Footwear scraper

A device for removal of matter from shoes and boots is disclosed. The device includes a scraping portion, a mounting portion, and a rotatable member for mounting the scraping portion on the mounting portion so that the scraping portion can be rotated, relative to the mounting portion, between stored and operative positions, with the rotatable member being biased to urge the scraping portion toward the operative position upon actuation of a release mechanism connected with the rotatable member. The device is mounted upon, or integrated with, a handle structure, such as, for example, a ski pole, so that, when so mounted or integrated, the scraping portion is substantially aligned with the handle structure in the stored position and is rotated to a position extending in a direction away from the handle structure in the operative position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to devices for removal of matter from shoes and 
boots, and, more particularly, relates to ski pole mountable devices for 
removal of unwanted matter from ski shoes and ski boots. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Devices for removal of unwanted matter from shoes and boots are well known, 
and it is also well known that such devices not only have been heretofore 
utilized in many diverse configurations but have also heretofore been 
mounted on, or utilized in conjunction with, other structures, including 
handles or poles. 
In particular, devices for removal of matter from ski shoes and ski boots 
are well known, including devices which are used in association with ski 
poles. Examples of such usage are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,929,345, 
issued Dec. 30, 1975 to Robert D. Nasby et al, 4,145,062, issued Mar. 20, 
1979 to Cyrus R. Stiemert, 4,221,393, issued Sept. 9, 1980 to Arnold 
Donahue, and 4,000,909, issued Jan. 4, 1977 to Sidney C. Coale. As 
described, the devices are integrated with a ski pole, and the portion 
utilized for removal of matter is maintained substantially aligned with 
the pole at all times. 
Other arrangements, again by way of example, are shown by U.S. Pat. No. 
4,129,312, issued Dec. 12, 1978 to Eberhard Loffelholz, and U.S. Pat. No. 
Des. 266,574, issued Oct. 19, 1982 to Irwin M. Krive. As described, the 
devices are arranged on a ski pole, and, while the portion used for 
removal of matter extends in a direction away from the pole, this position 
is maintained at all times. 
Still further examples are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,350,111, issued Oct. 
31, 1967 to William J. Sahlein et al, and 4,145,063, issued Mar. 20, 1979 
to Gregory T. Knapp et al. As described, the portion of the device used 
for removal of matter is stored in a position substantially aligned with a 
pole and is extendable at an angle away from the pole for use, but all 
such movement must be manually carried out. 
Thus, while devices for removal of matter from shoes and boots for use in 
association with handles or poles have heretofore been suggested and/or 
utilized, further improvements could nevertheless still be utilized. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention provides a variably positionable device for removal of 
matter from shoes and boots, for example, ski shoes and ski boots, used in 
association with a handle or pole, for example, a ski pole. The overall 
device utilizes a scraper portion, a mounting portion, and an actuatable 
biased rotation member to move the scraper portion from a stored position 
to an operative position with respect to the mounting portion which can be 
mounted, for example, on a handle or pole. The rotation member is 
configured in a manner so as to allow storage of the scraper portion in a 
position substantially aligned with the handle or pole, to automatically 
realign the scraper portion, by actuating the biased rotation member, to a 
position extending in a direction away from the handle or pole for use of 
the scraper portion, and to allow return of the scraper portion thereafter 
to the stored position. 
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved device 
for removal of matter from shoes and boots. 
It is another object of this invention to provide an improved device for 
use in association with a handle or pole for removal of matter from shoes 
and boots. 
It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved device 
for removal of matter from ski shoes and ski boots. 
It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved device 
for removal of matter from shoes and boots which may be maintained in 
either a stored position or an operative position. 
It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved device 
for removal of matter from shoes and boots which is capable of actuatable 
biased rotation from a stored position to an operative position. 
With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent to one 
skilled in the art as the description proceeds, this invention resides in 
the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts 
substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by 
the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the precise 
embodiment of the herein disclosed invention are meant to be included as 
come within the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to the drawings, a ski boot scraper 10 is shown in FIG. 1 and 
2 with the scraper portion 12 in the stored position parallel to the 
mounting portion 14 mounted on ski pole 16. 
As shown in FIG. 3, scraper portion 12 is caused to turn to its operative 
position perpendicular to pole 16, by manipulation of lever 18, where it 
is ready for use. Turning to FIG. 4, mounting portion 14 includes mounting 
plate 20 and mechanism housing 22, plate 20 and housing 22 being 
maintained around pole 16 by hex screws 24 through openings 26 in housing 
22 and threaded openings 28 in plate 20, screws 24 being tightened until 
ski boot scraper 10 is held firmly in place on pole 16. Scraper portion 12 
includes scraping blade 30 on base 32, base 32 being mounted to hexagonal 
shaft 34 in housing 22 as more fully set forth below. Scraping blade 30 
may be, for example, blunted at the top portion thereof, dual, laterally 
extending blades 35 being thereby formed for safer storage and use. 
