No Tie Shoelaces

Owen King, of Omro, WI set out to help his two-year old granddaughter tie her shoes when he had a light bulb moment. His simple two-part lacing device was so simple to master; it would offer the elderly, special needs, and the arthritic community an easier method of shoe tying. What if he could keep them from ever having to tie their shoes again? With his new concept, they could simply "lift to loosen and tug to tighten."

People of all ages have a difficult time with regular laces because they frequently loosen or untie altogether, making it necessary to double-tie, or re-tie often. That problem is totally eliminated with OK Lacers.

Often overlooked, shoelaces can present a real problem for the elderly. While slip-ons provide one alternative, they are not typically as sturdy as a laced shoe and many times lack a good tread. Owen King's OK Lacers no tie shoelaces have an advantage over conventional laces because they never accidentally untie, and there are never any loose ends to trip on, or get soiled or wet.

In the past, the traditional lacing technique always left you with two long 'loose ends' that of course had to be manually tied. With the OK lacer technique, you create two loops between the top eyelets, allowing you to install a simple plastic clasp that accomplishes the tying and untying tasks for you. You simply thread the loops through the bottom half of the lacer, and then snap on the top half of the lacer. This is a one time installation; the lacer will now remain connected for the life of the shoe.

Although still popular with the young children, King sees the big picture for this invention as something that will help those with special needs. Many healthcare providers, whether working as in-home providers, or working in an assisted living community or nursing home, are helping elderly and special needs persons daily with this task. His goal is to make that task easier and the wearer safer. OK Lacers are available online at OKLacers.com.