AU2005203373A1 - Shoe Drying Rack - Google Patents

Description

i "05 1:41 J I Wa Hinsto -Dum'ier Sydney No 1620 P. 4 P/001009 Regulation 3 2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: SHOE DRYING RACK The invention is described in the following statement, including the best method of performing it known to us: Our Ref: 052023 COMS ID No: SBMI-01387210 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:48 Date 2005-07-29 '29-J. 2005 19:43 Wal i ins tor-D m er S-'dney No.1620 P. 2 fln SHOE DRYING RACK 0 0q The present invention relates to racks for to the Ssupport of shoes, and more particularly to racks adapted to 0\ support shoes free of contact with a floor or other supporting surface as an aid to the drying of the shoes.

Cn BACKGROUND

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c Wet shoes are a problem when brought into the home o environment in that moisture seeping from the shoes may ci stain a floor area, and when placed on a floor the drying process tends to be prolonged.

As well wet shoes if placed in a cupboard or other enclosed space for any length of time are susceptible to the formation of mould.

It is an object of the present invention to address the above disadvantages or ameliorate the above disadvantages, or to at least offer a useful alternative.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention there is provided a shoe support rack adapted to the support of one pair of shoes; said rack formed from a single elongate circular section element; .said element shaped into a conjoined collection of straight and bent members so as to define shoe support portions and rack support portions.

Preferably said single elongate circular section element is in the form of mild steel wire of sufficient COMS ID No: SBMI-01387210 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:48 Date 2005-07-29 L 9ui 211 19 4 Wallintor-Dum er Sydney No 1620 P. 6 3 Sgauge and tensile strength to support a sodden pair of 0- shoes without permanent deformation.

S Preferably said single elongate circular section element is in the form of stainless steel wire of sufficient gauge and tensile strength to support a sodden

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pair of shoes without permanent deformation.

C Preferably said wire is provided with protective coating selected from a range of coating; said range of Scoating including, chrome plating, powder coating, painting ci and sheathing in plastic.

Preferably said shoe support portions are each comprised of generally upwardly extending spaced-apart pairs of members; said pairs of members joined at their upper ends by horizontal cross members.

Preferably said rack support portions are in the form of two parallel spaced apart straight foot members adapted to the placement of said rack on a supporting horizontal surface.

Preferably said shoe support portions are joined by a horizontal cross member extending from an inner one of a first of said spaced-apart pairs of members to an inner one of a second of said spaced-apart pairs of members.

Preferably said shoe support portions are each joined to a riser member; each said riser member joined to an outer one of each of said two spaced apart pairs of members COMS ID No: SBMI-01387210 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:48 Date 2005-07-29 29.Jul, 20D5 19:4L .i ns or-Dr05 S r dnev Y Nio .i620 P 4 Sby a substantially horizontal straight member and a curved 0j member.

SPreferably each said riser is connected to said 0straight foot members; said straight foot members defining a generally rectangular base area.

Preferably each said riser forms an angle with each of C said horizontal foot -members so as to position said shoe support portions approximately over the middle of said o rectangular base area.

ci Preferably each one of said shoe support portions includes a lower portion and an upper portion; said upper portion lying in a generally vertical plane when said rack is positioned on said supporting horizontal surface; said lower portion sloping downwardly towards approximately said middle of said rectangular base area.

Preferably said rack support portions include a pair of upwardly extending straight members joined at their

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upper ends by a hook portion adapted to support said rack from a substantially horizontal thin support element; said thin support element including a clothes line.

Preferably each of said shoe support portions is joined to one of said pair of upwardly extending straight members by inner short straight horizontal members.

Preferably each of said shoe support portions is joined at the lower end of outer ones of said spaced-apart pairs of members by outer short horizontal members and COMS ID No: SBMI-01387210 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:48 Date 2005-07-29 2 9 J 10 t 19 4 Wa ingtor-Dumn er Sydney No. 1620 P. 8 5 tf return members; said outer short horizontal members 04 coaxially disposed with said inner short horizontal Z members; said return members set at right angles to said Souter short horizontal members.

Preferably each one of said shoe support portions includes a lower portion and an upper portion; said upper C portion lying in a generally vertical plane parallel and -q spaced apart from a plane defined by said pair of upwardly O extending straight members when said rack is supported from ci said thin support element; said lower portion sloping downward to said inner short horizontal members and said outer short horizontal members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a shoe drying rack according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the shoe drying rack of figure 1 with one shoe supported on the rack.

