Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/972,636 to Koskovich, filed Mar. 31, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a shoe remover, and more particularly, to a transportable shoe remover. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Shoes, such as boots, may not be easily removed, and, thus, shoe removers, such as boot jacks, may be employed to aid the wearer in removing his or her shoe without having to bend portion over or sit down. However, most of the current shoe removers are heavy and/or unwieldy, such that they are not easily transported. Moreover, present shoe removers that are capable of folding are often not as stable as traditional (i.e., not foldable) shoe removers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention of this application comprises a shoe remover including a first member having first and second ends. The first end portion of the first member has at least one aperture associated therewith, and the second end portion of the first member is configured to engage a shoe. The shoe remover also includes a second member having first and second ends. The first end portion of the shoe remover is positioned proximate the first end portion of the first member, and the second end portion of the shoe remover is configured to contact a support surface. A pin pivotally couples the first member and the second member. The shoe remover further includes a lock member coupled to the second member. The lock member has at least one rod extending therefrom, and the rod is configured to releasably engage with the at least one aperture. 
     The invention of this application includes a method of using a shoe remover. The shoe remover includes a first member having first and second ends. The first end portion of the first member has at least one aperture associated therewith, and the second end portion of the first member is configured to engage shoe. The shoe remover also includes a second member having first and second ends. The first end portion of the shoe remover is positioned proximate the first end portion of the first member, and the second end portion of the shoe remover is configured to contact a support surface. A pin pivotally couples the first member and the second member. The shoe remover further includes a lock member coupled to the second member. The lock member has at least rod extending therefrom, and the rod is configured to releasably engage with the at least one aperture. The shoe remover further includes an upright support positioned proximate the first ends of the first and second members, the upright support being configured to contact the support surface. The method includes pivoting at least one of the first and second members relative to the other of the first and second members until the at least one rod is substantially aligned with the at least one aperture and engaging the at least one rod with the at least one aperture. The method also includes placing each of the second end portion of the second member and the upright support on the support surface and engaging a shoe with the second end portion of the first member and using the shoe remover to remove the shoe. The method further includes pulling the lock member toward the second end portion of the second member so as to disengage the at least one rod from the at least one aperture and pivoting the at least one of the first and second members toward the other of the first and second members. 
     These and other advantages of the present invention will more readily become apparent from the description of the drawings herein, in which: 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a shoe remover according to aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the shoe remover of  FIG. 1 , in which the shoe remover is in a locked position; 
         FIG. 2A  is a top view of the shoe remover of  FIG. 1 , in which the shoe remover is in an unlocked position; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the shoe remover of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the shoe remover of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of the shoe remover of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the shoe remover of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the shoe remover of  FIG. 1  in a collapsed position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2A , a shoe remover  10  is shown. The shoe remover  10 , also known as a boot jack, is configured to be used to assist in the removal of boots or other shoes. The shoe remover  10  includes members  12 ,  14 , a pin  16 , a lock member  18 , and an upright support  20 . Generally, the member  12  is configured to contact a support surface  22 , and the member  14  is configured to engage a shoe (not shown). 
     The member  12  may be generally considered a floor engagement member. The member has end portions  24 ,  26  and an upper surface  30  and a lower surface  32  ( FIG. 3 ). In an opened position for use, the upper surface  30  faces away from the support surface  22 , and the lower surface  32  faces the support surface  22 . The upper surface  30  is substantially planar. 
     The member  12  includes a cutout  34  running between the upper and lower surfaces  30 ,  32  and positioned intermediate the end portions  24 ,  26 . The cutout  34  should be shaped and sized so as to provide room for the lock member  18  to be positioned therein and to be translated into an unlocked position, as will be described in detail below. One of ordinary skill will appreciate that the cutout  34  may have a variety of shapes and sizes. 
     The end portion  24  is configured to contact the support surface  22 , such as a floor or ground. In the illustrated embodiment, the end portion  24  comprises feet  36  that contact the support surface  22 . The feet  36  are positioned at the outermost edges of the member  12  and effectively increase a width of the member  12  at the end portion  24 . As such, the feet  36  provide additional stability for the shoe remover  10  when it is in contact with the support surface  22 . One of ordinary skill will appreciate, however, that the end portion  24  may have a variety of configurations, such as a planar edge. In the embodiment shown, the end portion  24  is wider than the end portion  26 , and such a configuration provides extra support for the shoe remover  10 . 
