GB2445404A

GB2445404A - Boot-jacks

Info

Publication number: GB2445404A
Application number: GB0624102A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Luxmi Wasantha Kuma Selvarajah
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-02
Filing date: 2006-12-02
Publication date: 2008-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 2026-12-02
Also published as: CA2671208A1; GB2445404B; CA2671208C; EP2099339B1; US20090236377A1; EP2099339A1; GB0624102D0; WO2008065357A1

Abstract

A monolithic jack 12 of sheet-like form (28,Fig.3) for removing ski-boots (14, Fig1b) having a rear shoulder (16), comprises a plate-like base 18 and two engagement means 20 each adapted to engage over a shoulder (16) of, and having a recess 202 to accommodate the heel (22) of, a respective one of a pair of said boots (14) when placed side by side on said base 18 in front of the means 20 which are to the rear of base 18 and face forwards. The member 28 is of metal, e.g. steel, or injection-moulded of thermoplastic plastics material, comprising a polycarbonate, with ABS or PETG. Said base 18 has a non-slip upper surface portion 32, and comprises security means, e.g. aperture means 34, so it can be secured by screws to the floor. The base 18 also has a handle 36 for hanging up the jack 12. Integral strut means (38), to enable elevation of jack 12 to an angled position, are hinged at points (42), retracting into slots 44 in the bottom of base 18, and provided with stops (46) to prevent them from opening out too far. For carrying, jack 12 can be folded across its length at a hinge (50) or formed as two parts (183, 184), mutually identical, interengageable along its length by press-fit or slide-fit, by tongue-and-groove means 52, 54, with a connecting and/or reinforcing member 562 accommodated in recess means 561.

Description

2445404

10

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TITLE: "Bod-jacks*

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 This invention relates to boot-jacks, that is jacks for removing boots or like footwear. BACKGROUND

Known jacks for use in removing ski-boots are awkward to use.

THE INVENTION

The present inventor has realised that the awkwardness with prior jacks is that, to remove both bods, dfficult movements, positions and changes of position are required, end this can be ameliorated by, in effect combining two 15 jacks, one for each foot

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a jack for removing bods or other footwear having a

•. rearward, ipward-facing shoulder, the jack comprising a base and two engagement means each adapted to engage

• •

over a said shoulder This is to engage over a shoulcter of a respective one of a pair, of said boots or other footwear, 20 when placed on said base The rearward shoulder (i.e. to the rear) of e.g. a ski-boot faces backwards, so that the engagement means for this embodment face forwards.

• •

|""J Accord ng to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a jack for removing boots or other footwear that have a heel with an inward and backward facing shoulder, the jack comprising a base ipon which feet encased in the

• ••

. * 25 footwear can be located side by side, and two engagement means to engage over a said shoulder mounted side by side to the base, facing towards the location for the footwear.

The jack may have any one or more of the following features

• the base is plate-like.

30 • the engagement means define a recess directed towards the location for the footwear to (it over a sad shoulder. This arrangement is adapted for the two feet to be placed substantially parallel to each other, rather than with the the two feet pointing in divergent directions.

• the recess is curved to accommodate the heel of the footwear.

• the recess is substantially semicircular.

35 • the engagement means have rounded corners.

• the engagement means are plate-like.

• a single monolithic member comprises said base and said engagement means.

• said member is of sheet-like form

• said form has a U-shape with a long arm to provide said base and a short arm to prcvide said engagement means.

• said member is of metal, e.g. steel.

• said member is of plastics material, e.g. moulded

• said member is of thermoplastic plastics material.

• said material comprises polycarbonate.

• said material comprises ABS (acrilonitrile-butadene styrene).

• said material comprises PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol), e.g. with a 70% admixture of polycarbonate.

• said member is injection-moulded andfor is made by thermoforming.

• said base has a non-slip upper surface portion.

• comprising security means.

• comprising floor-fixing means.

• said floor-fixing means comprise aperture means in said base.

