US3734364A - Bootjack - Google Patents

Abstract

A simultaneously collapsible and extensible bootjack comprises in combination a heel accommodating plate and a stabilizing plate, the two being in slidable relationship, and an understructure for supporting said plates in an operative inclined position, such understructure lying in flat collapsed relationship against the plates when these are in optimum overlapping relationship, the understructure being hingedly connected to the said plates.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Mayer 51 May 22, 1973 BOOTJACK [76] Inventor: Nicholas Mayer, 86 Grenfell Street.

Oshawa, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: May 19, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 255,008

[52] US. Cl ..223/l16, 248/439 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47j 51/02 [58] Field of Search 223/1 13-120;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 785,045 3/1905 McDonald .Q ..223/1 15 1,636,010 7/1927 Moland 2,603,393 7/1952 Oblusteel 3,027,664 4/1962 Dailey ..38/l39 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 9,684 5/l908 Great Britain ..223/1 15 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-William L. Falk Attorney-C. C. Kent [5 7] ABSTRACT A simultaneously collapsible and extensible bootjack comprises in combination a heel accommodating plate and a stabilizing plate, the two being in slidable relationship, and an understructure for supporting said plates in an operative inclined position, such understructure lying in flat collapsed relationship against the plates when these are in optimum overlapping relationship, the understructure being hingedly connected to the said plates,

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented May 22, 1973 3,734,364

2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented May 22, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet P.

BOOTJACK The present invention relates to a simultaneously collapsible and extensible bootjack consisting essentially of two longitudinally and telescopically interfacially slidable plates, one of which accommodates the heel of the footwear of the user to facilitate the removal of same, the other plate constituting a stabilizer plate, the two plates go in operable position being at a co-planar angle to horizontal and so supported by understructure which is hingedly connected to the underside of all said plates such that when the latter are in optimum overlapping or closed relationship, the understructure will be flat lying against one side of the plates and thus occupy very small compass for storage, shipping and the like.

The known prior art comprises the US. Pat. Nos. 744,260 of 1903 to Thompson, 960,042 of 1910 to Seckendorff, 1,849,282 of 1932 to Churchill, 1,274,500 of 1918 to Bell, 1,893,280 of 1933 to Gerfen, and 2,603,393 of 1952 to Oblusteel.

All of these are foldable bootjacks of various kinds but none of them combine foldability or collapsability of an understructure with effective shortening of a pair of sole plates (herein called the steel plate and the stabilizer plate), and particularly wherein the shortening of such two plates automatically and in itself involves the collapsing of the understructure in the same action.

Advantages of the present invention reside in the simplicity and speed with which the bootjack can be changed from inoperable folded condition into extended and inclined position. Particularly for those who must have recourse to frequent putting on and taking off of overshoes and the like a bootjack having the present advantages commends itself as well as for those who cannot easily stoop down or stand on one leg when removing such as overshoes. In virtue of the compactness of the present form of the invention the same can readily be slipped into the overcoat pocket or briefcase so reducing the possibility of a time wasting operation, embarrassment and possible accidents.

With the considerations and inventive objects herein set forth in view, and such others as may become apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists of and is hereby claimed to reside in the inventive concept which is comprised, embodies, embraced, or included in any method, process, construction, composition, arrangement or combination or parts, or new use of any of the foregoing which may herein be exemplified in one or more specific embodiments of such concept, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of the invented bootjack in situ.

FIG. 2 is a perspective representation of the bootjack in folded or collapsed condition viewed from the upperside.

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 33 FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an underside planned view of the invented bootjack. 1

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the invented bootjack.

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross section 6-6 of FIG. 5.

In the drawings, like characters of reference designate similar parts in the several Figures.

CLAIM-CONSTANT PRELIMINARY DESCRIPTION Initially describing the subject-matter hereof in terms generally consonant with those by which the same is defined and claimed as an invention, the present bootjack comprises an upper or sole-supporting structure collectively designated 10, and an understructure collectively designated 12. The upper structure consists of a heel accommodating plate 14 and a stabilizing plate 16. These plates are interfacially and longitudinally slidable between extended operative position and an overlapping collapsed position, the understructure being hingedly connected to the plate aforesaid it opposite ends thereof.

The understructure 12 comprises essentially a rotatably elevating heel-plate supporting element 18 which is hingedly connected at one end 20 thereof to the stabilizing plate 16, and a stabilizing plate connecting element 22 hingedly connected at one end 24 thereof to said heel accommodating plate 14, the two elements being also hingedly connected together at the remaining ends at 26.

