Shoelace retaining apparatus

Abstract

A shoelace knot retaining apparatus comprises an upper tab member, a lower tongue member and a fold for enabling the upper tab member and the lower tongue member to fold away from each other to dispose only one of the upper tab member and the lower tongue member to engage the shoelace knot. Further, the fold enables both of the upper tab member and the lower tongue member to engage the shoelace knot, whereby the upper tab member and the lower tongue member are disposed in a shoelace knot securing position to prevent the shoelace knot from untying. In particular, one of the upper tab member and the lower tongue member has at least one first opening of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the shoelace to thereby limit the movement of the shoelace with respect to the one opening. The other of the upper tab member and the lower tongue member has at least one second opening. Each of the one first opening and the one second opening has respectively a first extremity and a second extremity. The first extremity and the second extremity are being disposed with respect to each other so that when the upper tab member and the lower tongue member are disposed in the shoelace securing position, the first extremity intersects the second extremity and the one member blocks at least a part of the second opening whereby the first and second extremities grip the show lace therebetween to prevent the shoelace from being withdrawn from the shoelace retaining member.

1 . A device for retaining a knot of a shoelace, said shoelace retaining device comprising: 
 a) an upper tab member;    b) a lower tongue member;    c) a fold for enabling said upper tab member and said lower tongue member to fold away from each other to dispose only one of said upper tab member and said lower tongue member to engage the shoelace, and for enabling both of said upper tab member and said lower tongue member to engage the shoelace knot, whereby said upper tab member and said lower tongue member are disposed in shoelace knot securing position to prevent the shoelace knot from untying;    d) one of said upper tab member and said lower tongue member having at least one first opening of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the shoelace to thereby limit the movement of the shoelace with respect to the one opening; and    e) the other of said upper tab member and said lower tongue member having at least one second opening;    f) each of said one first opening and said one second opening having respectively a first extremity and a second extremity, said first extremity and said second extremity being disposed with respect to each other so that when said upper tab member and said lower tongue member are disposed in said shoelace securing position, said first extremity intersects said second extremity and said one member blocks at least a part of said second opening whereby said first and second extremities grip the shoelace therebetween to prevent the shoelace from being withdrawn from said shoelace retaining member.    
   
   
       2 . The shoelace retaining member as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there is further comprised means for retaining said upper tab member and said lower tongue member in their shoelace knot securing position.  
   
   
       3 . The shoelace retaining member as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said upper tab member comprises a tab portion, and said lower tongue member comprises a clip for receiving said tab portion to secure said upper tab member and said lower tongue member in said shoelace knot securing position.  
   
   
       4 . The shoelace retaining member as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each of said upper tab member and said lower tongue member comprises a proximal and a distal end, said fold interconnecting said proximal end of said upper tab member to said proximal end of said lower tongue member, said tab portion being affixed to said distal end of said upper tab member; and said clip being affixed to said distal end of said lower tongue member.  
   
   
       5 . The shoelace retaining member as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein at least one of said upper tab member and said lower tongue member is made of a flexible material to enable said tab portion to engage and to disengage said clip.  
   
   
       6 . The shoelace retaining member as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there is comprised a lace slot disposed in said one member adjacent to said one first opening to receive the shoelace knot.  
   
   
       7 . The shoelace retaining member as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein there is a further comprised hook, which is supported by a portion to be aligned with said one first opening.  
   
   
       8 . The shoelace retaining member as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein there is further included another first opening, said one and said other first openings being disposed on either side of said lace slot.  
   
   
       9 . The shoelace retaining member as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said second opening is of a diamond configuration, said diamond configuration comprising said first extremity, a third extremity, a fourth extremity and a fifth extremity, said first and third extremities intersecting each other to define a first corner, and said fourth extremity and said fifth extremity intersecting each other to define a second corner.  
   
   
       10 . The shoelace retaining member as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said first corner is aligned with said one opening and said second corner is aligned with said other opening, when said upper tab member and said lower tongue member are disposed in their shoelace knot securing position.