阅读说明：本技术 鞋带锁定件和用于鞋的系鞋带系统 (Lace locking element and lacing system for shoes ) 是由 安德烈亚·斯皮内利 于 2019-02-05 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种鞋带锁定件,该鞋带锁定件包括具有开口的本体,该开口能够被鞋带(4)穿过,并且该鞋带锁定件设置有用于将鞋带锁定在锁定位置中的装置,在锁定位置中,所述鞋带穿过所述开口的滑动被阻止,所述装置还适于使鞋带解锁,以允许鞋带在所述开口中滑动。所述本体是由框架(1)构成的,在框架(1)上铰接有对置的两个杆(2d,2s),两个杆包括右杆(2d)和左杆(2s),对置的两个杆中的每个杆均能够在所述框架(1)上旋转成呈现抬起位置(A)以及相应的降低位置(B),其中在抬起位置(A)中,每个杆(2d,2s)留出对应的空间(3d,3s),对应的空间(3d,3s)能够被鞋带(4)穿过,当杆(2d,2s)处于降低位置中时空间被封闭,从而使得：当将杆(2d,2s)抬起时,鞋带(4)在杆(2d,2s)中的每个杆与框架(1)之间自由滑动,而反之亦然,当将杆(2d,2s)降低时,鞋带(4)被锁定,即鞋带(4)不能自由滑动。(A shoelace locking member comprising a body having an opening that is capable of being penetrated by a shoelace (4), and being provided with means for locking the shoelace in a locked position in which sliding of the shoelace through the opening is prevented, said means being further adapted to unlock the shoelace to allow sliding of the shoelace in the opening. The body is constituted by a frame (1) on which there are articulated two opposite levers (2d, 2s) including a right lever (2d) and a left lever (2s), each of the two opposite levers being able to rotate on the frame (1) to assume a raised position (a) in which each lever (2d, 2s) leaves a corresponding space (3d, 3s) through which the corresponding space (3d, 3s) can be crossed by a lace (4), and a corresponding lowered position (B) in which the levers (2d, 2s) are closed, so that: when raising the rods (2d, 2s), the lace (4) is free to slide between each of the rods (2d, 2s) and the frame (1), and vice versa, when lowering the rods (2d, 2s), the lace (4) is locked, i.e. the lace (4) cannot slide freely.)

1. Shoelace locking element comprising a body having an opening that can be passed through by a shoelace (4) and provided with means for locking said shoelace in a locking position in which the sliding of said shoelace through said opening is prevented, said means being further adapted to unlock said shoelace to allow it to slide in said opening, said shoelace locking element being characterized in that said body is constituted by a frame (1) on which frame (1) there are articulated two opposite levers (2d, 2s) comprising a right lever (2d) and a left lever (2s), each of which can be rotated on said frame (1) to assume a raised position (A) and a corresponding lowered position (B), wherein in said raised position (A), each rod (2d, 2s) leaves a corresponding space (3d, 3s), said corresponding space (3d, 3s) being capable of being crossed by a lace (4), the space being closed when said rods (2d, 2s) are in the lowered position, so that: when the rods (2d, 2s) are raised, the lace (4) is free to slide between each of the rods (2d, 2s) and the frame (1), and vice versa, when the rods (2d, 2s) are lowered, the lace (4) is locked, i.e. the lace (4) cannot freely slide.

2. The shoelace locking member of claim 1 wherein said bars (2d, 2s) have free ends (20d, 20s) that protrude beyond the respective edges (12) of said frame.

3. The shoelace locking element of claim 1 wherein said bars (2d, 2s) have concave free end portions (20d, 20s) with the concave surface facing downward.

4. The shoelace locking element of any of the claims 1 to 3 wherein each of said bars (2d, 2s) has a central body (22e) and two arms (22f), said two arms (22f) being joined on one side by said central body (22e) and on the opposite side by said free end portions (20d, 20 s).

5. Lace locking according to claim 4, characterized in that the arms (22f) are located outside the frame (1) and the central body (22e) is located inside the frame (1).

6. The shoelace locking element of claim 1 wherein each of said bars (2d, 2s) has a central body (22e) that is perforated and located inside said frame (1).

7. Lace locking according to claim 1, characterized in that the rods (2d, 2s) are hinged on the frame (1) by means of respective pins (22d), the pins (22d) being joined to each other by means of a connecting surface (2x) located outside the frame (1).

8. The shoelace locking element of any of the preceding claims wherein said bars (2d, 2s) have teeth (22j), said teeth (22j) forming the front of the teeth (1j) provided internally by said frame (1).

9. The shoelace locking according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of said bars (2d, 2s) has an empty space (VS) that can be traversed by said belt (4).

10. A lacing system for shoes, characterized in that it comprises a lace lock (L) according to one or more of the preceding claims and a lace (4), the lace (4) being provided at the ends of the lace (4) with elements (40) that can be mutually magnetically hooked.

