Lace point

Abstract

A lace point includes: a thin plate adapted for use adjacent to a shoe eyelet of a shoe and adapted to receive a lace adjacent to the shoe eyelet; and at least one constricted receptacle slot defined within the thin plate, adapted to constrict the lace, and through which the lace passes in order to secure the lace fixed in place and to which the lace is thereby further deterred from movement; wherein the lace point secures a portion of a lace in a shoe, the shoe being loosely secured upon a foot of a wearer by a lace maintained in an untied, fashionable position within the shoe.

1 . A lace point to secure a portion of a lace in a shoe, the shoe being loosely secured upon a foot of a wearer by a lace maintained in an untied, fashionable position within the shoe, the lace point comprising:
 a rigid plate comprising a height, a width, and a thickness, the thickness at least one fourth of the width, adapted for use adjacent to a shoe eyelet of a shoe and adapted to receive a lace adjacent to and entering and exiting the shoe eyelet to secure the lace fixed in place and to which the lace is thereby further deterred from movement; and   three constricted receptacle slots, defined within the thin plate, of generally equal length and crossing one-another at a midpoint of each slot and equidistant in space apart from one another to form a general star-shape pattern having inwardly eight facing points, thereby adapted to constrict the lace, and through which the lace passes in order to secure the lace fixed in place and to which the lace is thereby further deterred from movement and adapted to provide further resistance to the lace and to secure the lace point against a shoe eyelet and resists pulls to the lace against the lace point;   wherein the lace point secures fixed in place a portion of a lace in a shoe, the shoe being loosely secured upon a foot of a wearer by a lace maintained fixed in place in an untied, fashionable position within the shoe.   
     
     
         2 . The lace point of  claim 1 , wherein the lace point is comprised of rubber. 
     
     
         3 . The lace point of  claim 1 , wherein the lace point is comprised of foam. 
     
     
         4 . The lace point of  claim 1 , wherein the lace point is comprised of plastic. 
     
     
         5 . The lace point of  claim 1 , wherein the lace point comprises a tear shape and a point at one end, thereby adapted to further secure the lace point against a shoe eyelet and resists pulls to the lace against the lace point. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The lace point of  claim 8 , wherein the three constricted receptacle slots are one quarter of an inch in length, thereby adapted to provide further resistance to a lace and to secure the lace point against a shoe eyelet and resists pulls to the lace against the lace point. 
     
     
         9 . The lace point of  claim 8 , wherein the three constricted receptacle slots are three sixteenths of an inch in length, thereby adapted to provide further resistance to a lace and to secure the lace point against a shoe eyelet and resists pulls to the lace against the lace point. 
     
     
         10 . The lace point of  claim 1 , wherein the lace point is one-half of an inch in width and one half of an inch in height and one eighth of an inch in thickness. 
     
     
         11 . The lace point of  claim 1 , wherein the lace point is one-half of an inch in width and three fourths of an inch in height and one eighth of an inch in thickness. 
     
     
         12 . The lace point of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one constricted receptacle slot is comprised of computerized numerical control (CNC) machine knife cut. 
     
     
         13 . A shoe comprising:
 at least one lace point comprising:   a rigid plate comprising a height, a width, and a thickness, the thickness at least one fourth of the width, adapted for use adjacent to a shoe eyelet of a shoe and adapted to receive a lace adjacent to and entering and exiting the shoe eyelet to secure the lace fixed in place and to which the lace is thereby further deterred from movement;
 three constricted receptacle slots, defined within the thin plate, of generally equal length and crossing one-another at a midpoint of each slot and equidistant in space apart from one another to form a general star-shape pattern having inwardly eight facing points, thereby adapted to constrict the lace, and through which the lace passes in order to secure the lace fixed in place and to which the lace is thereby further deterred from movement and adapted to provide further resistance to the lace and to secure the lace point against a shoe eyelet and resists pulls to the lace against the lace point; 
 wherein the lace point secures fixed in place a portion of a lace in a shoe, the shoe being loosely secured upon a foot of a wearer by a lace maintained fixed in place in an untied, fashionable position within the shoe. 
   
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one lace point is integrally formed within the shoe eyelet at a point of manufacture. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 14 , wherein the lace point comprises a tear shape and a point at one end, thereby adapted to further secure the lace point against a shoe eyelet and resists pulls to the lace against the lace point. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one constricted receptacle slot is comprised of computerized numerical control (CNC) machine knife cut. 
     
     
         19 . A method for securing a portion of a lace in a shoe, the shoe being loosely secured upon a foot of a wearer by a lace maintained in an untied, fashionable position within the shoe, the method comprising:
 utilizing at least one lace point comprising:
 a rigid plate comprising a height, a width, and a thickness, the thickness at least one fourth of the width, adapted for use adjacent to a shoe eyelet of a shoe and adapted to receive a lace adjacent to and entering and exiting the shoe eyelet to secure the lace fixed in place and to which the lace is thereby further deterred from movement; and 
 three constricted receptacle slots, defined within the thin plate, of generally equal length and crossing one-another at a midpoint of each slot and equidistant in space apart from one another to form a general star-shape pattern having inwardly eight facing points, thereby adapted to constrict the lace, and through which the lace passes in order to secure the lace fixed in place and to which the lace is thereby further deterred from movement and adapted to provide further resistance to the lace and to secure the lace point against a shoe eyelet and resists pulls to the lace against the lace point; and 
 wherein the lace point secures fixed in place a portion of a lace in a shoe, the shoe being loosely secured upon a foot of a wearer by a lace maintained fixed in place in an untied, fashionable position within the shoe; 
   placing at least one lace point adjacent to the shoe eyelet;   threading the lace through the lace point and shoe eyelet; and   maintain the lace in an untied, fashionable position within the shoe.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 placing at least one lace point adjacent to and on each side, both interior and exterior, of the shoe eyelet.