Patent Publication Number: US-4653679-A

Title: Shoe off aid

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This application is a substitute application for Ser. No. 06/661,130, filed Oct. 15, 1984, which is now abandoned. 
     The present invention relates to a shoe remover. More particularly, it relates to a shoe remover that contains a recess for receiving the rear part of the shoe to be removed. 
     Shoe removers of the above-mentioned general type are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,525,174 to Johnstone teaches a combined bootjack and mud scraper. Another example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,526,346 to Drouillard et al. teaches a boot puller. A final example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,784,067 to Hicks teaches a boot jack. 
     The above-mentioned show removers share the same common disadvantage. They are not collapsible and cannot therefore be made compact to be truly portable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a shoe remover which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a shoe remover which is collapsible, so as to become compact and be truly portable. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a shoe remover that has a cushion placed in the shoe receiving recess to prevent marring of the shoe. 
     It is a final feature of the present invention to provide a shoe remover which is collapsible by means of hinges. 
     Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     The figures in the drawings are briefly described as follows: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the invention per se. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the invention shown in use. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the Figures, the shoe off aid of the present invention is shown generally at 10 and has a front portion 12, a rear portion 14, and a elevation portion 16. 
     The front portion 12 is flat and has a front edge 18 that contains a recess 20. The recess 20 is fitted with a cushion 22 to protect a shoe from marring. 
     The elevation portion 16 (see FIG. 3) is pivotally mounted to the underside of the front portion 12 and allows the front portion 12 to achieve the position of an inclined plane. The elevation portion 16 is pivoted by means of a hinge 24 in the directions of arrows 26 and is biased in the extended position by a spring 28. 
     The rear portion 14 is flat and has a front edge 31 that is pivotally mounted to rear edge 30 of the front portion 12. The rear portion 14 is pivoted by means of a hinge 32 in the directions of arrows 34. In the vicinity of the rear edge of the rear portion 14, is disposed a throughbore 36 for hanging up the shoe off aid 10 during storage (See FIGS. 1 and 2). 
     In operation, as shown in FIG. 4, the rear portion 14 is extended so as to lie in the same plane as the front portion 12 and the elevation portion 16 is extended and assumes a position which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the front and rear portions 12 and 14. The user, places one foot on the top surfaces of the front and rear portions 12 and 14 over the region of the hinge 32 so as to prevent the shoe off aid 10 from moving while keeping the rear portion 14 coplanar with the front portion 12 and the elevation portion 16 perpendicular to the front portion 12 and on the ground. The user then places his other foot into the recess 20 in the front portion 12 so that the rear of the shoe rests against the cushion 22. In this position the user merely lifts his leg and the shoe will be retained in the recess 20 and be removed from the user&#39;s foot. The other shoe is removed in a likewise manner by reversing the positions of the user&#39;s feet. 
     Because the elevation and rear portions 16 and 14, respectively are hingingly attached they can be folded towards each other and rest on the underside of the front portion 12. The collapsibility of the elevation and rear portions 16 and 14, respectively, against the underside of the front portion 12, allows a portable compact shoe off aid 10 to be achieved. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.