Shoe Lace Buckle and System

Abstract

A lacing system for a shoe comprising one or a plurality of buckles positioned between opposing eyelets of a shoe. The lace passes between an eyelet and an opening on the buckle, and back to a next eyelet. The buckles of the lacing system provide both functional and aesthetic improvements and customization options to a shoe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe comprising:
 a sole;   an upper connected to the sole;   a first plurality of eyelets defined by the upper for receiving a shoelace on a first side of the upper and a second plurality of eyelets defined by the upper for receiving a shoelace on a second side of the upper, such that the first plurality of eyelets and second plurality of eyelets are spaced apart from each other across a gap;   a buckle having a body, and defining two openings, the two openings on opposite sides of the buckle body, the buckle positioned in the gap between the first side of the upper and second side of the upper;   a shoelace passing through at least two of the first plurality of eyelets and the first of the two openings of the buckle such that the shoelace passes through, in order, a first of the first plurality of eyelets, the first buckle opening, and then the second of the first plurality of eyelets; and   the shoelace further passing through at least two of the second plurality of eyelets and the second of the two openings of the buckle, such that the shoelace passes through, in order, a first of the second plurality of eyelets, the second buckle opening, and then the second of the second plurality of eyelets.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of buckles each comprising a body, and defining two openings, the two openings on opposite sides of the buckle body, each of the plurality of buckles positioned in the gap between the first side of the upper and second side of the upper, and the shoe further comprising:
 the shoelace passing through, in order on the first side of the upper, a third of the first plurality of eyelets, a first opening of one of the plurality of buckles, and a fourth of the first plurality of eyelets, and 
 the shoelace passing through, in order on the second side of the upper, a third of the second plurality of eyelets, a second opening of the one of the plurality of buckles, and a fourth of the second plurality of eyelets. 
 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the two openings of the buckle are molded by the body or stamped through the body. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the buckle is formed of a strip of material, and the openings defined by the buckle being bent at a first end to define a first opening and bent at a second end to define the second opening. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the buckle further comprises a layer attached to a front face of the body, the layer comprising a design on its exterior surface. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the buckle further comprises a reflector attached to a front face of the body. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the shoelace crosses directly from a bottom most of the first plurality of eyelets closest to a toe of the shoe, to a bottom most of the second plurality of eyelets closest to the toe of the shoe. 
     
     
         8 . A shoe comprising:
 a sole;   an upper connected to the sole;   a first plurality of eyelets defined by the upper for receiving a lace on a first side of the upper and a second plurality of eyelets defined by the upper for receiving a lace on a second side of the upper, such that the first plurality of eyelets and second plurality of eyelets are spaced apart from each other across a gap;   a buckle having a body, and defining two openings, the two openings on opposite sides of the buckle body, the buckle positioned in the gap between the first side of the upper and second side of the upper;   a first shoelace passing through at least two of the first plurality of eyelets and the first of the two openings of the buckle such that the first shoelace passes through, in order, a first of the first plurality of eyelets, the first buckle opening, and then the second of the first plurality of eyelets; and   a second shoelace passing through at least two of the second plurality of eyelets and the second of the two openings of the buckle, such that the second shoelace passes through, in order, a first of the second plurality of eyelets, the second buckle opening, and then the second of the second plurality of eyelets.   
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 8  further comprising a plurality of buckles each comprising a body, and defining two openings, the two openings on opposite sides of the buckle body, each of the plurality of buckles positioned in the gap between the first side of the upper and second side of the upper, and the shoe further comprising:
 the first shoelace passing through, in order on the first side of the upper, a third of the first plurality of eyelets, a first opening of one of the plurality of buckles, and a fourth of the first plurality of eyelets, and 
 the second shoelace passing through, in order on the second side of the upper, a third of the second plurality of eyelets, a second opening of the one of the plurality of buckles, and a fourth of the second plurality of eyelets. 
 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 8  wherein an end of the first shoelace has a larger cross-sectional area than a cross sectional area of a bottom-most of the first plurality of eyelets to prevent the end of the first shoelace from passing through the bottom-most of the first plurality of eyelets. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 10  wherein an end of the second shoelace has a larger cross-sectional area than a cross sectional area of a bottom-most of the second plurality of eyelets to prevent the end of the second shoelace from passing through the bottom-most of the second plurality of eyelets. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 8  wherein the two openings of the buckle are molded by the body or stamped through the body. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 8  wherein the buckle is formed of a strip of material, and the openings defined by the buckle being bent at a first end to define a first opening and bent at a second end to define the second opening. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 8  wherein the buckle further comprises a layer attached to a front face of the body, the layer comprising a design on its exterior surface. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 8  wherein the buckle further comprises a reflector attached to a front face of the body. 
     
     
         16 . A shoelace buckle comprising:
 a body, and defining two openings, the two openings on opposite sides of the buckle body;   a first shoelace passing through a first of the two openings; and   a second shoelace being different and separate from the first shoelace passing through a second of the two openings.   
     
     
         17 . The shoelace buckle of  claim 16  wherein the first shoelace is connected to a shoe by passing through a first eyelet; and
 wherein the second shoelace is connected to the shoe by passing through second eyelet. 
 
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 16  wherein the two openings of the buckle are molded by the body or stamped through the body. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe of  claim 16  wherein the buckle is formed of a strip of material, and the openings defined by the buckle being bent at a first end to define a first opening and bent at a second end to define the second opening. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe of  claim 16  wherein the buckle further comprises a layer attached to a front face of the body, the layer comprising a design on its exterior surface.