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the shoe drying rack of figure 1.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01387210 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:48 Date 2005-07-29 29. u 2005, 19: a i nig or-D'jmTer S deR 2o. P- 9 -6- SFigure 4 is a perspective view of a second preferred c-i embodiment of a shoe drying rack according to the Zinvention.

0Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the shoe drying ci rack of figure DETAILID DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS eWith reference to figures 1 and 2 a first preferred fembodiment of a shoe drying rack 10 according to the o present invention is comprised of a single structural element shaped by a suitable combination of straight, curved and bent sections to enable rack 10 to be self supporting on surface 11 and provide upwardly projecting spaced apart shoe support structures 12 and 13. Structures 12 and 13 are each formed of two upwardly extending spacedapart members 14 and 15, and 16 and 17 joined at their upper ends by cross bars 18 and 19 respectively. The inner upwardly extending members 15 and 16 are joined by central horizontal member 20. The outer upwardly extending members 14 and 17 are connected by horizontal segments 21 and 22 and curved portions 23 and 24 to risers 25 and 26. Risers and 26 are in turn joined to foot elements 27 and 28 respectively.

Upwardly projecting structures 12 and 13 are adapted to support any conventional shoe 30 having an upper portion 31 which covers at least a portion of the front of the foot of a wearer- COMS ID No: SBMI-01387210 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:48 Date 2005-07-29 29.Jul. 2005 19:4L a 9 Ju 260 194 Wa nig:tr D umrieP, r Sdved No.62 e N 0 16 2 0 P 0 7 Thus a shoe 30 may be placed onto projecting structure 0 12 or 13 by threading the opening 32 of the shoe onto the SZ structure. Small shoes may be thus supported by the inside portion of the toes of the shoes coming to rest on the cross pieces 18 and 19 of structures 12 and 13. Larger shoes will be supported through the sides edges 33 of the en shoe opening 32 coming to rest on horizontal segment 21 or 22 and central horizontal member 20 together with o projecting structures 12 or 13 contacting the inside of the shoe upper 31. This position of support is induced by the angle formed between upper portions 34 of structures 12 and 13 and lower portions 3.5, with upper portions 34 lying approximately in a vertical plane when rack 10 is resting on a supporting surface 11.

is The structural element of rack 10 is in the form of a single length of extruded or drawn material of circular section and of a gauge a-nd tensile. strength adapted to support the weight of a sodden pair of shoes without suffering permanent deformation. In some preferred forms at least the drawn or extruded material is in the form of hard drawn steel wire. For appearances and for protection from corrosiont the wire may be coated with any of a range of surface finishes, including chrome plating, powder coating, paint, or provided with a plastic sheath- Alternatively, the sttuctural element could be of stainless steel.

COMS IDNo: SBMI-01 387210 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:48 Date 2005-07-29 29.j ui 2005 19:4L Waliin tor-Dum er Sydne No.1620 P. 'I 8 l As can be seen in figures 2 and 3 the length of 0- supporting foot elements 27 and 28 and the slope and length Sof risers 25 and 26 is such as to position the centre of gravity of shoes placed on the rack approximately central to the rectangular base defined by foot elements 27 and 28.

As may best be seen in figure 2, shoes suspended on C rack 10 are fully exposed to circulating air and are in Sminimal contact with the supporting rack, thus providing o optimal drying conditions.

ci With reference to figure 4 in a second preferred embodiment of the invention, shoe drying rack 40 is similarly formed of a single length of suitable extruded or drawn material. As for the first embodiment, in some preferred forms at least the drawn or extruded material is in the form of hard drawn steel wire and for appearances and for protection from corrosion may be coated with any of a range of surface finishes, including chrome plating, powder coating, paint, or provided with a plastic sheath.

Alternatively it may be formed of stainless steel.

As in the first preferred embodiment described above rack 40 is provided with upwardly projecting spaced apart structures 41 and 42. Structures 41 and 42 are each formed of two upwardly extending spaced-apart members 43 and 44, and 45 and 46 joined at their upper ends by cross bars 47 and 48 respectively. Structures 41 and 42 are joined at the lower ends of outer upwardly excending members 43 and 46 COMS ID No: SBMI-01387210 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:48 Date 2005-07-29 29 ~ci ?035 19:45 WalIing tor-Dum er Svdnei No-1620 P. 9 In with horizontal cross bars 49 and 50 respectively extending 0 0 outwardly and ending in return elements 51 and 52. Return Selements 51 and 52 lie in the same plane as the lower 0\ portions 53 and 54 of upwardly extending structures 41 and 42.

