Shoe retaining and carrying device

A portable base member having oppositely positioned shoe carrying platforms with heel and toe retaining members on each platform. A shoe horn-type device is removably mounted on each heel retaining member in a manner so that it can be removed therefrom and used as a conventional shoe horn. In its installed position a handle portion of each shoe horn device extends outwardly over the heel of a shoe being retained, so that the shoe horn-type device serves an auxiliary retaining function.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
A. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to portable shoe retaining and carrying 
devices, and more particularly to a combination device which incorporates 
as one of its elements a shoe horn-type device. 
B. Brief Description of the Prior Art 
There are in the prior art a number of devices, called "shoe trees", by 
which a pair of shoes can not only be stored in a convenient upright 
position, but also can be quite easily carried while still mounted to the 
shoe tree. One such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,210,787, Allsop, 
where there is shown an upright base member mounted to a pedestal, the 
base member presenting a pair of vertical oppositely positioned platforms 
to which a pair of shoes are mounted. At each platform, there is a heel 
retaining member and a toe retaining member, with the toe retaining member 
being slide-mounted to its platform. A handle is provided at the upper end 
of the vertical base member so that the shoe tree can be used not only as 
a portable shoe carrier, but also as a shoe storage device. 
A number of other patents show various refinements or modifications of this 
concept. Some of these other devices can serve as portable shoe carriers, 
and some are arranged to be mounted to a shoe display structure where a 
plurality of pairs of shoes can be displayed for merchandising. Typical of 
the other devices in the prior art are those shown in the following U.S. 
Pat. Nos. 3,425,564, Allsop; 3,478,890, Allsop; 3,729,760, Allsop; 
3,870,153, Allsop et al; 3,909,718, Allsop et al; 3,958,698, Allsop et al. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention combines the basic features of a portable shoe 
retaining and carrying apparatus with a shoe manipulating device in the 
configuration of a conventional "shoe horn". This is accomplished in such 
a way that the shoe manipulating device not only serves its usual function 
of better enabling a person to place shoes on the person's feet, but also 
serves an auxiliary shoe retaining function. This is done in a manner that 
the shoe manipulating device is securely mounted to the apparatus to serve 
this auxiliary shoe retaining function, but also can be quite conveniently 
removed from the device to enable the user to put the shoes on more 
conveniently. 
In the apparatus of the present invention, there is a base structure 
providing at least one support platform adapted to support at least one 
shoe thereon. There is a first shoe retaining member mounted by an inner 
end thereof at one end of the platform, and having an outer end to extend 
outwardly from said platform to engage one end of a shoe placed on the 
platform. A second shoe retaining member is also mounted to the platform 
at a location spaced from the first retaining member and also arranged to 
extend outwardly from the platform to engage a second end of the shoe. 
A shoe horn-type shoe manipulating device is provided, this device 
comprising an elongate foot engaging portion and a handle portion 
extending laterally from one end of the foot engaging portion. Mounting 
means are provided to removably attach the shoe manipulating device to the 
first retaining member, in a manner that the shoe manipulating device can 
be removed from the apparatus to be used in putting on a shoe retained on 
the apparatus. In the mounted position, the handle portion of the shoe 
manipulating device extends laterally in a shoe retaining position over 
said platform so that with the shoe being carried on the apparatus, the 
shoe manipulating member can aid in retaining the shoe more securely on 
the apparatus by virtue of the positioning of the handle portion of the 
shoe manipulating device. 
In the preferred form, the shoe manipulating device is provided with a 
center mounting opening to receive a securing member which is mounted on 
the first shoe retaining member. The first shoe retaining member is 
additionally provided with at least one, and desirably a pair, of second 
securing members which engage the shoe manipulating device and presses it 
into proper engagement with the first shoe retaining member. In the 
preferred form, the first securing member is a securing stud with an 
oval-shaped lip, and the second securing members comprise a pair of 
brackets, each having a concave retaining surface. The hole in the shoe 
manipulating device is oblong so that it can be inserted over the first 
securing member, after which the shoe manipulating device can be rotated 
to cause engagement by the second securing members, and cause the oblong 
lip to engage the shoe manipulating device securely. 
In the preferred form, the base provides a pair of oppositely positioned 
platforms, each having a pair of shoe retaining members to retain a pair 
of shoes, with each first retaining member having a shoe horn-type shoe 
manipulating device mounted thereon. 
Other features will become apparent from the following description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The shoe tree of the present invention is particularly adapted to carry a 
pair of golf shoes or the like, and accordingly it will be described with 
reference to that particular application. Since a pair of golf shoes will 
necessarily be stored for a good deal of their useful life, the shoe tree 
should, of course, be able to store these conveniently and compactly as 
possible. However, with the shoe tree serving the additional function of a 
portable shoe carrier, it has to be recognized that the shoe tree, with 
the shoes attached thereto, is subjected to a fair amount of jostling, for 
example, in being carried in the trunk of a car or being brought to some 
location where the shoes are placed on the golfer's feet. Thus, it is 
particularly critical that the shoes be retained securely on the shoe tree 
so that it can reliably perform its portable shoe carrying function. 
