Shoe Lace Retention Clip

Abstract

A lace-retention unit in the form of a retention clip or plate is configured to maintain retention of a shoe lace. The clip or plate includes a plurality of barbs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lace retention unit for footwear, comprising:
 at least one leg comprising:
 an interior surface having a first projecting portion; and 
 an exterior surface having a second projecting portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The lace retention unit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one leg defines a first leg and a second leg coupled to the first leg to define a U-shape. 
     
     
         3 . The lace retention unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first projecting portion comprises a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first and second protrusions being substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The lace retention unit of  claim 1 , wherein the retention unit may be oriented on at least one surface of the footwear to allow the at least one projecting portion to couple with the surface of the footwear. 
     
     
         5 . The lace retention unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a curved connector coupled to the at least one leg. 
     
     
         6 . The lace retention unit of  claim 1 , wherein the second projecting portion comprises a plurality of barbs to allow retention of a lace of the footwear. 
     
     
         7 . The lace retention unit of  claim 1 , wherein the leg may include at least one hole configured to align with an eyelet of the footwear. 
     
     
         8 . A lace-retention unit, comprising:
 at least one leg configured to be attached to footwear; and   a barb protruding from the at least one leg.   
     
     
         9 . The lace-retention unit of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the at least one leg comprises a top leg and a bottom leg which are connected with each other and a cavity is defined between the top and bottom legs to surround a portion of the footwear, and   each of the top and bottom legs comprises a plurality of inward-protruding barbs configured to couple with the footwear, and   at least the top leg comprises a plurality of barbs protruding outward to couple with a lace of the footwear.   
     
     
         10 . The lace-retention unit of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the top and bottom legs further comprises a hole configured to align with an eyelet hole of the footwear. 
     
     
         11 . The lace-retention system of  claim 10 , wherein the hole has a diameter equivalent to a diameter of the eyelet hole of the footwear. 
     
     
         12 . A lace-retention unit for footwear, comprising:
 a U-shaped clip comprising:
 a first leg having a first length; 
 a second leg having a second length; 
 a bridge connecting the first and second leg, wherein a cavity is defined between the first and second legs and the bridge; 
   a plurality of barbs on the first leg protruding into the cavity; and   at least one protrusion on the first leg protruding away from the cavity.   
     
     
         13 . The lace-retention unit of  claim 12 , wherein the second leg includes a plurality of barbs protruding into the cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The lace-retention unit of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one protrusion on the first leg comprises a plurality of barbs. 
     
     
         15 . The lace-retention unit of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one protrusion on the first leg comprises an angled protrusion further including a plurality of barbs on the protrusion. 
     
     
         16 . The lace-retention unit of  claim 12 , wherein the second length is shorter than the first length. 
     
     
         17 . The lace-retention unit of  claim 12 , wherein the first leg includes a hole configured to align with an eyelet hole on the footwear. 
     
     
         18 . The lace-retention unit of  claim 12 , wherein the first length and second length are the same. 
     
     
         19 . The lace-retention clip of  claim 18 , wherein the first leg includes a first hole and the second leg includes a second hole, and wherein the first and second holes are equidistant along the legs from the bridge.