In FIG. 5, mechanism housing 22 is shown from the opposite perspective of 
that shown in FIG. 4 and without mounting plate 20 attached thereto. 
Mechanism housing 22 includes concavity 36, a portion of which forms ski 
pole receiving walls 38. Trigger mechanism 40 resides in trigger cavity 42 
of mechanism housing 22. Trigger mechanism 40 consists of lever 18 having 
actuator 44 connected thereto and mounted on shaft 46 through opening 48. 
Slide release 50 is slidable by actuator 44 upon clockwise manipulation of 
lever 18, actuator 44 being maintained in slot 52, and includes release 
arm 54. Trigger biasing assembly 56 is maintained in mounting hole 58 
(best shown in FIG. 7a) in slide release 50 and includes spring 60 and 
spring stiffening pin 62. Biasing assembly 56 is maintained against wall 
64 of trigger cavity 42 and biases release arm 54 toward stop 66 where it 
is tightly maintained at shoulder 68 by spring 60. 
Pivot assembly 70 is maintained in mechanism housing 22 at pivot assembly 
cavity 72, which includes shaft opening 74 through rear wall 76 of 
mechanism housing 22. Shaft 34 is rotatably mounted through opening 74 and 
is attached, as by gluing, fusing or the like, to scraper base 32 at 
hexagonal shaft mounting cavity 78. Pivot assembly 70 includes pivot disk 
80 integrally connected to shaft 34, torsion spring 82 and spring cover 
84. Torsion spring 82 has a small end 86 which resides in mounting slot 88 
within pivot disk 80 and a large hooked end 90 which resides in mounting 
hole 92 within pivot assembly cavity 72 at one pole receiving wall 38, 
spring 82 fitting in spring housing slot 94 and around spring shaft 96. 
Spring 82 is retained in slot 94 by spring cover 84 having centrally 
located connecting pin 98 maintained in spring shaft opening 100 and 
mounted on pivot disk shoulder 102. When cover 84 is in place, slot 104 is 
formed (as shown in FIG. 6) which conforms to the range of rotation of 
pivot disk 80, hooked end 90 of spring 82 being maintained in a static 
position in slot 104 with one of slot walls 106 being alternately adjacent 
hooked end 90 when scraper portion 12 is in either operative or stored 
positions. Stop 108 travels a similar range between range limiting walls 
110 and 112 in cavity 72. 
When pivot disk 80 is in place in cavity 72 it therefore is allowed to 
pivot on lip 114, its range of rotation limited to approximately 
90.degree. by contact of stop 108 with walls 110 and 112. Pivot disk 80 
has described in the sides thereof detents 116 and 118, placed 
approximately 90.degree. apart, for engaging of release arm 54 of slide 
release 50 and corresponding to the operative and stored positions of 
scraper portion 12. 
Turning now to FIGS. 7a through 7c, operation of the mechanism is 
illustrated. In FIG. 7a scraper portion 12 is shown in its stored position 
parallel to housing 22 being cooperatively maintained thereat by release 
arm 54 within detent 118 and against stop 66 and by stop 108 against wall 
112. In this position spring 82 is more tightly coiled than would be the 
case if scraper portion 12 were in its operative position. 
As shown in FIG. 7b, when lever 18 is manipulated release arm 54 is freed 
from detent 118 when actuator 44 in slot 52 moves slide release 50 toward 
wall 64, spring 82 thereby being allowed to uncoil and rotate pivot disk 
80 and scraper portion 12 in a counterclockwise direction and urging pivot 
stop 108 toward wall 110. 
In FIG. 7c scraper portion 12 has completed its rotation and is now in its 
operative position, being cooperatively maintained thereat by release arm 
54 within detent 116 and against stop 66 and by stop 108 against wall 110. 
Release arm 54 automatically engages detent 116 when spring 60 biases 
slide release 50 toward pivot disk 80 upon release of lever 18. For return 
to the stored position, lever 18 is again manipulated thereby releasing 
release arm 54 from detent 116 thus allowing a user to turn scraper 
portion 12 in a clockwise direction until detent 118 is presented to 
release arm 54 for re-engagement as shown in FIG. 7a. 
Spring 82 may be formed of a 0.031" wire and the spring itself may have, 
for example, a diameter of 0.490". The torsion spring may be closely wound 
for a total of 5 turns, for example. Mounting portion 14, hexagonal shaft 
34, trigger mechanism 40, slide release 50 and pivot disk 80 can all be 
formed, for example, of plastic, aluminum, or any other durable material. 
Scraper portion 12 is, for example, a polycarbonate material, and may be 
of varying sizes. Trigger spring 60 is a compression wound spring. Spring 
stiffening pin 62 is shorter than spring 60 and may be made of any durable 
material. 
As can be appreciated from the foregoing, this invention provides an 
improved footwear scraper which is constructed to allow a storable 
scraper, stored so as not to cause bulges near the body, such as when 
devices are stored in pockets, which may be made ready for use 
automatically, and may be mounted on a pole, the pole thereby providing a 
handle.