Adjustable Shoelace Fastener and Method of Use

Abstract

An improved method for fastening shoes with shoelaces having a first end and an opposing second end includes a spanning member having a hole to accommodate the first end, and a slot preferably sized for an interference fit with the second end. The first end is passed through the hole and knotted, preventing it from passing back through the hole. The second end is pulled to tighten the shoelace, knotted and anchored in the slot, maintaining the taut shoelace securely in place. With multiple holes and multiple slots, the tautness of a shoelace can be adjusted. The spanning member remains in place on a shoe when not in use, held by the knot in the first end. For convenience, a user may tie another knot in the second end, with a loop sized to receive a finger, for easily grasping the second end and sliding it into a slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoelace tightening system comprising:
 a shoe having a top surface including an upper medial eyelet and an upper lateral eyelet aligned along a longitudinal axis;   a shoelace having
 a first end extending through the upper medial eyelet, the first end including a first knot, 
 a second end extending through the upper lateral eyelet, the second end including a second knot, and 
 an unknotted portion between first and second knots; and 
   a tensioning device including
 a spanning member having a bottom surface positioned against the top surface of the shoe, a top surface opposing the bottom surface, and a perimeter wall extending between the top and bottom surfaces, 
 a hole through the top and bottom surfaces of the spanning member, the hole positioned inward of the perimeter wall and including a circumferential edge, 
 at least one slot through the top and bottom surfaces of the spanning member, the slot extending transversely to the longitudinal axis, the slot including
 an entrance portion intersecting the perimeter wall, and 
 an end portion terminating inwardly of the perimeter wall; 
 
   wherein
 the hole is sized to prevent the knot from passing through the hole; and 
 the second end of the shoelace is held in the slot by an interference fit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the entrance portion of the slot is sized to permit the unknotted portion of the shoelace to pass in a transverse direction into and out of the end portion; and   the end portion of the slot is sized to prevent the second knot from passing upwardly or downwardly through the slot.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the end portion of the slot is enlarged relative to the entrance portion. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the end portion of the slot is rounded and substantially equivalent in diameter and curvature to the hole. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the device has multiple slots having entrance portions intersecting the perimeter wall. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom surfaces of the spanning member are entirely planar. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the spanning member has a uniform thickness. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second knot is disposed above the top surface of the spanning member. 
     
     
         9 . A device for adjustably tensioning a shoelace in a shoe having an upper medial eyelet and an upper lateral eyelet aligned along a longitudinal axis, the shoelace having a first end including a first knot, an opposing second end including a second knot, and an unknotted portion between the first and second knots, the device comprising:
 a spanning member having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a perimeter wall extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the perimeter wall including a medial side and a lateral side;   a hole extending through the top and bottom surfaces of the spanning member, the hole positioned inward of the perimeter wall and sized to prevent the first knot from passing through the hole; and   at least one slot configured to receive and hold the second knotted end, the slot having an entrance portion intersecting the perimeter wall and an end portion terminating inwardly of the perimeter wall, the slot oriented such that when the spanning member is placed on the shoe with the lateral side of the spanning member adjacent to the lateral eyelet and the medial side of the spanning member adjacent to the medial eyelet, the slot extends transversely to the longitudinal axis; wherein   the entrance portion of the slot is sized to permit the unknotted portion of the shoelace to pass in a transverse direction into and out of the end portion; and   the end portion of the slot is sized to prevent the second knot from passing upwardly or downwardly through the slot.   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the end portion of the slot is enlarged relative to the entrance portion. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the end portion of the slot is rounded and substantially equivalent in diameter and curvature to the hole. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the device has multiple slots having entrance portions intersecting the perimeter wall. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the top and bottom surfaces of the spanning member are entirely planar. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the spanning member has a uniform thickness. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the slot is sized to hold the second end of the shoelace in an interference fit.