This series introduces patented products that we often see without giving them a second thought.
Today, I’m featuring no-tie shoelaces. These are a new type of elastic shoelace featuring numerous small loops.
Don’t you find it a hassle to have to retie your sneakers’ laces every time you just pop out for a quick errand? …That said, for those who aren’t quite ready to go barefoot like in sandals, these no-tie shoelaces are highly recommended.
When I searched online, two major Japanese brands—COOLKNOT and CATERPY—caught my eye. I bought the COOLKNOT version. I immediately tried them on the sneakers I recently bought. The number of eyelets doesn’t quite match up, but please don’t mind that (laughs).
There seem to be various ways to tie them, but it looks like you can arrange them however you like.
Once you attach these laces, you can simply grab the tongue and slide your foot in—the laces stretch out, allowing you to slip them on effortlessly. It’s even easier if you use a shoehorn. After you put them on, they return to their original length, so the fit is no problem. They’re made with an elastic fiber called spandex, so they seem perfectly fine for running. There are even versions designed specifically for sports.
Since a patent number was listed on the back of the package, I looked it up on J-PlatPat (Japanese Patent No. 5079926). That’s when I discovered a surprising fact! It turns out that both “COOLKNOT” and “CATERPY” were originally based on the same technology, but later a patent dispute broke out—perhaps between the manufacturers?—and the losing party apparently shifted to a modified technology to avoid patent infringement.
…It’s hard to notice at first glance, but there seem to be subtle differences between the two companies’ current product lines. If you’re interested, why not look into the patents and trademarks mentioned here?
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