ends fastened by said lace-end-fastening means, said lace ends hidden inside said tongue, said at least one lace-section-fastening means for at least one of said lace sections to be fastened thereon and for at least one of said lace sections to be unfastened therefrom to fasten the footwear on and to unfasten the footwear from a foot, respectively.  
   
   
       2 . The unique system of  claim 1 , wherein, a part or an entirety of said tongue selected from the group consisting of: 
 at least one predetermined foam layer,    at least one predetermined fabric layer,    at least one predetermined plastic layer,    at least one predetermined nylon layer,    at least one predetermined vinyl layer,    at least one predetermined leather layer,    at least one predetermined suede layer,    at least one predetermined rubber layer,    at least one predetermined layer so that a foot will feel predeterminedly comfortable when wearing the footwear,    at least one partially elastic tongue,    at least one fully elastic tongue,    at least one partially non-elastic tongue,    at least one fully non-elastic tongue,    and a combination of at least two of the above.    
   
   
       3 . The unique system of  claim 1 , wherein, said lacing means selected from the group consisting of: 
 at least one partially elastic lace,    at least one fully elastic lace,    at least one partially non-elastic lace,    at least one fully non-elastic lace,    and a combination of at least two of the above.    
   
   
       4 . The unique system of  claim 1 , wherein, said lace-end-fastening means selected from the group consisting of: 
 at least one predetermined clamping means for clamping said lace ends together so that said lace ends are fastened together,    at least one predetermined snap-clamping means for clamping said lace ends together so that said lace ends are fastened together,    at least one predetermined spring-loaded clamping means for clamping said lace ends together so that said lace ends are fastened together,    at least one predetermined hook,    at least one predetermined ring,    said lace ends for being tied together so that said lace ends are fastened together,    and a combination of at least two of the above.    
   
   
       5 . The unique system of  claim 1 , wherein, said lace-end-fastening means disposed in a manner selected from the group consisting of: 
 being separate from the footwear,    being attached to the footwear,    being integrated into the footwear,    being separate from said tongue,    being attached to said tongue,    being integrated into said tongue,    being separate from at least one of said lace-receiving means,    being attached to at least one of said lace-receiving means,    being integrated into at least one of said lace-receiving means,    and a combination of at least two of the above.    
   
   
       6 . The unique system of  claim 1 , wherein, said lace-end-fastening means operating in a manner selected from the group consisting of: 
 functioning as at least one of said lace-receiving means,    comprising at least one of said lace-receiving means,    having at least one of said lace-receiving means,    and a combination of at least two of the above.    
   
   
       7 . The unique system of  claim 1 , wherein, said at least one lace-section-fastening means selected from the group consisting of: 
 at least one predetermined hooking means for at least one of said lace sections to be fastened thereon,    at least one predetermined snap-hooking means for at least one of said lace sections to be fastened thereon,    at least one predetermined spring-loaded hooking means for at least one of said lace sections to be fastened thereon,    at least one predetermined hook,    at least one predetermined ring,    at least one of said lace-receiving means,    and a combination of at least two of the above.    
   
   
       8 . The unique system of  claim 1 , wherein, at least one of said at least one lace-section-fastening means disposed in a manner selected from the group consisting of: 
 being separate from the footwear,    being attached to the footwear,    being integrated into the footwear,    being separate from said tongue,    being attached to said tongue,    being integrated into said tongue,    being separate from at least one of said lace-receiving means,    being attached to at least one of said lace-receiving means,    being integrated into at least one of said lace-receiving means,    and a combination of at least two of the above.    
   
   
       9 . The unique system of  claim 1 , wherein, at least one of said at least one lace-section-fastening means operating in a manner selected from the group consisting of: 
 functioning as at least one of said lace-receiving means,    comprising at least one of said lace-receiving means,    having at least one of said lace-receiving means,    and a combination of at least two of the above.    
   
   
       10 . The unique system of  claim 1 , wherein, at least one of said lace-receiving means selected from the group consisting of: 
 at least one hook,    at least one fixed hook,    at least one movable hook,    at least one ring,    at least one fixed ring,    at least one movable ring,    and a combination of at least two of the above.    
   
