Patent Publication Number: US-2015076015-A1

Title: Contoured footwear storage device

Description:
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER LISTING APPENDIX 
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     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     One or more embodiments of the invention generally relate to storage means. More particularly, one or more embodiments of the invention relate to a storage device for shoes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. Packing shoes for travel can be difficult. For example, without limitation, packing shoes in an under packed or over packed suitcase may result in, bending, creasing and damage of the shoes, and stuffing shoes with items such as, but not limited to, socks or shoe trees to aid in protecting the shape of the shoes while packed may result in the unnecessary stretching of the shoes. Furthermore, the contact of the soles of worn shoes, which are often dirty, with clean clothes and/or other items in a suitcase may cause these clothes and other items to become dirty or damaged. 
     By way of educational background, an aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of is that standard rectangular cases, which may not be particularly designed for shoes yet may be used to hold shoes when packed in a suitcase, often occupy a great deal of space in a suitcase. Also, there are currently available shoe covers that are made of soft, maleable materials. However, these covers typically do not protect the integrity of the shape of the shoes. 
     In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniques are not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
         FIGS. 1A through 1C  illustrate an exemplary shoe case, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1A  is a diagrammatic side view of the case.  FIG. 1B  is a diagrammatic top view of the case in a closed position, and  FIG. 1C  is a diagrammatic top view of the case in an open position; and 
         FIGS. 2A through 2C  illustrate an exemplary shoe case for a high-heeled shoe, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2A  is a diagrammatic side view of the case.  FIG. 2B  is a diagrammatic top view of the case in a closed position, and  FIG. 2C  is a diagrammatic top view of the case in an open position. 
     
    
    
     Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention are best understood by reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein. 
     Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive. 
     It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art, and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein. 
     Although Claims have been formulated in this Application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any Claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention. 
     Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. The Applicants hereby give notice that new Claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present Application or of any further Application derived therefrom. 
     References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “various embodiments,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may. 
     As is well known to those skilled in the art many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal manufacture of a commercial implementation any system, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application. 
     It is to be understood that any exact measurements/dimensions or particular construction materials indicated herein are solely provided as examples of suitable configurations and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Depending on the needs of the particular application, those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of the following teachings, a multiplicity of suitable alternative implementation details. 
     A practical embodiment of the present invention provides a hard plastic, contoured housing  102 , that allows individual shoes to be protected from being creased, scuffed, and/or stretched during travel (e.g., in suitcases, duffle bags, boxes, etc.) generally with limited waste of storage space. In many practical embodiments, the contoured housing  102  includes a cavity  104  that is shaped similarly to a shoe and is slightly larger than the shoe that is to be protected. Many embodiments comprise a top end  106  and a bottom end  108  connected by a jointed member  110  that enables the housing  102  to open and close. In some embodiments, fasteners  112  may be utilized to secure the housing  102  in a closed position. The fasteners  112  may include, without limitation, snap locks, buttons, clamps, bands, Velcro, adhesives, and zippers. 
       FIGS. 1A through 1C  illustrate an exemplary shoe case, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1A  is a diagrammatic side view of the housing  102 .  FIG. 1B  is a diagrammatic top view of the housing  102  in a closed position, and  FIG. 1C  is a diagrammatic top view of the housing  102  in an open position. In the present embodiment, the housing  102  is made of hard plastic and is contoured to be similar in shape and slightly larger in size than a typical shoe of a size meant to fit within the housing  102 . The housing  102  is shaped and sized for a typical men&#39;s dress shoe, casual shoe or sneaker. The housing  102  is approximately 13 inches in length, 5 inches in width and 5 inches in height at the heel tapering down to 3 inches in height at the toe. It is contemplated that the housing  102  in some alternate embodiments may be made of a multiplicity of suitable materials including, but not limited to, somewhat flexible plastic, various metals, wood, fiberglass, rubber, composite materials, etc. In addition, some alternate embodiments may have various different shapes and sizes, for example without limitation, some alternate embodiments may be smaller for use with women&#39;s shoes or children&#39;s shoes, and other alternate embodiments may be shaped for use with different types of shoes such as, but not limited to, the shoe case illustrated by way of example in  FIGS. 2A through 2C , which may be used with high heeled shoes. 
