Apparatus and method for lacing

Abstract

Lacing apparatus comprising a lace which may be threaded through a plurality of apertures defined by at least two portions of one or more articles; connecting means for connecting the free ends of the lace to one another, so that when the free ends of the lace are connected to one another, the lace forms a continuous loop; and mechanical locking means for receiving the lace and releasably locking at least two portions of the lace in proximity to one another when at least a portion of the lace has been threaded through the apertures and the free ends of the lace are connected to one another. Footwear incorporating features of this apparatus, as well as methods of releasably lacing together two or more objects, are also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Lacing apparatus which comprises: 
 a) a lace which may be threaded through a plurality of apertures defined by at least two portions of one or more articles;    b) connecting means for connecting the free ends of the lace to one another, so that when the free ends of the lace are connected to one another, the lace forms a continuous loop; and    c) mechanical locking means for receiving the lace and releasably locking at least two portions of the lace in proximity to one another when at least a portion of the lace has been threaded through the apertures and the free ends of the lace are connected to one another.    
     
     
         2 . Lacing apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein the connecting means comprises a clamp.  
     
     
         3 . Lacing apparatus according to    claim 2    wherein the clamp is comprised of two halves of a hollow, open-ended cylinder, each of the two halves being connectable to one another so that, when connected, the halves may form the hollow cylinder, and wherein the clamp further comprises lace retention means for retaining at least a portion of each of the free end portions of the lace within the hollow cylinder.  
     
     
         4 . Lacing apparatus according to    claim 3    wherein the hollow cylinder defines an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the lace retention means comprises one or more spiked flanges which extend from the inner surface into the space formed by the hollow cylinder.  
     
     
         5 . Lacing apparatus according to    claim 4    wherein the clamp further comprises a secondary flange extending radially outwardly from the outer surface of the hollow cylinder, and wherein one of the halves of the hollow cylinder defines an aperture through which the free ends of the lace may be threaded.  
     
     
         6 . Lacing apparatus according to    claim 4    wherein the locking means comprises a wheel lock-type cord fastener.  
     
     
         7 . Lacing apparatus according to    claim 6    wherein the lace comprises a strand of elastic material.  
     
     
         8 . Lacing apparatus according to    claim 7    wherein the elastic material is a synthetic rubber.  
     
     
         9 . Lacing apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein the locking means comprises a wheel lock-type cord fastener.  
     
     
         10 . Lacing apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein the lace comprises a strand of elastic material.  
     
     
         11 . Lacing apparatus according to    claim 10    wherein the elastic material is a synthetic rubber.  
     
     
         12 . Lacing apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein the articles comprise items of footwear.  
     
     
         13 . Footwear which comprises: 
 a) a sole;    b) an upper footwear portion connected to the sole and defining two or more apertures;    c) a lace which may be threaded through the apertures;    d) connecting means for connecting the fee ends of the lace together to form a continuous loop; and    e) mechanical locking means for receiving the lace and releasably locking at least two portions of the lace in proximity to one another when at least a portion of the lace has been threaded through the apertures and the free ends of the lace are connected to one another.    
     
     
         14 . Footwear according to    claim 13    wherein the connecting means comprises a clamp.  
     
     
         15 . Footwear according to    claim 14    wherein the clamp is comprised of two halves of a hollow, open-ended cylinder, each of the two halves being connectable to one another so that, when connected, the halves may form the hollow cylinder, and wherein the clamp further comprises lace retention means for retaining at least a portion of each of the free end portions of the lace within the hollow cylinder.  
     
     
         16 . Footwear according to    claim 15    wherein the hollow cylinder defines an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the lace retention means comprises one or more spiked flanges which extend from the inner surface into the space formed by the hollow cylinder.  
     
     
         17 . Footwear according to    claim 16    wherein the clamp further comprises a secondary flange extending radially outwardly from the outer surface of low cylinder, and wherein one of the halves of the hollow cylinder defines an aperture through which the free ends of the lace may be threaded.  
     
     
         18 . Footwear according to    claim 16    wherein the mechanical locking means comprises a wheel lock-type cord fastener.  
     
     
         19 . Footwear according to    claim 18    wherein the lace comprises a strand of elastic material.  
     
     
         20 . Footwear according to    claim 19    wherein the elastic material is a synthetic rubber.  
     
     
         21 . Footwear according to    claim 13    wherein the locking means comprises a wheel lock-type cord fastener.  
     
     
         22 . Footwear according to    claim 13    wherein the lace comprises a strand of elastic material.  
     
     
         23 . Footwear according to    claim 22    wherein the elastic material is a synthetic rubber.  
     
     
         24 . A method of releasably securing two or more objects together, the method comprising: 
 a) threading a lace through (1) mechanical locking means for receiving the lace and releasably locking at least two portions of the lace in proximity to one another and (2) through two or more apertures formed by the objects,    b) connecting together the free ends of the lace to form a continuous loop,    c) pulling upon the threaded lace so as to bring the objects into proximity with one another, and    d) securing the mechanical locking means so as to releasably lock the lace portions in proximity to one another, thereby inhibiting separation of the objects.    
     
     
         25 . A method according to    claim 24   , wherein the objects are portions of footwear and wherein the mechanical locking means comprises a wheel lock-type cord fastener.