Lacing device

Aug. 1, 1967 d, j. daddona, jr 3,333,304

LACING DEVICE

Filed Aug. 24, 1965

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3,333,304

Patented Aug. 1, 1967

United States Patent Office

3,333,304 LACING DEVICE

Domenic J. Daddona, Jr., Waterbury, Conn., assignor to Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut

Filed Aug. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 482,046

Claims. (Cl. 24—145)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

An improved one-piece metal lacing device for boots or shoes can be machine-fed and secured by a self-piercing rivet. It consists of a lace-receiving loop with a base and cover tab extending from the loop. The base has a hole for the rivet and the cover tab has an outwardly domed portion overlying the hole and against which the rivet is upset. The base has ribs which extend from the loop beyond the center line of the rivet hole so as to bite firmly into the boot material to prevent twisting of the eyelet.

This invention is an improvement in lacing devices of the type adapted to be applied to the front opening of a boot or shoe and in which the lace can slide freely. Such devices have the advantage over the common lacing eyelets in that the front opening of the boot or shoe can be quickly expanded to permit removal from or application to the foot, and is quickly contracted to secure the boot on the foot.

Another advantage is that the lacing does not bear di·· rectly against the wearer’s foot or hose.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide such a device which can be machine-fed and located on the front face of the boot material, and mechanically secured by a rivet penetrating through the boot material, such rivet being preferably self-piercing.

Another object is to provide a cover tab or extension shaped to form or upset the rivet, and at the same time, conceal the upset end of the rivet in the finished product.

A further object is to provide improved means for resisting twisting of the lacing device about the rivet.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown for purposes of illustration, one embodiment which the invention may assume in practice. In the drawing:

FIG 1 indicates a portion of a shoe or boot equipped with my improved lacing device;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the sheet metal eyelets attached to the front of the boot;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section showing how the sheet metal eyelet is secured to the boot material;

FIG. 4 is a front or plan view;

FIG. 5 is a side view;

FIG. 6 is a bottom or inside plan view; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-section on line 7—7 of FIG. 3.

As seen in FIG. 1, there is indicated a shoe or boot having a front opening 8 bordered by the sides 9 and 10 of the boot material. The lacing eyelets, generally designated 11, are secured at the desired spaced intervals to the sides 9 and 10 and are drawn together by the lacing 12.

The eyelet 11 consists of a single piece of sheet material reversely bent to form the opening loop or eye 13, a straight base portion 14 extending from the inner side of the loop, and a cover tab 15 extending from the outer portion of the loop 13 into overlying and contacting relation with the base 14.

The base 14 has a rivet-receiving hole 16 and the cover tab 15 has an outwardly formed dome 17 to receive and 5 conceal the upset head 18 of a rivet 19. Such a rivet may have a head 20 bearing against the inner surface of the boot material. The rivet is preferably of the self-piercing type and the dome 17 serves as an anvil in the riveting operation.

jq The loop or eye 13 has its inner corners rounded to prevent excessive wear of the lace with the result that the side edges of this loop are flared to form ribs 21 and 22. Preferably, as a continuation of these ribs, the side edges of the base 14 also have the inwardly projecting 15 ribs 23 and 24 which tend to bite into the boot material as best seen in FIG. 7, such ribs extending from the loop 13 beyond the center line of the hole 16 to prevent twisting of the eyelet relative to the boot material. While these ribs 23 and 24 may be formed simultaneously with ribs 20 21 and 22, they do not project necessarily to the same extent required to form the edges of the loop 13 with the desired rounded contour.

It will be observed that my improved eyelet is of such shape that it can readily be fed and attached by auto25 matic machinery. It is only necessary to locate it in proper position against the face of the boot material and attach it by a self-piercing rivet. When so attached, the rivet is concealed and the eyelet is securely anchored against twisting relative to the rivet.