GB2221604A

GB2221604A - Shoe horn

Info

Publication number: GB2221604A
Application number: GB8819113A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Murray Nadel
Original assignee: KOON HING TRADING CO Ltd
Current assignee: KOON HING TRADING CO Ltd
Priority date: 1988-08-11
Filing date: 1988-08-11
Publication date: 1990-02-14
Also published as: GB8819113D0

Abstract

A shoe horn 1 comprises an elongate channel 7 having a protruding free end 11 to operate as a conventional shoe horn. Side portions 9 are also provided for engaging and retaining open the mouth of a sock or stocking to facilitate putting on or taking off the sock or stocking. <IMAGE>

Description

Description of Invention "Improvements in or relating to a shoe horn" THIS INVENTION relates to a shoe horn.

Shoe horns are known which enable a person to put on a shoe without having to bend down towards the shoe.

Such shoe horns serve to guide the persons foot into the shoe. However, known shoe horns do not have a facility for enabling a person to put on or remove a sock or stocking without having to bend down.

The present invention therefore aims to provide a device for aiding a person in the putting on or removing of any kind of footgear.

According to the present invention there is provided an element for use as a shoe horn and for use in putting-on and taking-off items of footgear in the form of socks or stockings, said element comprising: means defining an elongate channel or recessed part having a protruding free end to engage a shoe when the element is used as a shoe horn and means for engaging and retaining the mouth portion of said item of footgear in an open condition.

Conveniently the elongate channel or recessed part is defined in a base portion of a channel shaped element having two opposed generally upstanding sidewalls, the sidewalls being adapted to engage and retain said mouth portion.

Preferably the means for engaging and retaining an item of footgear in an open condition comprises a recess formed in one edge of each side portion.

Conveniently the engaging and retaining means further comprises an abutment member provided on the underside of the central region of the base portion, the abutment member having an abutment face for engaging an item of footgear.

Advantageously two abutment members are provided on the underside of the central region, each having a respective abutment face for engaging an item of footgear.

Preferably the abutment member remote from the free end of the elongate channel is larger than the abutment member closest to the free end of the elongate channel.

Conveniently the or each abutment member is defined by an axially extending planar web depending from the underside of the central region of the base portion.

Advantageously, the element further comprises slots positioned on both sides of the central region of the base portion adjacent the protruding free end of the elongate channel. The slots may be used for removing an item of footgear in the form of socks or stockings.

Conveniently a handle extends from the central region of the base portion aligned with and in the opposite direction from the protruding free end of the elongate channel.

Advantageously a hook is provided on the free end of the handle for retrieving an item of footgear.

The element may be formed as a one piece moulding of a plastics material.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe horn according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the shoe horn of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a left side view of the shoe horn of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the shoe horn of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an end view of the shoe horn taken on the line V-V of Figure 1; and Figures 6-8 are successive side views illustrating the various positions at which an article of footgear can be positioned on the shoe horn illustrated in Figures 1 to 5.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, a shoe horn 1, embodying the present invention is a one piece moulding of a plastics material which comprises a scoop portion 3 having an integrally formed extending handle portion 5. The scoop portion 3 is generally U-shaped in cross-section (see Figure 5) and has a substantially flat base portion 7 and two opposed generally upstanding side portions 9. The handle 5 is aligned with the axis of the scoop portion 3 and extends from the centre of the base 7.

A central region 11 of the base portion 7, aligned with the handle 5, is slightly dished, and also extends slightly beyond the end of the rest of the flat base portion 7 and the sidewalls 9. This dished central region can be used in the manner of a conventional shoe horn, as will be described further.

The slots 13 are provided in the base portion 7 adjacent the central region 11, the slots commencing at the free edge of the base portion 7 where the region 11 extends beyond the base portion 7.

The side portions 9 are each generally triangular in side view (see Figure 3) and diverge slightly away from each other. The apex of the triangle of each side portion 9 is provided with a rounded tooth 15 which is adjacent an arcuate recess 17, which is formed on the side of the tooth 15 remote from the handle 5, for engagement with an item of footgear.

The underside of the central region 11 of the base portion 7 is provided with an axially extending planar web 17/ which defines two adjacent rounded triangular segments 19, 21 having a recess 23 therebetween. The triangular segment 21 closest to the handle 5 is larger than tle triangular segment 19, and the face 25 that is closest to the handle 5 forms an abutment face directed away from the free end of the scoop poriton 3.

