Patent Publication Number: US-2018049573-A1

Title: Boot jack

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This patent application claims priority from UK Patent Application Number 1506439.7, filed on 14 Apr. 2016, the full contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a tool for removing a boot from a foot, commonly called a boot jack, and in particular to a boot jack which is able to avoid the transfer of dirt from the sole of a boot to the bare or socked foot of a user during the process of removing the boot. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     The boot jack is a commonly-used tool for removing a boot from a booted foot. The boot jack typically comprises a mouth, shaped and dimensioned to accept the heel of a boot worn on one booted foot of a user, and an upper surface on which the user applies force with a second foot. The application of downward force with the second foot allows the user to pull upwardly on the first foot, which is wearing the boot which is engaged with the mouth of the boot jack. This allows the first foot to be pulled out of the boot. 
     However, when, as is usual, two boots are to be removed from respective feet of a user in succession, the user must place one booted foot on the upper surface to stabilise the jack while the boot on the other booted foot is removed, leaving a bare or socked foot. The user must then place the bare or socked foot from which the boot has been removed on the upper surface to stabilise the boot jack while the remaining boot is engaged with the mouth and removed. In such a process, dirt from the sole of the first boot placed on the upper surface of the boot jack may be transferred to the sole of the other bare or socked foot when that foot is subsequently placed on the upper surface of the boot jack to remove the other boot. Since boots are often used in dirty or wet conditions, this problem is often encountered by users of conventional boot jacks. 
     Although the problem can be avoided to some extent by cleaning the upper surface of the boot jack after the first boot has been removed, this complicates the process of removing the boots with the boot jack and may only be partially effective. The problem can also be avoided to some extent by placing the force-applying foot at different positions on the upper surface of the boot jack between successive boot-removing operations, such that the booted foot is placed at one location and the bare or socked foot is placed at another location. However, such an approach requires attention and consistency by the user, and requires subsequent successive users of the same boot-jack to follow the same convention as to where the first, booted foot should be placed. 
     There is therefore a need for an improved boot jack which allows for successive boot-removing operations while avoiding transfer of dirt from a sole of one boot to a bare or socked foot of the user. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a boot jack. The boot jack has a body portion. The body portion has a mouth arranged at one end. The mouth is adapted for receiving a heel of a boot. The boot jack has a first upper surface. The first upper surface is such that force can be applied to the first upper surface by a user. The first upper surface is provided on a movable portion. The movable portion is movable relative to the body portion. The movement of the movable portion is from a first state to a second state. The second state is such as to expose a second upper surface of the boot jack. The second upper surface is provided on the body portion. The second upper surface is such that force can be applied to the second upper surface by the user. 
     The second upper surface may be arranged beneath the first upper surface when the movable portion is in the first state. 
     A hinge may be provided between the body portion and the movable portion. 
     The hinge may be provided on one side of the body portion relative to a longitudinal direction between the one end of the body portion having the mouth and an another end of the body portion opposite to the one end. The hinge may, for example, be arranged on one or other side (left and right side, looking along the boot jack) of the body portion. 
     A handle may be is provided on a side of the movable portion other than a side at which the hinge is provided. 
     The handle may be provided at an opposite side of the movable portion to the side of the movable portion at which the hinge is provided. 
     In the first state, the first upper surface may be flush with an upper surface of the body portion. 
     In the first state, the first upper surface may be flush with an upper surface of the body portion at an end of the first upper surface relatively nearer the mouth and at an end of the first upper surface relatively further from the mouth. 
     A recess may be formed in the body portion. In the first state, the movable portion may be arranged in the recess. 
     The second upper surface may be flush with a surface of the movable portion opposite to the first upper surface and above the first upper surface when the movable portion is in the second state. 
     One or more supporting portions may be provided beneath the body portion. The one or more supporting portions may at least be arranged beneath a longitudinal position intermediate between the first upper surface, in the first state, and the mouth for resting the boot jack, such that the first upper surface is at an angle to a supporting surface and the mouth is elevated above the supporting surface. 
