Shoelace retaining device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a shoelace retaining device which includes an L-shaped spring clip, a support frame which is fixedly attached to the L-shaped spring clip, and a locking member which is upwardly raised from a base plate of the support frame. An aperture is formed on a clip arm of the L-shaped spring clip to receive the locking member. The locking member has a receiving part having a positive slope and a locking part having a negative slope. Furthermore, the base plate has a positive slope so that the base plate and the clip arm taper for easy in and out of a shoelace.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoelace retaining device, comprising:
 an L-shaped spring clip which comprises a clip arm, a bend portion and a clip body wherein the clip arm extends to the bend portion and the clip body extends back along the clip arm from the bend portion;   an aperture formed on the clip arm substantially along the clip arm;   a support frame, for securely supporting the L-shaped spring clip, which comprises a base plate and a side wall; and   a locking member which is upwardly raised from the base plate,   
       wherein the side wall is securely attached to the clip body, 
       wherein the locking member is shaped and sized to be received in the aperture, and 
       wherein the clip arm of the L-shaped spring clip biases against the base plate for retaining a shoelace between the clip arm and the locking member. 
     
     
         2 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is longitudinally formed on the clip arm, the bend portion and an upper part of the clip body. 
     
     
         3 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member comprises a receiving part and a locking part. 
     
     
         4 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 3 , wherein the receiving part has a positive slope in a direction toward the clip body. 
     
     
         5 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 4 , wherein the locking part has a negative slope in a direction toward the clip body. 
     
     
         6 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 4 , wherein the locking part is substantially horizontal. 
     
     
         7 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate has a positive slope in a direction toward the clip body such that the base plate and the clip arm taper towards the clip body. 
     
     
         8 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 1 , wherein an end of the clip arm has a negative slope in a direction toward the clip body. 
     
     
         9 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 1 , wherein the support frame further comprises a bottom plate which is attached to a shoe tongue. 
     
     
         10 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 9 , wherein the base plate, the side wall and the bottom plate form a tunnel such that a shoelace can pass through the tunnel. 
     
     
         11 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 1 , wherein the spring clip further comprises a pull handle formed on an end of the clip arm so that a user can pull up the pull handle away from the base plate for releasing a shoelace retained between the clip arm and the locking member. 
     
     
         12 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 11 , wherein the pull handle is formed by rolling an end of the clip arm. 
     
     
         13 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 1 , wherein the L-shaped spring clip is made of metal. 
     
     
         14 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member is made of metal or plastic. 
     
     
         15 . A shoelace retaining device, comprising:
 an L-shaped spring clip which comprises a clip arm, a bend portion and a clip body wherein the clip arm extends to the bend portion and the clip body extends back along the clip arm from the bend portion;   an aperture formed on the clip arm substantially along the clip arm;   a support frame, for securely supporting the L-shaped spring clip, which comprises a base plate and a side wall; and   a retaining member which comprises a locking member and a retaining member base plate;   
       wherein the side wall is securely attached to the clip body, 
       wherein the locking member, which is raised upwardly from the retaining member base plate, is shaped and sized to be received in the aperture, and 
       wherein the clip arm of the L-shaped spring clip biases against the retaining member base plate for retaining a shoelace between the clip arm and the locking member. 
     
     
         16 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 15 , wherein the aperture is longitudinally formed on the clip arm, the bend portion and an upper part of the clip body. 
     
     
         17 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 15 , wherein the locking member comprises a receiving part and a locking part, and wherein the receiving part has a positive slope in a direction toward the clip body and the locking part has a negative slope in a direction toward the clip body. 
     
     
         18 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 15 , wherein the base plate has a positive slope in a direction toward the clip body. 
     
     
         19 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 15 , wherein the spring clip further comprises a pull handle formed on an end of the clip arm so that a user can pull up the pull handle away from the base plate for releasing a shoelace retained between the clip arm and the locking member, and wherein the pull handle is formed by rolling an end of the clip arm. 
     
     
         20 . The shoelace retaining device of  claim 15 , wherein the L-shaped spring clip and the support frame are made of metal and the retaining member is made of plastic.