Combination Shoelace Knot Retainer and Charm Connector

Abstract

The invention relates to soft/flexible connectors that are used with lace-up footwear to retain the original bow-style shape of a tied shoelace knot as an individual walks, runs, hikes, cycles, jumps, or performs any additional athletic or everyday movements. Furthermore, the invention's utility extends beyond the aforementioned function by providing wearers of lace-up footwear with a way to secure decorative/ornamental charms to their shoelaces as a form of accessory that may be removed and replaced to suit one's individual preferences. Noteworthy features include two functional holes extending through the invention's front and back faces, which allow free shoelace ends to be pulled through and tied in an additional knot beneath the original bow. This dual-hole design helps to secure the bow-style shape of a tied shoelace knot and prevent unintended untying during physical activity. Additionally, a third functional hole on the top face facilitates the optional insertion of decorative/ornamental charms.

1 . A manufactured article for retaining tied shoelace knots and attaching decorative/ornamental charms to lace-up footwear, the article comprising:
 the body made entirely from elastomeric material such as rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), the aforementioned body having a cuboid-like shape with rounded edges, a cored-out bottom portion, and three functional holes comprising a first tapered through hole and a second tapered through hole that both extrude through its front and back faces, and a tapered blind hole cored into its top face that extends partially through the height of the article;   the first and second tapered through holes having a differential entryway size that are circular in shape, wherein the entryway for receiving a shoelace aglet along with the connected shoelace is greater in diameter than the interior of both the first and second through holes, such that each through hole may expand to accommodate different shoelace diameters and aglet diameters upon insertion, and dynamically contract around an inserted shoelace, thereby enabling adaptive gripping forces to act upon both of them;   the body designed to accommodate the insertion and removal of external inserts that possess tips which are partially conical in shape and have variably formed ends that may be flat, spherical, angled, truncated, hollowed, or pointed through the tapered blind hole cored into its top face, wherein the tapered blind hole is designed to expand beyond its original size to allow for a press/compression fit for the insertion of external inserts whose partially conical tips may possess a variable maximum diameter which may be securely joined or adhered to decorative/ornamental charms such that the body may act as a charm connector;   the body possessing complete elastomeric properties enabling bending, expanding, and elongating in response to deforming forces before returning to its original shape;   the body designed to secure a tied shoelace bow knot by allowing the free ends of the tied shoelace bow knot to enter from the body's back face and pass through the first and second tapered through holes and be tied into an additional anchoring knot upon exit from the front face of the body, wherein the anchoring knot prevents the free shoelace ends from swaying during movement, which would otherwise cause a tied shoelace bow to come unraveled during wear. The anchoring knot's tightness may vary based on the wearer's preference, which due to the body's flexible properties, enables it to proportionally deform inward toward the tied shoelace bow knot and reform to its original shape upon the anchoring knot's release.   
     
     
         2 . The manufactured article of  claim 1 , wherein, when formed using an injection mold, the cored-out bottom portion is hollowed and comprises at least four cavities configured to prevent issues associated with excessive wall thickness, such as material shrinkage and sink marks due to uneven cooling during the injection molding process, and at least one additional circular cavity that is positioned on the article's bottom face to serve as a locating point for an ejector sleeve to facilitate the removal of the article from a mold once manufacturing is complete. 
     
     
         3 . The manufactured article of  claim 1 , wherein two out of the three functional holes comprise a first tapered through hole and a second tapered through hole that both extrude all the way through the body's front and back faces, configured for pulling free ends of shoelaces through in an aglet-first direction one by one such that each lace and aglet tip are retained individually through the first and second tapered through hole, respectively, to be tied in an additional anchoring knot to secure the invention in place, and the tapered blind hole that extends partially through the height of the article and is configured for connecting external inserts of a partially conical shape which may be joined or adhered to decorative/ornamental charms into its top face where the elastomeric properties of the manufactured article and tapered blind hole compress and conform to the shape of any inserted object. 
     
     
         4 . The manufactured article of  claim 1 , wherein the body is integrally formed as a single piece, and draft angles are incorporated on the front and back faces, side walls, and all extrusions to prevent manufacturing issues, with no draft angles being incorporated on the top and bottom faces. 
     
     
         5 . The manufactured article of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric material selected possesses a low shore hardness, ideally within the range of 20 A to 40 A on the Shore A hardness (durometer) scale to exhibit soft/flexible physical characteristics such that the article may bend, expand, and elongate in response to deforming forces either imposed upon through a user's touch, physical activity, or other external forces, and return to its original shape once such forces are removed. 
     
