The present invention relates to devices for assisting a person in putting on footwear. In particular, the present invention relates to shoehorns that assist in maneuvering the tongue of footwear when the footwear is being put on.
Shoehorns are tools that assist users in putting on shoes or other footwear. Typically, a shoehorn comprises a handle on one end and a smooth surface on the other end. The smooth surface allows for a user's heel to more easily enter into the shoe by allowing the heel to slide down the smooth surface into the shoe, before resting against the shoe's counter. At the same time, the user is able to grip the handle and use the shoehorn as a lever of sorts in order to further assist the heel in entering the shoe.
One type of shoehorn comprises an elongated handle. This allows the user to use the shoehorn without having to bend down or squat. This is especially helpful for users who lack mobility or are otherwise physically challenged.
Although shoehorns are helpful in assisting the entry of the user's heel into the shoe, many shoes also include a tongue, which is the flap that sits near the top central portion of the shoe. Before the shoe can be put on, it may be necessary to lift the tongue up (away from the opening of the shoe) in order to facilitate the entry of the foot into the opening. Otherwise, the tongue may not sit properly on the bridge of the foot after the entire foot has entered the shoe.
However, the lifting of the tongue away from the shoe's opening would also require the user to bend down or squat, which, as discussed above, may be difficult for some users. Therefore, it would be helpful to provide a device that could assist a user in putting on footwear without requiring the user to bend down or squat.
An assembly for assisting a user in putting on footwear having a tongue comprising a shoehorn portion and one or more attachment portions. The shoehorn portion comprises an elongated handle and an engagement member. The engagement member comprises a first surface and one or more shoehorn magnets situated proximate to the first surface. The attachment portions are removably attached to the tongue and comprise a clip and a body portion. The clip is configured to removably attached to the tongue. The body portion is connected to the clip and comprises one or more attachment magnets configured to engage with the shoehorn magnets. The engagement of the attachment magnets to the shoehorn magnets allows the user to manipulate a movement of the tongue.
In another embodiment of the invention, the engagement member further comprises a cavity for accommodating the shoehorn magnets.
In yet another embodiment, the shoehorn magnets lie substantially flush with the first surface.
In still a further embodiment, the clip comprises first and second clip surfaces configured to slide over a top and a bottom, respectively, of the tongue.
In another embodiment, the clip comprises a first clip surface, one or more protrusions, and fasteners. The first clip surface is configured to slide over a top of the tongue. The protrusions extend away from the first clip surface and are configured to extend through the tongue through openings formed on the tongue. The fasteners are attached to the protrusions and prevent removal of the clip from the tongue.
In still another embodiment, the body portion comprises an outer surface, wherein the attachment magnets are located on or proximate to the outer surface.
In yet another embodiment, the first surface comprises an engagement surface and a ridge, wherein the shoehorn magnets are located on or proximate to the engagement surface.
In still a further embodiment, the ridge is offset from the engagement surface by between 0 and 4 millimeters.
In still yet a further embodiment, the ridge prevents lateral movement of the shoehorn portion with respect to the attachment portion in one direction.
In a further embodiment, the shoehorn magnets are electromagnets.
In yet a further embodiment, the shoehorn portion further comprises a power source and a switch, wherein the power source and the switch are electrically connected to the electromagnets.
In another embodiment, a method for assisting a user in putting on footwear having a tongue comprises providing a shoehorn portion comprising an elongated handle and an engagement member, wherein the engagement member comprises one or more shoehorn magnets; attaching an attachment portion to the tongue, wherein the attachment portion comprises a clip configured to removably attach to the tongue and a body portion comprising one or more attachment magnets; moving the shoehorn portion to above the attachment portion such that the shoehorn magnets magnetically engage with the attachment magnets; moving the attachment portion, through the shoehorn portion, such that the tongue is moved away from the footwear; inserting a foot of the user partway into the footwear; and detaching the shoehorn portion from the attachment portion.
In a further embodiment, the step of detaching the shoehorn portion from the attachment portion comprises pulling the shoehorn magnets away from the attachment magnets.
In yet a further embodiment, the step of detaching the shoehorn portion from the attachment portion comprises twisting the elongated handle along a longitudinal axis.
The foregoing was intended as a summary only and of only some of the aspects of the invention. It was not intended to define the limits or requirements of the invention. Other aspects of the invention will be appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the embodiments.
The preferred embodiments of the invention will be described by reference to the drawings thereof, in which:
Referring to
In addition, one or more shoehorn magnets 118 sit on or are situated proximate to the first end 106 (as best shown in
The attachment portions 104 are adapted to attach to a tongue 14 of a shoe 16. The attachment portions 104 may be attached to the tongue 14 by conventional attachment means, such as by sewing, adhesives, hook and loop fasteners (i.e. VELCRO™), or other mechanical fasteners.
In another embodiment of the attachment portion 104, shown in
In another embodiment of the attachment portion 104, shown in
Each of the attachment portions 104 further comprises a body portion 138. The body portion 138 may be connected to the clip 122. The body portion 138 comprises one or more attachment magnets 140. Preferably, the attachment magnet 140 generally corresponds in shape to the shoehorn magnet 118. For example, if the shoehorn magnet 118 has a generally cylindrical shape, the attachment magnet 140 preferably also has a generally cylindrical shape with similar dimensions.
