CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to boot jacks. A boot jack is a device intended to assist a person in removing a boot or high necked shoe from the foot, without the use of hands. A boot jack typically comprises a plate bearing a V-shaped or C-shaped notch into which the area of the boot above the heel is inserted. With the boot caught in the notch at its heel, the user may step out of the boot, leaving the boot behind.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a boot jack which incorporates a storage compartment therein. The novel boot jack may comprise an upper plate with a notch formed therein for receiving the heel area of a boot to be removed. The upper plate may be supported on a triangular structure including two vertical walls, a front wall, and a floor. This construction leaves an enclosed compartment beneath the upper plate. The compartment is provided with an openable closure. This enables related paraphernalia such as shoe polishing materials and equipment to be stored with the boot jack. Whereas prior art boot jacks were designed with only one purpose, namely removal of boots, the novel boot jack can be utilized both as a boot jack and also as part of a kit for maintaining boots and shoes. Other components of the kit may include shoe polish, brushes, buffing cloths, and other equipment for shining and maintaining boots and shoes. The novel boot jack may be offered for example as a premium or promotion item by retailers and others in the shoe and boot industry.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boot jack according to at least one aspect of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the boot jack of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a left side view of the boot jack of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the boot jack of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a right side view of the boot jack of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a front end-on view of the boot jack of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a rear end-on view of the boot jack of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the boot jack of FIG. 1, showing a door in an open condition.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing an optional liner.
FIG. 10 is a table of at least some of the reference characters and the subject matter called out for each reference character.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is directed to a boot jack. More specifically, the present invention comprises a boot jack which incorporates an integral storage compartment. A boot jack 100 according to at least one aspect of the invention is seen in FIG. 1 to comprise an upper plate 120 having a front surface 140 bearing a notch 160 for receiving the heel area of a boot (not shown) worn by a person. The upper plate 120 has an opposed rear surface 180. Referring also to FIG. 3, a right side wall 240 may depend from the upper plate 120. Part of the length of the boot jack 100, which length is seen in FIG. 3 to extend from right to left, is accounted for by an openable closure provided by a hinged door 220.
It will be seen by examining FIGS. 3 and 5 that there are respective right and left side walls 240, 260 which depend from the upper plate 120.
As seen in FIG. 4, a floor plate 280 spans the right and left side walls 240, 260 and extends to proximate the rear surface 180 of the upper plate 120. The floor plate 280 thus covers the bottom of the boot jack 100. An enclosed interior storage space is thus defined within the boot jack 100 and is bounded by the upper plate 120, the right and left side walls 240, 260, the hinged door 220, the floor plate 280, and a front wall 300 (see FIG. 6). The front wall 300 depends from the upper plate 120 and spans the distance separating the right and left side walls 240, 260, and the distance separating the floor plate 280 from the upper plate 120 proximate the notch 160.
As best seen in FIG. 3, the hinged door 220 extends from the upper plate 120 to the floor plate 280 along part of the length of the boot jack 100. Two hinges 320, 340 located at the juncture of the upper plate 120 and the hinged door 220 are spaced apart from one another and pivotally secure the hinged door 220 to the boot jack 100. The two hinges 320, 340 may have a common hinge axis, seen as a projection line 360 in FIG. 3.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the right side wall 240, the left wall 260, and the front wall 300 (seen fully in FIG. 6) are disposed to maintain the upper plate 120 at an acute angle 380 relative to the floor plate 280. The rear surface 180 of the upper plate may be disposed proximate a rear surface 400 of the floor plate 280. The front surface 140 of the upper plate 120 is spaced apart from the floor plate 280.
The acute angle 380 may be formed between a planar exposed upper surface 420 (shown in FIG. 2) of the upper plate 120 and a planar exposed lower surface 440 (shown in FIG. 4) of the floor plate 280.
FIG. 5 shows a bracing wall 460 disposed within the enclosed interior storage space, or storage compartment. The bracing wall 460 may extend from the upper plate 120 to the floor plate 280.
FIG. 6 shows a soft liner 480 which may be disposed along the notch 160. The soft liner 480 opposes scuffing and other damage which could occur when a boot is removed using the boot jack 100.
FIG. 8 shows the hinged door 220 in an open position. A suitable fastener such as two mating patches 500, 520 of hook and loop fastening material may be provided respectively on the hinged door 220 and on a stationary part of the boot jack 100 such as the front wall 300. The mating patches 500, 520 of hook and loop fastening material are disposed to maintain the hinged door 220 in the closed condition shown in FIG. 1 until the hinged door 220 is manually opened.
FIG. 9 shows an optional frictional liner 540 disposed on the upper plate 120. The frictional liner 540 may be slip fitted to the upper plate 120 prior to assembly of the boot jack 100, or may be adhered to the upper plate 120, or may be fastened in any other suitable way.
The structural portions of the boot jack 100, such as the upper plate 120, the right side wall 240, the left side wall 260, the floor plate 280, the front wall 300, and the hinged door 220 may be fabricated from wood or alternatively, from a plastic material such as a synthetic resin. The hinges 320, 340 may be fabricated from brass.
A boot jack according to the present invention, such as the boot jack 100, may be utilized for example by placing the heel of a boot or shoe in the notch 160, while standing on the upper surface 420 of the upper plate 120 with the other foot. The boot or shoe may be removed by maneuvering the foot upwardly, with the boot or shoe being removed pressed against the liner 480.
Small objects (not shown) may be stored in the enclosed interior storage space formed in the boot jack 100.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Patent Application
20110101048
