Shoe Donning Aid Providing Lowering Support

Abstract

A shoe donning aid comprising a generally downwardly extending U shaped horn portion having an internal and external horn walls. The shoe donning aid comprises a latching mechanism which may be of resilient, locking, or latch type, the latching mechanism exerts sufficient force or forces on the shoe to allow the lowering the shoe to the ground using a lanyard. After the user's foot is inserted into the shoe, pulling on the lanyard overcomes or releases the latching forces, allowing extraction of the shoe donning aid. The latching mechanism is positioned lower than the top portion of the donning aid as to eliminate that obstacle from the target opening of the foot. Various variations and embodiments are shown and described.

Claims

1. A shoe donning aid for facilitating donning a shoe having a shoe front region and a shoe rear region, a shoe counter and a shoe opening disposed generally in the shoe rear region, the shoe donning aid comprising: a shoe horn having an internal horn wall, an external horn wall and a top portion coupled therebetween to define in cross-section a downwardly opening U shaped form, the U shaped being dimensioned to at least partially receive therein the shoe counter; a latching mechanism coupled to the shoe horn and disposed below the top portion, the latching mechanism being selectively transitionable between a latched state and a released state; the latching mechanism having at least one horn contact point disposed to impart a forwardly directed force to press the shoe counter directly or indirectly against the internal horn wall when the latching mechanism is in the latched state, and to reduce the forwardly directed force responsive to the latching mechanism transitioning to the released state; and, an anchor point coupled to the latching mechanism or formed therein, wherein a force exerted on the anchor point transitions the latching mechanism from the latched state to the released state.

2. The shoe donning aid as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one support leg extending further downwardly than the internal horn wall.

3. The shoe donning aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latching mechanism comprises a rocker arm hingedly coupled to the shoe horn at a hinge point, the at least one horn contact point being coupled to the rocker arm or formed thereby; and, a spring disposed to urge the horn contact point forwardly to impart the forwardly directed force.

4. The shoe donning aid as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rocker arm comprises a rocker top portion and a rocker bottom portion separated by the hinge point, the horn contact point being coupled to the bottom portion or formed by a portion thereof, and anchor point being disposed in the top portion or coupled thereto, wherein a forward force exerted on the anchor point acts to counter the spring and thus reduce the forwardly directed force, thus transition the latching mechanism to the released state.

5. The shoe donning aid as claimed in claim 4, wherein a lanyard is coupled to the anchor point, the lanyard being routed through at least one lanyard passage formed in the shoe donning aid, the passage affecting a direction change of a tensile force exerted by the lanyard.

6. The shoe donning aid as claimed in claim 5, wherein operationally, the lanyard exits the shoe donning aid rearwardly of the shoe counter, and below the top portion.

7. The shoe donning aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latching mechanism comprises a spring coupled directly or indirectly to the horn contact point and disposed to urge the horn contact point forwardly to impart the forwardly directed force.

8. The shoe donning aid as claimed in claim 7, further comprising an anchor point coupled directly or indirectly to the horn contact point; and, a cantilevered bracket coupled to the shoe horn and extending rearwardly the anchor point, the bracket having a lanyard passage or notch oriented to affect a direction change to a tensile force exerted by a lanyard coupled to the anchor point.

9. The shoe donning aid as claimed in claim 8, wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a rocker arm hingedly coupled to the shoe horn at a hinge point, the rocker having a bottom portion and the at least one horn contact point is coupled thereto or formed thereby, the spring acting on the rocker arm to bias the bottom portion thereof forwardly, the bottom portion having the lanyard anchor therein or coupled thereto.

10. The shoe donning aid as claimed in claim 9, wherein the rocker arm further comprises an upper portion extending above the hinge point, for biasing the bottom portion rearwardly by displacing the top portion forwardly.

11. The shoe donning aid as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bracket and the spring are disposed below the top portion.

12. A shoe donning aid for facilitating donning a shoe having a shoe front region and a shoe rear region, a shoe counter and a shoe opening disposed generally in the rear region of the shoe, the shoe donning aid comprising: a shoe horn having an internal horn wall, an external horn wall, and a top portion coupled therebetween to define in cross-section a downwardly opening U shaped form, the U shaped being dimensioned to at least partially receive therein the shoe counter; a lock mechanism coupled to the shoe horn, the lock mechanism being transitionable between a locked state and an unlocked state, the lock mechanism comprises at least one horn contact point disposed to impart a forwardly directed force to press the shoe counter directly or indirectly against the internal horn wall when the lock mechanism is in the locked state, the horn contact point is allowed to retract away from the shoe counter when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state.

13. The shoe donning aid as claimed in claim 12, wherein the lock mechanism is disposed below the top portion.

14. The shoe donning aid as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a spring element disposed to impart a rearwardly directed force to the horn contact point.

15. A shoe donning aid as claimed in claim 12, wherein the lock mechanism comprises a rotatable cam disposed to directly or indirectly force the horn contact point sufficiently forward to impart a frictional force against shoe counter when the lock mechanism is in the locked state and to allow the horn contact point to retract when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state.

16. A shoe donning aid as claimed in claim 12, further comprising at least one support leg extending downwardly from the external horn wall or the top portion, and extending below the internal horn wall.

