Shoelace holder

Abstract

A shoelace retainer is integrated with a shoe having a shoelace. The retainer features a one or more flaps permanently or releasably attached to the shoe at a position for receiving the free ends of the shoelace. The bottom surfaces of the flaps include releasable attachments such as hook and loop fastening elements. The retainer also features one or more tabs in functional alignment with the flaps. The tabs have hook and loop fastening elements adapted to engage the elements of the hook and loop fastener on the bottom side of the lateral flap. The tabs and flaps are adapted to releasably secure the free ends and bows of a tied shoelace. An elastic tongue joint is optionally provided to facilitate extension of the tongue.

1 . A shoelace retainer integrated with a shoe having a medial side and a lateral side, an upper, throat, a shoelace, said shoelace forming a medial free end and medial bow and a lateral free end and lateral bow when tied, said shoelace retainer comprising:
 a lateral flap, said lateral flap having a top surface and a bottom surface, an attached end and a free end, the attached end being attached to the lateral side of shoe upper at a position for receiving a free end of the shoelace, the bottom surface of the lateral flap including a first releasable attachment;   a medial flap, said medial flap having a top surface and a bottom surface, an attached end and a free end, the attached end being attached to the medial side of shoe upper at a position for receiving a free end of the shoelace, the bottom surface of the medial flap including a second releasable attachment;   a lateral tab attached to the shoe in general alignment with the lateral flap, between the attached and free ends of the medial flap, said lateral tab being comprised of a first corresponding releasable attachment adapted to engage the elements of the first releasable attachment on the bottom side of the lateral flap;   a medial tab attached to the shoe, in general alignment with the medial flap, between the attached and free ends of the medial flap, said medial tab being comprised of a second corresponding releasable attachment adapted to engage the second releasable attachment on the bottom side of the medial flap; and   said lateral tab and lateral flap being adapted to releasably secure the lateral free end and bow of the shoelace when tied, and said medial tab and medial flap being adapted to releasably secure the medial free end and bow of the shoelace when tied.   
   
   
       2 . A shoelace retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the medial flap is attached to the medial side of the upper adjacent to the throat, and the lateral flap is attached to the lateral side of the upper adjacent to the throat. 
   
   
       3 . A shoelace retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the throat includes a perimeter and the medial flap is attached to the medial side of the upper adjacent to the throat, and the lateral flap is attached to the lateral side of the upper adjacent to the throat, and said medial flap extends along 10 to 100% of the medial side of the perimeter of the throat, and said lateral flap extends along 10 to 100% of the lateral side of the perimeter of the throat. 
   
   
       4 . A shoelace retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the medial flap displays indicia. 
   
   
       5 . A shoelace retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the lateral flap displays indicia. 
   
   
       6 . A shoelace retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the medial flap displays indicia and the top surface of the lateral flap displays indicia. 
   
   
       7 . A shoelace retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the lateral flap includes loop elements of a hook and loop fastener; and the bottom surface of the medial flap includes loop elements of a hook and loop fastener; and
 the lateral tab includes hook elements of a hook and loop fastener; and the medial tab includes hook elements of a hook and loop fastener.   
   
   
       8 . A shoelace retainer according to  claim 2 , wherein the bottom surface of the lateral flap includes loop elements of a hook and loop fastener; and the bottom surface of the medial flap includes loop elements of a hook and loop fastener; and
 the lateral tab includes hook elements of a hook and loop fastener; and the medial tab includes hook elements of a hook and loop fastener.   
   
   
       9 . A shoelace retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the lateral flap includes hook elements of a hook and loop fastener; and the bottom surface of the medial flap includes hook elements of a hook and loop fastener; and
 the lateral tab includes hook elements of a loop and loop fastener; and the medial tab includes loop elements of a hook and loop fastener.   
   
   
       10 . A shoelace retainer according to  claim 2 , wherein the bottom surface of the lateral flap includes hook elements of a hook and loop fastener; and the bottom surface of the medial flap includes hook elements of a hook and loop fastener; and
 the lateral tab includes loop elements of a hook and loop fastener; and the medial tab includes loop elements of a hook and loop fastener.   
   
   
       11 . A shoelace retainer according to  claim 1 , said shoelace having a knot, and wherein the medial flap and medial tab are adapted to releasably engage a portion of medial side of a shoelace without engaging a knot in the shoelace; and the lateral flap and lateral tab are adapted to releasably engage a portion of a lateral side of a shoelace without engaging the knot in the shoelace. 
   
   
       12 . A shoelace retainer according to  claim 2 , said shoelace having a knot, and wherein the medial flap and medial tab are adapted to releasably engage a portion of medial side of a shoelace without engaging a knot in the shoelace; and the lateral flap and lateral tab are adapted to releasably engage a portion of a lateral side of a shoelace without engaging the knot in the shoelace. 
   
