Apparatus and method for gripping and tightening laces

Abstract

An apparatus and method for gripping and tightening laces for proper functioning of footwear, the apparatus comprising a lace with an outer surface, a first end, and a second end, wherein the outer surface at each end may be covered by an aglet, and the outer surface between each aglet has at least an aperture, each aperture forming a closed loop extending through the lace and normal to the outer surface, said aperture sized such as to allow for the insertion of at least one finger into each aperture. The method of using the apparatus comprising the steps of selecting the corresponding apparatus length based upon desired application; threading the apparatus through lacing guides; inserting at least one finger through at least one aperture in the apparatus; and pulling on the apparatus; whereby tensioning the apparatus to the desired tightness for proper functioning of the footwear has been accomplished.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for gripping and tightening laces, the apparatus comprising:
 a lace with an outer surface sized such as to pass through conventional lacing guides such as eyelets or lugs, and bounded by a first end and a second end longitudinally disposed opposite said first end;   a first aperture forming a closed loop disposed normal to and through the lace outer surface at a first aperture distance longitudinally disposed from the first end; and   a second aperture forming a closed loop disposed normal to and through the lace outer surface at a second aperture distance longitudinally disposed from the second end.   
     
     
         2 . The first and second apertures of  claim 1 , wherein said apertures are sized such as to allow for the insertion of at least one finger into each aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The lace of  claim 1 , wherein the lace further comprises aglets encasing at least a portion of the outer surface between each of the first end and first aperture and second end and second aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The lace of  claim 1 , wherein the lace further comprises a plurality of apertures disposed longitudinally along the outer surface between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         5 . A method of using an apparatus for gripping and tightening laces, the method comprising the steps of:
 selecting the corresponding apparatus length based upon desired application;   threading the apparatus through the lacing guides;   inserting at least one finger through at least one aperture in the apparatus; and   pulling on the apparatus, thereby tensioning the apparatus to the desired tightness.   
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for gripping and tightening laces adapted to be used with footwear having eyelets or lugs, the apparatus comprising:
 a lace with an outer surface sized such as to pass through the eyelets or lugs, and bounded by a first end and a second end longitudinally disposed opposite said first end;   at least one aperture forming a closed loop disposed normal to and through said outer surface of said lace, wherein at least one of said at least one aperture is located at or near said first end; and   each of said aperture is sized to allow for the insertion of at least one finger therein.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said lace further comprises aglets encasing at least a portion of the outer surface between each of the first end and said at least one aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said lace further comprises a plurality of apertures disposed longitudinally along the outer surface between said first end and said second end. 
     
     
         9 . A method of using an apparatus for gripping and tightening laces, the method comprising the steps of:
 selecting an apparatus having a length based upon a desired footwear application;   threading the apparatus through the lacing guides of the footwear;   inserting at least one finger through at least one aperture in the apparatus; and   pulling on the apparatus, thereby tensioning the apparatus to the desired tightness.