     In the present embodiment, the housing  102  is divided vertically down the center to create a top end  106  and a bottom end  108  of the housing  102 . Referring to  FIG. 1C , the top end  106  and the bottom end  108  are hingedly connected by a jointed member  110 , such as a plastic hinge located on the bottom end  108  (i.e., sole) of the housing  102  that generally enables the housing  102  to rotate open or closed. In some alternate embodiments, jointed members  110  made of different material such as, but not limited to, metal may be used or various different types of connection means may be used such as, but not limited to, elastic bands, flexible plastic joints, fabric straps, etc. In the present embodiment, the top end  106  and a bottom end  108  are substantially symmetrical, thereby generally eliminating the necessity for a “right” and “left” case, since the case can hold either a left or a right shoe. Those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings of the present invention, will readily recognize that some alternate embodiments may be implemented in various different configurations. For example, without limitation, each end may be asymmetrical to provide left and right specific cases. Other alternate embodiments may be implemented in which the housing  102  is not separated at the center. For example, without limitation, one such embodiment comprises a contoured top end  106  to fit over a shoe and a flat, hinged panel on the bottom end  108  to open and close the case. Yet other alternate embodiments may comprise flat or contoured, hinged panels in various different locations including, without limitation, at the heel of the housing  102  or the side of the housing  102 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1C , in the present embodiment, the top end  106  and the bottom end  108  of the housing  102  are hingedly joined together with a jointed member  110 , such as a plastic hinge. The top end  106  and the bottom end  108  are sized slightly differently from each other to typically provide a slight overlap of their outer edges, with the top end  106  fitting to a small extent into the bottom end  108 , or vice versa. This generally ensures a snug fit. Some alternate embodiments may be implemented without overlapping the top end  106  and the bottom end  108  in which the edges of each end abut each other. Some alternate embodiments may also comprise means for sealing the area where the edges meet such as, but not limited to, rubber or plastic seals, gaskets or coatings. In the present embodiment, manually operable fasteners  112 , such as plastic snap locks, are located on the top of the shoe housing  102  to hold the top end  106  and the bottom end  108  in the closed position. It is contemplated that a multiplicity of suitable closure means may be used in some alternate embodiments such as, but not limited to, hooks, hook and latch fasteners, clamps, threaded fasteners, tabs of hook and loop material, etc. Referring to  FIG. 1C , the interior of the case in the present embodiment is partially lined with a foam lining  114 . The foam lining  114  provides a barrier between the housing  102  and the shoes, and is efficacious in protecting the shoes from physical damage. The foam lining  114  adheres to the interior of the cavity  104 , inhibiting sliding of the shoes within the cavity  104 . In one embodiment, the foam lining  114  is removably layered in increments of ½ inches, lining the entire interior cavity  104 , thus making the housing  102  no longer transparent. The layers of the foam lining  114  peel away until a desired dimension is acquired; thereby producing a snug fit for a variety of shoe sizes and styles for both men and women shoes. In one embodiment, the foam lining  114  may expand and compress to create adjustable sizings inside the housing  102 . It is contemplated that some alternate embodiments may be implemented with various types of foam linings  114  including, without limitation, foam, bubble insulation, polyurethane, cloth, rubber, air cushioning, etc. Moreover, some alternate embodiments may not utilize the foam lining  114 . 
     In typical use of the present embodiment, a user unfastens the manually operable fasteners  112 , such as snap locks, and opens the housing  102  into the open position as shown by way of example in  FIG. 1C . Then, the user places a shoe inside the top end  104  and the bottom end  108  so that the sole of the shoe is near the jointed member  110  and the toe of the shoe is pointing toward the shorter end. The user can then close the housing  102  and engage the snap locks to hold the housing  102  closed. The closed housing  102  can be packed in a suitcase, duffle bag, box, etc. with the shoe inside to generally protect the integrity of the shoe while the shoe is packed. This may result in increasing the life of the shoe and maintaining a positive shoe appearance. In addition, the shoe case provides a barrier between dirty shoe soles and any clothing or other items that may be packed along with the contoured footwear storage device  100 . Furthermore, the contour of the present embodiment, which generally follows the shape of the shoe, typically limits the overall size of the contoured footwear storage device  100  and the amount of space occupied by the contoured footwear storage device  100 . Many embodiments of the present invention may be used by virtually anyone. It is believed that any person that travels may find the contoured footwear storage device  100  useful, and with the large number of travelers travelling on a daily basis and the tendency of many to over-pack suitcases, many embodiments have the potential to assist the millions of travelers in the world on a daily basis. Some embodiments may be used for applications other than traveling such as, but not limited to, storing shoes when not being worn, storing out of season shoes, packing shoes for moving, packing new shoes for shipping, etc. 
