Abstract:
A method for displaying a pair of shoes utilizes a shoe support disposed in a shoe box. One shoe of a matched pair is disposed in a substantially upside-down orientation on the shoe support, while the other shoe of the matched pair is disposed on the support in a given different orientation. A lid is removed from the box to reveal the shoes.

Description:
This is a division of application Ser. No. 09/518,487, filed Mar. 3, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a shoe display support or mount. 
     It is well known that modern athletic shoes incorporate a number of design features which are functional and/or aesthetic. These design features are frequently visible on the outside of the shoe and represent a significant source of marketing value. 
     In footwear retail establishments, it is traditional to display shoes on racks or in windows. Usually, one or both members of a pair of shoes are displayed in a normal right-side-up orientation, with the solos in contact with an underlying support surface. Such a display method is satisfactory where the shoes being displayed are dress shoes. In that case, the look and function of the shoes is adequately apprehended by a visual inspection of the shoe uppers. However, where the shoes have a sole with unusual, utilitarian or ornamental features, those features are generally hidden and not observable when the shoes are displayed in the traditional fashion. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a object of this invention to provide a shoe support or mounting member which facilitates a display of both shoes of a matching pair. 
     Another particular object of the present invention is to provide such a shoe support or mounting member which enables display of both shoes of the pair in different orientations. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a shoe support or mount which enables display of a shoe underside or sole. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide such a shoe support or mounting member which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a shoe support or mounting member which is which may be incorporated into a shoe box. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a method for displaying a pair of shoes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the drawings and descriptions herein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed in part to a shoe support or display which facilitates the display of at least one shoe of a matched pair so that the underside or sole of the shoe is visible to a viewer on casual inspection. Where the soles of the shoes have unusual, utilitarian or ornamental features of possible interest to a potential consumer, displaying at least one shoe in a substantially upside-down orientation serves to promote the shoes and pique the interest and desire of the consumer. 
     In the present invention, the shoe support is preferably a unitary molded piece insertable in a shoe box so that the shoes are predisposed in an attractive display configuration accessible merely by removing the lid of the box. 
     A display mount for shoes comprises, in accordance with the present invention, a first support for supporting a first shoe of a pair in a generally upside-down orientation to enable display of a sole of the first shoe, a second support for supporting a second shoe of the pair in a different orientation, and a connection element connecting the first support and the second support to one another. 
     The first support preferably includes a substantially planar panel or surface for engaging an ankle lip or rim of the first shoe and further includes an inclined panel coupled to the planar panel for engaging a metatarsal or upper portion of the first shoe. In addition, the first support further includes a substantially vertical panel or wall connected at least indirectly to the planar surface and the inclined surface. The vertical panel or wall serves as a stop or arrest holding a respective shoe from sliding off of the inclined panel or surface. The vertical panel or wall is preferably curved to define a generally oval recess receiving the first shoe. 
     The second support also preferably includes a second substantially planar panel or surface for engaging the second shoe. The planar panels or surfaces of the first and second shoe supports are generally coplanar and continuous with one another. The second support further includes an additional substantially vertical panel or wall substantially surrounding the second substantially planar panel or surface. 
     As mentioned above, the first support, the second support means and the connection element arm preferably all parts of an integrally molded support body made of a synthetic resin or polymeric material. However, it is within the contemplation of the instant invention that the planar support surfaces are formed by the lower panel of a shoe box, while the inclined surface and substantially vertical surfaces of the two shoe supports are parts of an integrally molded polymeric support body disposed in the shoe box. 
     The orientation of the second shoe is generally either a right-side-up orientation or a sideways orientation. In any case, the vertical sidewall of the respective shoe support is adapted to hold the shoe in the desired orientation. A rectangular configuration is effective where the second shoe is disposed in an upright orientation. 
     A display support for shoes comprises, in accordance with another conceptualization of the present invention, a support body having an upper surface and at least one recess depending downwardly from the upper surface. The support body has an inclined surface contiguous at an upper end with the upper surface. The recess is defined in part by the inclined surface. The support body also has a substantially vertical surface contiguous with the upper surface. The recess is also defined in part by the substantially vertical surface. 
     In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the recess is a first recess, whereas the support has a second recess also depending downwardly from the upper surface. Likewise, the substantially vertical surface is a first substantially vertical surface of the display support, the support body having a second substantially vertical surface defining the second recess. 
     Pursuant to further features of the present invention, the second recess is substantially prismatic, and more particularly has the shape of a right rectangular prism, while the second recess and the first recess communicate with one another via an opening in the support. 
     Where the support body includes an up wardly facing floor surface, the first recess and the second recess are defined in part by the floor surface, while the substantially vertical surfaces are contiguous with the floor surface. 
     As discussed hereinabove, the shoe display mount may additionally comprise a shoe box, with the support body being disposed inside the box. 
     A related method in accordance with the present invention for displaying a pair of shoes utilizes a shoe support. One shoe of a matched pair is disposed in a substantially upside-down orientation on the shoe support, while the other shoe of the matched pair is disposed on the support in a given different orientation. The shoe support is preferably provided in a box containing the shoes of the pair disposed in the upside-down orientation and the different orientation, respectively. The method then further comprises removing a lid from the box to reveal the shoes. 
     A shoe support in accordance with the present invention provides a shoe display which is easy to install. The shoes are disposed on the display at the factory or by the shipper. The display support is part of the shoe package. Every pair of shoes has its own display. It is only necessary that the lid be removed to show a pair of shoes with at one member of the pair in an upside-down orientation to display the design of the shoe soles. 