The apparatus of the present invention is generally designated 10, and 
comprises two main components, namely: a). a portable shoe retaining and 
carrying device 12, and b). a combination shoe manipulating device and 
auxiliary retaining device 14. For convenience of description, since the 
shoe retaining and carrying device has the general configuration and 
operation of a conventional shoe tree, in the following description it 
will simply be referred to as the "shoe tree 12". Since the combination 
shoe manipulating device and auxiliary securing device has the general 
configuration and characteristics of a conventional shoe horn, in the 
following description it will simply be called the "shoe horn 14". 
However, it should be recognized that the combination of the present 
invention is not simply an obvious joinder of two common prior art 
devices, since both the shoe tree 12 and the shoe horn 14 must be 
especially modified and adapted in a particular manner to properly perform 
their intended functions. Further, the shoe horn 14, in addition to 
performing its conventional function of aiding in the putting on of shoes, 
also has an auxiliary shoe retaining function. 
With regard to the shoe tree 12, there is an elongate base 16 having a 
lower end connected to a pedestal 18 and an upper end connected to a 
carrying handle 20. The base 16 has length and width dimensions 
corresponding generally to a pair of shoes to be carried thereon, and can 
be considered as presenting two shoe supporting platforms 22 positioned on 
opposite sides of the base 16. 
At the upper end of each base is a first retaining member 24 adapted to 
engage a heel portion of a shoe being carried on its related platform 22. 
A pair of second retaining members 26, each adapted to engage a toe 
portion of a shoe, are provided at a location beneath the first retaining 
members 24. Each second toe retaining member 26 is mounted to a slide 
member 28 mounted for slide motion along the length of the platform 22. A 
pair of rubber bands 30 are provided in the interior portion of the base 
16, each rubber band 30 being mounted at the upper end to a stationary 
finger 32 connected to the base 16, and at the lower end to a second 
finger 34 mounted on the inner side of a related slide member 28. Each 
rubber band urges its related slide member 26 upwardly toward the heel 
retaining member 24. Thus, when a shoe is placed between a pair of 
retaining members 24 and 26, the urging of the rubber band 30 against the 
toe retaining member 26 causes the two retaining members 24 and 26 to hold 
a shoe (shown in FIG. 3 at 36) against its related platform 22. 
The slide member 28 is formed with a peripheral upstanding flange 37. Thus, 
when the sole of a golf shoe is placed against the slide member 28, the 
spikes 36a of the shoe 36 fit into the depression defined by the 
surrounding flange 37. 
With regard to the particular arrangement of the toe retaining member 26, 
reference is made to FIGS. 7 and 8, where the toe retaining member 26 can 
be seen to comprise an upper retaining portion 38 having a configuration 
to engage a toe of a shoe, and a pair of mounting arms 40 positioned on 
opposite sides of the base 16. Each mounting arm is pivotally mounted to 
the base 16 by means of a laterally inwardly extending finger 42 fitting 
in an opening 44 in the slide member 28. The finger 42 has a generally 
round configuration, with one flattened surface 46 adapted to engage 
either of two flattened retaining surfaces 48 and 50 in the base 16. When 
the flattened surface 46 is engaging the surface 48 (see FIG. 7), the toe 
retaining member 26 is held in its outwardly extending retaining position 
by reason of the two flattened surfaces 46 and 48 engaging one another to 
resist rotational movement of the retaining member 26. 
When the toe retaining member 26 is rotated 90.degree. downwardly toward 
its stowed position, as shown in FIG. 8, the flattened surface 46 of the 
finger 42 is moved out of engagement with the surface 48 and comes into 
engagement with the second surface 50, with the engagement of the two 
surfaces 46 and 50 holding the toe retaining member 26 in its downwardly 
stowed position, as in FIG. 8. The material forming the base 16 and the 
retaining finger 42 of the toe retaining member 26 are both sufficiently 
yielding to permit moderate compression of the material at the surface 
areas 46-50 to allow the toe retaining member 26 to be moved "over center" 
between its two positions shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. 
While not shown in detail herein, the heel retaining member 24 is similarly 
mounted to the base 16 so that it will be held in either an upright 
retaining position or a down stowed position. The upright retaining 
position and the stowed position of both the heel retaining members 24 and 
the toe retaining members 26 are shown in FIG. 3. 
The particular configuration of each heel retaining member 24 is 
particularly significant in the present invention, and thus will be 
described in detail herein. Each heel retaining member 24 comprises a 
retaining portion 52, contoured to engage a heel of a shoe, and a pair of 
mounting arms 54 by which it is pivotally mounted to the base 16 in a 
manner similar to the toe retaining member 26. 
