Device for rapidly securing and obscuring footwear laces

Abstract

A device for rapidly securing and obscuring footwear laces includes a strap having a cinching device such as a cord lock; a plurality of tubular lace restraints along the length of the strap; and a means for connecting one end of the strap to the other, so as to secure the device around a wearer's ankle with the laces obscured beneath. Laces travel the majority of the length of the strap, and can stay engaged with the laces even when footwear is not being worn. A user can insert foot into footwear, tighten laces by pulling on ends, cinch laces in tightened position by engaging cinching device, wrap strap with laces around ankle, and secure in place around ankle or ankle of footwear.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for rapidly securing and obscuring footwear laces including:
 a. An elongated strap having a front side surface, back side surface, a proximal end, and a distal end;   b. A cinching device connected on the front side surface of the proximal end of said strap;   c. A first pair of eyelets defined by the proximal end of said strap;   d. A second pair of eyelets defined by the distal end of said strap; and   e. A plurality of lace restraints on the back side surface of said strap, between said first pair of eyelets and said second pair of eyelets.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said strap is approximately 12″ long to approximately 26″ long. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said strap is approximately 15″ long to approximately 20″ long. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said cinching device is a cord lock. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said first pair of eyelets are reinforced. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said second pair of eyelets are reinforced. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said lace restraints are longitudinally aligned tubular structures. 
     
     
         8 . A footwear system including:
 a. An article of footwear having a shoe lace;   b. A securing device engaged with said shoe lace, said securing device including:
 i. An elongated strap having a hook fastener on the front side surface and a corresponding loop fastener on the back side surface; and 
 ii. A plurality of lace restraints longitudinally aligned along said elongated strap, between said hook fastener and said loop fastener. 
   
     
     
         9 . The footwear system of  claim 8  wherein said footwear is a boot. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear system of  claim 9  wherein said boot is a military issued boot. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear system of  claim 8  consisting of 3 lace restraints. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear system of  claim 8  wherein said lace restraints are located on the back side surface. 
     
     
         13 . A method of securing and obscuring laces in footwear including the sequential steps of:
 a. Obtaining an article of footwear having an engaged but untied lace with two free ends;   b. Passing said free ends through a cinching device;   c. Passing the first free end through a first aperture;   d. Passing the second free end through a different first aperture;   e. Passing both of said free ends through a series of linearly aligned lace restraints;   f. Passing the first free end through a second aperture; and   g. Passing the second free end through a different second aperture.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of passing said free ends through a cinching device includes the step of temporarily disengaging said cinching device to allow the ingress of said free ends. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further including the sequential step of pulling said two free ends in order to lessen slack of laces within said footwear. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further including the sequential step of wrapping said two free ends around a wearer's ankle.