17. A shoe donning aid for facilitating donning a shoe having a shoe front region and a shoe rear region, a shoe counter and a shoe opening disposed generally in the shoe rear region, the shoe opening being partially defined by an internal side of the shoe counter and two opposing side walls extending forwardly from the counter, the shoe donning aid having a longitudinal plane, and a lateral plane associate therewith, the shoe donning aid comprising: a shoe horn having an internal horn wall and an external horn wall, which are coupled to form a downwardly opening U shaped cross-section, the shoe horn being dimensioned to receive therein the shoe counter, the external wall having at least one horn contact point; A lanyard anchor point coupled directly or indirectly to the shoe horn; two side extensions coupled thereto directly or indirectly to the shoe horn and extending forwardly thereof, the side extensions being disposed on opposing sides of the longitudinal plane, each of the side extensions having at least one side contact point, at least one of the side extensions being resiliently movable laterally; the internal wall of the shoe horn and the two forward extensions forming, at least in part, an internal portion of the shoe donning aid, the internal part being dimensioned to be elastically received within the shoe opening such that operationally the horn contact point being disposed against an outside wall of the shoe counter and imparting forwardly directed longitudinal force thereto, the at least one contact point of each of the side extensions being operationally disposed against the respective shoe side wall and resiliently imparting a lateral force thereto, the lateral force directed to urge the respective side wall away from the longitudinal plane, the combination of the magnitude and direction of the respective longitudinal and lateral forces being sufficient to support the weight of the shoe.

18. A shoe donning aid as claimed in claim 17 further comprising at least one support leg extending further downwardly than the internal horn wall.

19. A shoe donning aid as claimed in claim 17, wherein pulling a lanyard coupled to the lanyard anchor point acts to reduce the longitudinal force magnitude.

20. A shoe donning aid as claimed in claim 18, wherein the horn contact point is urged forwardly by resiliency of the external horn wall.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031] The summary above, and the following detailed description will be better understood in view of the enclosed drawings which depict details of various embodiments. It should however be noted that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings and that the drawings are provided merely as examples. The drawings are provided to facilitate understanding of various aspects and options of the invention, and no attempt is made to make the drawing conform to scale, nor to maintain a uniform scale between various drawings. Furthermore some drawing elements are shown without depth considerations and/or that certain objects are potentially being hidden as the drawings are provided only to facilitate understanding of various aspects of the invention. It is further noted that cross hatching for indicating cross cuts, and dashing of lines to indicate hidden lines is used only as deemed helpful to understanding of the relevant drawing and is not necessarily consistent across the depicted view.

[0032] The following is a brief description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a shoe with an embodiment of a shoe donning aid inserted therein.

[0034] FIG. 1A depicts a simplified cross-section of the shoe horn section disposed over the shoe counter.

[0035] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a shoe donning aid.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a schematic bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a schematic of a generally rear view according to an optional embodiment.

[0038] FIG. 5 depicts a schematic top view of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

[0039] FIG. 6 is a schematic rearwardly view of another embodiment a shoe donning aid as operationally viewed towards the shoe rear portion.

[0040] FIG. 7 is a schematic rearwardly view of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

[0041] FIG. 8 is a schematic bottom view of another embodiment of a shoe donning aid.

[0042] FIG. 9 is a schematic rear view of yet another embodiment of a shoe donning aid.

[0043] FIG. 10 depicts a schematic view of a shoe being lowered by a lanyard coupled to an embodiment of a shoe donning aid operationally engaging the shoe. Notably lowering of the shoe by the lanyard may be utilized with any of the disclosed embodiments.

[0044] FIG. 11 depicts schematically the shoe laying on the ground with a shoe donning aid similar to the embodiment of FIG. 10 operationally engaged therewith. The lanyard not shown for clarity, and optionally longer support legs may be advantageously utilized.

[0045] FIG. 12 depicts schematically a foot insertion into the shoe utilizing a shoe donning aid.

[0046] FIG. 13 depicts schematically an exemplary extraction of a shoe donning device after the foot is inserted into the shoe.

[0047] FIG. 14 depicts a schematic side view of an embodiment utilizing a spring based latching mechanism.

[0048] FIG. 15 depicts schematically a side view of an embodiment utilizing a latching mechanism utilizing a cam to lock the latching mechanism in the latched state.

[0049] FIG. 15A depicts a magnified view of the locking mechanism of FIG. 15 in a locked state.

[0050] FIG. 15B depicts a magnified view of the locking mechanism of FIG. 15 in an unlocked state.

[0051] FIG. 16 depicts schematically a cross section of a region about the external horn wall in an embodiment where the horn counter contact point is coupled with a lanyard anchor point.

[0052] FIG. 17 depicts schematically a bottom view of an embodiment with multiple shoe counter contact points.

[0053] FIG. 18 depicts schematically an embodiment with partially truncated top portion.

[0054] FIG. 19 depicts schematically another embodiment with partially truncated top portion.

[0055] FIG. 20 depicts schematically an embodiment with truncated internal horn wall.

[0056] FIG. 21 depicts a schematically a perspective view of a shoe with an embodiment of a shoe donning aid inserted therein and a depiction of a portion of the sagittal plane UFD.

[0057] FIG. 22 depicts schematically a perspective view of a shoe with an embodiment of a shoe donning aid inserted therein and a depiction of a portion of the transverse plane.

[0058] FIG. 23 depicts schematically a perspective view of a shoe with an embodiment of a shoe donning aid inserted therein and a depiction of a portion of the coronal plane.

[0059] FIG. 24 depicts schematically a simplified force diagram as operationally applied to the shoe by various contact points of several embodiments of the shoe donning aid, utilizing one resilient type locking mechanism, as shown by way of example in FIG. 1.

[0060] FIG. 25 depicts a side cross-section view of an optional embodiment of a latching mechanism, utilizing one optional lanyard arrangement for imparting an opening force to the latch.