To describe the heel retaining member 24 more specifically, it has a 
concave heel engaging surface 56 and an oppositely positioned convex 
surface 58 at which its related shoe horn 14 is mounted. The retaining 
portion 52 of the heel retaining member 24 has an inner end 60 positioned 
adjacent the base 16, and an outer end 62. Intermediate its two ends 60 
and 62 and extending a short distance outwardly from the convex surface 58 
is a retaining stud 64 having a circular portion 66 of a first smaller 
diameter, this circular portion 66 connecting directly to the retaining 
member 24, and an outer oval shaped securing lip 68. A pair of upper and 
lower securing brackets 70 and 72 respectively, are mounted to the convex 
side 58 of the retaining portion 52 of the member 24, one adjacent the 
inner end 60 and one adjacent the outer end 62. Each securing bracket has 
a concave contact face 74 of a curvature generally matching that of the 
shoe horn 14. 
The shoe horn 14 has the overall configuration of a conventional shoe horn, 
and thus comprises a main body 76 having elongate configuration, 
moderately curved in transverse section, with a concave surface 78 and an 
opposite convex surface 80. At one end 82 of the body 76 there is a handle 
84 extending generally at right angles to the lengthwise axis of the body 
76 of the shoe horn 14. 
The body 76 of the shoe horn 14 is formed with an oval opening 86, this 
opening 86 being positioned approximately intermediate the two ends of the 
shoe horn 14. This oval opening 86 has generally the same configuration as 
the oval configuration of the securing lip 68 of the retaining stud 64, 
with the dimensions of the opening 86 being slightly larger than the 
securing lip 68. 
To attach the shoe horn 14 to the heel retaining member 24, reference is 
made to FIG. 1 where the shoe horn 14 is spaced moderately away from the 
heel retaining member 24, with the lengthwise axis of the shoe horn 14 
being crossways with respect to the lengthwise axis of the retaining 
member 24. In this position, the lengthwise dimension of the opening 86 is 
aligned with the lengthwise dimension of the securing lip 68 of the stud 
64. Thus, the shoe horn 14 can be moved toward the member 24, with the 
securing lip 68 passing through the opening 86, so that the shoe horn 14 
moves into the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 6. The shoe horn 14 
is then pivoted 90.degree. about the securing stud 64 so that the outer 
edge portions 88 of the securing lip 68 fit over lateral edge portion 90 
adjacent the opening 86 in the shoe horn 14. As the shoe horn 14 is 
rotated from the dotted line position of FIG. 6 to the full line position, 
the two opposite ends of the body 76 of the shoe horn 17 come into 
engagement with the two concave contact surfaces 74 of the securing 
brackets 70 and 72. The shoe horn 14 is made of a material which is 
sufficiently resilient to permit the shoe horn 14 to "ride over" the edge 
portions of the securing brackets 70 and 72 and spring into firm securing 
engagement with the contact surfaces 74 of the brackets 70 and 72. In this 
position, the securing lip 68 holds the shoe horn 14 securely against the 
brackets 70 and 72. 
In this installed position, it can be seen that the handle 84 extends over 
and beyond the outer end 62 of the retaining portion 52 of the heel 
retaining member 24. Thus, in the shoe retaining position, the shoe horn 
handle 84 extends over an upper heel portion 92 of the shoe 36 being 
retained on the shoe tree 12 (see FIG. 3). If there is any jostling or 
unusual jar to the shoe tree 12, so that the heel portion of the shoe 36 
would tend to slide outwardly from the heel retaining member 24, the 
handle portion 84 of the shoe horn 14 serves an auxiliary retaining 
function to prohibit further outward movement of the heel portion 92 of 
the shoe 36. 
For convenience of illustration, in FIG. 3 the handle portion 84 of the 
shoe horn 14 is shown spaced a slight distance away from the heel portion 
92 of the shoe 36. However, it is to be understood that the handle portion 
84 can be positioned closely adjacent the heel 92 so that acting in 
combination with the toe retaining member 26, both ends of the shoe 36 are 
pressed downwardly toward its platform 22. The toe retaining member 26 is 
provided with a contact shoulder 94 to engage a front sole portion 96 of 
the shoe 36. Thus, the toe retaining member 26 cooperates with the handle 
portion 84 to hold the shoe 36 in a straightened position and thus prevent 
curling of the shoe during non-use. 
The shoes 36 can easily be removed from the shoe tree 12 simply by pushing 
the toe of the shoe 36 against the toe retaining member 26 until the heel 
portion 92 of the shoe 36 is free of the shoe horn handle 84. Then the 
shoe horn 14 can be removed from the heel retaining member 24 by following 
in reverse the steps described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6, by which 
the shoe horn 14 is attached to the heel securing member 24. After the 
shoe horn 14 is used to assist the person in placing the shoes 36 on the 
person's feet, the shoe horn 14 can be reinstalled to its securing 
position on the member 24. 
As a modification of the mounting of the shoe horn 14, it is possible to 
utilize only one of the brackets 70 and 72 to position the shoe horn 
securely on the heel retaining member 24. If, for example, the outer 
bracket 70 were eliminated, then the bracket 72 would be so positioned 
that the outwardly positioned end of the shoe horn would be pressed into 
engagement directly against the convex surface of the heel retaining 
member 24.