Patent Publication Number: US-6702163-B1

Title: Boot jack

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a boot jack for facilitating the quick, easy and smooth removal of a boot used for walking, hiking and other activities. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Traditional boot jacks involve a complicated maneuver for the removal of walking boots. While one foot maintains the boot jack in a fixed position, the other boot is placed in a recess in the boot jack so as to engage and hold the boot to be removed at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the ground. In this position, it is often difficult to maintain the position of the boot jack as the boot is being removed. Also, the boot to be removed often slips out from the boot jack and may cause the wearer to fall or loose their balance. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a boot jack which quickly, easily and smoothly removes the walking boot of a wearer while the other foot maintains the boot jack in position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a boot jack which is maintained in position by one foot while the walking boot on the other foot is removed. This object is accomplished by including a V-shaped recess extending from one end from the boot jack. The lowermost edge of the recess extends parallel to the bottom surface of the boot jack and the ground upon which the boot jack is held as the boot is removed. By arranging the lowermost edge of the V-shaped recess parallel to the ground, the wearer&#39;s foot is moved in a vertical direction while the heel of the boot is retained in the boot jack. This smooth upward action, as compared to moving of the leg at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, provides stability to the boot jack while firmly engaging the heel of the boot in the V-shaped recess. 
     Further, an inwardly projecting lip located at the lowermost edge of the V-shaped recess firmly engages at a gap between the heel and the upper of the boot. This recess tightly grips the space between the heel and the upper of the boot to ensure removal of the boot upon slight upward, vertical movement of the leg of the wearer. 
     The boot jack itself may be made of plastic or other suitable materials and include a patterned surface on the uppermost surface for gripping the anchoring boot of the wearer. In addition, an upper lip on the V-shaped recess, extending above the upper surface of the boot jack can effectively be used to remove mud and other debris from the sole of the boot. 
     The V-shaped recess in the boot jack is formed at an angle of between 35 and 40 degrees, preferably at an angle of 37 degrees and most preferably at an angle of 36.9 degrees. 
     Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide a boot jack having a V-shaped recess with a lowermost edge of the recess extending parallel to the lowermost edge of the boot jack. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a boot jack having a V-shaped recess with a lowermost edge of the recess extending parallel to the lowermost edge of the boot jack with a rib at the lowermost edge of the V-shaped recess projecting inwardly so as to fit within a space between the top of the sole above the heel and below the boot upper. 
     It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a boot jack having a V-shaped recess with a lowermost edge of the recess extending parallel to the lowermost edge of the boot jack with a rib at the lowermost edge of the V-shaped recess projecting inwardly so as to fit within a space between the top of the sole above the heel and below the boot upper with the V-shaped recess forming an angle of approximately 35 to 40 degrees between its side walls. 
    
    
     These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of the intended advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a boot jack of the present invention and including a boot to be removed shown in dotted lines for illustrative purposes. 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view illustrating the projecting rib at the bottom of the V-shaped recess to facilitate anchoring of a boot in the recess. 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view illustrating the projecting rib and upper lip on the boot jack. 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view illustrating the V-shaped recess and its projecting rib. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a rear view illustrating the V-shaped recess and its projecting rib. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating the placement of the boot in the V-shaped recess so that the boot extends approximately parallel to the floor upon which the boot jack rests and for vertical lifting of the leg of the wearer so as to remove the boot from their foot. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     With reference to the drawings, in general, and to FIGS. 1 through 7, in particular, a boot jack embodying the teachings of the subject invention is generally designated as  10 . With reference to its orientation in FIG. 1, the boot jack includes an upper inclined surface  12  and two parallel vertically extending sidewalls  14   a ,  14   b  located on opposite sides of surface  12 . 
     Upper surface  12  extends at an angle of between 10 and 15 degrees, and preferably 13.6 degrees with respect to the horizontal. On top of the upper surface  12  are a plurality of diamond shaped projections  16  having their longitudinal axis extending parallel to the sidewalls  14   a ,  14   b  or perpendicular to the sidewalls  14   a ,  14   b.    
     Each of the projections  16  project approximately 0.040 inches above the surface  12 . These projections provide a gripping surface when the upper surface is stepped upon by one foot of the wearer from which a boot is to be removed. 
     The overall dimensions of the boot jack are 10 inches wide by 20 inches long. The height at the rear surface  18 , which is divided into two rear sections  18   a ,  18   b , is between five and five and one-half inches, and preferably 5.375 inches. 
     Located between the two rear wall sections  18   a ,  18   b  is a V-shaped recess  20 . The V-shaped recess includes sidewall portions  20   a ,  20   b  which converge towards each other and are interconnected by U-shaped portion  20   c.    
     At a lower edge  20   d  of the V-shaped recess is located an inwardly projecting rib  22 . The rib is located at a height of between two and three inches, and preferably two and one-half inches above the bottom of the boot jack. The rib  22  projects inwardly into an opening defined by the V-shaped recess for a distance of approximately 0.15 to 0.3 inches, and preferably for approximately 0.2 inches. The rib  22  projects from the U-shaped portion  20   c  and along approximately two-thirds of the length of the sidewall  20   a ,  20   b  of the recess  20 . 
     The projecting rib  22  extends horizontally when the boot jack is placed on the ground and supported by its lowermost edge  24 . Lowermost edge  24  is formed by a plurality of vertically extending supports extending downwardly from the uppermost surface  12  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The area below the upper surface  12  is thereby substantially hollow. 
     At the opposite end of the V-shaped recess portions  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c  from the projecting rib  22  is an upper lip  26  which extends above the upper surface  12  by 0.364 inches as shown in FIGS. 1,  5  and  7 . The upper lip  26  is used for scrapping of mud and debris from the bottom of a boot. The upper lip extends entirely along the perimeter of the V-shaped recess  20  and above the end wall portions  18   a ,  18   b.    
     When the rear portion of a boot  30  is inserted into the V-shaped recess  20  as best shown in FIG. 7, the projecting rib  22  is wedged in between the upper portion of the sole at the heel  32  and below the boot upper  34 . As shown in FIG. 7, the heel is maintained in a substantially horizontal orientation as the boot is forced rearwardly into the V-shaped recess  20 . 
     While the other foot of the user is placed on the upper surface  12 , the leg of the wearer having the boot to be removed is lifted substantially vertically to release the boot from the foot of the wearer. The horizontal orientation of the boot and the vertical lifting of the leg have proven to be especially beneficial in ease of removal of a boot. 
     The entire assembly of the boot jack may be injection molded of plastic for ease of manufacture at a low cost. The combination of features shown and described facilitates an improved product having advantages over prior boot removal techniques, while affording ease of portability. 
     The foregoing description should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.