     Each foot  36  may additionally have a medallion  38  coupled thereto. More specifically, the medallion  38  may have a protrusion that engages with a bore  39  in the foot  36 . The medallion  38  may be permanently or removably fixed to the foot  36 . The medallion  38  primarily serves a decorative function and may have any variety of designs. For example, the medallion  38  may be decorated with a monogram. In the illustrated embodiment, the medallion  38  has a sunburst design. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 3 , the end portion  26  is positioned adjacent an end portion of the member  14 . The end portion  26  includes one or more barrels  40  forming a portion of a hinge assembly (described in detail below). One or more of the barrels  40  has a tab  41  extending downwardly therefrom, substantially parallel to an edge surface  46  of the end portion  26 . The end portion  26  further includes at least one bore  42 , each bore  42  being sized and shaped to receive a rod of the lock member  18  (described in detail below). The illustrated embodiment includes two bores  42 . The bores  42  run between the cutout  34  and the edge surface  46  of the end portion  26 . The end portion  26  further includes a bore  48  configured to receive a bolt  50  of the lock member  18 . As illustrated, the bore  48  runs between the cutout  34  and the edge surface  46  of the end portion  26 , similar to the bores  42 . Alternatively, the bore  48  may not extend all the way to the edge surface  46 . 
     With reference again to  FIGS. 1-2A , the member  14  may be generally considered a shoe engagement member. The member  14  has two ends  54 ,  56  and an upper surface  58  and a lower surface  60 . The end portion  54  is configured to engage a shoe. More specifically, the end portion  54  is configured to engage a rear portion (i.e., a portion about the heel) of the shoe. The end portion  54 , as illustrated, has two legs  62  forming a generally U-shaped edge  64  running between the internal surfaces of the legs  62 . However, the end portion  54  may also be generally V-shaped or another shape that is sufficient to snugly engage the shoe. 
     In an embodiment, a liner  66  is provided along the edge  64 . The liner  66  may be composed of a soft plastic, leather, or any other material that protects the shoe from damage but has a high enough coefficient of friction to keep the shoe in snug engagement therewith. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the end portion  56  is positioned adjacent the end portion  26  of the member  12 . The end portion  56  includes one or more barrels  70  configured to cooperate with the one or more barrels  40  of the end portion  26 . One or more of the barrels  70  has a tab  71  extending downwardly therefrom, substantially parallel to an edge surface  74  of the end portion  56 . The end portion  56  further includes at least one aperture or bore  72  in the edge surface  74 . The illustrated embodiment includes two apertures  72 . The apertures  72  are sized and shaped to receive at least portions of the rods  92  of the locking member  18 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3-5 , a hinge assembly couples the members  12 ,  14 . The barrels  40 ,  70  of the members  12 ,  14  are aligned and coupled together by the pin  16 . As such, the members  12 ,  14  are configured to pivot between an open position ( FIGS. 1-2A ,  5 ), in which the upper surfaces  30 ,  58  are substantially co-planar and a collapsed or folded position ( FIG. 6 ) in which the lower surfaces  32 ,  60  face one another and are positioned adjacent or proximate one another. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 3-5 , the upright support  20  is positioned intermediate the members  12 ,  14 . The upright support  20  includes end portions  80 ,  82 . The end portion  80  is configured to contact the support surface  22 . In the embodiment shown, the end portion  80  comprises feet  84  that contact the support surface  22  ( FIG. 1 ). However, one of ordinary skill will appreciate that the end portion  80  may have a variety of configurations, such as a planar edge. The end portion  82  is positioned adjacent the lower surface(s)  32 ,  60  of one or both of the members  12 ,  14 . In the embodiment shown, the end portion  82  of the upright support  20  includes one or more barrels  86  that are configured to cooperate with the barrels  40 ,  70  of the members  12 ,  14 , such that the upright support  20  is pivotally coupled to the shoe remover  10  by the hinge assembly. In another embodiment, however, the upright support  20  may be separately coupled to one of the members  12 ,  14 . In the open position, the tabs  41 ,  71  contact and help stabilize the upright support  20 . 
     With reference again to  FIGS. 1-3 , the shoe remover  10  further includes the lock member  18 . The lock member  18  includes a handle portion  90  and one or more rods  92  extending therefrom. In the illustrated embodiment, two rods  92  extend from the handle portion  90 . The handle portion  90  is positioned in the cutout  34  of the member  12 , and the two rods  92  extend through the bores  42  in the end portion  26 . 
