Stabilized Boot and Shoe Jack

Abstract

A stabilized boot jack for improving balance and preventing falls when removing boots. The stabilized book jack has a base with at least one U-shaped cut out, a frame attached to the base with two vertical arms and a horizontal handle. The user grasps the handle while removing his or her boots to improve balance and stability when removing boots. The stabilized boot jack also includes an optional doorknob attachment for securing the boot jack to the doorknob of a door.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 63/403,376, which is incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Boot and shoe jacks, also known as boot and shoe pulls, are tools that aid in the removal of a boot or shoe. For purposes of this application, Applicant will use the term “boot jack” to refer to the invention and “boot” to refer to the usage of the invention. However, the invention is not limited to boots. The boot jack could be used with shoes and other footwear.

A boot jack typically includes a single U-shaped opening in which the user inserts the heel of his or her boot. The U-shaped opening catches the sides of the boot as the user pulls upward, pulling the boot off the user's foot.

Current boot jack designs are difficult to use for persons with trouble balancing. There is a high risk of falling when using a traditional boot jack, especially if the user has stability issue and/or trouble balancing. More specifically, traditional boot jack designs typically require the user to balance on one leg while using the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The applied for invention is a stabilized boot jack comprising a platform and a frame with two vertical arms, a cross bar, and a one or more handles. The invention further includes an optional doorknob attachment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the stabilized boot jack.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the stabilized boot jack.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the stabilized boot jack.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of a doorknob attachment in the open position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the doorknob attachment connected to the embodiment of the stabilized boot jack.

FIG. 6 is an environmental view showing the embodiment of the doorknob attachment connecting the embodiment of the stabilized boot jack to a door.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The structure of an embodiment of a stabilized boot jack 20 is described with reference to FIGS. 1-3. The stabilized boot jack 20 comprises a base 21 and a frame 28.

The base 21 comprises a first side 22, second side 23, third side 24, fourth side 25, platform 35, and two support members 27. In other embodiments, the support member could be a single component and/or eliminated altogether. The base is generally rectangular in shape, except for two U-shaped cut outs 26 in the first side. In other embodiments, a single U-shaped cut out could be used. In the embodiment shown herein, the sides are approximately fourteen inches in length. Rectangular mounting flanges may be integral the sides (not shown).

The support members 27 are wedge shaped and located underneath, and adjacent to, the second side 23 and fourth side 25 of the base. The higher end of the wedge-shaped base members 27 is proximate the first side 22 of the base 21 and the lower end of the wedge-shaped support members 27 is proximate the third side 24 of the base. The wedge-shaped support members result in elevating the first side 22 of the base 21 relative to the third side 24 of the base, causing the platform 35 to be sloped relative to the ground. In the embodiment shown herein, the first side 22 of the base 21 is approximately two inches above the ground.

The frame 28 comprises a base cross bar 29, a first arm 30, a second arm 31, a top cross bar 32, a first handle 33, and a second handle 34.

The base cross bar 29 extends the width of the platform 35 between the underside of the platform 35 and the upper side of the support members 27. The cross bar 29 is slightly longer than the platform, so that a portion of the cross bar 29 extends out from the platform 35. The cross bar 29 is proximate the center point of the second side 23 and the fourth side 25 of the base 21. The cross bar 29 can be attached to the base 21 via bolts and mounting tabs, adhesives, nails, or other suitable means.

The first arm 30 and second arm 31 extend upward from opposing ends of the base cross bar 29. The arms 30 31 are welded to the base cross bar 29 and/or bent from the same piece of metal as the base cross bar 29.

The first arm 30 and second 31 are mostly straight with flared sections 36 37 proximate the base. In the embodiment shown herein, the arms 30 31 are approximately fifty-five inches long, with the straight sections comprising approximately forty-three inches and the flared sections 36 37 comprising approximately twelve inches.

The arms 30 31 are angled inward toward the user. In the embodiment shown herein, the arms are at an eight-degree angle relative to the ground/floor.

The top end of the arms 30 31 have apertures for receiving the handles 33 34 and top cross bar 32. Other means of attachment could be used instead.

The top cross bar 32 extends between the inner side of the opposing top ends of the arms 30 31. The top cross bar 32 provides additional stability to the boot jack 20. Handles 33 and 34 extend out from the outer side of the opposing top ends of the arms 30 31. The handles 33 34 are generally cylindrical shaped, but could be any shape suitable for gripping.

Grip tape (not shown) or other grip enhancing material such as rubber can be added to the bottom side of the base 21 to increase the grip between the boot jack 20 and the floor or ground. The bottom side of the base 21 can be coated with, or constructed from, a nonslip material such as rubber to prevent the stabilized boot jack from sliding on the floor. Alternatively, a stabilizing block (not shown) can be attached to the bottom side of the base 21 to further enhance grip, said stabilizing block being made or coated in a nonslip material.

The platform 35 of the stabilized boot jack 20 is sloped upwards away from the user, which makes the boot jack 20 easier to use and more stable.