[0061] FIG. 25A depicts the embodiment of the latching mechanism of FIG. 25 with the latching mechanism in a latched state.

[0062] FIG. 25B depicts the latching mechanism of FIG. 25, with the latching mechanism in a released state.

[0063] FIG. 25C depicts the rear view of the latching mechanism of FIGS. 25, 25A and 25B.

[0064] FIG. 26 depicts a cross-section side view of an optional embodiment of a latching mechanism utilizing another optional lanyard arrangement for imparting opening force to the rocker latch.

[0065] FIG. 26A depicts a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 26.

[0066] FIG. 27 depicts a cross-section side view of a latching mechanism shown in latched state, utilizing yet another lanyard arrangement.

[0067] FIG. 27A depicts the a cross section side view of the embodiment of FIG. 27, shown in a released state.

[0068] FIG. 27B depicts a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 27.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] Embodiments of a shoe donning aid and optional components thereof will be described below by way of exemplary illustration only. The described embodiments should not be construed as limiting the scope of different aspects and embodiments of the invention. Versions illustrating basic concept of various aspects of the invention are shown in detail in the drawings. It is further noted that the order of presentation does not represent any preference between the embodiments, and that various elements described as relating to one embodiment may be utilized in other embodiments and/or aspects of the invention.

[0070] FIG. 1 depicts schematically a perspective view of a shoe 100 with an embodiment of a shoe donning aid inserted therein, FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a shoe donning aid, and FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are general bottom, rear, and top views of the embodiment, respectively. FIG. 1A depicts a simplified cross section of the shoe and a shoe donning aid embodiment somewhat similar to the aid depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, along the sagittal plane UFD.

[0071] The shoe 100 has a shoe front region 101 and a shoe rear region 102, a shoe counter 10 and a shoe opening 105 disposed generally in the rear region of the shoe. The shoe opening 105 is partially defined by an internal side of the shoe counter 10 and by the internal side of two opposing side walls 115L and 115R respectively, extending forwardly from the counter. The numerals 115L and 115R shall be generally used primarily to designate the internal side of the side walls unless otherwise clear from the context. FIG. 1 depicts the shoe with an embodiment of a shoe donning aid 1 inserted within the shoe as would be operationally used for assisting a user to insert its foot into the shoe. The drawing may depict the state of entering the shoe donning aid into the shoe prior to lowering the shoe to the ground, during such lowering, or when the shoe and the donning aid are on the floor, ready for the user's foot to be inserted. A lanyard, which is not shown in FIG. 1 may be attached and utilized to lower the shoe and the donning aid to the floor.

[0072] The shoe donning aid 1 has a shoe horn section 150 which comprise at least an internal horn wall 155 and an external horn wall 160. The internal and external shoe horn walls are coupled to each other directly or indirectly by a top section 20 constituted by any convenient manner, the internal and external shoe horn walls and the top section form an operationally inverted, general U shaped cross section when viewed on the sagittal plane UFD. The inverted U shaped cross section open downwardly and is dimensioned to at least partially receive the upwardly extending shoe counter 10 within the U opening, such that the internal horn wall 155 lies within the shoe opening and generally adjacent to the internal face of the shoe counter wall, and the external horn wall 160 lies outside the shoe, and generally adjacent to the outer face 165 of the shoe counter wall. Thus the shoe horn section 150 engulfs at least a part of the shoe counter which is disposed inside the U shaped cross-section, as shown by way of example in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1A depicts the U shaped cross section of the shoe horn section 150 with the internal 155 and external 160 walls thereof, as well as the shoe counter 10 (also shown in cross section).

[0073] While a number of figures depict a relatively large top section 20 of the shoe donning aid such top may be replaced by smaller one, by connecting structure such as rods, and the like. Notably, even the top of the U shaped cross section may not be present at the sagittal plane, and the connection between the internal 155 and external 160 horn walls may be made in any convenient manner, and the horn section should still be considered to be of U shape.

[0074] The shoe donning aid utilizes at least one horn contact point 200 to impart an anterior, forwardly directed force ANT onto the shoe counter. The forwardly directed force ANT may be imparted on the contact point 200 by numerous latching mechanisms. By way of non limiting examples, the force ANT may be imparted be a resilient external wall of the shoe horn 160 (as shown schematically in FIG. 2 by the arrow enumerated ANT), by a separate latching mechanism and/or lock mechanism, such as the spring 81 as schematically shown by way of example in FIG. 14, or by extension in FIGS. 25-27, a lock mechanism such as shown by way of example in FIG. 15, and the like. For brevity, embodiments such as depicted in FIGS. 1-10, 12 and 13 by way of example, where the ANT force is imparted by a resilient portion of the shoe horn, shall be referred to in these specifications as resilient type embodiments. Embodiments such as depicted by way of example in FIG. 14 in which the force ANT is imparted directly or indirectly due to a force of a spring urging the horn contact point forwardly shall be referred to as latching type embodiments, and embodiments such as depicted by way of example in FIGS. 15, in which a lock mechanism acts as a latching mechanism that urges the horn contact point 200 against the external face of the shoe counter, and where unlocking the lock mechanism allows the horn contact point to retract rearwardly, shall be referred to as lock type embodiments. It is noted that certain elements of the various embodiment types may be utilized by other embodiments and embodiment types. Thus by way of example each or the embodiment types may benefit from a support leg 40, 40.

