Protective shoelace cover for footwear
There is disclosed a shoelace protector for footwear formed by a plurality of plates arranged along a longitudinal axis. In use, the protector is connected with the laces of a shoe and extends along the laced portion of the shoe from a proximal end to a distal end of the laced portion. One or more linkages connect adjoining pairs of the plurality of plates. One or more proximal connectors are provided on the proximal edge of the proximal-most plate of the plurality of plates to connect the proximal end of the protector with an upper end of a laced portion of the shoe. One or more distal connectors are provided at or near the distal edge of the distal most plate to connect the protector with a lower end of the laced portion of the shoe.
1 . A lace protector for footwear comprising:
a plurality of plates arranged along a longitudinal axis, the axis extending in a direction from a proximal end of the lace protector to a distal end of the lace protector;
one or more linkages, the linkages connecting adjacent pairs of the plurality of plates;
one or more proximal connectors on a proximal-most plate of the plurality of plates, wherein the proximal connector is adapted to connect with an upper portion of a laced portion of the footwear and wherein the one or more linkages constrain pairs of adjacent plates to move with respect to one another a predetermined distance along the longitudinal axis; and
one or more distal connectors on a distal most plate of the plurality of plates, wherein the distal connector is adapted to connect with a lower portion of the laced portion of the footwear.
2 . The lace protector of claim 1 , wherein the one or more linkages comprise two linkages connecting adjacent pairs of plates.
3 . The lace protector of claims 1 , wherein the one or more linkages each comprise a first loop affixed to a distal-most plate of adjacent pairs of plates and extending in the proximal direction, and an engaging mechanism affixed to a proximal-most plate of the pairs of adjacent plates, wherein the engagement mechanism slideably engages with the first loop and wherein the pairs of adjacent plates can move with respect to one another along the longitudinal axis.
4 . The lace protector of claim 3 , wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a second loop extending from a surface of the proximal-most plate of the pairs of adjacent plates, a leg of the second loop passing through an opening formed by the first loop.
5 . The lace protector of claim 3 , wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a pin extending from a surface of the proximal-most plate of the pairs of adjacent plates through an opening formed by the first loop, and a stop at an end of the pin, wherein the first loop is captive on the pin between the surface of the proximal-most plate and the stop.
6 . The lace protector of claim 5 , wherein the stop comprises a pin head sized to keep the first loop captive on the pin.
7 . The lace protector of claim 5 , wherein the stop comprises a crosspiece adapted to keep the first loop captive on the pin.
8 . The lace protector of claim 7 , wherein the crosspiece and the pin form a T-shape.
9 . The lace protector of claim 1 , wherein the one or more proximal connectors are hooks or carabiners.
10 . The lace protector of claim 1 , wherein the one or more linkages comprise one or more straps connecting pairs of adjacent plates, wherein a proximal connection is provided at a first end of the strap to a proximal-most plate of the pairs of adjacent plates and a distal connection is provided at a second end of the strap to a distal-most plate of the pairs of adjacent plates.
11 . The lace protector of claim 10 , wherein the proximal connection and the distal connection are each a rivet, an adhesive, or a weld.
12 . The lace protector of claim 10 , wherein the one or more straps are formed from a flexible material.
13 . The lace protector of claim 10 , wherein the one or more straps are formed from an elastic material.
14 . The lace protector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of plates are formed from a metal, a plastic, a ceramic, a glass, or combinations thereof.
15 . The lace protector of claim 14 , wherein the metal comprises one or more of copper, gold, silver, platinum, titanium, aluminum, iron, nickel, zinc, tin, and alloys and combinations thereof.
16 . The lace protector of claim 1 , wherein the one or more linkages each comprise a plurality of chain links extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein selected ones of the chain links are joined with respective ones of the plurality of plates at one or more connection points.
17 . The lace protector of claim 16 , wherein the linkages comprise a continuous chain arranged along bottom surface of the protector.