• the base has a handle at an end opposite to the engagement means.

• the hande is suitable to use as means by which to hang up the jack.

• comprising means to enable elevation of the jack to an angled position to enable seated removal of the footwear. Such means may be integral with the jack or a separate means, e.g. a wedge, forming part of a kit of parts therewith

• the width of said base is sii>stantially equal to that of a pair of sad footwear placed sid9 by side.

• the width of sad base is in the range of from 15 to 30 cm.

• the width of said base is in the range of from 20 to 25 cm.

• which has a length equal to substantially the length of the intended footwear. Alternatively, it is possible to have it sitostantially shorter, down to about half this length, and still be able to use it by pressing with one heel (instead of with one whole foot) to release the other boot

• it can be folded, preferably across its length, to facilitate (ag. by reducing its size) portability.

• it is formed as (preferably two) interengageable parts that can be disengaged to facffltate portability.

• in which said parts have tongue-and-groove means by which they can be interengaged. These means may extend transversely of the jack but preferably extend longitudinally. They may be a press-fit, so that the parts engage by being pressed together, or a slide fit if the means extend only along a straight stretch of the base.

• said parts are substantially identical, e.g. to facilitate manufacture.

• comprises connecting means to interconnect said parts, which means is part of connecting aridfor reinforcing means which comprise recess means to accommodate a connecting andfor reinforcing member and such member.

Accord rig to another aspect of the invention, such a jack is provided in combination with a pair of footwear to use with the jack.

Accordng to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a jack member having means to connect it side by side to another such member to form any such jack embodying the invention. The jack member can be used for removing boots or other footwear having a heel with an ipward and backward facing shoulder, and the jack comprises a base upon which a foot encased in the footwear can be placed and heel-gripping means mounted to the base.

Such a member may have any one or more of the following features:

• said connecting means comprise part of tongue-andgrowe means.

• said connecting means comprise part of tongue-and-groove means along one side of said base and a complementary-shaped part of such tongue-and-groove means along an opposite side of said base.

• said connecting means is part of connecting and'or reinforcing means which comprise recess means to accommodate a connecting and'or reinforcing member.

Another aspect of the invention provides a kit of parts for a jack embodying the invention, comprising a pair of jack members, each as mentioned

Another aspect of the invention provides a jack comprising a pair of jack members as just mentioned

Another aspect of the invention provides a jack compnsing a pair of said jack members and a connecting and/or reinforcing member adapted to be accommodated by both members at once to hold them together.

In preferred embodiments:

• The base, e.g. as a plate, is made sufficiently wide and long to allow the user to stand with both feet on the jack (wearing a pair of the footwear) whilst using the pressure, or weight of the bod/, on one foot to hold down the jack and allow leverage (opposed forces, down and up respectively, by the two feet) by the wearer to pull the other foot out of its boot, shoe or other footwear. The rear hook-like form of the engagement means or grip has an elevation allowing enough height for the shoulder of a boot, shoe or other footwear heel to be inserted therein to be engaged or gripped The hook-like gnp has two curved insets (to provide the respective engagement means) cut out to allow the back of the boot, shoe or other footwear to be gnpped for extra stability when leveraging the foot out of the same. The base plate and rounded grip are made out of a single piece, preferably a single moulding, to allow for increased durability and reduced complexity in manufacturing. The surface of the base plate is made non-slip to avoid accidents. There is a hole to provide a handle to facilitate portability. There may be provided a retractable, integrated or separate frame, member or other means to enable angled positioning of the base (with the back lower than the front) to facilitate seated boot removal if required. There may be provided a fixing mechanism to allcw the device to bo fixed to the floor if required, for security puiposes and/or to aid the leverage.

• Although primarily designed for ski boots, the jack device can be used more broadly for walking bods, Wellingtons and shoes - the dimensions may change slightly.