11. A lacing system for shoes as claimed in claim 10, wherein the elements are formed by two magnets (40) of opposite polarity.

12. A lacing system for shoes according to claims 10 and 11, wherein the elements are removably applied to the ends of the lace (4).

13. The lacing system for shoes according to claims 10 to 12, characterized in that each of the surfaces of the magnetically hookable element (40) is applied to the lace (4) by means of a support made of two parts (41, 42) that can be coupled to each other.

14. Lacing system for shoes according to claim 13, wherein the portions (41, 42) are screwed to each other and tighten the support on the lace (4).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a lace locking element and a lace system.

More specifically, the lace locking element according to the invention allows to lock the lace without the need of knots or kinks, and is therefore particularly suitable for use by children, elderly people, persons with impaired mobility, and more generally on any footwear having a lace system. In addition, the lace locking element according to the invention is simple to manufacture and particularly economical with respect to the advantages offered. Additionally, specific straps may be associated with the discussed strap locks to create a particularly effective lacing system for footwear.

Background

US 2016/0025119 a1 describes a spring-locked lace lock in which two portions of the lace are passed through a channel formed in a frame on which two rods are hinged, the spring being located between the two rods.

Disclosure of Invention

The lace locking element according to the invention has the features recited in claim 1. Further features of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

Drawings

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood by everyone skilled in the art, thanks to the following description and to the accompanying drawings, provided as an example and not to be considered in a limiting sense, in which:

figures 1-3 show a possible embodiment of the lace locking according to the invention, in perspective view from below, in plan view from above, and in side view, respectively, in which the rods (2d, 2s) are lowered;

fig. 4 shows a side view of the lace locking element of fig. 1-3, with the rods (2d, 2s) in the lowered position;

figures 5-9 show the shoelace locking element of the previous figures in different stages of use;

figures 10 and 11 show a magnetic end cap applicable to a belt;

figure 12 shows a detail of the end cap described above;

figures 13 and 14 show two elements of the lace locking element according to the invention;

FIGS. 15-16 show another embodiment of the lace locking element according to the invention;

FIGS. 17-19 show a further embodiment of the lace locking element according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Simplified in its basic structure and with reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, the lace locking element (L) according to the invention comprises a frame (1), the frame (1) having an open central portion (10). On the frame (1) there are hinged two opposite levers (2d, 2s) comprising a right lever (2d) and a left lever (2s), each of which can be rotated with respect to the frame (1) to assume a raised position (a) and a respective lowered position (B). In the raised position (a), the belt (4) is free to slide, while when the levers (2d, 2s) are in the lowered position, the belt (4) is locked. In other words, when raising the bars (2d, 2s), the belt (4) slides freely between each of the bars (2d, 2s) and the frame (1). Vice versa, when lowering the rods (2d, 2s), the belt (4) is blocked, i.e. it cannot slide freely.

According to the example shown in fig. 13, the frame (1) has a central portion (10) which is completely free and open both above and below, and the frame (1) has two seats (11d, 11s) corresponding to the lower face of the frame (1), the two seats (11d, 11s) being adapted to house an associated hinge pin provided by each of said rods (2d, 2 s). In fig. 14, for the sake of simplicity, only the rod (2d) is shown, the reference number (22d) indicating the pin of the rod (2d) for positioning in the seat (11d) of the frame (1). The pin (22d) projects to both sides from the central body (22e) and extends transversely between two arms (22f), the two arms (22f) being located outside the frame (1) when the bar is applied to the frame (1). In contrast, when the rod is applied to the frame (1), the central body (22e) is located inside the frame (1). The other rod (2s) has the same structure.

In order to facilitate the lifting of the bars (2d, 2s) by the user, the same bars may be shaped so as to present free ends (20d, 20s) opposite the ends hinged on the frame (1), said free ends (20d, 20s) projecting beyond the respective edges (12) of the frame (1). Preferably, said free ends (20d, 20s) of the rods (2d, 2s) are concave, with the concavity directed downwards, i.e. facing the upper (5) of the shoe in which the lace locking element is used.

In order to make the above-mentioned central body (22e) more elastic, the central body (22e) may be drilled, as exemplarily shown in fig. 16, wherein the hole of each central body (22e) is marked by the reference numeral "22 h". In an example, as shown, the holes (22h) are oriented transversely with respect to each central body (22 e). Such a hole (22h) reduces the mass, determining a lower rigidity of the body (22e), i.e. a greater elasticity of the same body. This is particularly useful when very thick tapes are used. For example, said holes (22h) are obtained during the stem (2d, 2s) moulding stage, and in this stage, as shown in fig. 15, there are also corresponding holes (22k) in the side arm (22 f).