       FIGS. 2A through 2C  illustrate an exemplary shoe case for a high-heeled shoe, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2A  is a diagrammatic side view of the contoured footwear storage device  100 .  FIG. 2B  is a diagrammatic top view of the housing  102  in a closed position, and  FIG. 2C  is a diagrammatic top view of the housing  102  in an open position. In the present embodiment, the housing  102  comprises similar features to the contoured footwear storage device  100  described in the foregoing with a variance in size and shape. The housing  102  in the present embodiment is smaller in length and taller to accommodate the height of a woman&#39;s high heel. Those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings of the present invention, will readily recognize that contoured footwear storage devices  100 . In some alternate embodiments may be made in a multiplicity of suitable shapes and sizes. For example, without limitation, one embodiment may be made to accommodate all shoe sizes for men, and other embodiments may be made to accommodate all shoe sizes for women and children. Other alternate embodiments may be configured to hold shoes of specific sizes or for a range of specific sizes. Moreover, some embodiments may be made for different types of shoes such as, but not limited to, work boots, sandals, platform heels, cowboy boots, dress boots, etc. 
     An alternate embodiment may be implemented with the top end  106  and the bottom end  108  without the jointed member  110  or the fastener  112 . In this embodiment the top end  106  and the bottom end  108  are closed by sliding the edge of one end, which has a slightly smaller perimeter than the edge of the other end, into the other larger end. This typically provides a secure fit. Yet, this approach may not be optimal, as the fit of the top end  106  and the bottom end  108  may be too secure and difficult to open or not secure enough and the top end  106  and the bottom end  108  may separate when in use. Some alternate embodiments comprising the top end  106  and the bottom end  108  without utilization of the jointed member  110  and fastener  112  may comprise multiple closure means such as, but not limited to, snap locks, clamps, elastic bands, or hooked fasteners to hold the the top end  106  and the bottom end  108  together in the closed position. 
     Some alternate embodiments may be implemented as adjustable contoured footwear storage device  100 . In one such embodiment, the top end  106  and the bottom end  108  of the housing  102  overlap each other enough to enable the width of the housing  102  to vary with the amount of overlap to accommodate wider and narrower shoes with the same housing  102 . This embodiment may also comprise adjustable closure means to hold the housing  102  closed at the desired width such as, but not limited to, buckles or tabs of hook and loop material. Other alternate embodiments may comprise a multiplicity of suitable means for providing adjustability such as, but not limited to, elastic materials, interchangeable liners, spacers that may be placed between the sections, etc. 
     Those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings of the present invention, will readily recognize that the adjustable contoured footwear storage device  100  in some alternate embodiments may comprise a multiplicity of suitable features such as, but not limited to, locks, handles, carrying straps, ventilation holes, odor absorbing means, etc. Furthermore, many embodiments may be made with a variety of colors and designs. For example, without limitation, it is contemplated that high-end clothing/shoe lines or mainstream shopping centers may use an embodiment of the preset invention and put their logo or a specific color or design on the shoe case to sell with their shoes or alone. Luggage companies may also sell some embodiments along with their luggage. 
     All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
     Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of providing a shoe case according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention has been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. For example, the particular implementation of the sections may vary depending upon the particular type of attachment means used. The sections described in the foregoing were directed to implementations with hinged sections or overlapping separate sections; however, similar techniques are to provide cases in which the sections connect using various different means such as, but not limited to, tabs and slots, pins and holes, sliding attachment means, etc. Non-hinged and connectable implementations of the present invention are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 
     Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims.