Shoelace and method of manufacture

Abstract

A lace providing reduced slippage employs a set of compact outwardly protruding knobs attached, for example, by adhesion that operate to reduce slippage between the lace portions in a bow or at a point of passage through an islet through flexibility of the underlying lace.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A slip-resistant lace comprising:
 a lace body of flexible woven material extending in an axial direction between a first and second end terminating in at least one aglet defining an inner and outer surface of the lace body; and   a plurality of knobs of nonwoven material integrated on the outer surface of the lace body and extending outwardly therefrom, the knobs having a width perpendicular to the axial direction less than one half a circumferential perimeter of the lace body.   
     
     
         2 . The slip-resistant lace of  claim 1  wherein the knobs of nonwoven material are attached by adhesion to the outer surface of the lace body. 
     
     
         3 . The slip-resistant lace of  claim 2  wherein the lace body is a tube and the knobs adhere so as to allow the tube to attain a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         4 . The slip-resistant lace of  claim 1  wherein the knobs have a substantially dome-shaped outer surface. 
     
     
         5 . The slip-resistant lace of  claim 1  wherein the knobs are a polymer material attached to the lace body. 
     
     
         6 . The slip-resistant lace of  claim 5  wherein the knobs are a UV curable polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The slip-resistant lace of  claim 5  wherein the knobs are a non-elastomeric polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The slip-resistant lace of  claim 5  wherein the knobs are an acrylate material. 
     
     
         9 . The slip-resistant lace of  claim 1  wherein knobs comprise a first set on one side of the lace body and a second set on an opposite side of the lace body. 
     
     
         10 . The slip-resistant lace of  claim 9  wherein the first and second sets are axially staggered. 
     
     
         11 . The slip-resistant lace of  claim 10  wherein the first and second sets have substantially equal axial spacing and are offset axially by one half of that spacing. 
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing a slip-resistant lace of a type having a lace body of flexible woven material extending in an axial direction between a first and second end terminating in at least one aglet; a plurality of knobs of nonwoven material integrated on an outer surface of the lace body having a width perpendicular to the axial direction less than one half a circumferential perimeter of the lace body, the method providing:
 applying a UV curable adhesive to an outer surface of the lace body at regular locations along an axial length of the lace body; and   applying a UV light to cure the adhesive to form the knobs.