   
       11 . The unique system of  claim 1 , wherein, a part or an entirety of the unique system made of at least one material, each of said at least one material selected from the group consisting of: 
 at least one predetermined material,    elastic material, non-elastic material,    flexible material, non-flexible material,    resilient material, non-resilient material,    rigid material, semi-rigid material,    transparent material, non-transparent material,    fluorescent material, light-reflecting material,    glittered material, glow-in-the-dark material,    fabric, cotton, leather, vinyl, nylon, rubber,    various plastic, various metallic material,    plastic, metal, eye-catching material, steel,    bronze, zinc, copper, aluminum, iron, alloy, tin,    and a combination of at least two of the above.    
   
   
       12 . The unique system of  claim 1 , wherein, said tongue having at least one seam, each of said at least one seam extending from said outer surface to said inner surface, each of said at least one opening disposed at a location selected from the group consisting of: 
 in at least one of said at least one seam,    in at least one of said layers,    and a combination thereof.    
   
   
       13 . The unique system of  claim 1 , further, comprising at least one element, each of said at least one element selected from the group consisting of: 
 at least one re-enforcing means 
 for re-enforcing said layers,  
   at least one preventing means 
 for preventing said at least one lace-section-fastening means from snagging hazard,  
   at least one connecting means 
 for connecting at least one element of the unique system  
 with at least one other element of the unique system or  
 with the footwear or  
 with both,  
   at least one protecting means 
 for covering at least one portion of said lacing means to decorate and to protect the at least one portion of said lacing means,  
   and a combination of at least two of the above.    
   
   
       14 . The unique system of  claim 1 , further, comprising at least one element, each of said 
 at least one element selected from the group consisting of:    at least one predetermined relief,    at least one predetermined design,    at least one predetermined printing,    at least one predetermined painting,    at least one predetermined stamping,    at least one predetermined device,    at least one predetermined inscription,    at least one predetermined decal,    at least one predetermined engraving,    at least one predetermined embossing,    at least one predetermined decor,    and a combination of at least two of the above.    
   
   
       15 . A unique method for fastening a footwear on a foot, providing a predetermined footwear and a unique system, the unique system comprising a tongue of the footwear, lacing means, lace-end-fastening means, and at least one lace-section-fastening means, the footwear having two opposite sides and a plurality of lace-receiving means disposed thereon, said lacing means having a plurality of lace sections and lace ends, the footwear laced with said lacing means so that each of said lace sections extends between two of said lace-receiving means on the same side, said tongue having at least one opening and outer and inner surfaces, each of said at least one opening extending from said outer surface to said inner surface, said lace-end-fastening means comprising said lace ends, said lacing means threaded through said at least one opening, said lace ends tied together so that said lace ends are fastened together, said lace ends hidden inside said tongue, the unique method comprising the step of 
 hooking at least one of said lace sections on 
 said at least one lace-section-fastening means.  
   
   
   
       16 . The unique method of  claim 15 , further, comprising the step of 
 unhooking at least one of said lace sections from said at least one lace-section-fastening means.    
   
   
       17 . The unique method of  claim 15 , wherein, 
 at least one of said at least one lace-section-fastening means comprising at least one of said lace-receiving means.    
   
   
       18 . A unique method for fastening a footwear on a foot, providing a predetermined footwear and a unique system, the unique system comprising a tongue of the footwear, lacing means, lace-end-fastening means, and at least one lace-section-fastening means, the footwear having two opposite sides and a plurality of lace-receiving means disposed thereon, said lacing means having a plurality of lace sections and lace ends, the footwear laced with said lacing means so that each of said lace sections extends between two of said lace-receiving means on the same side, said tongue having at least one opening and outer and inner surfaces, each of said at least one opening extending from said outer surface to said inner surface, said lace-end-fastening means comprising said lace ends, said lacing means threaded through said at least one opening, the unique method comprising the steps of: 
 tying said lace ends together so that said lace ends are fastened together, and    hiding said lace ends inside said tongue.    
   
   
       19 . The unique method of  claim 18 , further, comprising the steps of: 
 taking said lace ends out of said tongue, and    untying said lace ends from each other so that said lace ends are unfastened from each other.    
   
   
       20 . The unique method of  claim 18 , wherein, 
 at least one of said at least one lace-section-fastening means comprising    at least one of said lace-receiving means.