Similarly inner upwardly extending members 44 and en are joined to horizontal cross bars 55 and 56 respectively 0 C' extending inwardly and in turn connected to central support Sstructure 57 in the form of twin approximately vertical elements 58 and 59 rising from cross bars 55 and 56 and joining at their upper ends to form downward curving hook portion 60. As may best be seen in figure 5, upper portions 61 and 62 are similarly angled relative to lower portions 53 and 54 to support shoes as described above so that upper portions 61 and 62 lie in a common plane parallel but spaced away from the plane defined by twin support structure 57.

Hook portion 60 is adapted to hook over any suitable rod or a cable such as for example a clothes line.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01387210 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:48 Date 2005-07-29

Claims (5)

1. A shoe support rack adapted to the support of one pair 0a of shoes; said rack formed from a single elongate circular section element; said element shaped into a Sconjoined collection of straight and bent members so o as to define shoe support portions and rack support Sportions.

2. The rack of claim 1 wherein said single elongate circular section element is in the form of mild steel wire of sufficient gauge and tensile strength to support a sodden pair of shoes without permanent deformation.

3. The rack of claim I wherein said single elongate circular section element is in the form of stainless steel wire of sufficient gauge and tensile strength to support a sodden pair of shoes without permanent deformation.

4. The rack of claim 2 or 3 wherein said wire is provided with protective coating selected from a range of coating; said range of coating including, chrome plating, powder coating, painting and sheathing in plastic. COMS ID No: SBMI-01387210 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:48 Date 2005-07-29

29.Ju 2005 19:45 Wali 1 nstor-Dmj er Sydney No. 620 P. 4 11 l n 5. The rack of claim 1 wherein said shoe support portions are each comprised of generally upwardly extending Sspaced-apart pairs of members; said pairs of members Sjoined at their upper ends by horizontal cross members. 6. The rack of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said rack o support portions are in the form of two parallel ci o J spaced apart straight foot members adapted to the placement of said rack on a supporting horizontal surface. 7. The rack of claim 5 or 6 wherein said shoe support portions are joined by a horizontal cross member extending from an inner one of a first of said spaced- apart pairs of members to an inner one of a second of said spaced-apart pairs of members. 8. The rack of any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein said shoe support portions are each joined to a riser member; each said riser member joined to an outer one of each of said two spaced apart pairs of members by a substantially horizontal straight member and a curved member. 9. The rack of claim 8 wherein each said riser is connected to said straight foot members; said straight COMS ID No: SBMI-01387210 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:48 Date 2005-07-29 29.Ji. 2005 19:45 Wal i n tor-Dun er Sydnev No. 620 P. 12 C) foot members defining a generally rectangular base 0 area. The rack of claim 9 wherein each said riser forms an 0\ Ci angle with each of said horizontal foot members so as to position said shoe support portions approximately en over the middle of said rectangular base area. Ci 11. The rack of any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein each one o of said shoe support portions includes a lower portion and an upper portion; said upper portion lying in a generally vertical plane when said rack is positioned on said supporting horizontal surface; said lower portion sloping downwardly towards approximately said middle of said rectangular base area. 12. The rack of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said rack support portions include a pair of upwardly extending straight members joined at their upper ends by a hook portion adapted to support said rack from a substantially horizontal thin support element; said thin support element including a clothes line. 13. The rack of claim 12 wherein each of said shoe support portions is joined to one of said pair of upwardly extending straight members by inner short straight horizontal members. COMS ID No: SBMI-01387210 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:48 Date 2005-07-29 29.J 2005 19:46 Waih rptor-D'mer Sydney No.216 2 6 13 tfl 14. The rack of claim 12 or 13 wherein each of said shoe 0 0 support portions is joined at the lower end of outer ci 3 ones of said spaced-apart pairs of members by outer Cshort horizontal members and return members; said ci outer short horizontal members coaxially disposed with nsaid inner short horizontal members; said return emembers set at right angles to said outer short 0 CA horizontal members. In 0 0 15. The rack of claim 13 or 14 wherein each one of said shoe support portions includes a lower portion and an upper portion; said upper portion lying in a generally vertical plane parallel and spaced apart from a plane defined by said pair of upwardly extending straight members when said rack is supported from said thin support element; said lower portion sloping downward to said inner short horizontal members and said outer short horizontal members. DATED: 29 July 2005 Cong An Dang and Thai Vinh Dang by their Patent Attorneys: WALLINGTON-DUMER COMS ID No: SBMI-01387210 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:48 Date 2005-07-29