• The device is thus used to assist in the removal of boots or shoes but mainly ski boots, using double U-shaped insets on the raised rear ridge of the device to grip the heel of the boot or shoe, whilst applying downward pressure on the footplate with one foot, to allow the other foot to be leveraged from the bod or shoe. This is a mobile

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• •

• • ♦ ••• • •• • • •

(portable) device which is mainly used when the wearer is standing. The device can also or alternatively be used for seated boot or shoe removal (i.e. when the wearer is sitting), eg. in an angled position, or fixed to the floor for security (or added leverage) if required. For seated removal, wedge-shaped or other means are utilised to support the toe end of the device raised above its heel end.

5 • The device has two U-shaped insets instead of one. It can have a full foot plate for stability, allowing removal from each foot by just bending the knee arid leaning forward onto the weight-bearing other fool It uses weight applied by one foot to leverage the other foot out of the boot, with the position of one foot possibly being sli^tiy in front of the other. It is simpler aid less technical to manufacture than prior jacks and can therefore be cheaper. It is basically a portable/mobile device, that does not need to be fixed to the floor but can be if this is 10 required, e.g. for security purposes. It allows for space on the base plate to enable the feet to be placed one foot slightly in front of the other ckiring operation, for extra stability.

• A retractable, integrated or separate frame or other means may be used for elevation to an angled position to enable seated boot (or other footwear) removal.

• The materid used for the jack should be a durable, lic^it material enabling a sin^e mould to be used to 15 form the main device, allowing for portability and ease of production. The material and/or design have to be suitable for the device to withstand the envisaged stresses. Because of the upward stress on the rear curve, the device (or at least the curved part thereof) may need to be re-inforced, e.g. lined (e.g. inside the curve) with a suitable metal, e.g. steel, to prevent the device from fracturing at the curve; it should preferably then be coated with plastics. Also, the material should be washable for ease of maintenance and hygiene.

20

Without using this jack, the following method wotid be used to remwe a ski boot

• Loosen all clips and bindings

• Lever forwand the front lip of the boot

• Press cbwn with the hand on the back, upward-facing lip of the boot

25 • Leverage foot forward and up - which often requires twisting your back into an uncomfortable position if executed whilst standing

• Or sitting down, crossing legs and pushing the back of the boot away from the calf to lever the foot out of thobooL

% The present embodiments enable one to take the boot off without having to apply the pressure with the hand to the back of the boot, which often requires twisting one's back into an uncomfortable position, whilst leveraging the knee forward and the foot upwards, and therefore allow one just to bend forward after the foot has been extracted aid remove the boot from the device.

35 Accordng to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of removing a pair of boots or other footwear items each having a rearward, upward-facing shoulder, in which method there is used a jack comprising a base and two engagement means, and each engagement means in turn is engaged over a said shoulder and the foot pulled out of that item of the pair. This is preferably done while holding down the jack by means of the other foot placed on said base. Preferably, the feet are placed side by side on said base for the extraction. Preferably, the extraction of

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each foot is performed without the use of the hands, e.g. using a wail or car boot to lean on or for extra sipport Preferably, the total extraction of both feet is performed without the use of the hands, apart from possibly to remove from the base an item of said pair from which its foot has been extracted Alternatively, the two engagement means are used simultaneously, and the jack is held down by some other means, e.g. by the hands (e.g. by using ski-sticks) 5 or by a connection to the floor, e.g. with floor bolts, and e.g. each foot is withdrawn in turn from its footwear.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION RELATING TO THE DRAWINGS

• •

• 9

• •••

• •• •

Reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which:

10 • Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

• Figure 1A is a side view of the Figure 1 embodiment in use;

• Figure 1B is a side view of the Figure 1 embodiment, in a tilted position for seated withdrawal;

• Figure 2 is a plan view of the Figure 1 embodiment,

• Figure 3 is a perspective view of a variation of the Figure 1 embodiment;

15 • Figures 4,5 and 6 are partial and complete side views of the Figure 3 embodment showing how it may be collapsed for carrying;

• Figure 7 is a perspective view of another variation of the Figure 1 errtxxJment; and

