Modified Shoelaces and Associated Methods

Abstract

A modified shoelace comprising a first fastener and a second fastener; wherein the shoelace has an active area disposed on the shoelace between an uppermost first eyelet and an uppermost second eyelet when the shoelace is in a laced configuration, wherein the first fastener is secured to the shoelace outside the active area; wherein the second fastener is secured to the shoelace a loop distance from the first fastener and distal from the active area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modified shoelace comprising:
 a shoelace having a shoelace length;   a first fastener; and   a second fastener;   wherein the shoelace has an active area disposed on the shoelace;   wherein the active area has a first edge above an uppermost first eyelet when the shoelace is in a laced configuration and extends to a second edge above a second uppermost eyelet when the shoelace is in the laced configuration;   wherein the first fastener is secured to the shoelace outside the active area and proximate to the first edge;   wherein the second fastener is secured to the shoelace a loop distance from the first fastener and distal from the active area.   
     
     
         2 . The modified shoelace according to  claim 1  wherein the active area has an active length; wherein the active length is determined by calculating a mean of the portion of the shoelace length required to lace and tie the shoelace through each of a plurality of eyelets disposed on a shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The modified shoelace according to  claim 2  wherein the mean is calculated by determining a mean vertical distance between an uppermost eyelet and a bottommost eyelet disposed on each of a plurality of shoes. 
     
     
         4 . The modified shoelace according to  claim 2  wherein the mean is calculated by determining a mean horizontal distance between a left eyelet and a right eyelet disposed on each of a plurality of shoes. 
     
     
         5 . The modified shoelace according to  claim 4  wherein the mean is further calculated by determining a mean vertical distance between an uppermost eyelet and a lowermost eyelet disposed on each of a plurality of shoes. 
     
     
         6 . The modified shoelace according to  claim 1  wherein the active area extends a grip distance beyond the uppermost set of eyelets. 
     
     
         7 . The modified shoelace according to  claim 2  wherein the active area extends a grip distance beyond the uppermost set of eyelets. 
     
     
         8 . The modified shoelace according to  claim 5  wherein the active area has an active length; wherein the active length is equal to a horizontal mean plus eight times the square root of the sum of an eyelet distance squared plus the horizontal mean squared plus a knot length. 
     
     
         9 . The modified shoelace according to  claim 8  wherein the active area extends a grip distance beyond the uppermost set of eyelets. 
     
     
         10 . The modified shoelace according to  claim 1  further comprising a third fastener; and a fourth fastener; wherein the third fastener is secured to the shoelace proximate to the active area and distal from the first fastener;
 wherein the fourth fastener is secured to the shoelace the loop distance from the third fastener and distal from the active area; and wherein the third fastener may secure to the fourth fastener. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method for creating a universal modified shoelace, the method comprising:
 obtaining a plurality of shoes wherein each of the plurality of shoes comprises an uppermost set of eyelets, a lowermost set of eyelets, a left set of eyelets, and a right set of eyelets, wherein each of the eyelets in the left set of eyelets has a corresponding eyelet in the right set of eyelets, wherein each eyelet has a left, a right, a bottom and a top, wherein the uppermost set of eyelets comprises an uppermost left eyelet and an uppermost right eyelet, wherein the lowermost set of eyelets comprises a lowermost left eyelet and a lowermost right eyelet, wherein a shoelace may be laced through each of the eyelets;   measuring, on each of the plurality of shoes, a vertical distance between the uppermost set of eyelets and the lowermost set of eyelets disposed on one of the plurality of shoes;   measuring, on each of the plurality of shoes, a horizontal distance between any of the plurality eyelets in the left set of eyelets and the corresponding eyelet in the right set of eyelets;   determining a mean vertical distance from each of the vertical distances;   determining a mean horizontal distance from each of the horizontal distances;   determining an active length of the shoelace that is necessary to lace up and tie an ideal shoe having a vertical distance equal to the mean vertical distance and a horizontal distance equal to the mean horizontal distance;   locating a center point of the shoelace;   locating a first attachment point an active length divided by two distance to the right from the center point of the shoelace;   determining a loop distance;   locating a second attachment point a loop distance to the right of the first attachment point;   securing a first fastener to the first attachment point;   securing a second fastener to the second attachment point, wherein the first fastener may be secured to the second fastener.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising the steps of:
 locating a third attachment point an active length distance to the left of the first attachment point; 
 locating a fourth attachment point a loop distance to the left of the third attachment point; 
 securing a third fastener to the third attachment point; 
 securing a fourth fastener to the fourth attachment point, wherein the third fastener may be secured to the fourth fastener.