The plate 14 and 16 are in telescopic interfacial sliding relationship, longitudinal lateral flanges 28 being provided on heel plate 14 to accommodate the corre sponding edges 30 of stabilizer plate 16 which corresponding edges are also in the form of flanges (FIG. 6).

Elements 18 and 22 are substantially in the form of plates, the end 24 of element 22 being hingedly connected to the end 32 of heel accommodating plate 14 which is remote from that against which the heel of a piece of footwear is received to remove the same. This is the heel cavity generally designated 34. The end 20 indicates that heel-plate elevating and supporting element 18 is hingedly connected to that end of stabilizing plate 16 which is nearest to the footwear receiving end of plate 14 (i.e. the cavity 34).

MAIN DESCRIPTION The two plates 14 and 16 slide telescopically, the latter within the former between the fully extended position of FIG. 5 and the fully collapsed or shortened position of FIGS. 2, 3 or 4. Since the understructure elements or plates 18 and 22 are hingedly connected together at 26 and since the upper end of 18 is connected to the heel cavity end of stabilizing plate 16 and element 22 is hingedly connected at 24 to the end 32 of heel-plate 14 which is remote from the said heel cavity, it follows that when the two plates, as best shown for the present purpose in FIG. 5 are pushed end-wise together into maximum interfacial contact as indicated by the arrows 36 and 38, the hinges 20 and 24 will move apart. Simultaneously the hinge 26 will move toward the underside of the shortening or collapsing plate-pair until the final position of FIG. 3 is reached. The device is now fully collapsed. To open one simply pulls the most distant end of plates 14 and 16 apart or in directions opposite to arrows 36 and 38. Then the bootjack gradually though quickly assumes the position of FIG. 5 until the transverse obstructing piece of metal 40 prevents further movement to the right of the stabilizing plate 16 due to the surface of the stabilizing plate coming up against the detent 42 it being understood that, as best shown in FIG. 2, stabilizing plate 16 is provided with longitudinally extending central gutter 44 which ends at 46 (FIG. 3) a small gap which comes up against the 42 to limit further lengthening travel of the stabilizing plates 16. The end 48 of transverse metal extension 50 abuts stabilizing plate 16 limiting movement of the plate 16 to the left when the device is in the collapsed position.

As to be seen best from FIG. the plates 18 and 22 are also preferably flanged at 52 and 54.

Various modifications may be constructed or performed within the scope of the inventive concept disclosed. Therefore what has been set forth is intended to illustrate such concept and is not for the purpose of limiting protection to any herein particularly described embodiment thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A simultaneously collapsible and extensible bootjack comprising in combination a heel accommodating plate, a stabilizing plate and an understructure for supporting said plates in an operative inclined position, said plates being interfacially and longitudinally slidable between extended position and overlapping collapsed position, said understructure being hingedly connected to said plates at opposite ends thereof,

the hingedly connected understructure comprising essentially a rotatably elevating heel-plate support ing element hingedly connected at one end thereof to said stabilizing plate, and a stabilizing plate conheel accommodating plate is provided with said lateral flanges.

4. The invention according to claim 3 in which said elements are substantially in the form of plates, one end of said stabilizing plate connecting element being hingedly connected to the end of said heel accommodating plate which is remote from that against which the heel of a piece of footwear is received to remove the same, one end of said heelplate elevating and supporting element being hingedly connected to the end of said stabilizing plate which is the nearer to said footwear receiving end of said heel accommodating plate.

Claims (4)

1. A simultaneously collapsible and extensible bootjack comprising in combination a heel accommodating plate, a stabilizing plate and an understructure for supporting said plates in an operative inclined position, said plates being interfacially and longitudinally slidable between extended position and overlapping collapsed position, said understructure being hingedly connected to said plates at opposite ends thereof, the hingedly connected understructure comprising essentially a rotatably elevating heel-plate supporting element hingedly connected at one end thereof to said stabilizing plate, and a stabilizing plate connecting element hingedly connected at one end thereof to said heel accommodating plate, said elements being also hingedly connected together at the remaining end thereof, said understructure lying in flat collapsed relationship against said plates when said plates are in optimum overlapping relationship.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said plates are in telescopic interfacial sliding relationship, longitudinal lateral flanges being provided on one of said plates to accommodate the corresponding edges of the other.

3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said heel accommodating plate is provided with said lateral flanges.

4. The invention according to claim 3 in which said elements are substantially in the form of plates, one end of said stabilizing plate connecting element being hingedly connected to the end of said heel accommodating plate which is remote from that against which the heel of a piece of footwear is received to remove the same, one end of said heelplate elevating and supporting element being hingedly connected to the end of said stabilizing plate which is the nearer to said footwear receiving end of said heel accommodating plate.

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