Adjustable stop piece for lacings and method of use

Abstract

A stopper for securing an end of a lace in an article having at least one eyelet is disclosed. The stopper comprises: a body member including: a series of through openings formed in said body member, said through openings being arranged generally in a row and including: a first opening for passage of said lace therethrough from said eyelet; and a second opening located a spaced distance from said first opening for passage of said lace therethrough from said first opening, and an edge on said body member located on a side of said second opening generally opposite said first opening for passage of said lace thereover from said second opening in said body member

1 . A stopper for securing an end of a lace in an article having at least one eyelet, said stopper comprising;
 a body member including:
 a series of through openings formed in said body member, said through openings being arranged generally in a row and including:
 a first opening for passage of said lace therethrough from said eyelet; and 
 a second opening located a spaced distance from said first opening for passage of said lace therethrough from said first opening, and 
 
 an edge on said body member located on a side of said second opening generally opposite said first opening for passage of said lace thereover from said second opening in said body member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein said series of through openings further include:
 a third opening located a spaced distance from said first opening on a side opposite said second opening for passage of said lace therethrough from said edge on said body member, said third opening being generally slot-shaped and extending substantially perpendicular to said row in which said openings are arranged.   
     
     
         3 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein said body member comprises:
 a thin, generally flat body member.   
     
     
         4 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein said body member is formed of a substantially rigid material. 
     
     
         5 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein said body member further comprises:
 a first end located proximate said second through opening; and   a second, opposite end located proximate said third through opening;   said first and second ends of said body member each comprising an edge extending substantially perpendicular to said row along which said through openings are arranged.   
     
     
         6 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein said body member comprises:
 a flat, generally rectangular body member, said row along which said series of through openings is arranged being substantially aligned with a long axis of said rectangular body member.   
     
     
         7 . The stopper of  claim 2 , wherein said slot-shaped third opening comprises:
 a generally slot-shaped opening dimensioned to spread said lace into a flattened form therein.   
     
     
         8 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second through openings each comprise:
 a generally round opening having a diameter sized to permit said lace to pass substantially freely therethrough.   
     
     
         9 . The stopper of  claim 2 , wherein said slot-shaped third opening comprises:
 a narrow, substantially rectangular through opening.   
     
     
         10 . The stopper of  claim 5 , wherein said edge of said first end of said body member comprises:
 a plurality of teeth for forming an engagement with material of said lace.   
     
     
         11 . The stopper of  claim 2 , wherein said second and third openings are spaced outwardly from said first opening by distances sufficient that at least portions of said second and third openings will be positioned beyond a predetermined perimeter of said eyelet when said first opening is aligned coaxially therewith. 
     
     
         12 . A stopper for securing an end of a lace in a shoe having at least one eyelet, said stopper comprising:
 a thin, flat body member having first and second ends;   a series of through openings formed in said body member, said series of through openings being arranged in a row substantially along a longitudinal axis of said rectangular body member and comprising:
 a first, generally round through opening; and 
 a second, generally round through opening located a spaced distance from said first opening and proximate said first end of said rectangular body member; and 
   a plurality of teeth formed on said first end of said body member for forming an engagement with material of said lace that passes through said openings of said body member.   
     
     
         13 . The stopper of  claim 12 , wherein said series of through opening in said body member further comprises:
 a rectangular slot-shaped through opening located a spaced distance from said middle opening and proximate said second end of said body member and dimensioned to spread said lace into a flattened form therein.