GB2373171A - Boot rack - Google Patents

Abstract

A free-standing or wall mounted rack for wellington boots comprises a sloping panel having a plurality of shaped holes through which the boots are hung under their own weight from the toe portion. The holes are shaped to accept boots of varying sizes/shapes and are arranged to allow close interleaving of the boots.

Description

TITLE-A DIFFERENT METHOD OF STORING WELLINGTON BOOTS Problem :-In agricultural, rural and domestic environments, the storage of wet and dirty Wellington boots commonly presents difficulties. If brought indoors, mud and water from the boots inevitably finds its way onto carpets and floors. If left outdoors in an upright position, rain, snow, leaves and other unwanted detritus gets in. In either situation, each pair of Wellington boots occupies a lot of floor space.

Outline of Solution:-This device offers a simple and practical solution for the efficient storage of multiple pairs of Wellington boots that fulfils the following criteria: It must: a hold multiple pairs of Wellingtons. be freestanding or wall mounted.

'be suitable for use indoors or outdoors.

'be suitable for use in any weather.

. take a random mix of sizes of boots.

'take up as little space as possible. 'not wet or soil the inside of the Wellington. m be simple to use.

Essential Features :-The resulting device consists of a rectangular board mounted almost vertically, with pairs of specially shaped holes through it, into which the Wellington boots are inserted. The principal features of this design are the special shape and size of the holes and their layout on the board.

Together, these features ensure the following: 'that each Wellington boot can be quickly inserted and released.

'that each boot is held firmly in place, regardless of size and type of boot.

'rain, snow, leaves etc. cannot get into the boots.

'water, mud and other detritus from stored boots does not fall into other stored boots Explanation:-Each Wellington boot is held with the sole uppermost and the toe inserted into the specially shaped hole. The boots own weight causes it to wedge firmly in place (See fig. 1.) The shape and size of the hole is shown in fig. 2.

In order to ensure that smaller, lighter Wellingtons remain'captive', a small amount of lean is imparted to the board. Thus the boots tend to fall in rather than out. (See fig. 3.) The'lean'serves to bring the centre of gravity of the loaded board over the approximate centre of the base, thus ensuring stability. (See fig. 3. ) The holes are spread in such a way as to accommodate the leg part of the Wellington boot. (See fig. 4. ) and are distributed such that any size of boot can be stored in any hole.

The disposition of the holes on the board also helps prevent mud, water and other detritus from boots stored higher up the board from falling onto those below. Prototype :-The prototype, was made from Sterling Board. It stands 39" (990mm) tall on a base that is 24"x9" (610x230mm) and accommodates 5 pairs of Wellingtons (See fig. 5. ) Additional Features:-The following are seen as additional features and benefits of the design: n The simple design of the device would facilitate its manufacture in a range of materials-wood, metal or plastic, using simple tools.

'The design is scalable.

'It could be made as a flat pack for self-assembly. Wellington boots stored using this device could be cleaned using a hosepipe in situ. m Suitable for domestic and commercial applications (Farms, riding schools etc)

Claims (8)

1. CLAIMS 1. A storage device for Wellington boots comprising a board or panel mounted vertically or almost vertically having holes through it in which Wellington boots are hung.
2. 2. A storage device for Wellington boots as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the holes are shaped so that they grip the Wellington boots securely, irrespective of type or size.
3. 3. A storage device for Wellington boots as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the holes are arranged in a special pattern allowing the close interleaving of the leg part of the boots.
4. 4. A storage device for Wellington boots as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2 or Claim 3 that is free standing.
5. 5. A storage device for Wellington boots as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 that is wall mounted.
6. 6. A storage device for Wellington boots as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 where a number of boards or panels are mounted in such a manner that they can be rotated about an upright post.
7. 7. A storage device for Wellington boots as claimed in any preceding claim that is made from metal, plastics wood or from a combination of these materials.
8. 8. A storage device for Wellington boots substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.