[0075] Under the forwardly directed, anterior force ANT, the horn contact point 200 and the outer wall 165 of the shoe counter 10 form a frictional interface. Optionally, as shown schematically in FIG. 17 by of one simplified example, the anterior force may be formed by a plurality of forces imparted by a plurality of horn contact points 200, however the combination of such forces applied to the shoe still forms a single equivalent anterior force ANT directed generally forwardly. For clarity, it is noted that the anterior force is so named since it is applied to the rear part of the shoe, despite the application of the force ANT to the shoe counter being directed forwardly.

[0076] In some embodiments the force ANT acts against the shoe counter and against other forces imparted to the shoe elsewhere, as shown by way of example in FIG. 24, in some embodiments the force ANT acts to pinch the shoe counter against the internal horn wall 155, and in some embodiments the force ANT acts against a combination of forces and the internal shoe horn.

[0077] Unless otherwise stated, the following paragraphs relate primarily to resilient type embodiments.

[0078] In such embodiments, the external wall 160 of the shoe horn section has at least one horn contact point 200 coupled thereto, embedded or formed therein. The horn contact point 200 is disposed on the side of the external horn wall 160 directed towards the shoe counter, and operationally imparts a forwardly directed anterior force ANT against the outer face 165 of the shoe counter 10 wall.

[0079] A lanyard anchor point 99 is coupled directly or indirectly to the external shoe horn wall 160. By way of example a lanyard 98 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, coupled to a lanyard anchor point 99. In the depicted embodiment the lanyard anchor point is embodied as a hole in the external horn wall 160 as shown by way of example in FIG. 16, however, the lanyard anchor point may be embodied in numerous ways and locations, such as by way of example at the bottom of the external horn wall, by a dedicated protrusion formed or embedded in the shoe donning aid, by a fastener, by a latch release as will be described below, and the like. Furthermore, several lanyard anchor points may be utilized, and one or more lanyards may be utilized. By way of example a first lanyard may be utilized for lowering the shoe to the ground and a second lanyard may be utilized to extract the shoe donning aid or to release at least one of the forces applied to the shoe thereby.

[0080] Two side extensions, (denoted 210R and 210L for right and left side extension respectively) are coupled directly or indirectly to the shoe horn section 150, and extend forwardly thereof. The two side extensions 210R and 210L are disposed on opposing sides of the sagittal plane UFD. In the depicted embodiments the side extensions are optionally elastically movable laterally, towards and away from each other on opposing sides of the sagittal plane UFD. Operationally, the side extensions 210L, 210R are urged outwardly towards the inner part of side walls 115L and 115R of the shoe opening. In certain embodiments, one or both of the side extensions are urged outwardly by the resiliency of the shoe donning aid material or a portion thereof, such as the connection between the side extension and the shoe horn section by way of example. The side extensions may also be hinged, spring biased, or otherwise elastically movable laterally, and operationally urged outwardly away from the sagittal plane UFD. By way of example at least one of the side extensions may be coupled to the shoe horn by a spring-biased arm. In some embodiments, only one of the side extensions is laterally movable, however, as the force of one side extension would impart a counter force which will be transmitted to the opposite side extension, such embodiment should be construed to operationally impart lateral force to both the respective shoe side wall. The mechanism urging one of the side walls outwardly may be the same or may differ from the mechanism urging the other side wall outwardly.

[0081] The internal horn wall 155 and the two side extensions 210R and 210L form, at least in part, an internal portion 21 of the shoe donning aid. This internal part 21 is dimensioned to be received within the shoe opening 105 by compressing the side extensions 210R and 210L towards each other, and inserting the internal part 21 into the shoe opening, while maintaining at least the horn external wall 160 outside the shoe opening. Such insertion begins the operational activity of the shoe donning device. In some embodiments the internal part 21 is elastically received in the shoe opening.

[0082] Each of the side extensions 210R and 210L has at least one side contact point 215R and 215L respectively. As at least one of the side extensions is resiliently movable laterally, releasing the compression force on the side extensions causes the side extensions to be pushed against the respective side walls so that when the internal portion 21 is inserted into the shoe opening and the insertion inwardly compressive force are released, each of the side extensions 210R and 210L will impart an outwardly directed lateral force onto the respective side wall 115R and 115L of the shoe. Optionally, the shoe itself can act as the compression force and the side extensions can be relatively stiff. Those lateral forces are termed RLF and LLF respectively in this specification, and operate in opposite directions, generally orthogonal to the sagittal plane UFD. The lateral forces LLF and RLF are directed to urge the respective side wall away from the sagittal plane, or stated differently, to push the respective shoe side wall outwardly. The forces LLF and RLF also form a frictional interface between the respective side contact point 215L and 215R and the internal portion of the respective shoe wall 115L and 115R respectively.

[0083] Notably side extensions may also be utilized in other embodiment types, with or without being resilient or biased outwardly.

[0084] The combination of the respective anterior ANT force and lateral RLF and LLF are sufficient to support the weight of the shoe 100, due to the frictional interface they form with the respective shoe parts. FIG. 24 is a simplified force diagram showing primarily the direction of the forces ANT, RLF and LLF as applied to the shoe, however, the magnitude of the various forces, or even the magnitude of scale therebetween, may or may not be reflected by the depiction of FIG. 24.

[0085] FIG. 3 depicts a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 2. The lanyard anchor point 99 is formed by a protrusion, which may or may not be integral to the shoe horn section 150. One end of lanyard 98 may, by way of example, be passed through a hole formed in the external horn wall 160, and tied, crimped, glued or otherwise secured to prevent it from escaping the hole. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 by way of example, the protrusion 99 also acts as the horn contact point 200.

