ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 23 -- United States Patent no. 12,419,390, issued on Sept. 23.
"Fastening device" was invented by Chin-Chu Chen (Taichung, Taiwan).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A fastening device is provided. The fastening device includes a case, a spool, a knob and a locking unit. When the knob is rotated relative to the case in a tightening direction, the spool is not affected by the locking unit and is allowed to rotate in the tightening direction for fastening the lace. When the knob is rotated relative to the case in a loosening direction, the spool is allowed to freely rotate in the loosening direction to release the lace. As the knob is engaged with the housing via an engagement...