As can be seen in particular in fig. 16, the opposite teeth (22j, 1j) are formed on the central body (22e) of the bars (2d, 2s) and respectively on the inner side of the frame (1) facing said central body. However, the teeth (22j, 1j) are also visible on the lace locking element shown in the other figures of the drawings. The presence of the teeth (22j, 1j) also facilitates the gripping and blocking of the belt between the bars (2d, 2s) and the frame (1).

The strap (4) passes through an eyelet or hole (50) provided in particular on the upper portion (5). Then, each end (4h) of the belt (4) passes through the space between the teeth (1j) of the frame (1) and the teeth (22j) of the respective raised bar (2d, 2 s). In this way, the shoelace locking member is associated with the shoe by means of the strap (4). These steps are schematically illustrated in fig. 5-7.

According to the invention, the rods (2d, 2s) may have a structure allowing the belt to pass through. As shown in fig. 14, each rod (2d, 2s) has an empty space (VS) between the central body (22e) and the free end (20d, 20 s). If the central body (22e) is provided with teeth (22j), as shown in the examples of fig. 2, 14 and 16, the space (VS) is located between the teeth (22j) and the free ends (20d, 20 s). The belt passes through the empty space. As shown in fig. 1, 2, 3, 15 and 16, a space (VS) allows positioning the rods (2d, 2s) in a lowered position attached to the frame, and the strap (4) passes through this space.

With reference to the example shown in fig. 17-19, the rod (2d, d2) has an upper portion formed by a continuous surface (20p), the continuous surface (20p) joining the central body (22e) with the free front side (20d, 20 s). As mentioned in the previous examples, the central body (22e) of each rod (2d, 2s) preferably has a tooth (22j), the tooth (22j) forming, in the assembled configuration of the shoelace lock, the front of the tooth (1j) presented by the frame (1) in correspondence of the respective inner side portion. The teeth (1j, 22j) are not necessarily present, nor are they necessarily formed on both the frame (1) and the bars (2d, 2 s).

Each rod (2d, 2s) is hinged to the frame (1) by a corresponding transverse pin (22 d). When the lace locking is assembled, the two pins (22d) fit into the corresponding holes (2m) of the rods (2d, 2s), and the two pins (22d) are joined together by a connecting surface (22x) on the outside of the frame (1). On the side opposite to that of the surface (22x), two pins (22d) are fitted into a specific seat (1y), the specific seat (1y) being located on the opposite side of the frame (1) to that on which the surface (22x) rests. The pin (22d) is also inserted into two holes (1z), the two holes (1z) being located on the opposite side of the frame (1) to the side of the seat (1 y). Also in this example, the central body (22e) of the rod (2d, 2s) has a vacuum portion (22h) for relief. This form of configuration of the lace locking element according to the invention particularly simplifies assembly.

To block the belt (4), the left and right branches of the belt are pulled outwards, one to the right and the other to the left, thus determining the sliding of the frame (1) towards the upper part (5). When the desired traction force is reached, the two rods (2d, 2s) are lowered and the band is blocked without knotting. After locking, the strap can still be knotted by kinking, as desired.

Preferably, the strap (4) is equipped at both ends with magnets (40) with opposite polarity, as shown in fig. 9, which allow the respective ends of the strap to be magnetically connected to each other, to avoid that the portion of the strap (4) protruding from the lace locker (L) can swing downwards. In the example shown in fig. 9, the two ends of the strap (4) are hooked together behind the ankle of the user.

For example, each magnet (40) can be associated with the belt (4) by means of a support (41, 42) in two parts, wherein the first part element (41) is a bush having a through hole (411) with an internal thread (410) on the front edge of the through hole (411), while the second part element (42) has a shank consisting of a flexible small wing (420) and a head (430), the head (430) accommodating the magnet (40) on the front side and having a thread (431) complementary to the thread of the first part (41) on the rear side. Each end (4h) of the band (4) is inserted through the corresponding bush (41) until said end (4h) reaches the corresponding stem (420) of the second element (42), then the second element (42) is screwed onto the bush, thus locking the magnet (40) to the end (4h) of the band (4). Said first (41) and second (42) elements of the magnet support (40) are shown in fig. 10, 11 and 12. Fig. 6 shows the correlation stage of the magnet (40) with the end of the band (4). The outer surface of said elements (41, 42) may be knurled or in any case may be machined, instead of smooth, to facilitate their use.

It is understood that instead of two magnets with opposite polarities, only one magnet (40) is used at one end of the belt, while buttons of metallic material are used at the other end of the same belt, so as to allow the two ends of the belt to be coupled to each other by magnetic effect. In fact, the details of execution may vary, in an equivalent manner, with respect to the various elements described and illustrated, without thereby departing from the scope of the idea of the solution adopted, and therefore remain within the scope of protection granted to this patent.