     
         6 . The manufactured article of  claim 5 , wherein the elastomeric material's low shore hardness contributes to the article's flexibility, allowing for easy manipulation during the insertion and removal of decorative/ornamental charms that are joined or adhered to inserts, such as those that possess tips which are partially conical in shape, wherein the elastomeric properties of the article and the geometric compatibility between the tapered blind hole and the partially conical insert enable the insert to slide in with minimal resistance, temporarily deforming the surrounding material, and then securely conforming to and gripping the inserted object due to the material's elastic recovery upon insertion and removal. 
     
     
         7 . The manufactured article of  claim 1 , wherein decorative/ornamental charms may be inserted or replaced either before or after mounting the article to lace-up footwear, wherein the article is mounted to shoelaces via an anchoring knot tied at the front face of the body, and wherein the tapered blind hole and the first and second tapered through holes are spaced apart at a predetermined distance such that the tapered blind hole remains accessible while the article is secured in place, allowing for the insertion and removal of external inserts with partially conical tips without requiring detachment of the article from the shoelaces, wherein the elastomeric properties of the article allow the tapered blind hole to expand beyond its original diameter to accommodate the external insert while maintaining sufficient retention forces to secure it in place. 
     
     
         8 . The manufactured article of  claim 1 , wherein its rounded edges are designed to minimize discomfort or irritation to the wearer and prevent damage to surrounding footwear material, wherein the rounded edges and the article's soft elastomeric material properties collectively serve as an additional safety feature to reduce the risk of injury in cases where an individual accidentally steps on or falls onto the article, and wherein the rounded edges, in combination with the soft elastomeric material, allow the article to fully deform and absorb impact forces upon contact, and thus reducing the likelihood of potential harm to both individuals and surrounding footwear surfaces, while also providing an ergonomic benefit by making the article more comfortable to handle when being held or carried. 
     
     
         9 . The manufactured article of  claim 1 , wherein the body is designed with a secure press/compression fit for the insertion of decorative/ornamental charms, wherein the tapered blind hole expands beyond its original diameter upon insertion of an external insert, such as one possessing a partially conical tip, and conforms around the inserted object due to the body's elastomeric properties, ensuring stability during wear and limiting the chances of unintended detachment, wherein the retention level can be further increased based on the tightness of the anchoring knot tied at the front face, as the body is capable of proportionally deforming inward toward the tied shoelace bow knot, applying additional compressive forces onto the inserted object to further enhance the grip of the tapered blind hole. 
     
     
         11 . The manufactured article of  claim 1 , wherein the knot retainer is specifically designed to provide secure retention of tied shoelace knots during activities such as walking, running, hiking, cycling, and/or various other athletic and daily movements, ensuring the wearer's shoelaces remain securely tied, wherein the article is secured in place by an additional anchoring knot tied at the front face that prevents the free ends of the shoelaces from swaying unrestricted, and wherein the tightness of the anchoring knot enables the body to deform inward proportionally toward the shoelace bow knot, compacting the bow knot into a denser form and increasing its resistance to loosening over time. 
     
     
         12 . A manufactured article for lace-up footwear, comprising:
 a knot retainer made entirely from elastomeric material, configured to prevent the loosening of tied shoelace knots by allowing proportional deformation in response to applied forces, wherein the tightness of the anchoring knot tied at the article's front face directly influences the degree of compression applied to the shoelace bow knot, enabling dynamic compaction to enhance its stability and resistance to loosening;   a charm connector made from elastomeric material, that allows for the secure attachment of decorative/ornamental charms through the insertion of external inserts possessing tips that are partially conical in shape, wherein the elastomeric properties of the article enable a tapered blind hole cored into the center of the article's top face to expand and contract, ensuring a secure press/compression fit around the inserted fittings without interfering with the retention functions of the knot retainer;   a first tapered through hole and a second tapered through hole, each having differential entryway sizes, wherein the entryway for receiving a shoelace aglet is greater in diameter than the internal through-hole dimensions, enabling the through-holes to expand and dynamically contract around inserted shoelaces to provide adaptive gripping forces;   at least one tube-like structure that surrounds the lower portion of the first and second through holes, respectively, which reinforces the cavities and maintains the structural integrity of each through hole, despite the presence of surrounding open/cored-out sections on the bottom of the article;   wherein the tapered blind hole and the first and second tapered through holes remain structurally independent and do not intersect, merge, or branch into separate channels, ensuring that each hole functions as a distinct cavity with its own expansion and contraction capabilities;   wherein the knot retainer and charm connector are part of a single body that enables both functions, such that the flexible elastomeric material of the body allows each function to operate independently without interfering with the other, enabling the knot retainer to secure the shoelace knot while the tapered blind hole on the top face expands and contracts to accommodate inserted objects.