Tightening device for simplifying the tightening and loosening of shoe laces

Abstract

There is provided a tightening device for tightening a plurality of lace sections on a shoe. The tightening device includes an elongate member having means for engaging with the plurality of lace sections. The tightening device includes a retaining means for rotatably retaining the elongate member and for interposing between the plurality of lace sections and the shoe. The tightening device includes a lever extending from the elongate member for rotating the elongate member from a first position where the plurality of lace sections are slidably engageable with the elongate member to a second position where the lever causes the plurality of lace sections to fixedly engage around the elongate member and thereby tighten the plurality of lace sections on the shoe. The lever is connectable to the retaining means when the elongate member is in the second position.

1 . A tightening device for tightening a shoe having a plurality of lace sections, the tightening device comprising:
 an elongate member having means for engaging with the plurality of lace sections;   retaining means for rotatably retaining the elongate member and for interposing between the lace sections and the shoe;   a lever extending from the elongate member for rotating the elongate member from a first position where the lace sections are slidably engageable with the elongate member to a second position where the rotation of the lever causes the lace sections to fixedly engage around the elongate member and thereby tighten the plurality of lace sections on the shoe, the lever being fixedly connectable to the retaining means when the elongate member is in the second position.   
   
   
       2 . In combination, a shoe and a tightening device therefore, the shoe having a front and a plurality of lace sections extending along and adjacent to the front of the shoe, and the tightening device comprising:
 a mounting member extending along the plurality of lace sections for placing between the front of the shoe and the plurality of lace sections, the mounting member having a first projection extending outwards from the shoe, the first projection having a hook;   an elongate member having a slot for receiving the plurality of lace sections, the elongate member pivotally mounting to the first projection of the mounting member;   a lever connected to and radially extending outwards from the elongate member for rotating the elongate member, the lever being adjacent to the first projection and being engageable with the hook,   whereby rotation of the lever in one direction causes the elongate member to engage the plurality of lace sections via the slot, the plurality of lace sections wrapping around the slot thereby for tightening the shoe and disposing the lever to engage with the hook.   
   
   
       3 . The combination as claimed in  claim 2 , the mounting member further including a second projection, the elongate member pivotally mounting to the second projection of the mounting member. 
   
   
       4 . The combination as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the first projection has an aperture, the second projection has an aperture, and the elongate member extends rotatably within the aperture of the first projection and the aperture of the second projection for pivotally mounting to the mounting member thereby. 
   
   
       5 . The combination as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the tightening device includes a first position where the plurality of lace sections are received loosely within the slot of the elongate member for easily slipping a foot into the shoe and a second position where the plurality of lace sections are tightly wrapped around the elongate member and the shoe is tightened. 
   
   
       6 . The combination as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the lever is disposed away from the hook of the first projection of the mounting member when the tightening device is in the first position, the lever rotates the elongate member from the first position to the second position, and the lever is engaged with the hook when the tightening device is in the second position. 
   
   
       7 . The combination as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the lever causes the elongate member to rotate 180 degrees when the tightening device is actuated from the first position to the second position. 
   
   
       8 . The combination as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the shoe includes an opening for a user's foot, the lever being adjacent to said opening. 
   
   
       9 . The combination as claimed in  claim 3 , the elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end spaced-apart from the proximal end, the slot extending inwardly from the distal end of the elongate member and towards the proximal end. 
   
   
       10 . The combination as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the slot of the elongate member extends parallel with the front of the shoe. 
   
   
       11 . The combination as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the first projection extends outwards from the front of the shoe and the second projection extends outwards from the front of the shoe. 
   
   
       12 . A shoe tightening device for tightening and loosening a shoe, the shoe having a front and a plurality of lace sections extending along and adjacent to the front of the shoe, and the shoe tightening device comprising:
 a mounting member extending along the plurality of lace sections for placing between the front of the shoe and the plurality of lace sections, the mounting member having a first projection extending outwards from the front of the shoe, the first projection having a hook and an aperture, and the mounting member having a second projection spaced-apart from the first projection, the second projection extending outwards from the front of the shoe and having an aperture;   an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end spaced-apart from the proximal end, and a slot extending parallel with the front of the shoe for receiving the plurality of lace sections, the slot extending inwardly from the distal end and towards the proximal end, the proximal end of the elongate member extending through the aperture of the first projection of the mounting member and the distal end of the elongate member extending through the aperture of the second projection of the mounting member, the elongate member being pivotally mounted to the mounting member thereby; and   a lever connected to and radially extending outwards from the elongate member near the proximal end for rotating the elongate member, the lever being engageable with the hook,   whereby rotation of the lever in one direction causes the elongate member to engage the plurality of lace sections via the slot, the plurality of lace sections wrapping around the slot thereby for tightening the shoe and disposing the lever to engage with the hook.