     An additional support may be arranged to extend from the movable portion such that, when the movable portion is in the second position and the boot jack is rested on the supporting surface, the additional support rests on the supporting surface. 
     The additional support may be movably provided to the movable portion such that, in the first position, the additional support does not extend above the first surface. 
     The body portion may be formed as a plate. 
     The body portion may be elongate and extending from the one end having the mouth to another end opposite to the one end. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a boot jack being an embodiment of the present invention in a first, closed state, in which a first upper surface is exposed to the user; and 
         FIG. 2  shows the boot jack of  FIG. 1  in a second, opened state, in which a second upper surface is exposed to the user. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a boot jack which is a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     The boot jack  1  has an elongate body portion  11  and a mouth  10  at one end of the body portion  11 , the mouth being formed by two projections  10   a ,  10   b  extending longitudinally from the body portion  11 . The projections are shaped and dimensioned to accept the heel of a user&#39;s boot in a V-shaped or U-shaped space defined between them. The mouth  10  may also be considered as being defined by a cut-out potion formed in the one end of the body portion  11 . 
     The boot jack also has a first upper surface  13   a  provided on a movable portion  13  coupled to the body portion  11 , the functioning of which moveable portion  13  will be described further below. The first upper surface has, for example, a sufficient size in terms of length and breadth to allow at least a portion of a sole of a boot corresponding to the ball of the foot to be placed on the first upper surface. The first upper surface may, for example, have a length of at least 10 cm and a width of at least 5 cm. However, in some configurations, the first upper surface may, for example, have a length of at least 20 cm and a width of at least 10 cm. 
     A support foot  12  depends from a lower surface of the boot jack, the support foot being arranged at a longitudinal position of the boot jack between first upper surface  13   a  and mouth  10  such that when the boot jack as a whole is rested on a substantially planar supporting surface, each of an end  11   c , which is an end of the boot jack opposite to the end of the boot jack having the mouth  10 , and the support foot  12  rests against the supporting surface. Such a configuration causes first upper surface  13   a  to incline relative to the supporting surface. Such a configuration also causes mouth  10  to be elevated above the supporting surface. In this configuration, the disclosed boot jack  1  may be used as a conventional boot jack, as follows. 
     The user engages the heel of one boot, worn on one foot, with mouth  10  and places another foot on first upper surface  13   a . The user then pulls upward with the booted foot having the boot which is engaged with mouth  10  while applying a downward force to the first upper surface  13   a  with the another foot to balance the upward force applied to the boot jack of the heel of the boot engaged in mouth  10 . The boot engaged in mouth  10  may thereby be removed from the foot of the user. 
     After use in the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , upper surface  13   a  may be dirty, if the foot of the user which provided the downward force onto first upper surface  13   a  to stabilise the boot jack was enclosed in a boot having a dirty sole. To avoid the user having to make contact with upper surface  13   a  with an unbooted foot when removing the second boot, moveable portion  13  may be moved relative to body portion  11  from a first state shown in  FIG. 1  to a second state shown in  FIG. 2  in order to expose a second upper surface  11   d  previously concealed beneath upper surface  13   a.    
     The second upper surface also has, for example, a sufficient size in terms of length and breadth to allow at least a portion of a sole of a boot corresponding to the ball of the foot to be placed on the second upper surface. The second upper surface may, for example, have a length of at least 10 cm and a width of at least 5 cm. However, in some configurations, the second upper surface may, for example, have a length of at least 20 cm and a width of at least 10 cm. The second upper surface may have the same or similar dimensions as the first upper surface. 
     In the state with the second upper surface  11   d  exposed, the user may engage a second boot with mouth  10  and apply force to the second upper surface  11   d , which has not been previously come into contact with the sole of a boot, with an unbooted foot, thereby to remove the second boot. No dirt is therefore transferred from the sole of the first boot via an upper surface of the boot jack to the unbooted foot of the user. Further, no change in the process of using the boot jack is required, except for the moving of the moveable portion  13  from the first state to the second state after removing the first boot, in order to expose the second upper surface  11   d.    
