Abstract:
An extendable shoehorn device for permitting a user to put a shoe on a foot without having to bend over. The extendable shoehorn device includes a handle assembly. An offset shoehorn member is mounted to an end of the handle assembly for permitting a user to more easily put a shoe on their foot.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to shoe horns and more particularly pertains to a new extendable shoehorn device for permitting a user to put a shoe on a foot without having to bend over. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of shoehorns is known in the prior art. More specifically, shoehorns heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art that have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. Des. 302,490; U.S. Pat. No. 3,788,531; U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,745; U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,823; U.S. Pat. No. 1,424,030; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,242,615. 
     The use of shoehorns has been known for quite some time. They have taken on many different shapes and sizes. However, the main function of shoehorns has not changed. They are still employed to aid a user in positioning their foot into a shoe. Conventional shoehorns have employed elongate handles to aid users unable to bend over. However, these shoehorns require a user to position the elongate handle behind them, making operation of the shoehorn difficult. Other conventional shoehorns have employed means of collapsing the shoehorn thereby making transportation of the shoehorn easier. Unfortunately, the collapsible shoehorns are small and compact making them unusable for users that are not able to bend over to position the shoehorn behind their foot. Although shoehorns have been improved upon over the years there is still a need for a collapsible shoehorn device that can be easily used. 
     In these respects, the extendable shoehorn device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of permitting a user to put a shoe on a foot without having to bend over. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of shoehorns now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new extendable shoehorn device construction wherein the same can be utilized for permitting a user to put a shoe on a foot without having to bend over. 
     While the conventional devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new extendable shoehorn device. The inventive device includes a handle assembly. An offset shoehorn member is mounted to an end of the handle assembly for permitting a user to more easily put a shoe on their foot. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new extendable shoehorn device which has many of the advantages of the shoehorns mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new extendable shoehorn device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art shoehorns, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a new extendable shoehorn device that reduces muscle tension and strain that often occurs when a user has difficulty reaching and putting a shoe on their foot. The present invention also promotes a sense of independence by reducing a users dependency upon another individual to get dressed. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new extendable shoehorn device that reduces the muscle tension and strain experienced by shoe salespersons repeated bending over to help customers try on shoes. The present invention permits a shoe salesperson to help a customer position their foot into shoe while standing to the side of the customer. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings illustrating the present invention include: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new extendable shoehorn device according to the present invention illustrating a retracted position. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating an extended position. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the present invention taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a fractional cross sectional view of the present invention taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new extendable shoehorn device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in. FIGS. 1 through 4, the extendable shoehorn device  10  generally comprises a handle assembly  12  and an offset shoehorn member  13  that is mounted to an end  14  of the handle assembly  12  for permitting a user to more easily put a shoe on their foot. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2, the handle assembly  12  may include a plurality of tubular segments  15  that are telescopically interconnected. Each of the tubular segments  15  has first  16  and second  17  opposed ends. As particularly illustrated in FIG. 4, each of the tubular segments  15  may have a generally circular transverse cross section taken substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of each of the tubular segments  15 . 
     The handle assembly  12  may be positionable between a retracted position and an extended position. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the extended position is characterized by the first end  16  of each of the tubular segments  15  being positioned generally adjacent to the second end  17  of an adjacent tubular segment  15 . As illustrated in FIG. 1, the retracted position is characterized by the first  16  and second  17  ends of each of the tubular segments  15  being positioned generally adjacent to a respective first  16  and second  16  ends of an adjacent tubular segment  15 . 
     The offset shoehorn member  13  may include a plate  20  that has a generally concave upper surface  21  for selectively abutting a foot of a user. The offset shoehorn member  13  may have a width that tapers from a free end toward the handle assembly  12 . The offset shoehorn member  13  may comprise a substantially rigid material such as, for example, a plastic or metal material. However other types of materials may also be employed. 
     The offset shoehorn member  13  may also include a tab  24  that extends angularly away from the upper surface  21  of the offset shoehorn member  12 . The end  14  of the handle assembly  12  is mounted to the tab  24 . The tab  24  may have a width tapering from a juncture of the handle assembly  12  and the tab  24  toward a juncture of the tab  24  and the plate  20  of the offset shoehorn member  13 . 
     The tab  24  and plate  20  of the offset shoehorn member  13  are positioned such that a longitudinal axis of the shoehorn member  13  is orientated generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the handle assembly  12 . It is to be understood that various orientations are possible and would fall within the scope of the present invention. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the tubular segments  15  has an inner diameter. The inner diameter of each of the tubular segments  15  may be generally smaller than an adjacent tubular segment  15  such that the handle assembly  12  tapers toward the offset shoehorn member  13 . 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the tubular segments  15  may include a longitudinal channel  25  that extend between the first  16  and second  17  ends of each of the tubular segments  15 . A recess  26  may extend into the longitudinal channel  25  and may be positioned generally adjacent to the second end  17  of each of the tubular segments  15 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 4, a plurality of securing assemblies  28  may also be provided. Each of the securing assemblies  28  may be mounted to the first end  16  of each of the tubular segments  15  for selectively engaging the second end  17  of an adjacent tubular segment  15  thereby preventing rotational movement of each of the tubular segments  15  with respect to each other when the handle assembly  12  is in an extended position. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the securing assemblies  28  may include a spring member  30  that is mounted to an outer surface  31  of each of the tubular segments  15  for selectively engaging the recess  26  thereby preventing rotation of each of the tubular segments  15 . Each of the securing assemblies may additionally include a fastening member  32  that may extend through the spring member  30  and may be mounted to the tubular segment thereby fastening the spring member  30  to each of the tubular segments  15 . 
     The spring member  30  preferably has first  34  and second  35  opposed ends. Additionally, the spring member  30  may be generally arcuate such that the first end  34  of the spring member  30  selectively engages the recess  26  when the handle assembly  12  is in the extended position. The spring member  30  may comprise a leaf spring and the fastening member  32  may comprise a pin. However, other types of spring members and fastening members may be employed. 
     A means of securing  40  the handle assembly  12  to an article may be mounted to the handle assembly  12 . The means of securing  40  the handle assembly  12  may include an end cap portion  41  that is mounted to an end of the handle assembly  12  opposite the offset shoehorn member  13 . An elongate clip portion  42  may extend longitudinally from the end cap portion  41  toward the offset shoehorn member  13 . The means of securing  40  the handle assembly  12  to an article may comprise a substantially rigid material. However, other types of materials may also be employed. 
     In use, a user grasps the offset shoehorn member  13  and the handle assembly  12 . The user positions the handle assembly  12  in the extended position by pulling the offset shoehorn member  13  and the handle assembly  12  away from each other. Once the handle assembly  12  is in the extended position the user positions the first surface  21  of the plate  20  between their foot and the heel grip portion of a shoe. The handle assembly  12  is positioned at side of a user&#39;s leg instead of behind the user&#39;s leg permitting a user to more easily manipulate the offset shoehorn member  13 . Once a user has positioned their foot in a shoe the handle assembly  12  may be positioned in the retracted position for easy transportation with the means of securing  40  the handle assembly  12 . 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the extendable shoehorn device. Other modifications and embodiments of the present invention are possible and fall within the present scope of the invention.