Patent Application
20210015213
The present disclosure relates to a shaper for flexible objects, and more particularly to a fabric-based shaper having a structure for retaining the shape of an object.
Fashionable items such as shoes, boots and purses are often made of flexible material, which allows the items to adapt their shape based on need. With a more rigid material, a pair of boots for instance, would not provide the comfort and flexibility a user prefers and often needs. The flexible material has its drawbacks, however. When items, such as a boot, are not in use, the nature of the flexible material causes the boot to lose its structure and fold down upon itself. This causes wear and can create permanent wrinkles that are unsightly.
To solve this problem, shapers have been created that can be inserted into shoes, bags and other such items to help an item remain in its upright, expanded position, as if they were being used. Known shapers are typically made of cardboard, plastic or other rigid or semi-rigid material. The shapers are configured so as to match the inner opening of shoes, bags and other items. Some are hollow with open ends, while others are closed off at both ends. The shapers are often found in shoes, boots and bags on display in stores, and are typically meant to be discarded once the item is sold. Some are reused with other displayed items or are manufactured for use throughout the life of an item.
One problem with these conventional shapers is that they typically need to be manufactured to fit a specific shoe or bag and/or they are manufactured for short-term use. Some shapers are adjustable and built for long-term use, but they can be cumbersome to use and are typically not fashionable. Further, beyond shaping the item in which they are placed, known shapers do not offer benefits beyond providing shape retention.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a fashionable shaper for pliable objects which is simple to use and simple to store when not in use, and which provides a pleasant fragrance. The shaper includes a flexible sleeve which is formed of a semipermeable material and which contains a chamber. Arranged within the chamber is a fibrous fill material that provides shape and structure to the flexible sleeve. In addition, a semi-rigid member is arranged within a central portion of the chamber to further the stability and structure of the shaper. The semi-rigid member has a length-width ratio that is substantially similar to the length-width ratio of the flexible sleeve. When the sleeve is arranged within an object, it substantially fills the object to provide the object with structure, retaining its shape. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible sleeve has an elongated configuration and the semi-rigid member is a dowel.
In another embodiment, the semi-rigid member is arranged in an enclosed bag filled with sand and a pouch including stones and an essential oil pad are arranged in a lower portion of the chamber. The enclosed bag with sand and stones provide further structure and support to the shaper, and the essential oil pad provides a therapeutic and pleasant fragrance.
Other objects and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from a study of the following specification when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which:
The present disclosure involves a fashionable shaper for retaining the shape of a pliable object. The shaper can be used for a number of devices, but preferably is used for boots, shoes, or bags, all of which are typically made of a flexible material such as leather.
Notably, the dowel 120 has a length-to-width ratio that is substantially similar to the length-to-width ratio of the flexible sleeve. The dowel is encased by an enclosed bag 122 filled with sand 124, and the chamber further includes a pouch 126 having stones 128 and an essential oil infused pad 130 arranged therein. The enclosed bag with sand adds further structure and weight to the shaper, and the pouch provides further stability by increasing the weight of the shaper at its lower end. Though the pouch in
In addition to the pad 130, providing essential oils is an important aspect of the embodiment of
Referring again to the embodiment of
Although the above description is with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised and employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
