How to keep shoe lace tied

The device consists of plastic rectangular gadget with about an inch long that fits snuggly against the tongue of the shoe, keeping laces tight.

“I tried to come up with something interesting and hopefully I can make it work”, the mechanic recalled.

The first idea Gerald had was to use velcro and curly shoelaces, but his aunt told him there weren’t as many style options available with Velcro shoes and said the curly laces didn’t stay tight enough.

So the inventor tried another options. He created multiple designs before coming up with the final version, in 2012. The apparatus works by locking laces in place in each of four slots in the plastic.

“I don’t even know how many variations I tested,” he said. “It was a lot. The problem was the manufacturing. I could make it the way I wanted, but couldn’t reproduce it at a manufacturer.”

Trying to create the ties with a laser didn’t work because the process used up too much material. So, now they are stamped out. They can be used with any type of shoelace. Gerald explained anyone who wants to keep their shoes tied could benefit from them, including athletes and children.

The inventor got his product patented, and now a company in California makes the Grace Shoestring Ties for Hannon, and they are packaged in Omaha. He sells them online, but so far they are not available in any stores.

Adapted from: http://www.nptelegraph.com/news/all-tied-up-brady-man-invents-device-for...

https://www.facebook.com/Grace-Shoestring-Ties-581639385256608/timeline

What about you, do you have any solutions? Please share them with the Patient Innovation community!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qpv6QgPm5o