The structure of an embodiment of a doorknob attachment 38 for the stabilized boot jack 20 is described with reference to FIGS. 4-6. FIG. 4 shows the doorknob attachment 38 in an unused and open position. The doorknob attachment 38 comprises a first half 39, a second half 40, and a pin 41. The first half 40 comprises an attachment mechanism 42 rotationally connecting the first half 39 of the doorknob attachment to the pin 41. The second half 40 comprises an attachment mechanism 43 rotationally connecting the second half 40 of the doorknob attachment 38 to the pin 41. The attachment mechanism 43 of the second half comprises solid ends 44 which confine the pin 41 within the attachment mechanisms 42 43.

The first half 39 of the doorknob attachment 38 further comprises two attachment tabs 45. The second half 40 of the doorknob attachment 38 further comprises two tab receptacles 46. The attachment tabs 45 and tab receptacles 46 are capable of forming a snap fit.

The doorknob attachment comprises a handle sleeve 47 and a doorknob sleeve 48. The interior diameters of the handle sleeve 47 are slightly greater than the exterior diameters of the handles 33 34. The interior diameters of the doorknob sleeve 48 are slightly greater than the exterior diameters of a standard doorknob 49. In some embodiments, the doorknob attachment 38 can be made from a flexible material that will expands and retract to accommodate different size doorknobs or handles.

Use of the stabilized boot jack 20 is described with reference to FIGS. 1-6. When a user desires to remove his or her boots, the user grabs the boot jack 20 by one or both handles 33 34 and/or the top cross bar 32. The user may place one or both feet on the platform 35. The user then lifts a foot, places the heel of his or her boot in one of the U-shaped cutouts 26. The width of the U-shaped cutout 26 is greater than the width of a standard boot heel, but smaller than the width of a standard boot sole. The user pulls his or her leg away from the platform 35. The sole of the user's boot cannot pass through the U-shaped cutout 26, resulting in the boot jack 20 applying resisting force to the user's boot, allowing the user's foot to slip out of the boot.

The boot jack 20 provides stability for the user while removing his or her boots. The frame 28, particularly the handles 33 34 and top cross bar 32, provide a means for the user to maintain his or her balance while using the boot jack 20. The user can hold onto the handles 33 34 or top cross bar 32 while using the boot jack 20, eliminating the need for the user to balance on one foot while removing his or her boots.

When a user desires even greater stability, the user can connect the stabilized boot jack 20 to a doorknob 49 of a door using the doorknob attachment 38. The user positions the boot jack 20 near a door with a doorknob 49, so that a handle 33 34 of the boot jack 20 is nearly touching the doorknob 49. The user positions the doorknob attachment 38 so that the handle sleeve 47 of doorknob attachment 38 is proximate one of the handles 33 34 of the boot jack 20 and the doorknob sleeve 48 is proximate the doorknob 49. The user snaps the first half 39 and second half 40 of the doorknob attachment closed using the attachment tabs 45 and tab receptacles 46 so that a handle 33 34 of the boot jack 20 is secured within the handle sleeve 47 of the doorknob attachment 38 and the doorknob 49 is secured within the doorknob sleeve 48 of the doorknob attachment 38. The stabilized boot jack 20 is now attached to the door via the doorknob 49, providing further stability and minimizing the possibility of the boot jack tipping over while the user removes his or her boots.

When the user wants to detach the boot jack 20 from the doorknob 49, the user lifts up on the attachment receptacles 46 and/or pushes down on the attachment tabs 45 to release the snap fit between the receptacles 46 and the tabs 45. Once the snap fit is released, the doorknob attachment 38 can be rotated into the open position and removed.

The invention has been described with regard to specific dimensions, shapes, and designs. Those skilled in the art understand that the stabilized boot jack could comprise other shapes, dimensions, and designs, and still perform the inventive concept disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A stabilized boot jack comprising a base, a first arm, a second arm, and a handle.

2. The stabilized boot jack of claim 1 wherein the base further comprises a platform with a U-shaped cutout.

3. The stabilized boot jack of claim 2 wherein the base further comprises a second U-shaped cutout.

4. The stabilized boot jack of claim 2 further comprising a support member under the platform.

5. The stabilized boot jack of claim 4 wherein the support member is wedge shaped, causing said platform to be sloped.

6. The stabilized boot jack of claim 1 wherein the base is rectangular in shape comprising a first side, second side, third side, and four side.

7. The stabilized book jack of claim 6 wherein said first side comprises a U-shaped cutout, said U-shaped cutout having a width smaller than the standard width of a boot sole.

8. The stabilized boot jack of claim 1 further comprising a doorknob attachment for connecting the bootjack to the doorknob of a door.

9. The stabilized boot jack of claim 8 wherein the doorknob attachment comprises a first member and a second member, and both first and second members are rotationally connected to a pin.

10. The stabilized boot jack of claim 9 wherein said first member of the door knob connected and second member of the door knob connected are capable of forming a snap fit.

11. The stabilized boot jack of claim 1 wherein the first and second arms extend upwards from the base and said handle is proximate the top end of the arms.

12. A method for stabilizing a boot jack comprising connecting a boot jack having a base, first arm, second arm, and handle, to a doorknob of a door using a doorknob attachment.

13. A doorknob attachment for stabilizing a boot jack comprising a first member, a second member, and a pin, wherein the first member and second member are rotationally connected to the pin.