[0086] FIG. 4 depicts an oblique rearwardly view of an optional embodiment of the external part 22 of a shoe donning aid. Notable are the hole that may serve as the lanyard anchor point 99, with or without the protrusion shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0087] FIG. 4 also depicts two optional features of the shoe donning aid, namely the support leg 40 and the prehensile grip 220. One or more optional support legs, such as the rear support leg 40, and/or the side support legs 40 may be provided. The support leg or legs, if equipped, protect the top portion of the shoe counter 10 and optionally shoe side walls 115R and 115L from downward forces which may be imparted thereto by the shoe donning device during foot insertion. The optional rear support leg 40 forms part of the rear region of the shoe donning aid and extends downwardly below the horn contact point 200 sufficiently to operationally touch the floor while the shoe and the shoe donning aid are laid thereupon in an upward orientation which allows easy insertion of the user's foot. During foot insertion, rear support leg 40 sometimes will transfer all or most of the downward forces imparted to the shoe donning aid to the floor. As the downward forces are transmitted to the floor, the shoe counter top is protected. Similarly, if side support legs 40 are implemented, such side support legs shall transfer insertion forces to the floor, protecting the shoe side walls. Notable, rear and or side support legs 40, 40 may be utilized in other embodiment types.

[0088] A second optional feature depicted in FIG. 4 is a prehensile grip 220 of the side extensions. The prehensile grip provides a convenient grip for applying a compressive force to the side extensions during the insertion of the internal portion 21 of the shoe donning aid into the shoe opening. Thus, the user may grab the shoe donning aid between two fingers, using the respective prehensile grip 220, and applies the compressive force by squeezing the side walls while inserting the internal portion into the shoe opening. Notably, prehensile grips 220 may be utilized in other embodiment types.

[0089] FIG. 5 depicts a top view of an embodiment of the resilient type shoe donning aid. In the depicted embodiment the top portion 20 extends over the shoe horn section 150 and the two side extensions, 210L and 210R. However in some embodiments, such as the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 18 and 19 by way of example, the top portion 20 may be smaller, sufficient to cover only the shoe horn section, or otherwise couple the internal 21 and external 22 parts of the shoe donning aid 1.

[0090] FIG. 6 depicts a view of a resilient type shoe donning aid embodiment, emphasizing the internal portion 21. This view clearly depicts an optional feature of an upwardly extending slot 50 disposed in the lower region of the internal horn wall 155.

[0091] FIG. 7 depicts an additional optional feature of grip enhancer 250. The grip enhancer is disposed on the side extensions. The grip enhancer may be disposed at the forward edge of the side extensions, and doing so provides higher leverage. In one embodiment, the grip enhancer may be embodied by, or may embody, at least one friction element coupled to the external side of the respective side extension. In an optional embodiment, the grip enhancer comprises a stepped edge which may or may not be positioned at the forward edge of the respective side wall. The grip enhancer is disposed such that operationally when the internal portion 21 of the shoe donning aid is disposed within the shoe opening and the side extensions push against the shoe side walls, the grip enhancer or a portion thereof contacts, and imparts at least a part of the lateral force LLF or RLF to the respective side wall. It is noted that grip enhancers of various types may be mixed in any desired combination. It is also noted that alternative or additional contact points may be utilized, and that the lateral forces may be imparted on the respective side wall by more than one contact point.

[0092] FIGS. 8 and 9 depict views of additional optional embodiments of the resilient type shoe donning aid, demonstrating yet another of the numerous geometries which may be utilized to implement the shoe donning aid, following the disclosure provided herein. The number of modifications and variations with which the shoe donning aid of the present disclosure, including combinations and placement of various components is vast and the disclosure and the claims aim to cover all such variations.

[0093] In order to use the resilient type shoe donning aid, a user compresses the side extensions 210L and 210R towards each other, optionally using the prehensile grips 220, if the aid is so equipped, and inserts the internal portion 21 into the shoe opening, while maintaining at least the external horn wall 160 outside the shoe as depicted in FIG. 1 by way of example. In this disposition, the shoe counter 10 is received between the internal 155 and external 160 horn walls, as shown for example in FIG. 1A. Once the user releases the compressive force on the side extensions, the respective side extension contact points 215L and 215R impart opposing, outwardly directed, respective lateral forces LLF and RLF to the respective shoe side wall 115L and 115R, and the horn contact point 200 imparts a forwardly directed anterior force ANT to the outside wall of the shoe counter. In certain embodiments an additional step of applying the anterior force ANT is required, such as by operating a latch or releasing a spring or a clip.

[0094] A simplified schematic diagram of the forces acting on the shoe is provided in FIG. 24. Under the combined forces ANT, RLF and LLF, the frictional interface created by the contact areas between the respective contact points with the respective shoe part, is sufficient, at least, to support the weight of the shoe.

[0095] FIG. 10 depicts schematically the shoe 100 being operationally lowered to the ground utilizing lanyard 98, the forces ANT, RLF and LLF imparted to the shoe by the shoe donning aid being sufficient to prevent it from dislodging from the shoe donning aid and falling.

[0096] FIG. 11 depicts schematically the shoe, with the shoe donning aid still operationally disposed therein, lying on the floor, ready for a foot to be inserted.

[0097] FIG. 12 depicts schematically a foot being inserted into the shoe, utilizing a shoe donning device. It is noted that the shoe donning device not only allows controlled lowering and placement of the shoe on the ground, but also positions the shoe horn portion to facilitate easy insertion of the foot into the shoe.

