BOOT JACK
A boot jack incorporating a storage compartment usable for storing shoe polish and other shoe apparatus. The boot jack may have a flat upper plate bearing a notch for receiving the heel area of a boot, and a soft liner to oppose scuffing of a boot. Right, left, and front side walls depend from the upper plate. A floor plate encloses the storage compartment within the upper plate, and the right, left, and front side walls. An openable closure such as a hinged door may be opened to reveal the interior of the storage compartment. The upper plate may be secured in place at an acute angle to the floor plate such that the storage compartment is wedge shaped. The upper plate may have a frictional liner for engaging the sole of a boot placed on the boot jack to stabilize the latter.
Not applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to boot jacks. A boot jack is a device intended to assist a person in removing a boot or high necked shoe from the foot, without the use of hands. A boot jack typically comprises a plate bearing a V-shaped or C-shaped notch into which the area of the boot above the heel is inserted. With the boot caught in the notch at its heel, the user may step out of the boot, leaving the boot behind.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a boot jack which incorporates a storage compartment therein. The novel boot jack may comprise an upper plate with a notch formed therein for receiving the heel area of a boot to be removed. The upper plate may be supported on a triangular structure including two vertical walls, a front wall, and a floor. This construction leaves an enclosed compartment beneath the upper plate. The compartment is provided with an openable closure. This enables related paraphernalia such as shoe polishing materials and equipment to be stored with the boot jack. Whereas prior art boot jacks were designed with only one purpose, namely removal of boots, the novel boot jack can be utilized both as a boot jack and also as part of a kit for maintaining boots and shoes. Other components of the kit may include shoe polish, brushes, buffing cloths, and other equipment for shining and maintaining boots and shoes. The novel boot jack may be offered for example as a premium or promotion item by retailers and others in the shoe and boot industry.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSThe present invention is directed to a boot jack. More specifically, the present invention comprises a boot jack which incorporates an integral storage compartment. A boot jack 100 according to at least one aspect of the invention is seen in
It will be seen by examining
As seen in
As best seen in
Referring to
The acute angle 380 may be formed between a planar exposed upper surface 420 (shown in
The structural portions of the boot jack 100, such as the upper plate 120, the right side wall 240, the left side wall 260, the floor plate 280, the front wall 300, and the hinged door 220 may be fabricated from wood or alternatively, from a plastic material such as a synthetic resin. The hinges 320, 340 may be fabricated from brass.
A boot jack according to the present invention, such as the boot jack 100, may be utilized for example by placing the heel of a boot or shoe in the notch 160, while standing on the upper surface 420 of the upper plate 120 with the other foot. The boot or shoe may be removed by maneuvering the foot upwardly, with the boot or shoe being removed pressed against the liner 480.
Small objects (not shown) may be stored in the enclosed interior storage space formed in the boot jack 100.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A boot jack comprising
- an upper plate comprising a front surface bearing a notch for receiving the heel area of a boot worn by a person and an opposed rear surface;
- a right side wall depending from said upper plate and a left side wall depending from said upper plate;
- a floor plate disposed below said upper plate and spanning said right side wall and said left side wall;
- a front wall depending from said upper plate and spanning said right side wall, said left side wall, and said floor plate to enclose and define an interior storage space within said upper plate, said right side wall, said left side wall, said floor plate, and said front wall, and
- an openable closure disposed to close said interior storage space.
2. The boot jack according to claim 1, wherein said openable closure comprises a hinged door and at least one hinge pivotally securing said hinged door to said boot jack.
3. The boot jack according to claim 2, wherein said hinged door extends from said upper plate to said floor plate along part of the length of said boot jack.
4. The boot jack according to claim 2, wherein said at least one hinge is located at the juncture of said upper plate and said hinged door.
5. The boot jack according to claim 4, wherein said at least one hinge comprises two hinges spaced apart from one another along a common hinge axis.
6. The boot jack according to claim 1, further comprising a soft liner disposed along said notch formed in said upper plate, for opposing scuffing of a boot placed within said notch.
7. The boot jack according to claim 1, wherein
- said right side wall, said left wall, and said front wall are disposed to maintain said upper plate at an acute angle relative to said floor plate, and
- said rear surface of said upper plate is disposed proximate said rear surface of said floor plate, and said front surface of said upper plate is spaced apart from said floor plate.
8. The boot jack according to claim 1, further comprising a frictional liner disposed on said upper plate.
9. The boot jack according to claim 1, wherein said upper plate has a planar exposed upper surface and said floor plate has a planar exposed lower surface.
10. The boot jack according to claim 1, further comprising mating patches of hook and loop fastener disposed to maintain said closure in a closed condition.
11. The boot jack according to claim 1, further comprising a bracing wall disposed within said storage compartment and extending from said upper plate to said floor plate.
12. The boot jack according to claim 1, wherein said at least one hinge is fabricated from brass.
13. The boot jack according to claim 1, wherein said upper plate, said right side wall, said left side wall, said floor plate, and said openable closure are formed from wood.
14. The boot jack according to claim 1, wherein said upper plate, said right side wall, said left side wall, said floor plate, and said openable closure are formed from a synthetic resin.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 30, 2009
Publication Date: May 5, 2011
Inventors: Oscar D. Moore, SR. (Okolona, MS), Rodney L. Hampton (Sulligent, AL), Clyde Reddick, JR. (Okolona, MS)
Application Number: 12/610,171