US Patent 7231699 Lace blocking device

A device for blocking at least one strand of a lace or other filiform element, the device including a rotatable blocking member and a hollow body, the hollow body having a cavity for housing the blocking member. The blocking member is circular, freely rotatable, and elastically biased in the direction of blocking the strand(s). The device further includes an unblocking member. The unblocking member has a gripping portion located at a distance from the hollow body.