Shoelace lockdown system

Abstract

The present invention is a shoe having a lace lockdown system. In particular, the shoe comprises a sole attached to an upper. A lace threaded about the upper has a pull tab with a first piece of hook and loop material attached to the lace. A corresponding second piece of hook and loop material is connected to the shoe. Once the lace is tightened, the first piece of hook and loop material is coupled to the second piece of hook and loop material to secure the lace.

1 . A shoe, comprising: 
 a sole;    an upper coupled to the sole;    a throat arranged in the upper;    a tongue attached to the upper and traversing the throat;    at least one lace, the at least one lace traversing the throat;    a first piece of hook and loop material coupled to the at least one lace;    a second piece of hook and loop material coupled to the tongue; and    the first piece of hook and loop material to releasably couple to the second piece of hook and loop material to secure the at least one lace.    
   
   
       2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , further comprising a pull tab coupled to the at least one lace and wherein the first piece of hook and loop material resides on the pull tab.  
   
   
       3 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one lace is a continuous loop lace.  
   
   
       4 . The shoe of  claim 2 , further comprising a cord lock coupled to the at least one lace.  
   
   
       5 . The shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the cord lock defines a loop in the at least one lace and the pull tab is coupled to the at least one lace about the loop.  
   
   
       6 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the second piece of hook and loop material is coupled to the tongue about a centerline of the shoe.  
   
   
       7 . A shoe, comprising: 
 a sole;    an upper coupled to the sole, the upper having a centerline;    at least one lace, the at least one lace traversing the centerline of the upper;    a first piece of hook and loop material coupled to the at least one lace;    a second piece of hook and loop material coupled to the upper; and    the first piece of hook and loop material to releasably couple to the second piece of hook and loop material to secure the at least one lace.    
   
   
       8 . The shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the upper further comprises: 
 a throat substantially about the centerline of the upper; and    a tongue traversing the throat.    
   
   
       9 . The shoe of  claim 8 , wherein the second piece of hook and loop material is coupled to the tongue of the upper.  
   
   
       10 . The shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the second piece of hook and loop material is coupled to the centerline of the upper.  
   
   
       11 . The shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the second piece of hook and loop material is coupled to the upper such that the second piece of hook and loop material is not aligned with the centerline of the upper.  
   
   
       12 . The shoe of  claim 7 , further comprising a pull tab coupled to the at least one lace and wherein the first piece of hook and loop material resides on the pull tab.  
   
   
       13 . The shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one lace is a continuous loop lace.  
   
   
       14 . The shoe of  claim 12 , further comprising a cord lock coupled to the at least one lace.  
   
   
       15 . The shoe of  claim 14 , wherein the cord lock defines a loop in the at least one lace and the pull tab is coupled to the at least one lace about the loop.  
   
   
       16 . A method of wearing a shoe, the method comprising the steps of: 
 placing a shoe on a foot of a wearer;    orienting a cord lock into a first position such that a lace threaded through the cord lock can be moved;    pulling on a pull tab coupled to the lace to tighten the shoe about the foot of the wearer;    orienting the cord lock into a second position such that friction resists movement of the lace threaded through the cord lock; and    releasably securing the pull tab to the shoe.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of: 
 unsecuring the pull tab from the shoe;    orienting the cord lock into the first position such that the lace can be moved;    un-tightening the shoe; and    removing the shoe from the foot of the wearer.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the releasably securing step comprises engaging a first piece of hook and loop material to a corresponding second piece of hook and loop material.