Lace holder for footwear retained by laces

Abstract

A lace holder for retaining the laces of footwear consisting of a pair of orthogonal, thin, elongated, flaccid members connected one to the other at their central regions. Hook portions and loop portions of a hook-and-loop fastening system are selectively disposed proximate the ends of each of the pair of orthogonal, thin, elongated, flaccid members. One of the thin, elongated, flaccid members is placed around a group of the laces of the footwear and its ends secured to each other by compatible hook and loop portions. Once the laces are tied, the ends of the laces are then retained by encircling them with the second of the thin, elongated, flaccid members. Excess lengths of laces are then secured. Indicia may be placed on one or more of the pair of orthogonal, thin, elongated, flaccid members in such a manner so as to be visible once the lace ends are secured.

1 . A lace retaining device, comprising:
 a) a first elongated, thin, flaccid member having a front major surface and an opposing rear major surface and a first end region and an opposing second end region;   b) a second elongated, thin, flaccid member having a front major surface and an opposing rear major surface and a first end region and an opposing second end region, said second elongated, thin, flaccid member being disposed orthogonally to said first elongated, thin, flaccid member;   c) a first hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastening system disposed on both said first and said second elongated, thin, flaccid members in only said first end region of said front major surface of each thereof; and   d) a loop portion of a second hook-and-loop fastening system disposed on both said first and said second elongated, thin, flaccid members in only said second end region of said rear major surface of each thereof:   whereby central regions of both said first and said second elongated, thin, flaccid members intermediate respective said first and said second end regions of each are free of any portion of said second hook-and-loop fastening system.   
     
     
         2 . The lace retaining device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and said second elongated, thin, flaccid members comprise a central region disposed approximately midway between respective said first ends and said second ends thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The lace retaining device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said first and said second elongated, thin, flaccid members are permanently attached one to the other at their respective central regions. 
     
     
         4 . The lace retaining device as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said first and said second elongated, thin, flaccid members are permanently attached one to the other at their respective central regions using at least one of the methods selected from the group: securing with stitching, securing with at least one mechanical fastener, and securing with an adhesive. 
     
     
         5 . The lace retaining device as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 e) indicia disposed on at least one of said first and said second elongated, thin, flaccid members.   
     
     
         6 . The lace retaining device as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said indicia comprises at least one selected from the group: text, graphic symbols, and logotypes.