Shoelace Centering Device

Abstract

A shoelace centering device for securely holding a shoelace centered between bottom eyelets of a shoe and maintaining opposite tie ends of the shoelace even in length is provided. The shoelace centering device comprises a first securing portion and a second securing portion. A hinge connection is provided between the first and second securing portions with the hinge connection allowing the first and second securing portions to move from a non-contacting open position to a contacting closed position. A locking mechanism releasably secures the first and second securing portions in the contacting closed position. Upon positioning the bottom eyelet shoelaces between the first and second securing portions when the first and second securing portions are in the non-contacting open position. Upon releasably securing the first and second securing portions together in the contacting closed position, the shoelaces are anchored from shifting and maintaining opposite tie ends of the shoelace even in length.

1 . A shoelace centering device for securely holding a shoelace centered between bottom eyelets of a shoe and maintaining opposite tie ends of the shoelace even in length, the shoelace centering device comprising:
 a first securing portion having a first outer perimeter edge   a second securing portion having a second outer perimeter edge;   a hinge connection between the first securing portion and the second securing portion, the hinge connection allowing the first securing portion and the second securing portion to move from a non-contacting open position to a contacting closed position; and   a locking mechanism for releasably securing the first securing portion to the second securing portion in the contacting closed position;   wherein upon positioning the bottom eyelet shoelaces between the first securing portion and the second securing portion when the first securing portion and the second securing portion are in the non-contacting open position; and   wherein upon releasably securing the first securing portion and the second securing portion together in the contacting closed position, the shoelaces are anchored from shifting and maintaining opposite tie ends of the shoelace even in length.   
     
     
         2 . The shoelace centering device of  claim 1  wherein the first securing portion and the second securing portion are molded integrally to a tongue of the shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The shoelace centering device of  claim 1  wherein the first securing portion is hingedly connected to the second securing portion along a portion of the first outer perimeter edge and the second outer perimeter edge. 
     
     
         4 . The shoelace centering device of  claim 3  wherein the first securing portion and the second securing portion have a substantially rectangular shape, wherein the hinge connection between the first securing portion and the second securing portion is no longer than the length of one of the sides. 
     
     
         5 . The shoelace centering device of  claim 3  wherein the first securing portion and the second securing portion have a substantially round or elliptical shape, wherein the length of the hinge connection between the first securing portion and the second securing portion is no longer than one-half the length of the circumference. 
     
     
         6 . The shoelace centering device of  claim 1  wherein upon releasably securing the first securing portion and the second securing portion together in the contacting closed position, the first outer perimeter edge aligns with the second outer perimeter edge with no overlap of either the first outer perimeter edge or the second outer perimeter edge relative to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The shoelace centering device of  claim 1  wherein the first securing portion and the second securing portion is molded in a single piece of a resilient plastic material. 
     
     
         8 . The shoelace centering device of  claim 7  wherein the hinge connection is a narrow sliver of material between the first securing portion and the second securing portion. 
     
     
         9 . The shoelace centering device of  claim 8  wherein the sliver of material biases the first securing portion and the second securing portion into the non-contacting open position. 
     
     
         10 . The shoelace centering device of  claim 1  wherein the hinge connection biases the first securing portion and the second securing portion into the non-contacting open position. 
     
     
         11 . The shoelace centering device of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism is a finger extending from the first outer perimeter edge of the first securing portion, opposite the hinge connection, and a nub formed the second outer perimeter edge of the second securing portion, wherein the finger releasably interacts with the nub. 
     
     
         12 . A method for securely holding a shoelace centered between bottom eyelets of a shoe and maintaining opposite tie ends of the shoelace even in length, the method comprising:
 providing a first securing portion having a first outer perimeter edge;   providing a second securing portion having a second outer perimeter edge;   hingedly connecting the first securing portion and the second securing portion;   positioning the bottom eyelet shoelaces between the first securing portion and the second securing portion;   moving the first securing portion and the second securing portion together;   releasably securing the first securing portion to the second securing portion;   anchoring the shoelaces from shifting; and   maintaining opposite tie ends of the shoelace even in length.   
     
     
         13 . A shoelace centering device for securely holding a shoelace centered between bottom eyelets of a shoe and maintaining opposite tie ends of the shoelace even in length, the shoelace centering device comprising:
 a first securing portion having a first outer perimeter edge;   a second securing portion having a second outer perimeter edge;   a hinge connection between the first securing portion and the second securing portion along a portion of the first outer perimeter edge and the second outer perimeter edge, the hinge connection biasing the first securing portion and the second securing portion into a non-contacting open position; and   a locking mechanism for releasably securing the first securing portion to the second securing portion together in a contacting closed position;   wherein upon positioning the bottom eyelet shoelaces between the first securing portion and the second securing portion when the first securing portion and the second securing portion are in the non-contacting open position; and   wherein upon releasably securing the first securing portion and the second securing portion together in the contacting closed position, the shoelaces are anchored from shifting and maintaining opposite tie ends of the shoelace even in length.   
     
     
         14 . The shoelace centering device of  claim 13  wherein the first securing portion and the second securing portion are molded integrally to a tongue of the shoe. 
     
     
         15 . The shoelace centering device of  claim 13  wherein the first securing portion and the second securing portion have a substantially rectangular shape, wherein the hinge connection between the first securing portion and the second securing portion is no longer than the length of one of the sides. 
     
     
         16 . The shoelace centering device of  claim 13  wherein the first securing portion and the second securing portion have a substantially round or elliptical shape, wherein the length of the hinge connection between the first securing portion and the second securing portion is no longer than one-half the length of the circumference. 
     
     
         17 . The shoelace centering device of  claim 13  wherein upon releasably securing the first securing portion and the second securing portion together in the contacting closed position, the first outer perimeter edge aligns with the second outer perimeter edge with no overlap of either the first outer perimeter edge or the second outer perimeter edge relative to each other. 
     
     
         18 . The shoelace centering device of  claim 13  wherein the first securing portion and the second securing portion is molded in a single piece of a resilient plastic material. 
     
     
         19 . The shoelace centering device of  claim 18  wherein the hinge connection is a narrow sliver of material between the first securing portion and the second securing portion, the sliver of material biasing the first securing portion and the second securing portion into the non-contacting open position. 
     
     
         20 . The shoelace centering device of  claim 13  wherein the locking mechanism is a finger extending from the first outer perimeter edge of the first securing portion, opposite the hinge connection, and a nub formed the second outer perimeter edge of the second securing portion, wherein the finger releasably interacts with the nub.