The invention relates to a device for detachably fastening string parts, in particular shoelaces, which device is provided with at least one hole for passing through the string parts, and with a clamping element for clamping the string parts to the device.

Such a device is known from US-A-4,290,173. The dev- ^' .ce described therein is formed by two discs placed coaxially one above the other, between which a clamping groove is bounded. In the bottom disc two holes are provided on either side of the centre of the discs and at right angles to the plane of the discs, through which holes the lace ends of a shoelace laced in a shoe can be inserted. The device is pressed onto the shoe by pulling the free shoelace ends, so that the shoe is tied firmly on the foot by means.of the shoelace. The free shoelace ends can then be fixed by clamping them in the grooves of the device. It is thus possible to fix a laced shoe on the foot without tying a knot. This is often a solution for children, elderly people and the handicapped.

The disadvantage of this known device is that after the shoelace ends have been clamped to the device, a still considerable length thereof remains dangling loose around the shoe. This can, for example, produce the risk of stumbling, and it also gives a rather unattractive appearance to the shoe when it is being worn. The disc shape of the device is also not very decorative in appearance.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages. For this purpose, the device of the type described above is characterised in that it is provided with means for holding the free parts of the string parts in a loop pattern.

In this way the free string ends can be processed easily in an attractive way, in such a way that the risk of tripping over string ends dangling loose is impossible.

The above-mentioned means for holding string parts in a loop pattern can comprise, for example, a hook element behind which the string parts can be hooked. The means can also comprise one or more types containing a hole through which a string part

can be inserted. In all cases the above-mentioned means make it possible for string parts to interact with hook edges of said means. -

It is preferable to design said means in such a way that, through their own shape stability, the string parts can describe a loop essentially in the plane of the largest dimension of the device.

It is also preferable to make the device essentially elongated in shape, viewed from the top. This is preferably essentially the shape of a pair of glasses, i.e. in which the sides connect to each other with large fillet radii, and in which at least one of the longitudinal sides is formed in such a way that, viewed from the top, a narrowed part is formed roughly halfway along the length. Such a shape is already attractive per se, and makes it easily possible to place, for example, texts or amusing objects thereon.

The device is preferably made of plastic by injection moulding. It is, however, also possible to make the device in such a way that it has two interconnected plate-shaped parts made preferably of metal, the edges of which are bent away from each other at least along a part of the periphery, in order to form grooves, and in which the hole is located in one of the plate- shaped parts. This makes it possible to make the device by sheet metal working methods, which is advantageous for very large production numbers.

According to another embodiment, the device has supporting edges which come to rest on the shoe to which the device is connected. In this way the device in the end lies nice and flat on the lacing. The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a shoe provided with a device according to the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the device shown in

Fig. 1, partially cut away;

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. k shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of

the present invention, in cross-section;

Fig. shows a perspective view from the top side of a fourth embodiment of the device;

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view from the bottom side of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5. viewed in one direction;

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view according to Fig. 6, viewed in the other direction; and

Fig. 8 shows a cross-section of the device shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, taken along the line VII-VII in Fig. 7- Fig. 1 shows a shoe 1 with shoelace 2 provided with a device 3 according to the present invention. As shown more clearly in Fig. 2, the shoelace 2, indicated by dashed and dotted lines, is inserted through two holes . in the device 3« The device 3 in the embodiment shown is an essentially flat shape and is provided with grooves 5 to form the clamping element. Only the lower groove wall is shown in Fig. 2. The holes . end at the level of the grooves 5 and run approximately parallel to the plane in which the grooves 5 are situated. The shoelace part 2 can be clamped in the grooves 5 past the hole . . The grooves are preferably V-shaped, as shown. In order to increase the clamping action, the groove wall can, for example, be provided with ribs 6 projecting from the groove wall, which ribs in the case shown extend approximately at right angles to the lengthwise direction of the groove 5« Of course, both opposite-lying groove walls need not be provided with such ribs 6.

It is preferable to fit the lace 2 in such a way that the lace forms a closed loop at the top side of the lacing part of the shoe, instead of the usual two lace ends being situated there. This has the advantage that the device 3 is fixed to the shoe 1 in such a way that it cannot be lost. The attractive appearance of the shoe shown in Fig. 1 can then also be obtained. For this, the device 3 must be provided with a hook-shaped element 7 (see Fig. 2) behind which the lace 2 can be hooked. Such a loop in the shoelace can be achieved by, for example, knotting or sewing the lace ends together. It is also possible to lace the shoe in the opposite direction to the usual one. The lace ends are then at the bottom end of the lacing part of the shoe 1.

In the alternative embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3 the holes 4 run in a direction which is more or less at

right angles to the plane in which the grooves 5 lie- Here again the grooves lie in the side of the essentially flat device 3«

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention which is suitable for being made from sheet materials. In this case the device 3 is made of two plate-shaped parts 8, 9 which are connected to each other by spot welding. The grooves 5 can be formed by bending the edges of the plate-shaped parts 8, 9 away from each other at least over a part of the periphery. The holes 4 are situated in one of the plate-shaped parts. It is pointed out that in the embodiments shown, due to the flat shape, it is easy to provide the device with a text or illustration. In the- embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the recessed face 11 is excellent for this purpose. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 the contour of the top face corresponds to that of a pair of glasses, which can be a commercially attractive feature.

With reference to Figs. 5 ~ 8, the fourth embodiment of the device 3 according to the present invention is also the shape of a pair of glasses. A drawing or a product, for example, can be placed on the attractively shaped top surface 11 thereof, which emphasises the fashionable nature of the device. The device is provided at the side edges with clamping grooves 5. in which string parts 2 (shown by dashed and dotted lines in Fig. 6) can be held clamped. Said clamping grooves are provided with ribs 6 which increase the clamping effect. The string parts 2 come from a shoe into the device 3 through an opening 13 and can reach the clamping grooves 5 through the holes . situated in the plane of the clamping grooves 5- The free ends of the string parts 2 are then inserted through holes 12 and sewn together at 15. In this way the device 3 is inseparably connected to the string parts 2, and thus cannot be lost. As can be seen in Fig. 6, due to the fact that they are inserted through the holes 12, the string parts 2 can be held in an attractive loop pattern 16. In this case the string parts 2 run essentially in the plane of the largest dimension of the device 3 through the holes 12, as a result of which the loop 16 formed also lies nice and flat.

Supporting edges I are also provided on the device 3 on either side of the opening 13, said edges coming to rest on the shoe. Through correct dimensioning and positioning of the recess 13 and the supporting edges 1 . , the device is held stably in a

proper manner on the shoe when the string parts 2 are tightened and clamped in the clamping grooves 5.

. The embodiments of the device shown in Figures 1 - 3 and 5 - 8 are suitable for injection moulding in large numbers.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the figures. For example, it is possible to use another number of holes 4 instead of the two shown (for example, one). The shape of the device can also be other than flat. The scope of the invention is therefore much more determined by the appended claims.