The invention is an article of footwear that includes a retainer for securing end portions of the laces and limiting superfluous lace movement. The retainer is a strip of elastic material that is positioned on an upper of the footwear and secured in first and second locations, thereby leaving an unsecured...http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US6952890?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6952890 - Lace retainer for footwear
