Patent Application
20160286996
The present invention relates to skiwear and, more particularly, to an elongated ski boot shoe horn of flexible, thin material.
Ski boots are typically difficult to enter, especially when they are cold or have not been worn for a while. This is because the boot is often stiff and the material of the ski sock and the boot interior fabric stick to each other, like Velcro, as the foot is inserted, making it hard to push the foot forward into the boot. In most cases, even when a boot is broken in, foot insertion can be a struggle.
The shiny low friction surface of the present invention, and its ability to mold to the back of the boot heel, allows the foot to slide easily into the ski boot. Moreover, because of its length, the present invention does not require the skier to bend down quite so much, which is a benefit. The present invention is effective for both inserting and removing the foot from the ski boot.
As can be seen, there is a need for a ski boot horn especially adapted to facilitate insertion and removal of a foot from a ski boot.
In one aspect of the present invention, a ski boot horn slide includes a unitary sheet of flexible material formed into a handle portion and an elongated body portion, wherein the handle portion forms a handle opening, and the elongated body portion has a length-to-width ratio of at least 5 to 1.
In another aspect of the present invention, a ski boot horn slide includes a handle portion; a handle opening formed by the handle portion; an elongated body portion joined to the handle portion; and two parallel surfaces defining the elongated body, wherein the two parallel surfaces have a length-to-width ratio of at least 5 to 1.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a ski boot horn slide provides a unitary sheet of flexible material formed into a handle portion and an elongated body portion, wherein the flexible material provides at least one reduced friction surface; a handle opening formed in the handle portion; a raised lip surface along a periphery of the handle opening; and the elongated body portion has a length-to-width ratio of at least 5 to 1, wherein the elongated body portion forms an arcuate insertion point at an end opposite the handle portion, and wherein the handle portion has a width greater than the width of the elongated portion.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a ski boot horn slide specially adapted to facilitate easy insertion and removal of a foot to and from a ski boot. Such a ski boot horn slide may be a flexible, thin and reduced friction material forming an elongated body portion having a length-to-width ratio of at least 5 to 1. The ski boot horn slide may also provide a handle portion having a comfortable gripping handle hole designed for ease of use.
Referring to
A flexible material may extend between the two parallel side surfaces 24 and other side surfaces of the elongated body portion 10. The flexible material may be adapted or designed to be repeatedly bent without fracturing, such as plasticized, metallic, or polymeric material, and provides or can be adapted to provide (via coating, treatment, or the like) at least one side that provides a reduced friction surface. The reduced frictional properties are contemplated in relationship to materials specifically used to line ski boots 18. The flexible material may be substantially flat when not in use, though may bend and shape itself to the contour of the foot 20 of a user 22 when in use.
The transition between the elongated body portion 10 and the handle portion 16 may be defined by a shoulder-shape belonging to the handle portion 16, which would be wider than the two parallel surfaces 24. The handle portion 16 may define a handle hole 12 sized and adapted to be easy to grip with at least one finger. A raised lip surface 14 may be disposed along a periphery of the handle hole 12. The raised lip surface 14 may be adapted to facilitate the grip of the handle hole 12.
A method of using the present invention may include the following. The ski boot horn slide 30 disclosed above may be provided. The user 20 may grip the handle hole 12 and slide the elongated body portion 10 between a rear portion of a ski boot 18 and the wearer's foot so that the foot will then glide easily against the elongated body portion 10 down into the ski boot 18 without catching against the interior of the ski boot 18, as illustrated in
This method of use can be accomplished without the user 20 leaning over fully loaded with wearable ski gear while dealing with possibly rigid and difficult to enter ski boots 18.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
