Shoe fastener and extension tool

Abstract

Described is a shoe fastener for use with a shoe having an upper, eyelets in the upper, and laces. The shoe fastener includes a zipper having a zipper clasp and a tape. The tape has a width on each side of the zipper clasp that is sized and shaped to accommodate tape eyelets in the tape on each side of the zipper clasp. Upon inserting the shoe fastener adjacent to the upper of the shoe, and threading the laces through the shoe eyelets and the tape eyelets to secure the fastener to the shoe, the shoe may be fastened and unfastened by operating the zipper clasp.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe fastener for use with a shoe having an upper, eyelets in the upper, and laces, the shoe fastener comprising:
 a zipper having a zipper clasp and a tape, wherein the tape has a width on each side of the zipper clasp; and   a plurality of tape eyelets in the tape on each side of the zipper clasp;   the tape width being sized and shaped to accommodate the tape eyelets;   wherein upon inserting the fastener adjacent to the upper of the shoe, and threading the laces through the shoe eyelets and the tape eyelets to secure the fastener to the shoe, the shoe may be fastened and unfastened by operating the zipper clasp.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe fastener of  claim 1 , further including four extra laces, each extra lace being sized and shaped to thread through the tape eyelets on a side of the zipper clasp and the corresponding shoe eyelets on a corresponding side of the upper. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe fastener of  claim 2 , wherein the extra laces include a stop at one end, the stops being sized and shaped larger than the tape eyelets, wherein the stopped end cannot be threaded through the tape eyelets. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the tape width is further sized and shaped so that a separation distance between tape eyelets on opposing sides of the zipper clasp is substantially similar to a separation distance between shoe eyelets on opposing sides of the upper. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the number of tape eyelets is the same as the number of shoe eyelets. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe fastener of  claim 1 , wherein a spacing of tape eyelets from one another is substantially similar to a spacing of shoe eyelets from one another. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the zipper is one of: a one-stage type of zipper and a two-stage type of zipper. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the tape is made of a soft, pliant, and flexible material. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe fastener of  claim 8 , wherein the tape material is from the group consisting of:
 cloth, canvas, plastic, and rubber.   
     
     
         10 . A shoe fastener kit comprising:
 a shoe having an upper, eyelets in the upper, and laces; and   a shoe fastener comprising a zipper having a zipper clasp and a tape, and a plurality of tape eyelets in the tape on each side of the zipper clasp;   wherein upon inserting the shoe fastener adjacent to the upper of the shoe, and threading the laces through the shoe eyelets and the tape eyelets to secure the shoe fastener to the shoe, the shoe may be fastened and unfastened by operating the zipper clasp.   
     
     
         11 . The shoe fastener kit of  claim 10 , wherein the tape is sized and shaped so that a separation distance between tape eyelets on opposing sides of the zipper clasp is substantially similar to a separation distance between shoe eyelets on opposing sides of the upper. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe fastener kit of  claim 10 , wherein the number of tape eyelets is the same as the number of shoe eyelets. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe fastener kit of  claim 10 , wherein a spacing of tape eyelets from one another is substantially similar to a spacing of shoe eyelets from one another. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe fastener kit of  claim 10 , further including four extra laces, each extra lace being sized and shaped to thread through the tape eyelets on a side of the zipper clasp and the shoe eyelets a corresponding side of the upper. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe fastener kit of  claim 14 , wherein the extra laces include a stop at one end, the stops being sized and shaped to be sufficiently large so that the stopped end cannot be threaded through the tape eyelets. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe fastener kit of  claim 10 , wherein the tape of the fastener is comprised of the same material as the upper of the shoe. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe fastener kit of  claim 10 , wherein the tape is comprised of a material having at least one of: the same thickness as the upper, the same color as the upper, the same style as the upper, and the same pattern as the upper. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe fastener kit of  claim 10 , wherein the tape of the fastener and the upper of the shoe are each made from a soft, pliant, and flexible material. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe fastener kit of  claim 10 , further comprising a zipper pull tool, the tool having an extension and having a handle and an interaction element secured to opposing ends of the extension. 
     
     
         20 . A shoe fastener for use with a shoe having an upper, eyelets in the upper, and laces, the shoe fastener comprising:
 a zipper having a zipper clasp and a tape, wherein the tape is made of a soft, pliant, and flexible material;   an extension element made of a soft, pliant, and flexible material, and attached to each side of the tape; and   a plurality of fastener eyelets in each side of the extension element;   wherein upon inserting the fastener adjacent to the upper of the shoe, and threading the laces through the shoe eyelets and the fastener eyelets to secure the fastener to the shoe, the shoe may be fastened and unfastened by operating the zipper clasp.