A Method and Receptacle for Storing a Shoelace

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a method for storing a shoelace in a receptacle and to a receptacle for storing a shoelace.

BACKGROUND

Shoelaces are often considered to be a fashion item as well as having the function of helping to fasten footwear to the feet of a human user. However, they can be difficult or inconvenient to store tidily and they are prone to becoming tangled. It is an object of a preferred form of the invention to address this problem. While this applies to preferred embodiments, the object of the invention per se is simply to provide a useful choice.

DEFINITIONS

The word “comprising” or “comprises” as used in this specification in relation to a feature or combination of features does not exclude the possibility or option of there being further features that have not been mentioned. The terms are therefore to be interpreted in a nonexclusive manner.

References in this document to a “shoelace” mean a lace for doing up an item of footwear even if the item is not a shoe. For example, the item of footwear may be a boot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect, the invention is a method of storing a shoelace comprising the steps of:

• obtaining shoelace receptacle comprising: o a base and a cover which engage one another to provide a housing; o a loading aperture forming part of the housing; and o a hub forming part of the housing;

• feeding the end of a shoelace through the aperture; and

• rotating at least the base or cover with respect to the other so that the shoelace is progressively wound into the housing and caused to coil around the hub until it is completely or substantially within the housing. Optionally the hub comprises a series of posts (optionally four of them), and the act of rotating the base or cover causes the shoelace to be coiled around the posts collectively.

Optionally the housing comprises a notch which receives the end of the shoelace when it is fed through the aperture and serves to position that end so that it is anchored when the base or cover is rotated.

Optionally a second shoelace is fed into the aperture at the same time as the first mentioned shoelace and is caused to simultaneously coil around the hub in the same way.

Optionally a boss and wherein the notch forms part of the boss.

According to a further aspect, the invention is a receptacle for a shoelace, comprising:

• a base and a cover engaged with one another to provide a housing;

• the housing having a loading aperture and a hub;

• at least one of the base or cover is rotatable with respect to the other; and

• the housing being such that if the end of a shoelace is fed into the aperture and at least one of the base or cover is rotated with respect to the other, the end of the shoelace becomes anchored against the hub inside the housing and the shoelace is progressively wound into the housing and coiled around the hub in proportion to the degree of rotation.

Optionally hub comprises a series of posts (optionally four of them), and wherein the housing is such that said rotation of the base or cover will cause the shoelace to be coiled around the posts collectively.

Optionally the housing comprises a notch adapted to receive the end of a shoelace when it is fed through the aperture and to position that end so that it is anchored when the base or cover is rotated.

Optionally the notch forms part of the boss.

Optionally the receptacle is loaded with one, two or more shoelaces coiled around the hub. IMAGES

Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying images, or which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a receptacle when loaded with two shoelaces;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the receptacle when loaded, but only partially assembled;

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the receptacle when partially disassembled, without any shoelaces;

Figure 4 is an exploded isometric view showing further detail of the receptacle;

Figure 5 is an isometric view of a connector forming part of the receptacle;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a base forming part of the receptacle;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a cover forming part of the receptacle; and

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle when assembled;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to Figure 1 , the receptaclel contains a pair of shoelaces 2. As shown, the loose ends 3 of the shoelaces extend a short distance from the receptacle via a loading aperture 4. The main stretch of each shoelaces is coiled inside the receptacle. The shoelaces can be removed from the receptacle by pulling on their loose ends 3 such that one half of the receptacle rotates with respect to the other to uncoil them.

Figures 2 & 3 illustrate some key components of the receptacle. It comprises a dish-like base 5 and a dish-like cover 6. They are complimentary and can be snap fitted to one another to provide a housing. The arrangement is such that at least one of the base and cover can rotate with respect to the other. This serves to wind the shoelaces into the receptacle’s housing. As illustrated, the cover has an aperture 6a which provides a window for inspecting the shoelaces so that their colour and style can be readily inspected.

Still with Figures 2 and 3, when the base 5 and cover 6 are engaged (as per Figure 1), the receptacle can be loaded by simultaneously feeding leading ends of the shoelaces into the loading aperture 4 until they are fully within a notch 7 that forms part of a central boss 8. As shown, the notch 7 and boss 8 form part of the base 5.

Further, the cover 6 has a hub comprising four equally spaced posts 9. In other embodiments the hub may consist of fewer posts, e.g. two or three, or more than four. The arrangement is such that when the cover 6 is rotated by hand with respect to the base 5, the posts collectively rotate around the boss and wind the shoelaces into the housing to coil around the posts 9. The initial stages of this rotation cause the leading ends 10 of the shoelaces to be bent around the first one of the posts 9 they encounter in a tight turn, to anchor them (see Figure 2).

With further reference to Figures 2 and 3, the base’s boss 8 incorporates a central pillar 11 adapted to connect to a central pillar 12 of the cover. These pillars 11 , 12 provide the axis about which the cover 6 rotates when the shoelaces are wound into the housing by hand, and also when they are pulled on to unwind and release them from within the housing.

Figure 4 illustrates further detail of the receptacle, including a bearing 13 and connector 14 which assist in enabling the rotational movement between the base 5 and cover 6.

Figure 5 illustrates the connector 14 in more detail. It has a lower male split stem 15 that snap-fits into a complementary recess in the base’s pillar 11. The connector 14 also has an upper female split stem 16 that is complimentary to and receives the cover’s pillar 12 in a snap-fit relationship. The profile of the base’s pillar 11 is illustrated in more detail in Figure 6, and the profile of the cover’s pillar 12 is illustrated in more detail in Figure 7. The manner in which these components engage one another is illustrated in Figure 8.

Preferably the receptacle is moulded from suitable plastics. It may be used to contain only one shoelace, or more than two shoelaces, but seeing as shoelaces are normally used in pairs it is preferably used to contain one pair.

While some preferred embodiments of the invention have been described by way of example, it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the following claims.

In terms of disclosure, this document envisages any combination of one or more features mentioned herein, including repeating instances of the same feature, even if such combination is not claimed.