Abstract
The invention provides an improved boot support and shaping insert system to keep boots attached together in an upright position when not being worn. The system includes an elongated curved shaper mirroring the natural tapered silhouette of the lower leg. The system self-adjusts to adopt the shape and fill the cavity of the boot without applying pressure that causes the boot to stretch. The system's snug fit supports the weight of the boot when inserted and allows a convenient means to carry and transport the boots. It also contains a weighted element with odor neutralizing and moisture absorbing properties that keep boots dry and fresh. A portion of the system protrudes when inserted in a boot; this section includes a handle, visibility identifiers and a self adhering mechanism. The adhering mechanism allows a pair of shapers to adhere to each other as a system or remain detached.
Claims
1. A boot shaper comprising: a tapered elongated continuous solid body device that mimics the natural curve of the lower leg; an elliptical shaped top end and bottom end; a semi rigid front section with a core extending along a portion of the length of the device imitates the structural characteristics of the bony shin part of the lower leg; a malleable, soft and compressible curved rear section simulates the characteristics of the calf part of the lower leg, such that the device can conform to the shape of the entire cavity of the legged boot, ensuring a continuous contact with the inside wall of the legged portion of the boot when inserted in a boot; soft and compressible side walls, such that the device can conform to the shape of the entire cavity of the legged boot, ensuring a continuous contact with the inside wall of the legged portion of the boot when inserted in a boot; a portion of the upper half of the device protrudes from the opening of the boot when inserted in a boot; a side wall comprises a means to adhere to the side wall of a second boot shaper, binding two devices in a parallel fashion; and a beveled base contains a cavity to insert a weighted, moisture and odor absorbing capsule.
2. The boot shaper of claim 1, wherein the semi rigid front section is enwrapped in a soft and compressible material.
3. The boot shaper of claim 1, wherein a least a portion of the rear surface contains a foldable section that can be released to expand the whole circumference of the device, ensuring a continuous contact with the inside wall of the legged portion of the boot when inserted.
4. The boot shaper of claim 1, wherein the boot shaper is enveloped in a smooth shell made of a fabric material.
5. The boot shaper of claim 1, wherein both side walls of the device are connected by a handle, allowing easy insertion and transport of the device, even when adhered to a second device.
6. The boot shaper of claim 1, wherein the interface between the means to adhere to the side wall of the device is reinforced with a reinforcing material.
7. The boot shaper of claim 6, wherein the reinforced material securing the means to adhere to the side wall of the device extends to the top of the device and makes up the handle.
8. The boot shaper of claim 1, wherein the beveled base is oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the top end of the device.
9. The boot shaper of claim 1, wherein at least one of the side walls further comprises visual identifier elements.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0020] An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a side view of the outer side of a single boot shaper device inserted in a legged boot according to at least one embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a transparency side perspective view of the outer side of the boot shaper device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 3a, FIG. 3b and FIG. 3c are front aerial perspective views of two boot shapers devices according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. The boot shapers are inserted in legged boots while attached by example adhering and self adhering means. FIG. 3b and FIG. 3c are truncated at mid-calf length;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of the semi rigid core component of the boot shaper device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a top view of the boot shaper device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective inner side view of a boot shaper device inserted in a legged boot according to at least one embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional side view of a boot shaper device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention; and,
[0028] FIG. 8a and FIG. 8b are rear views of the boot shaper device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] Various aspects of the invention are presented in FIG. 1 though FIG. 8b which are not drawn to scale and in which like components are numbered alike. Some drawings show the device inserted in boots. The boots are for illustrative purposes only.
[0030] FIG. 1 depicts the improved boot shaper device 1 inserted in a legged boot. In a preferred embodiment, its elongated curved shape mimics the natural tapered silhouette of a lower leg, the front shin area 2, the rear calf area 3 and tapered ankle area 4. The insert compresses and molds itself to adopt the shape of the boot. Conforming and lining the inner curves of the boot allows maximum support and stability in the ankle portion. It also allows the boot shaper device to fully bear the weight of the legged portion of the boot. The shaper is inserted all the way inside the boot cavity with its bevelled heel 5 resting at the base of the boot's heel. The bottom base holds a weighted element 6, which adds stability when inserted in the boot. The weighted element also contains moisture and odor absorbing properties that keep the inside of the boot dry and fresh. The outer shell 7 composed of a soft material, for example fabric, flexible plastic, polyurethane, covers the entity of the boot shaper device, confining all the components within and securing them in place. The outer shell helps reduces friction and facilitates ease of insertion and removal of the device. The visibility identifiers and safety enhancing elements 8 are attached to the shell on the upper outside wall portion of the boot shaper device. Their eye catching features help reduce the risk of tripping on boots left in high traffic areas or low lighting environments. The shell and the visibility identifiers and safety enhancing elements are also a means of rapid identification. Inserted in boots, boot shaper devices stand out and allow the user to immediately spot and recognize a pair of boots among many other boots. The handle/strap 9 located on top of the boot shaper facilitates the manipulation of the device during insertion and removal and facilitates carrying the boots during transportation. In a preferred embodiment, when inserted in legged boots, the boot shaper device protrudes exposing the upper part of the outer shell, the visibility identifiers and safety enhancing elements, the handle and the adhering or self adhering mechanism means.