     Even if subsequent users use the boot jack in the conventional manner for both booted feet, a user aware of the functioning of the movable portion will be able to find a clean surface for an unbooted foot by moving the movable portion from the first state to the second state after removing a first boot. 
     In the present embodiment, the boot jack has a two-part construction. The boot jack has the body portion  11 , at one end of which mouth  10  is provided and from which support foot  12  depends, and which provides second upper surface  11 . The boot jack also has the moveable portion  13 . 
     In the present embodiment, the movable portion  13  is moveably connected to body portion  11  by hinge  14 . In the present embodiment, hinge  14  is provided to the elongate body portion  11  at one side of elongate body portion  11  and to the movable portion  13  at one corresponding side of movable portion  13 , so that the moveable portion folds out to one side of body portion  11 . Depending on user preference, hinge  14  may, for example, be arranged on one or other side of the body portion, that is, on the left or right side, looking along the boot jack towards mouth  12 . The hinged arrangement of the present embodiment is both simple to construct and straightforward to operate. However, it is possible to contemplate other approaches to providing moveable portion  13  in a movable configuration relative to body portion  11 . 
     One variant includes a hinged connection provided between moveable portion  13  and body portion  11  at an opposite end  11   c  of body portion  11  to the end having mouth  10 , such that the moveable portion  13  folds out away from mouth portion  10 . Other variants provide alternative connections between body portion  11  and moveable portion  13 , such as a sliding mechanism in which moveable portion  13  slides to one side. Such a configuration may be provided by retaining moveable portion  13  within sliding grooves provided in body portion  11  such that movable portion  13  may be moved to one side of body portion  11  while remaining in the same plane. Alternatively, moveable portion  13  may be fixed to body portion  11  at a pivot point so as to allow movable portion  13  to rotate in one plane to expose second upper surface  11   d . Other possibilities will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     In the present embodiment, a handle  15  is provided to extend from moveable portion  13  beyond an underlying edge of body portion  11 . Handle  15  allows moveable portion  13  to be easily moved to the second state of  FIG. 2  from the first state of  FIG. 1  to expose second upper surface  11 D by the toe or side of a boot or foot. Handle  15  also allows for moveable portion  13  to be returned to the first state as shown in  FIG. 1  from the second state shown in  FIG. 2  in a similar manner. The user thereby can operate the device between the first state, in which upper surface  13   a  is used to stabilise the boot jack and the second state in which upper surface  11   d  is used to stabilise the boot jack, by action of the feet alone, that is, without bending or using the hands. 
     In the present embodiment, handle  15  is formed as a loop of wire projecting from one side of movable portion  13 . In variant configurations, handle  15  could, for example, be an integral projection extending from one side of moveable portion  13  or could be provided by a notch formed in one side of moveable portion  13 . In the present embodiment, handle  15  is conveniently arranged at a side of moveable portion  13  opposite to the side having hinge  14 . 
     In the present embodiment, upper surface  13   a  of moveable portion  13  is arranged to be flush with an upper surface  11   a  of body portion  11 , which is an upper surface of body portion  11  other than second upper surface  11   d . In the present embodiment, moveable portion  13  is arranged in a recess formed in the upper surface of body portion  11 . Such a configuration allows the boot jack to be easily stored and transported in the first state shown in  FIG. 1 , since the number of projecting edges which may catch on storage bags or other articles may be reduced. In the depicted configuration, upper surface  11   a  extends between the recess in which movable portion  13  is accommodated and mouth  10  of the boot jack. In an alternative configuration, not shown, the upper surface  11   a  of the body portion  11  also extends on another side of the recess opposite to the mouth  11  towards end  11   c  of the body portion  11 . As shown in the figures, the term “flush” is to be interpreted to require the two surfaces to be substantially coplanar at least an interface between the surfaces, an optionally over the whole extent of the two surfaces, but may allow a small gap relative to the extent of each surface to be provided between the two surfaces. Such a gap, of course, need not be present. 
