Boot tree

A boot tree including shin- and calf-shaped parts, integrally formed with a bow spring. The repulsive force by the bow springs preserves the shape of a boot into which the boot tree is inserted.

The present invention relates to an improved boot tree, i.e., to an 
improved leg-shaped device for inserting in a boot to preserve its shape. 
Generally, a boot tree consists of two parts which are opposed to each 
other, and it has been a common practice that, when a conventional boot 
tree is inserted in a boot, the space between the above-mentioned two 
parts is broadened by the restoring force of a spring arranged between 
these two parts. Thus, because of the necessity of incorporating a spring, 
such conventional boot trees are inevitably high in cost. 
It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the above-mentioned 
disadvantage. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a plastic boot tree 
comprising shin- and calf-shaped parts, each of which is molded with a bow 
spring. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a boot tree 
incorporating a pair of bow springs resilient enough to preserve the shape 
of a boot.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a boot tree in accordance with the present 
invention includes a shin-shaped part 1a and a calf-shaped part 1b, each 
of which is preferably made of semirigid plastics and has a length 
practically equal to the distance between the top and the foot of a boot. 
Each of the parts 1a and 1b is hollow and is open on one side. Brims 11a 
and 11b at the open side of the shin- and calf-shaped parts 1a and 1b 
respectively are of the same shape so that, when they are put together, 
the shin- and calf-shaped parts 1a and 1b form the shape of a leg. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, a bow spring 4a extends inwardly in the portion 
somewhat higher than the mid-portion between a bottom plate 2a and a top 
plate 8a of the shin-shaped part 1a. The upper and lower ends of the bow 
spring 4a are integral with the shin-shaped part 1a. A slit 12a, which is 
practically as narrow as the breadth of the bow spring 4a, is formed in 
the longitudinal ridgeline of the shin-shaped part 1a which corresponds to 
the subtense of the inward bow spring 4a. The mid-portion of the arc 
formed by the inward bow spring 4a projects appreciably beyond the plane 
formed by the brim 11a. 
A bow spring 4b extends inwardly from the outside of the calf-shaped part 
1b in the same manner and position as the bow spring 4a. A slit 12b is 
formed in the longitudinal ridgeline of the calf-shaped part 1b in the 
same manner as the slit 12a. 
A connector 3a is integrally formed on the shin-shaped part 1a on the 
bottom plate 2a. The connector half 3a is adapted to form a hinge 
connection with a connector half 3b which is integrally formed on the 
calf-shaped part 1b on the bottom plate 2b. 
A grip 7a extends outwardly from the top plate 8a in such a manner that one 
side thereof is on the same plane with the brim 11a. A grip 7b is 
similarly provided on top of the calf-shaped part 1b. Holes 9a and 9b 
provided in the grips 7a and 7b respectively make it easy to take out the 
boot tree from a boot. 
In order to insert the boot tree into a boot 10, the connector half 3a is 
engaged with the connector half 3b so as to form a hinge connection, and 
the grip 7a is held between the thumb and fingers together with a grip 7b 
provided on the edge of the top plate 8b in the same manner as the grip 
7a. Then a sharp pinch is given on the grips 7a and 7b so that the shin- 
and calf-shaped parts 1a and 1b may be brought together. The boot tree 
will now be easily inserted into the boot 10 with the lower end of the 
boot tree foremost. 
A protuberance 5 and a hole 6 are provided in the mid-portions of the arcs 
formed by the inward bow springs 4b and 4a respectively in such a manner 
that the protuberance 5 fits into the hole 6 when the shin- and 
calf-shaped parts 1a and 1b are put together as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. 
In the boot 10, the space between the shin- and calf-shaped parts 1a and 1b 
tends to be broadened by the repulsive power of the bow springs 4a and 4b. 
Consequently, the external surfaces of the shin- and calf-shaped parts 1a 
and 1b stick fast to the internal surface of the part of the boot 10. 
The bow springs 4a and 4b are resilient enough to preserve the shape of a 
boot, because the upper and lower ends of these springs are integral with 
the shin- and calf-shaped parts 1a and 1b. The protuberance 5 fitting into 
the hole 6 prevents the bow springs 4a and 4b from being disengaged from 
each other while the boot tree is in a boot. 
The structure of the shin-shaped part 1a and the calf-shaped part 1b 
integral with their bow springs 4a and 4b permits mass production of the 
boot tree in accordance with the present invention and thereby permits 
curtailment of the production cost. 
The boot tree in accordance with the present invention can be kept in 
custody in a limited space by placing the calf-shaped part 1b upon the 
shin-shaped part 1a or vice versa in such a manner that the bow spring 4a 
is inserted in the slit 12b. 
While I have disclosed an embodiment of the present invention, it is to be 
understood that this has been given by way of example only and not in a 
limiting sense, the scope of the present invention being determined by the 
objects and the claims.