Shoelace securement

Abstract

A shoelace securement device includes a first clasp including a female portion and a first flange having first inner and outer surfaces delineated by a first perimeter edge. A second clasp includes a second flange having second inner and outer surfaces delineated by a second perimeter edge and a male post extending from a proximal end near the second flange inner surface to a distal end remote from the second flange. The male post being configured for receipt through a shoe eyelet and within the female portion to selectively couple the first and second clasps. The female portion, the male post or both are configured to engage a shoelace strung through the shoe eyelet. A system for shoelace securement includes means for extending into a shoe eyelet, means for engaging a shoe exterior surface, means for insertion into the means for extending and means for engaging a shoe interior surface.

1 . A shoelace securement device, comprising:
 a first clasp including a female portion and a first flange having first inner and outer surfaces delineated by a first perimeter edge; and   a second clasp including a second flange having second inner and outer surfaces delineated by a second perimeter edge and a male post extending from a proximal end near the second flange inner surface to a distal end remote from the second flange, the male post being configured for receipt through a shoe eyelet and within the female portion; and   wherein at least one of the female portion and the male post are configured to engage a shoelace strung through the shoe eyelet.   
     
     
         2 . The shoelace securement device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the female portion includes a female post extending from a proximal end near the first flange inner surface to a distal end remote from the first flange and a lumen with a first interior cross section formed therein; and wherein the male post includes an external cross section less than or equal to the interior cross section of the lumen such that at least a portion of the male post is receivable within the lumen. 
     
     
         3 . The shoelace securement device set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the female portion further comprises internal threads configured for mating with external threads on the male post. 
     
     
         4 . The shoelace securement device set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the female portion further comprises internal ribs configured for mating with external ribs on the male post. 
     
     
         5 . The shoelace securement device set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the male post is compressible such that the external ribs can pass by the internal ribs during insertion and removal of the male post into the female portion. 
     
     
         6 . The shoelace securement device set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the compressibility is facilitated by a through slot formed in the male post. 
     
     
         7 . The shoelace securement device set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the female portion comprises a through slot in communication with the internal lumen configured to receive one or more of the male post external ribs. 
     
     
         8 . The shoelace securement device set forth in  claim 2 , wherein an exterior surface of the female post is configured to grip a shoelace such that rotation of the female post causes the shoelace to wrap around the exterior surface of the female post. 
     
     
         9 . The shoelace securement device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the female portion comprises a pocket formed within the flange near the inner surface; and wherein the male post is configured to penetrate the pocket of the first flange for selective engagement therewith. 
     
     
         10 . The shoelace securement device set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the cross section of the distal end of the male post is greater than the cross section of the proximal end of the male post and the pocket includes a region of reduced cross section smaller than the cross section of the distal end of the second male post and larger than the cross section of the proximal end of the second male post. 
     
     
         11 . The shoelace securement device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the male post is configured to pierce a shoelace. 
     
     
         12 . The shoelace securement device of  claim 9 , wherein the first clasp further comprises an adjustment mechanism within the interior cross section of the pocket. 
     
     
         13 . A system for securing shoelaces, comprising:
 means for extending into a shoe eyelet;   coupled with the means for extending into a shoe eyelet, means for engaging a shoe exterior surface;   means for insertion into the means for extending; and   coupled with the means for insertion into the means for extending, means for engaging a shoe interior surface.   
     
     
         14 . The system as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising first engagement means provided to the means for extending and configured for engaging with second engagement means provided to the means for insertion. 
     
     
         15 . The system as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising means to facilitate selective compression of the means for insertion. 
     
     
         16 . A method of producing a shoelace securement device, comprising:
 configuring a first flange with inner and outer surfaces delineated by a first perimeter edge;   forming a female post extending from a proximal end near the first flange inner surface to a distal end remote from the first flange, the female post configured for receipt through a shoe eyelet to engage a shoelace strung through the eyelet;   configuring a second flange with second inner and outer surfaces delineated by a second perimeter edge;   providing, within the female post, a lumen having an interior cross section;   forming a male post extending from a proximal end near the second flange inner surface to a distal end remote from the second flange; and   providing the male post with an exterior cross section less than or equal to the interior cross section such that lumen is configured to receive at least a portion of the male post.   
     
     
         17 . The method as set forth in  claim 16 , further comprising configuring the lumen with internal threads and the male post with external threads engageable with the internal threads. 
     
     
         18 . The method as set forth in  claim 16 , further comprising configuring the lumen with internal ribs and configuring the male post with external ribs engageable with the internal ribs to selectively prevent relative movement of the female and male posts. 
     
     
         19 . The method as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising configuring the male post with a through slot such that the male post is compressible and the external ribs can pass by the internal ribs during insertion of the male post into the lumen and withdrawal of the male post from the lumen. 
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in  claim 16 , further comprising configuring the male post with a piercing point at the distal end.