The attachment magnet 140 may be located on or proximate to an outer surface 142 of the body portion 138. For example, in one embodiment, the attachment magnet 140 may be located below the outer surface 142 such that it is not visible. This may be accomplished, for example, by molding the body portion 138 using plastic and encasing the attachment magnet 140 within the body portion 138. Alternatively, the attachment magnet 140 may be situated such that it is substantially flush with the outer surface 142.
Preferably, when the attachment portion 104 is attached to the tongue 14, the attachment magnet 140 is oriented towards the top of the shoe 16, as shown in
The general operation of the assembly 100 will now be described. The attachment portion 104 is attached to the tongue 14 of the shoe 16. When the user 10 wishes to put on the shoe 16, the user 10 grasps the shoehorn portion 102 by the handle 110. The user 10 then maneuvers the shoehorn portion 102 over the shoe 16 until one of the shoehorn magnets 118 in the shoehorn portion 102 is situated approximately above one of the attachment magnets 140 in the attachment portion 104. As a result of magnetic attraction, the attachment magnet 140 and the shoehorn magnet 118 will be attracted towards each other, and the two will tend to adhere to each other. Consequently, the first surface 116 of the shoehorn portion 102 will tend to adhere to the outer surface 142 of the attachment portion 104.
Once the first surface 116 has adhered to the outer surface 142, the user 10 can use the shoehorn portion 102 to move the attachment portion 104 (and thereby the attached tongue 14) away from the rest of the shoe 16 by pulling the shoehorn portion 102 in a direction away from the shoe 16. This would allow the user 10 to insert his or her foot 20 partway into the shoe 16 without the interference of the tongue 14. Once the foot 20 has been partly inserted into the shoe 16, the user 10 can disengage the shoehorn portion 102 from the attachment portion 104 by continuing to pull on the shoehorn portion 102 away from the shoe 16. Because the attachment portion 104 is securely attached to the tongue 14 (and by extension the shoe 16), the force exerted by the user 10 will eventually be sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction between the shoehorn magnet 118 and the attachment magnet 140, causing the shoehorn portion 102 to detach from the attachment portion 104.
In one embodiment, by aligning the respective north/south polarities of the shoehorn magnet 118 and the attachment magnet 140, it is possible to ensure that the adherence of the shoehorn magnet 118 to the attachment magnet 140 occurs at the same approximate position and orientation each time. The respective moldings around the shoehorn magnet 118 and the attachment magnet 140 can be formed so that they engage with each other when the shoehorn magnet 118 and the attachment magnet 140 adhere. This allows the shoehorn portion 102 to be pulled without easily disengaging from the attachment portion 104. Alternatively, the shoehorn magnet 118 and the attachment magnet 140 may be shaped such that they engage with each other when adhered together. In this case, the user 10 may be required to twist the shoehorn portion 102 in order to disengage it from the attachment portion 104.
The user 10 can then use the shoehorn portion 102 in its conventional manner to assist in inserting the heel 12 into the shoe 16.
Referring to
When the shoehorn portion 102 is attached to the attachment portion 104, the attachment magnet 140 preferably engages the shoehorn magnet 118 on the engagement surface 144. Because of the presence of the ridge 146, lateral movement of the shoehorn portion 102 in direction A (shown in
In another embodiment, shown in
In another embodiment, referring to
Similarly, with respect to a release mechanism, the prongs 160 may be configured to push the body portion 138 away from the shoehorn magnet 118, thereby facilitating the release of the shoehorn magnet 118 from the attachment magnet 140. The prongs 160 may also be mechanically actuated (e.g. by springs or other suitable means). This release mechanism may also be controlled by the user 10 through the control mechanism 162.
In another embodiment, shown in
Operation of the assembly 200 is similar to that of the previous embodiments. The user 10 positions the shoehorn portion 202 approximately above the attachment portion 204, as shown in
As with the previous embodiment, the user 10 can now insert the foot 20 partway into the shoe 16. Then, in order to detach the shoehorn portion 202 from the attachment portion 204, the user 10 can push the shoehorn portion 202 towards the front of the shoe 16 (as shown in
Alternatively, the shoehorn portion 202 can also be detached from the attachment portion 204 by twisting the shoehorn portion 202 generally about its longitudinal axis x. By doing so, the twisting force should be sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction between the shoehorn magnet 218 and the attachment magnet 240 and the physical engagement of the first and second inclined surfaces 260, 262.
Once the shoehorn portion 202 has been detached from the attachment portion 204, the shoehorn portion 202 can be used in its conventional manner to assist in inserting the heel 12 into the shoe 16.
In addition to be used to assist the user 10 in putting on footwear, the shoehorn portion 102 can also be used to pick up magnetic objections on the ground, without requiring the user 10 to bend over.
The assembly 100 may also be used in other applications. For example, the attachment portions 104 may be attached to curtains or blinds. The shoehorn portion 102 can then be attached to the attachment portion 104 (as described above) to move or manipulate the curtains or blinds.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the preferred embodiments have been described in some detail but that certain modifications may be practiced without departing from the principles of the invention.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/CA2018/050066 | 1/19/2018 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2018/132922 | 7/26/2018 | WO | A |
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Entry |
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International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in PCT/CA2018/050066 dated Jul. 26, 2018, 8 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20190350397 A1 | Nov 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62448047 | Jan 2017 | US |