Lace end connector and method of use

Abstract

The present invention discloses a lace end assembly having a male end connector and a female end connector. The lace end assembly uses an integrated magnet in one connector that interacts with another magnet in the other connector to couple the connectors. The male end connector is adapted to retain a knotted end of a pair of laces, such as found in a wakeboard binding. The female end connector is mounted on the wakeboard binding. The male end connector includes a protrusion that houses a first magnet. The female end connector includes a body portion that houses a second magnet. The female end connector also includes a cavity. The cavity receives the male end connector to allow the magnet to align and link magnetically, thus securing the lace ends to the binding.

1 . A lace end assembly for securing loose lace ends of a binding comprising: 
 a male end connector having means for retaining ends of a pair of laces, the male end connector having a protrusion, the protrusion including a first magnet; and    a female end connector having a body portion having a second magnet therein, the body portion forming a second cavity, the second cavity adapted to receive the protrusion of the male end connector for magnetic holding as a result of interaction between the first and second magnets, the female end connector adapted to be mounted to the binding.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the binding comprises a shoe, a wakeboard binding or the like or any other article that would use laces for retention purposes.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining means further comprising a male end body having a first cavity sized to retain the knotted end, the first cavity including an opening to allow the pair of laces to pass therethrough.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first cavity is formed in an underside of the male end body.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the female end connector includes a unshaped extension that extends from the body portion and is sized to surround a portion of a periphery of a male end connector when the female and male end connectors are linked.  
     
     
         6 . A binding including the lace end assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the female end connector is mounted to a portion of the binding.  
     
     
         7 . The foot binding of  claim 6 , wherein the binding is a wakeboard binding.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the male and female ends are molded, and the first and second magnets are respectively overmolded into the male and female end connectors.  
     
     
         9 . A method of securing laces in a binding comprising the steps of: 
 securing a pair of laces to a male end connector of a lace end assembly; and    magnetically linking the male end connector to a female end connector mounted to a binding to retain the lace ends in place.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of using the lace end assembly of  claim 1  for the securing and magnetic linking steps.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the lace ends are knotted and the knot is held by the male connector.