   
       13 . A shoelace retainer configured for use with a shoe having an upper, a throat, a tongue having a free top end, a shoelace, said shoelace forming a lateral free end and lateral bow and a medial free end and medial bow when tied, a medial side and a lateral side, said shoelace retainer comprising:
 a first flap, said first flap having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the first flap including first releasable attachment elements;   a first tab in general alignment with and reach of the first flap, said first tab being comprised of first corresponding releasable attachment elements adapted to engage the first releasable attachment elements on the bottom side of the first flap;   said first tab being attached to said shoe, and said first tab and first flap being adapted to releasably secure a free end and bow of at least one of the lateral free end and lateral bow and the medial free end and medial bow of the shoelace when tied.   
   
   
       14 . A shoelace retainer according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first flap is a lateral flap, said lateral flap having a top surface and a bottom surface, an attached end and a free end, the attached end being attached to the lateral side of the tongue at a position near the free top end of the tongue, the bottom surface of the lateral flap including first releasable attachment elements;   the first tab is a lateral tab attached to the upper of the shoe in general alignment with and reach of the lateral flap, between the attached and free ends of the lateral flap, said lateral tab being comprised of first corresponding releasable attachment elements adapted to engage the first releasable attachment elements on the bottom side of the lateral flap;   and said shoelace retainer further comprises:   a medial flap, said medial flap having a top surface and a bottom surface, an attached end and a free end, the attached end being attached to the medial side of the tongue at a position near the free top end of the tongue, the bottom surface of the medial flap including second releasable attachment elements;   a medial tab attached to the upper of the shoe in general alignment with and reach of the medial flap, between the attached and free ends of the medial flap, said medial tab being comprised of second corresponding releasable attachment elements adapted to engage the second releasable attachment elements on the bottom side of the medial flap; and   said lateral tab and lateral flap being adapted to releasably secure the lateral free end and lateral bow of a tied shoelace, and said medial tab and medial flap being adapted to releasably secure the medial free end and medial bow of the shoelace when tied.   
   
   
       15 . A shoelace retainer according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the top surface of the medial flap and the top surface of the lateral flap displays indicia. 
   
   
       16 . A shoelace retainer according to  claim 14 , said shoelace having a knot, and wherein the medial flap and medial tab are adapted to releasably engage a portion of medial side of a shoelace without engaging a knot in the shoelace; and the lateral flap and lateral tab are adapted to releasably engage a portion of a lateral side of a shoelace without engaging the knot in the shoelace. 
   
   
       17 . A shoelace retainer according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a tongue tab attached to the tongue of the shoe in alignment with and reach of the lateral flap, between the attached and free ends of the lateral flap, said lateral tongue tab being comprised of hook and loop fastening elements adapted to engage the elements of the hook and loop fastener on the bottom side of the lateral flap; and   a medial tongue tab attached to the tongue of the shoe in general alignment with and reach of the medial flap, between the attached and free ends of the medial flap, said medial tongue tab being comprised of hook and loop fastening elements adapted to engage the elements of the hook and loop fastener on the bottom side of the medial flap.   
   
   
       18 . A footwear enhancement for use with a shoe having an upper, a throat, a tongue having a free top end, a shoelace, said shoelace forming a lateral free end and lateral bow and a medial free end and medial bow when tied, a medial side and a lateral side, said enhancement comprising:
 an elastic coupling attaching said tongue to the upper, said elastic coupling facilitating extension of the tongue.   
   
   
       19 . A footwear enhancement according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a first flap, said first flap having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the first flap including first releasable attachment elements;   a first tab in general alignment with and reach of the first flap, said first tab being comprised of first corresponding releasable attachment elements adapted to engage the first releasable attachment elements on the bottom side of the first flap;   said first tab being attached to said shoe, and said first tab and first flap being adapted to releasably secure a free end and bow of at least one of the lateral free end and lateral bow and the medial free end and medial bow of the shoelace when tied.   
   
   
       20 . A footwear enhancement according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 the first flap is a lateral flap, said lateral flap having a top surface and a bottom surface, an attached end and a free end, the attached end being attached to the lateral side of the tongue at a position near the free top end of the tongue, the bottom surface of the lateral flap including first releasable attachment elements;   the first tab is a lateral tab attached to the upper of the shoe in general alignment with and reach of the lateral flap, between the attached and free ends of the lateral flap, said lateral tab being comprised of first corresponding releasable attachment elements adapted to engage the first releasable attachment elements on the bottom side of the lateral flap;   and said shoelace retainer further comprises:   a medial flap, said medial flap having a top surface and a bottom surface, an attached end and a free end, the attached end being attached to the medial side of the tongue at a position near the free top end of the tongue, the bottom surface of the medial flap including second releasable attachment elements;   a medial tab attached to the upper of the shoe in general alignment with and reach of the medial flap, between the attached and free ends of the medial flap, said medial tab being comprised of second corresponding releasable attachment elements adapted to engage the second releasable attachment elements on the bottom side of the medial flap; and   said lateral tab and lateral flap being adapted to releasably secure the lateral free end and lateral bow of a tied shoelace, and said medial tab and medial flap being adapted to releasably secure the medial free end and medial bow of the shoelace when tied.