Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
110(~735
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to a fastener for a looped cord and more
particularly to a snap tie for fastening or securing a lacing or draw
string in tightened condition.
The best illustration OI a draw string or cord may be found in the
string by which the over arch upper of the shoe for a human foot is laced
through eyelets in such upper to be drawn tightly upon a person's foot
and the free ends of the shoe string tied into a bow to secure the shoe
upon the person' s foot.
~ nother illustration of a looped draw string would be a cord
strung through the hem at the open end of a bag or pouch to be drawn
tighMy to close the open end of such bag or pouch and the free ends of
such bag or pouch and the free ends of such cord tied into a knot or bow
to secure the closure of such bag or pouch.
There is hardly a person who has not experienced the loosening of
one's shoelace or the opening of the bow therein, leaving the free ends
of the lacing to flap about, become stepped on, and cause a misstep,
stumble, or fall. Many times the free ends of such lacing may become
knotted, rendering it difficult to untie one's shoelaces, usually at a most
inopportune moment or location. The present invention seeks to over-
come such accidental knotting, unlacing, loosening, and/or the danger
of the free ends of the lacing being stepped upon.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple yet
effective means for fastening a looped cord or lace relative to a closure
structure about which the cord is strung or interlaced.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a positive,
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llU~735
releasable fastening means for the free ends of a looped lacing strung
through the eyelets of a shoe upper and the like for securing the lacing
in locked condition relative to the latter. In this connection the invention
resides in a snap fastener having a cup-shaped portion through which
the free ends of the looped lacing is strung, and a plug element in which
the free ends of the looped lacing are anchored, the plug element
being adapted to be press fit into the cup-shaped portion of the fastener
for cinching the strands of the looped lacing in locked condition relative
thereto.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following description and claims in the
light of the accompanying single sheet of drawing in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the loop of a shoe lace
on a shoe upper upon which the fastener of the present invention is
applied;
Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the knotted ends of
the lace loop being drawn tight upon the shoe upper by the fastener
cap;
Fig. 3 shows the lace tightened upon the shoe upper and the
knotted ends of the lace anchored in a plug and turned toward the
fastener cap;
Fig. 4 shows the plug being inserted into the fastener cap;
Fig. 5 shows the looped lace tight and the plug and cap united
to secure the lace in a tightened condition on the shoe upper;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail, partly in section to illustrate the
loop fastener of the present invention;
Fig. 7 is an elevation of the cap only of Fig. 6 and partially
broken away for the purpose of illustration;
Fig. 8 is an elevation of the plug only of Fig. 6; and
Fig. 9 is a plan view of a sack or bag having the looped
strand in a hem at the open end of the sack and drawn tightly there-
about and secured by the fastener of the present invention.
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~10~735
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
-
Referring to the drawing, Figs. 1 through 5 inclusive show a
shoe S for a human foot having a shoe string or cord C laced through
the eyelets -e- of the shoe upper U. In these views the snap fastener
embodiment of the present invention is designated by reference
numeral 10.
DETAILED D:ESCRIPTION
The snap fastener 10 of the present invention is best illustrated
in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 as consisting of two main parts; namely, a
cup-shaped member 11 and a plug element 12.
The cup-shaped cap member 11 is preferably bell shaped or
thimble-like in form having a closed top 13 from which a gradually
expanding cylindrical side wall 14 extends toward an open bottom 15.
The cap shaped member 11 has a pair of apertures 16-16'
formed through its upper zone to receive the respective ends 17 and
17' of a cord C leaving a looped mid portion 18 thereof extending
beyond the closed top 13 of the member 11. It is this looped mid
portion 18 of a shoe string that is laced through the eyelets -e- of
the shoe upper as illustrated in Figs. 1 through 5 of the drawing.
The free ends 17-17' of the cord C pass through the cap member
11 and extend out of the open bottom 15 thereof.
The plug element 12 of the fastener 10 comprises a tapered
annular portion 20 extending from an end 21, which is substantially
closed except for an aperture 22 through which the extreme ends of
the free ends 17-17' of the cord C are adapted to be passed. The
extreme ends of the cord C are tied into a knot 25 so that the plug
12 serves as a knob by which the ends 17-17' of the cord can be
pulled away from the cap member 11 to thus close the looped mid
portion 18 into a small loop adjacent the cap. The plug element
12 has an internal cavity 28 for receiving and housing the terminal
knot 25 on the ends 17-17' of the cord C and to assure that they remain
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~lV0735
tied when the cord is pulled.
For purposes of the wide application and uses of a fastener 10,
I have shown a bag or pouch B in Fig. 9 having a conventional hem
(not shown) in the open`end -0- thereof through which the looped mid
portion 18 of the cord C as shown in Fig. 6 is strung as a draw string.
At all events, the looped mid portion 18 is adapted to be drawn
tightly by pulling the cord ends 17-17' outwardly of the open end 15 of
the cup-shaped cap 11, while the latter is firmly pressed into abutment
against the hem or shoe upper through which the cord C is strung to
keep the loop tightened. This step is best illustrated in Fig. 2.
With the cap 11 snuggly abutting against the bag or upper shoe
last, the plug element is turned to face its tapered portion 20 toward
the bell shaped open end 15 of the cap (Fig. 3). The tapered end 20 is
ultimately inserted into the cap 11 and pressed in place therein as shown
in Fig. 4.
It should here be noted that the internal surface of the cylindrical
wall 14 of the cap 11 is flexible such as to yield to the pressure of the
tapered end 20 of the plug element 12 (see dotted lines, Fig. 7).
By the foregoing arrangement, those portions of the ends 17-17'
of the cord C within the cap 11 are squeezed tightly between the tapered
portion 20 of the plug 12 and the inner face of the yieldable wall 14 of
the cap 11. In this manner the plug 12 serves as a retainer for holding
the cord engaged thereby firmly against the cylindrical wall 14.
To assure a non-s]ip fit between the tapered portion 20 of the
plug 12 and the internal surfaces of the wall 14 of the cap 11, a plurality
of interlocking ridges are provided on these two main parts 11 and 12 of
the snap fastener 10. These ridges, as best illustrated in Figs. 7 and
8 are V-shaped as at 26 on the wall 14 adjacent the open end 15 thereof
and at 27 on the tapered portion 20 of the plug 12.
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~lU(~735
The ioregoing arrangement has many advantages over the ordinary
manner of tying a shoe lace or fastenin a closure on a bag or pouch.
Among these advantages:
1. It provides a quick and simple fastener, especially for a child
or handicapped person to secure a lace;
2. It prevents accidental knots on shoe string;
3. It prevents string from coming off a hook type eyelet and
eliminates relacing;
4. It is safe because the string can be cut to an appropriate
length to prevent tripping due to excessive length of the string.
5. It provides a positive lock when the retainer plug is pushed
in firmly and wedged into the cap; the inter~ocking ridges prevent
slipping of the cord, and
6. The appearance and arrangement is neat and decorative.
Having thus discribed my snap fastener for looped cord in
specific detail, it will be appreciated that the same may be modified,
varied, or altered without departing from the spirit or scope of my
invention as called for in the appended claims.
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