Shoelace locking apparatus

Abstract

A shoelace locking apparatus comprises a body attachable to both ends of a shoelace, a locking lever, and a pin. The body defines a retaining passage therein for receiving the first end of the shoelace and a locking passage therein for receiving a second end of the shoelace. A knot tied in the first end of the shoelace prevents it from passing back through the retaining passage. Within a recess in communication with the locking passage a rotating locking lever is mounted on the pin. By pulling the second end of the shoelace through the locking passage past the locking lever and rotating the locking lever into the locking position, the second end of the shoelace may be immobilized relative to the body. Tension in the shoelace serves to keep the lever in the locked position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoelace locking apparatus, comprising:
 a body having a first passage for receiving one portion of a shoelace, a second passage for receiving another portion of a shoelace, a recess in communication with the second passage, and a lower surface defining at least a portion of the second passage and positioned in an opposing relationship to the recess, each of the first passage and the second passage having an inlet end and an outlet end; and   a locking lever having at least one bearing surface, the locking lever positioned in the recess of the body and attached to the body in a way that the locking lever is movable between an open position wherein the bearing surface of the locking lever is retracted away from the lower surface of the body to permit movement of the shoelace through the second passage and a locked position wherein the bearing surface is disposed in the second passage so as to compress the portion of the shoelace disposed through the second passage between the bearing surface of the locking lever and the lower surface of the body to immobilize the portion of the shoelace disposed through the second passage.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein locking lever is pivotally attached to the body, and wherein the locking lever and the body are configured such that when the locking lever is in the locked position with the portion of the shoelace compressed, the net moment on the locking lever due to the compression of the shoelace is zero. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the locking lever is configured such that the locking lever is caused to be maintained in the locked position in response to tension applied to the portion of the shoelace disposed through the second passage in a direction from the outlet end toward the inlet end. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the locking lever is configured such that the locking lever is caused to move from the locked position to the open position in response to application of a force on the locking lever to cause the bearing surface to rotate in a direction toward the outlet end. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the recess of the body is formed adjacent the outlet end of the second passage, and wherein the locking lever is configured such that the locking lever is caused to move from the locked position to the open position in response to application of a force on the locking lever to cause the bearing surface to rotate in a direction toward the outlet end. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the recess communicating with the second passage is a first recess and the locking lever positioned in the first recess is a first locking lever, wherein the body has a second recess in communication with the first passage, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:
 a second locking lever having at least one bearing surface, the second locking lever positioned in the second recess of the body and attached to the body in a way that the second locking lever is movable between an open position wherein the bearing surface of the locking lever is retracted from the first passage and a locked position wherein the bearing surface is disposed in the first passage so as to compress the portion of the shoelace disposed through the first passage between the bearing surface of the second locking lever and the body and thereby immobilize the portion of the shoelace disposed through the first passage.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first passage and the second passage are in a parallel relationship to one another, wherein the first recess of the body is formed adjacent the outlet end of the second passage and the second recess is formed adjacent the outlet end of the first passage, and wherein the inlet end of the first passage is adjacent the outlet end of the second passage. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the body has a pair of parallel sides. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the locking lever is slidably attached to the body. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the recess of the body is formed adjacent the outlet end of the second passage, and wherein the locking lever is configured such that the locking lever is caused to be maintained in the locked position in response to tension applied to the portion of the shoelace disposed through the second passage in a direction from the outlet end toward the inlet end. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the locking lever is configured such that the locking lever is caused to move from the locked position to the open position in response to application of a force on the locking lever to cause the bearing surface to rotate in a direction toward the outlet end. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the recess of the body is formed adjacent the outlet end of the second passage, and wherein the locking lever is configured such that the locking lever is caused to move from the locked position to the open position in response to application of a force on the locking lever to cause the bearing surface to rotate in a direction toward the outlet end. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the locking lever engages the body in the locked position.