     The handle portion  90  has a proximal end  94 , a distal end  96 , an upper surface  98 , and a lower surface  100 . A cutout  102  runs between the upper and lower surfaces  98 ,  100  thereof. As a result of the cutout  102 , the proximal end  94  of the handle portion  90  is shaped so that it may be gripped by a user. The handle portion  90  includes a bore  104  that runs from an edge of the cutout  102  to the distal end  96  of the handle portion  90 . 
     The bolt  50  is used to couple the lock member  18  to the member  12 . The bolt  50  includes a threaded end portion  108 . The threaded end portion  108  is threadably coupled in the bore  48  of the member  12 . The bolt  50  further extends through the bore  104  of the lock member  18 , such that the lock member  18  is in slidable engagement with the bolt  50 . A head  110  of the bolt  50  is positioned within the cutout  102  of the lock member  18 . The bolt  50  is longer than the combined lengths of the bore  48  and the bore  104 , such that the lock member  18  may slide along a portion of the bolt  50 . More specifically, the lock member  18  is of sufficient length to be slid between a locked position in which the rods  92  are engaged with the apertures  72  in the member  14  and an unlocked position in which the rods  92  are disengaged from the apertures  72 . The head  110  is larger than the bore  104  such that the head  110  retains the lock member  18  in engagement with the bolt  50  even in the unlocked position (i.e., the lock member  18  cannot be slid off of the bolt  50 ). In other words, the head  50  serves as a stop for the lock member  18 . 
     The shoe remover  10  is composed of a strong but lightweight material that is suitable for easy transport of the shoe remover  10 . For example, the shoe remover  10  may be composed of titanium, aluminum, stainless steel, a polymer, a combination of these materials, or any other suitable material. To further reduce the amount of material required and, thus, the weight of the shoe remover  10 , the lower surfaces  32 ,  60  of the members  12 ,  14  include channels or hollowed out areas  114 , which reduces the amount of material required for the members  12 ,  14  and, thus, reduces the weight of the members  12 ,  14 . Alternatively, however, the lower surfaces  32 ,  60  may also be planar, such that the member  12  is solid between the upper and lower surfaces  30 ,  32  or the channels or hollowed out spaces  114  are enclosed in an interior of the members  12 ,  14 . 
     The shoe remover  10  may have a length of approximately 8-12″ in the opened position, a folded length of approximately 4-6″, and a maximum width (i.e., at one of the ends) of 4-5″. More specifically, the shoe remover  10  may have a length of approximately 9⅜″ in the opened position, a folded length of approximately 5″, and a maximum width of 4⅝″. As such, the folded shoe remover  10  easily fits in a suitcase or bag and is suitable for travel. 
     In use, from the closed or folded position with the lock member  18  pulled back in the unlocked position, one or both of the members  12 ,  14  is pivoted relative to the other member  12 ,  14  until rods  92  of the lock member  18  are substantially aligned with the apertures  72  of the member  14  and the upper surfaces  30 ,  58  of the members  12 ,  14  are substantially planar ( FIG. 2A ). The lock member  18  is then pushed in so that the rods  92  engage with the apertures  72 . At this time, the lock member  18  is in the locked position ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ). Pivoting of the members  12 ,  14  relative to one another into the open position also automatically positions the upright support  20  to be ready for use. 
     The user then places the shoe remover  10  on the support surface  22  such that the feet  36  of the member  12  and the feet  84  of the upright support  20  contact the support surface  22 . The user, who is wearing a boot or other shoe on one foot, positions his or her shoe between the legs  62  such that the shoe is frictionally engaged with at least a portion of the U-shaped edge  64 . The user steps on the member  12  with his other foot to keep the shoe remover  10  in contact with the support surface  22  while pulling his other foot out of the shoe that is engaged with the U-shaped edge  64  in order to remove the shoe from his foot. 
     Once the user has successfully removed his shoe with help from the shoe remover  10 , the user removes his shoe from between the legs  62 . The user may then wish to fold or close the shoe remover  10  for storage or to transport the shoe remover  10  to another location. To fold the shoe remover  10 , the user holds the handle portion  90  of the lock member  18  and pulls the lock member  18  back toward the end of the member  12 . When the rods  92  disengage from the apertures  72  ( FIG. 2A ), one or both of the members  12 ,  14  may be pivoted toward the other such to fold the shoe remover  10 . When the shoe remover  10  is folded, the lower surfaces  32 ,  60  of the members  12 ,  14  are in close proximity, with the upright support  20  between the two members  12 ,  14  ( FIG. 7 ). 
     While I have described several preferred embodiments of the present invention, persons skilled in the art will appreciate changes and modifications which may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, I intend portion to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof:

Technology Category: a