US3786970A

US3786970A - Boot and shoe puller

Info

Publication number: US3786970A
Application number: US00332563A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Dixon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-02-15
Filing date: 1973-02-15
Publication date: 1974-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-22

Abstract

An improved and durable device allowing the quick and easy removal of boots or of high-top shoes, is herein disclosed. The current invention incorporates, with the use of an elongated foot-board and integral hand-grip, an improved means of stabilizing the device and utilizing maximum leverage to facilitate the shoe or boot removal.

Description

United States Patent Dixon 1451 Jan. 22, 1974 [5 BOOT AND SHOE PULLER 209,091 10/1878 Tyson 223/114 254,816 3/1882 Greenwald... [76] Invent: Lemuel l' P 6252 1,866,708 7/1932 Hook 1. 223/115 Pennsylvania, Littleton, Colo. 80121 Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson [22] Filed: Feb. 15, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 332,563 [57] ABSTRACT An improved and durable device allowing the quick [52] U S C] 223/15 and easy removal of boots or of high-top shoes, is 51 1m. 01. A42c 1/04 dsclosed- [58] Field of Search 223/114, 115; 36/25 Y; The current invention incorporates, with h use f an 12/1 R elongated foot-board and integral hand-grip, an improved means of stabilizing the device and utilizing [56] Ref r Cit d maximum leverage to facilitate the shoe or boot UNITED STATES PATENTS removal 70,246 l0/l867 Moulton 223/115 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BOOT AND SHOE PULLER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The development of the current invention was evolved from the necessity of an improvement over the current selection of boot-jacks available to the public today, which for the most past are awkward and difficult to use effectively, as they fail to provide the stability which is necessary to counteract a force sufficient to remove a boot or shoe.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In accord with the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to allow a faster and easier means of shoe or boot removal, employing a tapered hole pattern in the foot-board to more securely grip the heel, with a minimum of effort expended by the user.

Another object is that of providing a stable point of leverage, so that the user of the device may hold down and steady the shoe-puller with one foot and be able to maintain balance by use of the hand-grip, while applying the pulling force necessary to remove the shoe or boot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of the complete assembled device;

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional detail view of the heel aperture portion of the foot-board; and

FIG. 3 is an orthographic side view of the device, showing the relationahip of a boot in conjunction with the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As is illustrated in FIG. 1, the complete shoe-puller device is shown assembled and ready for use, being composed of the following components:

The foot-board (Reference numeral 2) has the heel aperture (reference numeral 4) let into its upper portion, and the upper stiffener (reference numeral 6) and the lower stiffener (reference numeral 8) attached to either end of the footboard, using small screws (not shown), glue, or a combination of both.

The handle/support assembly is attached to the footboard as shown in FIG. 1 by screws (10), and consists of a pair of uprights (l2 and 12') and a connecting corss-piece (14). The handle/support assembly folds down to lie flat along the sides of the foot-board and against the lower stiffener (8), to facilitate convenient storage of the device when not in use.

FIG. 2 illustrates the liner which is fitted inside the heel aperture, and may be fabricated from a strip of plastic or leather, and cemented in place to prevent marring or scuffing of the boot or shoe heel during removal.

FIG. 3 illustrates the relative position of the boot or shoe-heel to the foot-board upon insertion of the heel in the aperture, and prior to applying the pulling force to remove the boot.

What is claimed for the invention is:

