Apparatus for fastening a shoe

Abstract

A fastening apparatus for a shoe including an adjustable gap with two sides and a fastener with two elements, wherein one fastener element is attached to the first side of the adjustable gap. At least one lace is threaded through holes along the two sides of the adjustable gap, and two ends of the lace are fastened together between the second fastening element and the second side of the adjustable gap. The lace is threaded at one end through an opening in the second fastener element and forms at least one lace segment that extends from the second fastener element to the second side of the adjustable gap, and at least one lace segment extends from the second side of the adjustable gap to the first side of the adjustable gap. The two ends of the at least one lace may be fastened together by a knot. For tightening the shoe, the second fastener element is pulled towards the first side of the adjustable gap, and is attached to the first fastener element for keeping the shoe fastened.

1 . A fastening apparatus for a shoe comprising:
 an adjustable gap defined in the instep area of a shoe, the adjustable gap of the shoe including a first side, a second side, a bottom side, and an open top side;   a fastener comprising at least two mating elements, a first element and a second element, wherein said first fastener element is attached to said first side of the adjustable gap; and   at least one lace, said at least one lace having two ends that are fastened together between said second fastening element and said second side of said adjustable gap;   wherein said at least one lace is threaded through an opening in said second fastener element, forming at least one lace segment that extends from said second fastener element to said second side of said adjustable gap;   wherein at least one lace segment extends from said second side of said adjustable gap to said first side thereof;   wherein by pulling said second fastener element towards said first side of the adjustable gap, said adjustable gap is caused to contract between said first side and said second side; and   wherein by attaching said second fastener element to said first fastener element said contraction is retained.   
   
   
       2 . A fastening apparatus for a shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said two ends of said at least one lace are fastened together by a knot. 
   
   
       3 . A fastening apparatus for a shoe according to  claim 2 , wherein, when said second fastener element is attached to said first fastener element, said knot is situated within said open top side of said adjustable gap. 
   
   
       4 . A fastening apparatus for a shoe according to  claim 1 , and wherein said at least one lace comprises two laces, and wherein said two laces are fastened together at a first end of each lace between said second fastening element and said second side of said adjustable gap and at a second end of each lace near a bottom region of said adjustable gap. 
   
   
       5 . A fastening apparatus for a shoe according to  claim 4 , wherein the first ends of said laces are fastened together by a knot. 
   
   
       6 . A fastening apparatus for a shoe according to  claim 4 , wherein the second ends of said laces are bonded together at the bottom of the adjustable gap to form an elongated lace. 
   
   
       7 . A fastening apparatus for a shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one lace segment extends back from said first side of said adjustable gap to said second side of said adjustable gap. 
   
   
       8 . A fastening apparatus for a shoe according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one lace segment extends again from said second side of said adjustable gap to said first side of said adjustable gap. 
   
   
       9 . A fastening apparatus for a shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein a first end of said lace extends from a segment of said lace that is threaded through said opening in said second fastener element, and a second end of said lace extends from a segment of said lace that extends from said second side of said adjustable gap to said first side thereof.