     Although not shown in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 2 , a catch may be provided acting between body portion  11  and movable portion  13  to secure moveable portion  13  in the first state as shown in  FIG. 1 , thereby to prevent the moveable portion moving relative to body portion  11  while the boot jack is being carried or stored. The catch may, for example, be conveniently arranged at a side of moveable portion  13  opposite to the side having hinge  14 . 
     Although not shown in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 2 , a support may be provided to moveable portion  13  so as to extend downward from moveable portion  13  when moveable portion  13  is in the second state of  FIG. 2 . Such a support may provide stability to moveable portion  13  if inadvertently force is applied to moveable portion  13  rather than upper surface  11 D. Such a support may thereby prevent the boot jack from tilting, for example, or hinge  14  from breaking. In some configurations, such a support may be permanently provided to extend away from first upper surface  13 A. In other configurations, the support may be provided to pivot from a storage state. For example, the support may be pivotably located in a recess in the first upper surface  13 A, and may be flush with the first upper surface  13 A in the first state. Alternatively, the support may be pivotably provided at an edge of the movable portion  13 . In a further variant, the support may be provided to extend from handle  15 . For a fixed support, the fixed support may project, in the first state, upwardly from a mouth-end edge of first upper surface  13   a  or from a mouth-end edge of movable portion  13 . The support may be dimensioned such that, in the second state, it reaches a planar supporting surface on which the boot-jack is rested. 
     The material from which the constituent parts of the present embodiment are formed is not particularly limited, although a wooden or plastic construction may be employed. A metal construction is also possible, or a construction having different materials for different parts thereof. 
     Although a two-piece construction has been described above, a single-piece construction is also possible, in which moveable portion  13  and body portion  11  are integrally formed. In such a configuration, movable portion  13  and body portion  11  may be connected, for example, by a living hinge. Such a configuration may be made, for example, by injection moulding. 
     In some configurations, either or both of first upper surface  13   a  and second upper surface  11   d  may be provided with a friction-enhancing surface, such as a roughened area, an area having a plurality of projections formed thereon, or an area having grooves formed therein. Such a configuration may avoid the boot jack slipping when used with a wet or muddy boot applied to first upper surface  13   a . In the depicted embodiment, first upper surface  13   a  is shown as an upper surface of a footplate provided to the movable portion. Such a footplate may have the friction-enhancing surface provided thereon, and may for example provide a series of ridges to enable a boot also to be scraped on the upper surface to remove excess dirt. In other configurations, the first upper surface  13   a  can be a surface of an integral part of movable portion  13 . 
     In the above configuration, the body portion of the boot jack has the general shape of an elongate plate or board, being generally longer in a longitudinal from the mouth to the end opposite the mouth than it is wide in a direction across the longitudinal direction, and being thinner in a direction from upper surface to undersurface then it is either long or wide. In the above configuration, the boot jack also has the recess for accommodating moveable portion  13 . However embodiments of the present invention may not have such an elongate plate or board-shaped form and may form part of, for example, a doormat, boot rack, umbrella-stand or other larger article. 
     The above embodiment has been described to have a configuration in which support foot  12  is provided to allow the boot jack to be placed on a surface such that the first upper surface is inclined and the mouth is elevated  10 . However, in some embodiments, the entire boot jack, or at least the body portion  11  thereof, can be formed as a wedge having mutually inclined upper and lower surfaces, thereby to achieve the same effect. Alternatively, in other embodiments, support foot  12  may be absent, and boot jack  1  may instead be rested on a log, stump, bank, or other similar projection to allow the boot jack to be appropriately inclined in use. In further configurations, support foot  12  may be provided in a hinged configuration so as to lie flat against, or even be accommodated within and to be flush with, an undersurface lib of body portion  11 , thereby to allow for easier storage and transportation. 
     However, it is to borne in mind that the present invention is not limited to the above-disclosed embodiment, and should be taken to include or such variations or modifications as may be provided by those skilled in the art adapting the device to local requirements, including all such modifications and variations as may be encompassed by the appended claims.