1. A boot and shoe pulling device to facilitate the removal of a boot or shoe from an individuals foot, comprising an inverted U-shaped stabilizing stand including a pair of substantially parallel elongated upright members interconnected at the top ends thereof by a connecting cross-piece member, the inverted U-shaped stabilizing member defining between the uprights and crosspiece an elongated rectangular space, a substantially-flat rectangular elongated foot board of a length and width slightly less than the space defined in the stabilizing member, the foot board comprising a bottom edge, a top edge, and opposed substantially parallel side edges, a pair of laterally aligned pivot pins spaced laterally apart and projecting outwardly from opposed side edges along the bottom end portion of the foot board, a pair of laterally aligned openings in opposed upright members of a size and configuration to receive respective pivot members therein from the adjacent side edge of the foot board, the foot board pivotable about the pivot members between an inoperative position lying co-planar with the plane of the stabilizing member and an operative position where the foot board is pivotally swung about the pivot members to position the foot board top edge forwardly and downwardly of the stabilizing member when the stabilizing member is supported in a substantially vertical position, a first stiffening member extending across the complete width of the foot board intermediate the side edges and positioned adjacent the foot board bottom edge to resist any warping tendencies of the foot board, a second stiffening member extending laterally of the foot board adjacent the top edge thereof with opposite ends of the second stiffening member projecting laterally outwardly of the respective side edges of the foot board in a manner to overlap the associated upright members of the stabilizing member when the foot board is in the inoperative position to retain the foot board substantially co-planar with the plane of the stabilizing member in the inoperative position, a tear drop shaped opening extending longitudinally of the foot board and disposed therein intermediate the top edge and the pivot members with the narrow end of the opening being nearest the foot board top edge and the widest portion of the opening being disposed nearest the pivot members, and a liner frame type member of a size and configuration adapted to be snugly received within the tear drop opening in juxtaposition with the side surfaces thereof, the liner frame being of a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the foot board so as to lie substantially co-planar therewith, the liner being adhesively secured in the opening to permanently affix'the same thereto such that an individual may support the stabilizing member in a vertical position and pivot the foot board into the operative position at which time the individual may insert the heel portion of his shoe into the narrow end of the liner while maintaining his balance by holding onto the crosspiece member and then readily pull his foot out of the shoe to remove the shoe from the foot.

2. The boot and shoe puller as set forth in claim I wherein the liner member is manufactured of a plastic material.

3. The boot and shoe puller as set forth in claim 2 wherein the liner member is manufactured of a leather material.

Claims

1. A boot and shoe pulling device to facilitate the removal of a boot or shoe from an individual''s foot, comprising an inverted Ushaped stabilizing stand including a pair of substantially parallel elongated upright members interconnected at the top ends thereof by a connecting crosspiece member, the inverted U-shaped stabilizing member defining between the uprights and crosspiece an elongated rectangular space, a substantially flat rectangular elongated foot board of a length and width slightly less than the space defined in the stabilizing member, the foot board comprising a bottom edge, a top edge, and opposed substaNtially parallel side edges, a pair of laterally aligned pivot pins spaced laterally apart and projecting outwardly from opposed side edges along the bottom end portion of the foot board, a pair of laterally aligned openings in opposed upright members of a size and configuration to receive respective pivot members therein from the adjacent side edge of the foot board, the foot board pivotable about the pivot members between an inoperative position lying co-planar with the plane of the stabilizing member and an operative position where the foot board is pivotally swung about the pivot members to position the foot board top edge forwardly and downwardly of the stabilizing member when the stabilizing member is supported in a substantially vertical position, a first stiffening member extending across the complete width of the foot board intermediate the side edges and positioned adjacent the foot board bottom edge to resist any warping tendencies of the foot board, a second stiffening member extending laterally of the foot board adjacent the top edge thereof with opposite ends of the second stiffening member projecting laterally outwardly of the respective side edges of the foot board in a manner to overlap the associated upright members of the stabilizing member when the foot board is in the inoperative position to retain the foot board substantially co-planar with the plane of the stabilizing member in the inoperative position, a tear drop shaped opening extending longitudinally of the foot board and disposed therein intermediate the top edge and the pivot members with the narrow end of the opening being nearest the foot board top edge and the widest portion of the opening being disposed nearest the pivot members, and a liner frame type member of a size and configuration adapted to be snugly received within the tear drop opening in juxtaposition with the side surfaces thereof, the liner frame being of a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the foot board so as to lie substantially coplanar therewith, the liner being adhesively secured in the opening to permanently affix the same thereto such that an individual may support the stabilizing member in a vertical position and pivot the foot board into the operative position at which time the individual may insert the heel portion of his shoe into the narrow end of the liner while maintaining his balance by holding onto the crosspiece member and then readily pull his foot out of the shoe to remove the shoe from the foot.

2. The boot and shoe puller as set forth in claim 1 wherein the liner member is manufactured of a plastic material.