Enhanced aglet with specialized attachment means

Abstract

An enhanced aglet that can be attached to original aglets, or used as a replacement aglet. The enhanced aglet can be in the shape of an animal, cartoon character, symbol or logo. Attractive characters and rounded shapes make seeing and grasping the ends of a shoelace with the present invention easier, especially for older and younger hands. An attachment means within the enhanced aglet is designed to latch onto the original aglet of the shoelace, and allow for pulling and tugging of the shoelace. The attachment means also allows the enhanced aglet to be attached to shoelaces that no longer have their original aglets.

1 . An enhanced aglet that is adapted for attachment to an end of a shoelace, providing both utilitarian and decorative enhancement to the shoelace, the enhanced aglet comprising:
 an aglet body, the body having an exterior, an interior, a top and a bottom; and,   an attachment means, the attachment means being located in the interior of the aglet body, and having an opening at the top of the aglet body, wherein the opening of the attachment means is adapted for insertion there-through of the end of the shoelace, and wherein the attachment means resists removal of the end of the shoelace after insertion.   
     
     
         2 . The enhanced aglet of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means further includes a capture area wherein the capture area has a diameter that is substantially equal to a diameter of the end of the shoelace. 
     
     
         3 . The enhanced aglet of  claim 2 , wherein the capture area includes a holding means that is adapted to hold the end of the shoelace within the capture area. 
     
     
         4 . The enhanced aglet of  claim 3 , wherein the holding means is a lower portion of the opening of the attachment means, the lower portion of the opening having a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of an original aglet of the shoelace. 
     
     
         5 . The enhanced aglet of  claim 3 , wherein the holding means is at least one barb that is adapted to hook into the end of the shoelace after insertion. 
     
     
         6 . The enhanced aglet of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior of the aglet body is in a shape of an animal or character. 
     
     
         7 . The enhanced aglet of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior of the aglet body is in a shape of a sports ball. 
     
     
         8 . The enhanced aglet of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior of the aglet body includes a logo for a school, sports team or business. 
     
     
         9 . The enhanced aglet of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior of the aglet body is in a form of a symbol, including a flag. 
     
     
         10 . The enhanced aglet of  claim 2 , wherein the capture area extends through the bottom of the aglet body. 
     
     
         11 . A method for attaching an enhanced aglet to an end of a shoelace, wherein the enhanced aglet includes an attachment means with a capture area, the method comprising the steps of:
 grasping the end of the shoelace;   inserting the end of the shoelace into an opening of the attachment means; and,   pushing the end of the shoelace through the opening and into the capture area of the attachment means.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the end of the shoelace includes an original aglet, and the opening of the attachment means has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the original aglet. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the end of the shoelace does not include an original aglet, and the end of the shoelace comprises a knot of shoelace material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the capture area has a cylindrical shape that extends from a bottom of the opening to a bottom of the enhanced aglet. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the capture area extends through the bottom of the aglet. 
     
     
         16 . The enhanced aglet of  claim 1 , further comprising electronic circuitry that allows at least a portion to the aglet to light up. 
     
     
         17 . The enhanced aglet of  claim 1 , further comprising electronic circuitry that allows the aglet to make sounds. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the enhanced aglet further comprises electronic circuitry that allows the aglet to light up and make noises. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the enhanced aglet is in the shape of a sports ball, flag, ornament, charm, figure, silhouette, character, name, number, animal, or model.