[0098] An advantage of many embodiments and embodiment types provided by the disclosed shoe donning aids is that the latching mechanism is lower than the top of the shoe horn so that there is no obstacle to foot insertion. In embodiments utilizing resilient side extensions, the shoe side walls are urged by the lateral forces RLF and LLF to provide wider shoe opening which further eases the foot insertion.

[0099] FIG. 13 depicts simplified extraction of the shoe donning aid from the shoe, after the foot was inserted, by imparting a tensile force to the lanyard 98.

[0100] In resilient type embodiments the lanyard anchor point is disposed such that a tensile force to the lanyard reduces at least one of the forces ANT, RLF, and LLF acting on the respective portion of the shoe. By way of example, in the embodiment in FIG. 2, when the lanyard 98 is pulled it imparts a tensile force to the lanyard anchor point 99, which in turn bends the resilient rear external horn wall 160, reducing the ANT force. In latching type embodiments, such as the one depicted by way of example in FIG. 14, when the lanyard is pulled it imparts a force that acts against the spring 81. In other latch types embodiments, such as depicted by way of example in FIGS. 25-27, the lanyard may impart its tensile force indirectly against the force ANT, and in FIG. 15 pulling the lanyard causes a lock release handle 83 to release the lock, allowing horn contact point 200 to withdraw and reduce the forwardly directed anterior force ANT.

[0101] Unless otherwise stated, the following paragraphs relate primarily to Latch type embodiments.

[0102] FIG. 14 depicts schematically an embodiment of the latch type shoe donning aid having a spring based latching mechanism, where a spring 81 provides the forwardly directed anterior force ANT to horn contact point 200. If resilient side extensions are provided, the forwardly directed force ANT, In combination with the forces RLF and LLF, the force combination provides sufficient force to overcome the weight of the shoe from falling while being such spring force is reduced when the lanyard 98 is pulled to release the donning aid from the shoe. Oftentimes, in latch type embodiments the ANT force imparted by the spring against the shoe counter pinches the shoe counter against an internal portion of the shoe horn and the pinch force is sufficient to support the weight of the shoe, making the forces LLF and RLF superfluous.

[0103] FIG. 25 depicts a cross-section side view of an optional embodiment of a spring latching mechanism 88 utilizing an indirect application of the spring force. FIG. 25 depicts the region of the shoe horn 150, while the shoe donning aid is being inserted into the shoe.

[0104] The latching mechanism comprises a latch rocker 313 having a top portion 314 and a bottom portion 315, the rocker bottom portion having a horn contact point 200 and the top portion having an optional grip zone 302. The latching mechanism is coupled to the external horn wall 160 in a manner which allows the rocker to rotate about a hinge point, generally along the longitudinal axis, where the hinge point approximates the division between the top and bottom portions 314, 315. In the depicted embodiment the spring 81 is a coil spring which serves as the hinge point. The bottom portion 315 is biased in an anterior direction by spring 81 to apply the forwardly directed force ANT by horn contact point 200. The top portion 314 may be longer or shorter than the bottom portion 315 to adjust the force required from the hand and the grip force required for suspension of the shoe, and the relative length of the top and bottom portions is a matter of design choice.

[0105] FIG. 25 also depicts an optional manner of insertion of the shoe donning device into a shoe. To affected insertion, a user hand 334 squeezes the grip zone 302 forward towards the rear portion of the external horn wall 160, so as to overcome the bias force of spring 81. As a result, the bottom portion 315 of the rocker moves backwards to afford passage of the shoe counter 10 between the interior horn wall and the horn contact point 200. Once the user releases the grip zone, the spring urges the rocker 313 to rotate and the horn contact point 200 to exert a force ANT to the shoe, to press the shoe counter against the inner horn wall, thus pinching the shoe between the inner horn wall and the posterior contact point.

[0106] In the embodiment of FIGS. 25-25C, the lanyard 98 originates in the top portion of the rocker 313, and feeds through a pair of lanyard passages in the area marked as 321. The passages function to redirect the pulling force of lanyard 98 so that an upward pull force is directed sideways to the top portion 314 of the latch rocker 313, so as to actuate the release of the bottom portion of the rocker and thus reduce or remove the force ANT exerted on the shoe, easing release of the shoe donning aid. It is beneficial, but not necessary, to have the lanyard exit point be disposed below the top of the shoe horn and/or directed rearwardly. It is further noted that in the depicted embodiment, the rocker arm as a whole lies below the top portion 20 of the shoe horn, so as to reduce possible interference between the user foot and the latching mechanism.

[0107] FIG. 25A shows the embodiment of FIG. 25 with the rocker latch urged to the latched state by a spring 81. FIG. 25A also shows the foot 333 inserted into the shoe. After the foot insertion is achieved, the shoe donning device finished its main task and is ready to be withdrawn.

[0108] FIG. 25B depicts the embodiment of FIG. 25 with the foot inserted and the lanyard 98 being pulled to transition the rocker 313 to the released state. The passages in area 321 change the direction of the substantially vertical pull force exerted on the string 98 to a substantially forward force which acts to urge the top portion 314 of the latch rocker towards the external horn wall 160 at contact area 321. The forward force applied by the lanyard to the top portion acts against the force of the spring 81 so that the latch transitions to a released state. Further pull force on the string extracts the shoe donning aid out of the shoe. Notably, if the top portion 314 of the rocker 313 comes into contact with the external shoe wall 160 or the top portion 20 at area 321 a stop is formed which limits the motion of the rocker and further pull forces on the lanyard are transferred and assist in extraction of the shoe donning aid.

