Shoe Lace Apparatus and Locking Mechanism

Abstract

Shoe Laces and locking apparatus for locking a lace section a desired location with a knot in the lace, the apparatus including a restorably deflectable opening for holding a lace section or portion at a desired location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lace system locking apparatus for a lace having a first end and a second end with a longitudinal length between the ends and a substantially uniform width along its length, the apparatus including:
 a substantially planar front surface;   a substantially planar rear surface; and   a first restorably deflectable tab between the front surface and rear surface formed by a first slit extending between the front surface and the rear surface along a portion of the planar surfaces   wherein the first slit and the first tab are sized to enable a first or second end of the lace and a desired portion of the lace longitudinal length to pass therethrough in a first direction while limiting or preventing the passage of the lace portion in an opposite direction.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe lace locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is comprised of a restorably flexible material. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe lace locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus has a substantially disc-like configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe lace locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first deflectable tab includes a plurality of teeth along its edge. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe lace locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a monolith. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe lace locking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein apparatus consists of BoPET. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe lace locking apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a second restorably deflectable tab between the front surface and rear surface formed by a second slit extending between the front surface and the rear surface along a portion of the planar surfaces, the second slit and the second tab sized to enable a first or second end of the lace and a desired portion of the lace longitudinal length to pass therethrough in a first direction while limiting or preventing the passage of the lace portion in an opposite direction. 
     
     
         8 . A lace system locking system, including:
 a lace including a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal length between the ends with a substantially uniform width along its length; and a lace locking apparatus, the apparatus including:
 a substantially planar front surface; 
 a substantially planar rear surface; and 
 a first restorably deflectable tab between the front surface and rear surface formed by a first slit extending between the front surface and the rear surface along a portion of the planar surfaces 
 wherein the first slit and the first tab are sized to enable a first or second end of the lace and a desired portion of the lace longitudinal length to pass therethrough in a first direction while limiting or preventing the passage of the lace portion in an opposite direction. 
   
     
     
         9 . The shoe lace locking system of  claim 8 , wherein the lace locking apparatus is comprised of a restorably flexible material. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe lace locking system of  claim 8 , wherein the lace locking apparatus has a substantially disc-like configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe lace locking system of  claim 8 , wherein the first deflectable tab includes a plurality of teeth along its edge. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe lace locking system of  claim 8 , wherein the lace locking apparatus is a monolith. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe lace locking system of  claim 8 , wherein lace locking apparatus consists of BoPET. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe lace locking system of  claim 8 , the lace locking apparatus further including a second restorably deflectable tab between the front surface and rear surface formed by a second slit extending between the front surface and the rear surface along a portion of the planar surfaces, the second slit and the second tab sized to enable a first or second end of the lace and a desired portion of the lace longitudinal length to pass therethrough in a first direction while limiting or preventing the passage of the lace portion in an opposite direction. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe lace locking apparatus of  claim 8 , the lace including one or more elastic sections along its longitudinal length. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe lace locking apparatus of  claim 4 , the lace including an aglet at a first end and a t-shaped bar at a second end. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe lace locking apparatus of  claim 8 , the lace elastic along the majority of its longitudinal length.