Patent landscapes › Clothing & accessories

Is a no tie shoelaces patented?

Short answer: specific designs of a no tie shoelaces have been patented many times, but "a no tie shoelaces" as a general idea is not what is protected. What matters is the exact combination of features in your version.

What our index shows
  • 48 US and WO patent publications since 2000 have a title matching “elasticnotielock shoelace” or a close variant (our index of 9.7 million patent families; one publication per family).
  • Among the 35 best keyword matches we examined, 7 were published in 2020 or later, and the earliest was published in 2000.
  • Most frequent assignees in those matches: LIU KUN-CHUNG (3), THUKKARAM JAY (1), TOMOSY GEZA (1), MUNSELL CONSULTING SERVICES INC (1).
  • Most common patent classes (CPC subclasses): A43C (35), Y10T (22), F16G (5), A43B (5).

Counts come from keyword matching on titles and abstracts, so they are indicative, not a legal count. Some matches are different products that share a word.

14 real patent publications related to a no tie shoelaces

  1. Shoelace fastener WO-2026030777-A1 2026 · FUERLINGER GERHARD
    The invention relates to a device (1) for securing and stowing a lace (2) of a lacing system, in particular end portions of a lace of a shoe having a lacing system, comprising a lace-guiding plate (3) having a first through-hole (…
    View on Google Patents
  2. No-tie shoelaces US-10925350-B2 2021 · THUKKARAM JAY
    A shoelace system includes an elastic shoelace having a first end and a second end, and a T-bar attachment attached to the first end. The T-bar attachment is rotatable such that the T-bar attachment anchors the first end of the sh…
    View on Google Patents
  3. Elastic shoelace with malleable metal tip US-2020000177-A1 2020 · ATOMS INC
    A shoelace system for an article of footwear may include an elastic shoelace having a metal tip with a rounded-rectangle cross section. Corresponding eyelets of the footwear have a similarly shaped opening. In some examples, the s…
    View on Google Patents
  4. Elastic shoelace with a ring US-10334909-B2 2019 · KNEZ DAVID
    The object of the invention is an elastic shoelace with an eye and a ring. The elastic shoelace of the invention can easily be passed through holes (B) in a shoe (A) and by increasing or decreasing the tightening of an elastic str…
    View on Google Patents
  5. Shoelace locking apparatus US-2015272277-A1 2015 · MUNSELL CONSULTING SERVICES INC
    A shoelace locking apparatus comprises a body attachable to both ends of a shoelace, a locking lever, and a pin. The body defines a retaining passage therein for receiving the first end of the shoelace and a locking passage therei…
    View on Google Patents
  6. Shoelace fastener US-8955199-B2 2015 · TZY SHENQ ENTPR CO LTD
    A shoelace fastener includes a main body, a reel, a first elastic member, a rotating member and a spindle. When an operation member of the rotating member is located in a first position, a clutch member engages with the spindle. T…
    View on Google Patents
  7. Shoelace with shoelace fastener US-8332994-B2 2012 · LIN JIH-LIANG
    A shoelace with a shoelace fastener includes a first retaining base at an end of a first lace and/or a second retaining base at another end of the first lace, and a ratchet and an elastic clipping element are disposed in the first…
    View on Google Patents
  8. Shoelace locking structure US-2012222271-A1 2012 · LAI YU-SHAN
    A shoelace locking structure used in a shoe for locking two opposite ends of a shoelace is disclosed to include a locating plate affixed to a tongue of the shoe, two locating rods arranged on the locating plate for the winding of …
    View on Google Patents
  9. Shoelace fastener US-2011289742-A1 2011 · YEN CHAO-HSIUNG
    A shoelace fastener is fixed on a vamp of a shoe for wearing shoelace and comprises two longitudinal seats each having a slider slidably mounted thereon for wearing shoelace. The slider has a spring-like structure. The slider has …
    View on Google Patents
  10. Shoelace lockdown system US-2006143949-A1 2006 · WIPER ANNE
    The present invention is a shoe having a lace lockdown system. In particular, the shoe comprises a sole attached to an upper. A lace threaded about the upper has a pull tab with a first piece of hook and loop material attached to …
    View on Google Patents
  11. Shoelace fastener US-2005283963-A1 2005 · TOMOSY GEZA
    A device for reducing knot slippage comprising a ring or tube segment having inner and outer walls forming an opening therein and top and bottom rims. Either one or both of the rims have a series of pointed protrusions extending f…
    View on Google Patents
  12. Shoelace fastener US-6796009-B1 2004 · LIU KUN-CHUNG
    A shoelace fastener is provided for a shoe that includes a shoelace having a pair of distal lace segments. The shoelace fastener includes a pair of fastener bodies formed with a pair of through holes, respectively. Each of the fas…
    View on Google Patents
  13. Shoelace fastener US-6185798-B1 2001
    A device for releasably fastening two string portions together includes a hollow housing and a movable locking member disposed within the housing. The housing extends in a longitudinal direction and includes a midportion disposed …
    View on Google Patents
  14. Elastic shoelace and fastener US-6026548-A 2000
    A system for securing a shoe, of the type having an upper part with a pair of opposed edges with eyelets which are drawn together in securing the shoe, onto the foot of a wearer is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the system c…
    View on Google Patents

What this means for your idea

Because patents cover specific combinations of features, the useful question is not “has a no tie shoelaces been patented?” but “has my combination of features been described before?” Accessories and apparel are often protected by design patents as much as utility patents; how something fastens, adjusts or is shaped is usually the difference.

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Guides that help with this

First-look landscape. Not exhaustive. Not legal advice. This page lists keyword-matched publications from a limited database; it does not say whether any product is or isn't covered by a patent, whether a patent is still in force, or whether your idea is patentable. Consult a registered patent attorney or agent.