[0109] FIG. 25C depicts a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 25. The top section of the horn 20 is higher than the latching rocker 313. A pair of holes 306 and 306 in the exterior horn wall 160 act as the passages for the lanyard 98 and cooperate to redirect the upward force to a forward force operating on the top portion 314 to actuate the rocker 313.

[0110] FIG. 26 depicts an embodiment of the latch mechanism with an alternative lanyard pathway. In this embodiment, the pathway originates at anchor lanyard point 99 at the top portion 314 of the latch rocker, and passes through a hole 307 in the exterior horn wall 160. Hole 307 redirects the force downwards. The lanyard 98 is then routed through a hole or slotted edge of the exterior horn wall at a region 308 so that it passes through a hole 309 in the latch rocker. The rocker is depicted in the released state, which is affected by the pull on the lanyard. The lanyard pull ultimately pulls the top portion of the rocker towards the external horn wall 160. When the top portion of the rocker contacts the area 321, forces no longer are applied to the spring latch and the stop now is primarily affecting the horn for extraction.

[0111] FIG. 26A depicts a rear view of the latch mechanism described in FIG. 26. It is preferable to keep the top section of the donning device 20 higher than the latching mechanism 88. This is advantageous so that the foot does not get caught up in the latching mechanism during foot insertion. The lower placement of the latching mechanism helps keep the latching mechanism from becoming an obstacle. The portion of flexible lanyard near the latch rocker falls away to the ground during foot insertion, so that it also does not become an obstacle.

[0112] FIG. 27 depicts an alternative embodiment with the pathway of the lanyard. In this embodiment the lanyard is anchored to the bottom portion 315 of the latch rocker 313, and extends through a guide hole or a notch 305 supported by a cantilevered bracket 351 which redirects the lanyard pull force upwards. Additionally, the hole or notch 305 may act to limit the extend of pull on the lanyard, as the lanyard stopper 304 can't fit there through.

[0113] FIG. 27A depicts the embodiment of FIG. 27 when an upward force is applied to the lanyard 98. The rocker arm is shown in fully open position and the lanyard stopper 304 is limited by the stopper hole or notch 305. Lanyard stopper 304 may be implemented in any convenient manner, such as a knot, a crimp, and the like. Once the stopper 304 reached the hole or notch 305 in the bracket 351, additional pull forces on the string will act on the cantilevered bracket 351 which is affixed to the external horn wall 160. Operationally such additional force does not compromise the integrity of the spring latch and is instead acting to extract the shoe donning aid from the shoe.

[0114] FIG. 27B is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 27 and shows that the latching mechanism is in a preferred position lower than the top of the shoe horn.

[0115] Unless otherwise stated, the following paragraphs relate primarily to Lock type embodiments.

[0116] FIG. 15 depicts schematically an embodiment of a lock type shoe donning aid in which the latching mechanism utilizes a cam based lock mechanism 82 to provide the anterior force ANT to the horn contact point 200, implemented as contact pad 80. A lock type embodiment of the shoe donning device differs from both the resilient and latch type devices as the lock and maintains the horn contact point 200 in contact with the outer face of the shoe counter 165, and only when the lock 82 transitions from the locked state to an unlocked state, the horn contact point is allowed to retract from the shoe counter. The horn contact point may simply be released or be actively urged rearwardly from the shoe counter by the like of a spring or a lock portion which urges the horn contact point backwards.

[0117] The lock type latching mechanism depicted in the example of FIG. 15 is coupled to the external horn wall 160 or to any other convenient portion of the shoe donning aid 1. The latching mechanism comprises a flexible spring element 81A that urges the horn contact point 200 rearwardlyin a posterior direction. A lock mechanism 82 is embodied in the depicted embodiment by a cam 85 is hinged at hinge point 84 and is rotatable by lever 83 which is coupled thereto. FIG. 15A depicts the latching mechanism in a locked state, where lever 83 is positioned such that the cam 85 is operational to urge the spring element 81A forwardly, in an anterior direction, to urge horn contact point 200 forwardly, such that it applies the anterior forwardly directed force ANT to the shoe counter 10. FIG. 15B depicts the latching mechanism in an unlocked state, where lever 83 is positioned such that the cam 85 is rotated to allow the spring element 81A, and by extension contact point 200, to move rearwardly, reducing or releasing the anterior force ANT, easing the release of and removal of the shoe donning aid. It is noted that the distance marked X in FIG. 15A is noticeably smaller that the distance marked Y in FIG. 15B, however the distances depicted are for ease of understanding and are not necessarily proportional to the actual difference between the locked and unlocked state.

[0118] It is further noted that the cam based lock mechanism is but one exemplary embodiment of a lock mechanism capable of urging the horn contact point 200 to apply the forwardly directed force ANT in the locked state and allow the horn contact point to retract or at least reduce the force when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state. The skilled in eh art would readily recognize that a pin, an over-center arm, and even a stronger spring than the spring element 81A may be used to embody the lock mechanism, and such lock mechanisms are explicitly considered.

[0119] FIG. 16 depicts a cross section of an exemplary embodiment of the horn contact point 200 with the lanyard 98 secured with a knot 112 within the horn contact point which is connected to external shoe horn wall 160.

[0120] The following paragraph are not specific to a single latch type and may be applicable to various embodiments and aspects of the invention

[0121] FIG. 17 depicts a bottom view of an embodiment of a shoe donning aid with a plurality of horn contact points 200 and 200. While each of the plurality of contact points may apply a force which is not necessarily aligned with the longitudinal axis, the sum of the combined forces of all the plurality of contact points generally points forwardly to provide the anterior force ANT. More than two contact points may be utilized.