     A shoe display mount or support in accordance with the present invention is inexpensive and easy to manufacture and insert in a shoe box. Shoes are simply deposited in respective recesses to provide the appropriate display. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a shoe display support or mount in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II—II in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of another shoe display support or mount in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV—IV in FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a shoe display support  10  made of moldable polymeric material is inserted into a shoe box  12  and shipped inside the box together with a pair of shoes  14  and  16 . Support  10  includes a unitary molded body  18  defining an oval recess  20  for holding one shoe  14  (FIG. 2) in an upside-down orientation and an elongate recess  22  for holding the other shoe  16  on its side (FIG.  1 ). 
     Recess  20  is defined in part by a planar lower panel or surface  24 , an inclined panel or surface  26 , and a curved substantially vertical panel or wall  28 . Substantially vertical panel or wall  28  is contiguous with and connected to planar lower panel  24  and inclined panel  26 . Panels  26  and  28  are substantially continuous with one another and are connected to planar lower panel  24  along a C-shaped joint line  30 . 
     Planar lower panel or sur face  24  engages an ankle lip or rim  32  of shoe  14 , while inclined panel  26  is in contact with a metatarsal or upper portion  34  of shoe  14 . Thus, a sole or lower surface  36  of shoe  14  faces upwardly so as to be accessible to casual visual inspection after removal of a lid  38  from a main portion  40  of shoe box  12 . Vertical panel or wall  28  serves as a stop or arrest preventing shoe  14  from sliding off of inclined panel or surface  26 . 
     Recess  22  is defined in part by a second substantially planar panel or surface  42  on which shoe  16  rests on its side. Panels or surfaces  24  and  42  are coplanar and continuous with one another along a neck region  44 . Recess  22  is further defined by a substantially vertical panel or wall  46  which substantially surrounds planar lower panel or surface  42 . 
     Support body  18  further includes a planar shelf panel or ledge surface  48  which is contiguous with and joined to inclined panel  26  and vertical walls  28  and  46 . Recesses  20  and  22  are located in and depend frotn shelf panel or ledge surface  48 . Shelf panel or ledge surface  48  thus generally surrounds recesses  20  and  22  and is surrounded by a wall  50  in turn surrounded by and connected to a perimetric rectangular skirt  52 . Skirt  52  fits snugly into main portion  40  of box  12  and has a lower edge  54  resting on a bottom panel  56  of box  12 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, another shoe display support  60  made of moldable polymeric material is inserted into a shoe box  62  and shipped inside the box together with a pair of shoes  64  and  66 . Support  60  includes a unitary molded body  68  defining a generally oval recess  70  for holding one shoe  64  (FIG. 4) in an upside-down orientation and an elongate prismatic or rectangular recess  72  for holding the other shoe  66  in an upright orientation (FIG.  3 ). 
     Recess  70  is defined in part by a planar lower panel or surface  74 , an inclined panel or surface  76 , and a curved substantially vertical panel or wall  78 . Vertical panel or wall  78  is contiguous with and connected to planar lower panel  74  and inclined panel  76 . Panel  76  includes a central planar section  106  and a pair of substantially cylindrically curved sections  108  and  110  disposed on opposite sides of central section  106  and connected thereto along respective joint lines  112  and  114 . Inclined panel  76  is connected to vertical panel or wall  78  along a joint line  116 , while panel or wall  78  is connected to planar lower panel  74  along a C-shaped joint line  80 . 
     Planar lower panel or surface  74  engages an ankle lip or rim  82  of shoe  64 , while inclined panel  76  is in contact with a metatarsal or upper portion  84  of shoe  64 . Thus, a sole or lower surface  86  of shoe  64  faces upwardly so as to be accessible to casual visual inspection after removal of a lid  88  from a main portion  90  of shoe box  62 . Vertical panel or wall  78  serves as a stop or arrest preventing shoe  64  from sliding off of inclined panel or surface  76 . 
     Recess  72  is defined in part by a second substantially planar panel or surface  92  on which shoe  66  rests on its side. Panels or surfaces  74  and  92  are coplanar and continuous with one another along a neck region  94 . Recess  72  is further defined by a substantially vertical panel or wall  96  which substantially surrounds planar lower panel or surface  92 . 
     Support body  68  further includes a planar shelf panel or ledge surface  98  which is contiguous with and joined to inclined panel  76  and vertical walls  78  and  96 . Recesses  70  and  72  are located in and depend from shelf panel or ledge surface  98 . Shelf panel or ledge surface  98  thus generally surrounds recesses  70  and  72  and is connected to a perimetric rectangular skirt  100 . Skirt  100  fits snugly into main portion  90  of box  62  and has a lower edge  102  resting on a bottom panel  104  of box  12 . 
     Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. For example, it is quite possible to carry out a display method in accordance with the invention, using a different support structure. An alternative support may, for instance, comprise a generally upwardly projecting horn insertable partially into one shoe of a pair for supporting the shoe in a generally upsidedown orientation. The support may further include a platform for supporting the other shoe of the pair in a right-side-up orientation or a side-panel-up position. The position of this other shoe may be determined in part by a vertical wall formed, for example, by side panels of shoe box. 
     A shoe display support in accordance with the invention may alternatively comprise an array of projections extending upwardly from a platform or panel, the projections having varying sizes and locations to support one shoe in a substantially upside-down orientation and the other shoe in a different orientation. 
     A planar panel or surface at the bottom of a recess for supporting a shoe may be formed by a lower panel of a shoe box in which a shoe display mount is disposed together with a pair of shoes. 
     Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.