The end of the handle portion 5 remote from the scoop portion 3 is provided with an integral hook 27. An aperture 29 is provided passing through the handle portion in close proximity to the hook 27.

In use of the shoe horn (as shown in Figures 6 to 8) an item of footgear such as a sock to be put on is placed onto the scooped portion 3 of the shoe horn so that the neck of the sock is in engagement with the arcuate recesses 17 provided on the upper edge of the side portions 9, and also with the recess 23 provided between the segments 19, 21 on the base 7 of the scoop portion 3. This is shown in Figure 6. The scoop portion 3 thus holds the mouth of the sock open. Using the long handle 5 the sock, with its mouth open, may be placed adjacent a foot without bending down. The foot is then inserted into the scoop portion of the shoe horn and subsequently into the sock. The sock may then be drawn onto the foot by manipulating the shoe horn and then the shoe horn is removed from the sock by twisting the shoe horn in order to disengage the neck of the sock from the shoe horn.

In order to remove an item of footgear, such as a sock or stocking, the shoe horn may be used by inserting the end part of the central region 11 of the base portion 7, which projects from between the slots 13, between the neck of the sock and the leg such that the neck of the sock is engaged with slots 13. The shoe horn is then pushed down the leg with the neck of the sock engaged in the slots 13 and the sock is eased from the foot of the user, without the user bending down. The sock may subsequently be retrieved from the slots 13 without the user having to bend towards his or her feet.

It is to be understood that the described shoe horn may be used to put on long socks and stockings as well as short socks. In this case, the neck of the sock or stocking is engaged with the arcuate recesses 17 in the side portions 9 and, depending upon the length of the sock or stocking to be worn, in engagement with the recess 23 or in engagement with the abutment face 25. If a longer sock is to be worn, then the abutment face 25 is selected. This is shown in Figure 7. The sock or stocking is then put on in the same manner as that described above.

If a very long sock is to put on then a similar technique may be used, but the mouth of the sock may be pulled past both the segments 19, 21 so that the mouth of the sock lies adjacent the end of the scoop portion 3 from which the handle portion 5 emanates.

The central region 11 of the described shoe horn may perform a conventional shoe horn function.

It is also to be understood that the described shoe horn may be used to retrieve stockings or shoes that would normally be out of normal reach. The hook 27 provided at the end of the handle portion 5 of the shoe horn may be used in order to retrieve footgear by inserting the hook into the sock or shoe and lifting the said sock or shoe to a position within a reach of the user.

The aperture 29 may be used to hang the shoe horn on a supporting hook.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An element for use as a shoe horn and for use in putting-on and taking-off items of footgear in the form of socks or stockings, said element comprising: means defining an elongate channel or recessed part having a protruding free end to engage a shoe when the element is used as a shoe horn and means for engaging and retaining the mouth portion of said item of footgear in an open condition.

2. An element according to claim 1, wherein the elongate channel or recessed part is defined in a base portion of a channel shaped element having two opposed generally upstanding sidewalls, the sidewalls being adapted to engage and retain said mouth portion.

3. An element according to claim 2, wherein the means for engaging and retaining an item of footgear in an open condition comprises a recess formed in one edge of each side portion.

4. An element according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the engaging and retaining means further comprises an abutment member provided on the underside of the central region of the base portion, the abutment member having an abutment face for engaging an item of footgear.

5. An element according to claim 4, wherein the two abutment members are provided on the underside of the central region, each having a respective abutment face for engaging an item of footgear.

6. An element according to claim 5, wherein the abutment member remote from the free end of the elongate channel is larger than the abutment member closest to the free end of the elongate channel.

7. An element according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the or each abutment member is defined by an axially extending planar web depending from the underside of the central region of the base portion.

8. An element according to any one of claims 2 to 7, which element further comprises slots positioned on both sides of the central region of the base portion adjacent the protruding free end of the elongate channel.

9. An element according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein a handle extends from the central region of the base portion aligned with and in the opposite direction from the protruding free end of the elongate channel.

10. An element according to claim 9, wherein a hook is provided on the free end of the handle for retrieving an item of footgear.

11. An element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the element is formed as a one piece moulding of a plastics material.

12. An element for use as a shoe horn and for use in putting-on and taking-off items of footgear in the form of socks or stockings substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

13. Any novel feature or combination of features herein described.