U.S. patent application number 15/565971 was filed with the patent office on 2018-02-22 for boot jack.
The applicant listed for this patent is Mark Frey. Invention is credited to Mark Frey.
Application Number | 20180049573 15/565971 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53298664 |
Filed Date | 2018-02-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180049573 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Frey; Mark |
February 22, 2018 |
BOOT JACK
Abstract
The boot jack includes 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 a surface to which force can be applied by a user.
The first upper surface is provided on a movable portion. The
movable portion is movable relative to the body portion. The
movable portion is movable from a first state to a second state.
The movement is to expose a second upper surface. The second upper
surface is provided on the body portion. The second upper surface
is a surface to which force can be applied by the user.
Inventors: |
Frey; Mark; (Hertfordshire,
GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Frey; Mark |
Hertfordshire |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
53298664 |
Appl. No.: |
15/565971 |
Filed: |
April 14, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
April 14, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2016/058218 |
371 Date: |
October 12, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 25/80 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47G 25/80 20060101
A47G025/80 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 14, 2015 |
GB |
1506439.7 |
Claims
1. A boot jack comprising: a body portion having a mouth arranged
at one end and is adapted to receive a heel of a boot; and a first
upper surface to which force can be applied by a user, wherein the
first upper surface is provided on a movable portion which moves
relative to the body portion from a first state to a second state
to expose a second upper surface provided on the body portion to
which force can be applied by the user.
2. The boot jack according to claim 1, wherein the second upper
surface is arranged beneath the first upper surface when the
movable portion is in the first state.
3. The boot jack according to claim 1, wherein a hinge is provided
between the body portion and the movable portion.
4. The boot jack according to claim 3, wherein the hinge is
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.
5. The boot jack according to claim 3, wherein a handle is provided
on a side of the movable portion other than a side at which the
hinge is provided.
6. The boot jack according to claim 5, wherein the handle is
provided at an opposite side of the movable portion to the side of
the movable portion at which the hinge is provided.
7. The boot jack according to claim 1, wherein in the first state
the first upper surface is flush with an upper surface of the body
portion.
8. The boot jack according to claim 7, wherein in the first state
the first upper surface is flush with the 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.
9. The boot jack according to claim 7, wherein a recess is formed
in the body portion, and wherein in the first state the movable
portion is arranged in the recess.
10. The boot jack according to claim 7, wherein the second upper
surface is flush with a surface of the movable portion opposite to
the first upper surface when the movable portion is in the second
state.
11. The boot jack according to claim 1, wherein one or more
supporting portions are provided beneath the body portion, the one
or more supporting portions at least being arranged beneath a
longitudinal position intermediate between the first upper surface,
in the first state, and the mouth to rest the boot jack such that
the upper surface is at an angle to a supporting surface and the
mouth is elevated above the supporting surface.
12. The boot jack according to claim 11, wherein an additional
support is 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.
13. The boot jack according to claim 12, wherein the additional
support is movably provided to the movable portion such that, in
the first position, the additional support does not extend above
the first surface.
14. The boot jack according to claim 1, wherein the body portion is
formed as a plate or board.
15. The boot jack according to claim 14, the plate or board being
elongate and extending from the one end having the mouth to another
end opposite to the one end.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] 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
[0002] 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
[0003] 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.
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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
[0007] 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.
[0008] The second upper surface may be arranged beneath the first
upper surface when the movable portion is in the first state.
[0009] A hinge may be provided between the body portion and the
movable portion.
[0010] 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.
[0011] A handle may be is provided on a side of the movable portion
other than a side at which the hinge is provided.
[0012] 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.
[0013] In the first state, the first upper surface may be flush
with an upper surface of the body portion.
[0014] 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.
[0015] A recess may be formed in the body portion. In the first
state, the movable portion may be arranged in the recess.
[0016] 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.
[0017] 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.
[0018] 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.
[0019] 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.
[0020] The body portion may be formed as a plate.
[0021] 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
[0022] 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:
[0023] 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
[0024] 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
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a boot jack which is a first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0026] 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 10a, 10b extending longitudinally from the body portion
11. The projections are shaped and dimensioned to accept the heel
of a user'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.
[0027] The boot jack also has a first upper surface 13a 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.
[0028] 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 13a and mouth 10 such
that when the boot jack as a whole is rested on a substantially
planar supporting surface, each of an end 11c, 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 13a 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.
[0029] The user engages the heel of one boot, worn on one foot,
with mouth 10 and places another foot on first upper surface 13a.
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 13a 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.
[0030] After use in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, upper
surface 13a may be dirty, if the foot of the user which provided
the downward force onto first upper surface 13a 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 13a 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 11d previously concealed beneath upper surface
13a.
[0031] 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.
[0032] In the state with the second upper surface 11d exposed, the
user may engage a second boot with mouth 10 and apply force to the
second upper surface 11d, 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 11d.
[0033] 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.
[0034] 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.
[0035] 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.
[0036] One variant includes a hinged connection provided between
moveable portion 13 and body portion 11 at an opposite end 11c 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 11d. Other possibilities will
be apparent to those skilled in the art.
[0037] 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 11D 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 13a is used to
stabilise the boot jack and the second state in which upper surface
11d is used to stabilise the boot jack, by action of the feet
alone, that is, without bending or using the hands.
[0038] 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.
[0039] In the present embodiment, upper surface 13a of moveable
portion 13 is arranged to be flush with an upper surface 11a of
body portion 11, which is an upper surface of body portion 11 other
than second upper surface 11d. 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 11a 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
11a of the body portion 11 also extends on another side of the
recess opposite to the mouth 11 towards end 11c 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.
[0040] 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.
[0041] 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 11D. 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 13A. 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 13A, and may be flush with the first upper
surface 13A 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
13a 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.
[0042] 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.
[0043] 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.
[0044] In some configurations, either or both of first upper
surface 13a and second upper surface 11d 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 13a. In the depicted embodiment, first upper surface
13a 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 13a can be a surface of an integral part of movable portion
13.
[0045] 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.
[0046] 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.
[0047] 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.
* * * * *