[0122] FIG. 18 depicts an embodiment of a shoe donning aid where the shoe horn section 150 is coupled to the two side extensions 210L and/or 210R without a continuation of the top portion 20 and without a continuation of the internal portion 21. The side extensions may be applicable to all embodiments and aspects of the invention.

[0123] FIG. 19depicts an embodiment of a shoe donning aid where the shoe horn section 150 is coupled to the two side extensions 210L and/or 210R without a continuation of the top portion 20 and with a continuation of the internal portion 21.

[0124] FIG. 20 depicts an embodiment of a shoe donning device where the shoe horn section 150 is coupled to the two side extensions 210L and/or 210R with a continuation of the top portion 20 and without a continuation of the internal portion 21.

[0125] FIG. 21 depicts schematically a portion of the sagittal plane defined by the longitudinal and vertical axes RE-F and U-D respectively.

[0126] FIG. 22 depicts schematically a portion of the transverse plane defined by the lateral and longitudinal axes, RE-F and R-L respectively.

[0127] FIG. 23 depicts schematically a portion of the coronal plane defined by the lateral and vertical axes, R-L and U-D respectively. The planes and axes are conceptual and are provided merely to assist in understanding the disposition of portions of the invention and items in the surrounding environment, and should not be construed as limiting.

[0128] FIG. 24 depicts the general direction of the three primary forces which are exerted on the shoe by various portions of a shoe donning aid. It is noted that the depicted forces are approximate, and that the arrows do not represent magnitude. Furthermore, the forces LLF and RLF may operate in opposite directions along a single axis.

[0129] Directional references such as up, down, front, rear, and the like, as well as their variations relate to the shoe donning aid being operationally disposed or being inserted or extracted to or from a shoe, which is disposed in common standing orientation. Directional references should not be construed as being substantially related to exact direction, and certain variations of the direction that fall within tolerance that allows the shoe donning aid to function substantially as described herein should be construed as being within acceptable tolerance. The skilled in physics would readily recognize that forces may be combined to equivalent forces, and such combination of forces should be considered as the equivalent force, even if the force which is described as being imparted by a single contact point is being imparted by a plurality of contact points, the combined forces thereof being of similar direction of the force that would be imparted by a single contact point.

[0130] When relating to the location where the horn contact point the term outside wall of the shoe counter should be construed to extend downwardly to, and including, the heel portion of the shoe sole. The horn contact point or points may apply the anterior force ANT at any portion of the outside wall of the shoe counter.

[0131] The term point and contact point should be construed as referring to an area and not to a theoretical, dimensionless point. The terms floor and/or ground should be construed as relating to any desired surface supporting the shoe and accepting the foot insertion.

[0132] It is appreciated that certain features of the disclosure, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the disclosure, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the disclosure. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.

[0133] Unless otherwise stated, the use of the expression and/or between the last two members of a list of options for selection indicates that a selection of one or more of the listed options is appropriate and is explicitly considered.

[0134] The word exemplary is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance or illustration. Any embodiment described as exemplary is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments and/or to exclude the incorporation of features from other embodiments.

[0135] In the disclosure, unless otherwise stated, adjectives such as substantially, approximately and about that modify a condition or relationship characteristic of a feature or features of an embodiment of the present technology, are to be understood to mean that the condition or characteristic is defined to within tolerances that are acceptable for operation of the embodiment for an application for which it is intended, or within variations expected from the measurement being performed and/or from the measuring instrument being used. When the terms about and approximately precede a numerical value, it is intended to indicate +/?15%, or +/?10%, or even only +/?5%, and in some instances the precise value. Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the terms (e.g., numbers) used in this disclosure, even without such adjectives, should be construed as having tolerances which may depart from the precise meaning of the relevant term but would enable the invention or the relevant portion thereof to operate and function as described, and as understood by a person skilled in the art.

[0136] In the description and claims of the present disclosure, each of the verbs comprise, include and have, and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of features, members, steps, components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.

[0137] As used herein, the singular form a, an and the include plural references and mean at least one or one or more unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. At least one of A and B is intended to mean either A or B, and may mean, in some embodiments, A and B.

[0138] Positional or motional terms such as upper, lower, right, left, bottom, below, lowered, low, top, above, elevated, high, vertical, horizontal, backward, forward, upstream and downstream, as well as grammatical variations thereof, may be used herein for exemplary purposes only, to illustrate the relative positioning, placement or displacement of certain components, to indicate a first and a second component in present illustrations or to do both. Such terms do not necessarily indicate that, for example, a bottom component is below a top component, as such directions, components or both may be flipped, rotated, moved in space, placed in a diagonal orientation or position, placed horizontally or vertically, or similarly modified.

[0139] Unless otherwise stated, when the outer bounds of a range with respect to a feature of an embodiment of the present technology are noted in the disclosure, it should be understood that in the embodiment, the possible values of the feature may include the noted outer bounds as well as values in between the noted outer bounds.

[0140] To the extent necessary to understand or complete the disclosure of the present disclosure, all publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned herein, including in particular any applications and/or publications of the Applicant, are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein, to the extent they do not contrast or contradict the present disclosure.

[0141] It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to what has been described hereinabove merely by way of example. While there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other embodiments, changes, and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention and that it is, therefore, aimed to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention, for which letters patent is applied.