[0031] The transparency perspective view in FIG. 2 illustrates the different structures of the boot shaper. The semi rigid core component 10, can be made of polyurethane, polystyrene, resin, wood, metal or some other resilient material. This core acts like a spine for the device. It provides support to the device by allowing it to be manipulated, inserted and removed from boots without bending or breaking. A soft compressible component 11, contours and enwraps the semi rigid core in a lower leg shape. This section of the boot shaper is designed to deform and self adjust to adapt its shape by compressing itself to conform to the figure the legged boot when inserted without applying pressure that would otherwise cause stretching of the upper part of the boot material. For example, the soft component could be stuffing, memory retention/flexible polyurethane or fabric. The semi rigid and soft components are confined and secured in place inside an outer shell 7. The handle 9, bridges both sides of the device and continues down the sides of the device where it becomes an interface supporting and reinforce material 12 to the outer shell component where the adherence mechanism 13, and the visual identifier and safety enhancing elements 8 are attached. A cavity located at the bottom of the device 14, provides space for a weighted odor neutralizing and moisture-humidity absorbing capsule element 15. Unlike previous reversed “U” boot shapers, mechanical expansion devices and bow spring type shapers, the present improvement of the said shaper occupies the entire leg cavity of the boot once inserted, lining the inner wall of the legged boot, offering maximum support while in contact with the ankle, calf and shin portion of the boot, without applying pressure that would otherwise cause stretching of the upper part of the boot. The present device also keeps individual boots in an upright configuration.
[0032] Alternative boot holder adhering or self adhering mechanisms are illustrated in FIG. 3a through FIG. 3c. The adhering or self adhering mechanism is an improvement to other boot shapers wherein the shaper provides each boot with support to stand upright but adds extra stability to the upright configuration when both boot shaping devices are adhered to one another. The user will appreciate the shapers ability to support the individual boot during cleaning, drying, polishing and maintenance and then choose to attach the pair of shapers together to securely store or display paired boots in a stable upright position. Attaching both members of the boot shaper device also facilitates storage when not inserted in boots as they can be suspended or stowed away together without losing a member. Means of adhering or self adhering mechanism permit individual boot shaper device members to be held together in a longitudinal parallel fashion. The attached parallel configuration maximizes the boot shapers ability to support, keep as a pair and transport boots. Adhering or self adhering mechanism can be, for example, one or a combination of methods attached to the inside or outside shell element of the boot shaper, but not limited to: tabs or flaps attached to the inserts, magnets 13a, a button and buttonhole 13b, hook-and-loop fastener (Velcro), a clasp, a strip or a band of ribbon 13c.
[0033] The boot shaper's semi rigid core component is isolated in FIG. 4 to best illustrate the particularities of its slim rounded tapered shape.
[0034] FIG. 5 provides a transparent top view of the device and depicts the frontal position of the semi rigid core 10, the encompassing soft and compressible material 11, the centered position of the handle 9 and centered bottom cavity 14 and weighted odor neutralizing and moisture-humidity absorbing capsule element 15. The adhering of self adhering means 13 is secured to the upper inner side of the boot shaper and the visibility identifiers and safety enhancing elements 8 is attached on the upper outside portion of the device. The visibility identifiers and safety enhancing elements help reduce the risk of tripping on boots left in high traffic areas and/or low lighting environments by attracting the eye to the potential obstacle and helps identify the position of the boots in the environment. Visibility identifiers and safety enhancing means may have one or a combination of but not limited to: phosphorescence, fluorescents, reflective properties, bright colours etc. The visibility identifiers and safely enhancing elements contribute to the uniqueness of the boot shaper inserts, allowing faster recognition of a pair of boots among many other pairs of boots.
[0035] The continuation of the handle 12 along the sides of the device reinforce the outer shell 7 at its stress points as shown in FIG. 6. The reinforcement material can be placed on the outside of the outer shell or hidden on the outer shells inside wall. Other reinforcement material, such as patches, may also be attached to the shell or to the interior of the boot shaper shell to add resistance to the attached adhering or self adhering mechanism 13. As the boot shaper device work as a system to keep boots in an upright configuration, stress may be applied to the point of attachment of the adhering or self adhering means. Adding a reinforcing membrane or material to the shell allows for a more secure connection when both members of the boot shaper device are engaged together.
[0036] FIG. 7 provides a cross-sectional view of the shaper showing the semi rigid core 10 enveloped inside the soft compressible material 11 and the cavity 14 centered at the bottom of the device with the weighted odor neutralizing and moisture-humidity absorbing and element 15. The weighted element adds stability to the shaper further aiding the device to hold upright the legged boots. Its odor neutralizing and moisture-humidity absorbing properties keep the boot dry and fresh.
[0037] The rear curved portion of the boot shaper can be fitted with a self adjusting foldable section to accommodate wider legged boots and men's boots. This foldable expansion section is shown in FIG. 8a and FIG. 8b. The expansion panels are composed of excess outer shell material 7. When folded inwards, the expansion panels 16a are held in place by an adhering mechanism 17. If the boot shaper is too narrow to fill the legged boot cavity and line the inner walls of a wider legged boot, the expansion panels may be released 16b. As they unfold, pressure on the soft compressible material is lessened allowing the device to expand its circumference. The wider boot shaper can now conform and adapt its shape to fill the legged boot cavity by compressing itself to fill the boots cavity, without applying pressure that would otherwise cause stretching of the upper part of the boot. To return the boot shaper to its original slimmer circumference, one simply needs to compress the soft compressible material and re-attach the adhering mechanisms which are secured onto the outer shell.
[0038] The presently disclosed embodiments are considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
[0039] The above described embodiments are by way of example only; various other constructions are possible within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