• Figure 8 is a partial side view of the Figure 7 embocf ment showing how it may be assembled

20 Referring to the drawings, the dmensions 10,30,40,50,70,100,240,340 are 10,30,40,50, 70,100,240,340 mm respectively.

A jack 12 for removing ski-boots 14 having a rearward, upward-facing shoulder 16, comprises a base 18 and two engagement means 20 each adapted to engage over a said shoulder 16 of a respective one of a par of said boots 14 25 when placed on said base 18. The rearward shoulder 16, i.e. to the rear of the ski-boot 14 faces backwards, so that the engagement means 20 face forwards.

The boots 14 each have a heel 22 with an upward and backward facing shoulder 16. Feet encased in the footwear 14 can be located side by side on the base 18, as seen in Figure 2, and two engagement means 20,20 engage over 30 said shoulders 16 and are mounted side by side to the base 18, facing towards the location for the footwear 14.

The base 18 is plate-like. The engagement means 20 define a recess 202 directed (opening) towards the location 24 for tho footwear 14, in order to fit over a said shoulder 16. This arrangement is adapted, as seen in Figure 2, for the two feet placed in footwear items 14,14 to be placed substantially parallel to each other, rather than with the two feet 35 pointing in dvergent drections. The recess 202 is curved to accommodate the heel 22 of each item 14. The recess 202 is sibstantially semicirudar. The engagement means 20 are plate-like; they may have rounded comers 26, Figure 3, the rounded comers of being of very small radus, e.g. 2-3 mm, to avoid sharp comers that coiid damage the ski-boots, since the larger the radus the less effective the grp on the boot by means 20. The jack 12 is foimed so that a single mondith'c member 28 corrprises said base 18 and said engagement means 20. The member 28 is

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of sheet-like fotm. This form has a U-shape (as seen dearly in Figures 1A and 6) with a long aim 18 to provide said base 18 and a shod arm 20 to provide said engagement means 20. Sad member 28 is of injection-moulded of thermoplastic plastics material, comprising a polycarbonate. Preferably, said material comprises ABS (acrilonitrile-butadiene styrena) or PETG (polyethylene terephthatate gycol) with a substantial, e.g. 70%, adradure of 5 polycarbonate.

Said base 18 has a non-slip upper surface portion 32, and comprises security means 34 in the form of floor-fixing means 34 comprising aperture means 34 in said base whereby base 18 can be secured by screws (not shown) to the floor (not shown). The base 18 also has a handle 36 at its end opposite to the engagement means 20. The hands

10 36 is suitable to use as means 36 by which to hang up the jack 12. The jack 12 comprises means 38 to enable elevation of the jack 12 to an angled position, as shown in Figure 1B, to enable seated removal of the footwear 14. As shewn, such means 38 are integral with the jack 12, being in the form of sturdy struts 38, preferably of metal or the same hard plastics material as the rest of the device 12, hinged at points 42 to base 18, retracting into slots 44 in the bottom of base 18, and provided with stops 46 to prevent them from opening out too far from base 18.

15

The width 240 of said base 18 is si&stantially equal to that of a pair of said footwear 14 placed side by side, as seen in Figure 2, which is substantially to scale, which also shows that jack 12 has a length 340 equal to substantially the length of the intended footwear.

20 Jack 12, Figure 3, can be folded across its length in order to facilitate (by reducing its size) portability of jack 12 For this purpose, base 18 has a split 48, seen more clearly in Figure 4, aid a hinge 50 (which may alternatively be formed integrally as a foldng portion of the material of base 18 if this material has suitable properties) joining together the resulting two parts 181 and 182 of base 18 so that part 182 can be folded down, initially as seen in Figure 5 and then to the position seen in Figure 6 for carrying

25

Alternatively, jack 12, Figure 7 is formed as two interengageable parts 183,184 that can be disengaged to facilitate portability. These parts 183,184 have tongue-and-groove means 52,54, see more dearly in Figure 8, by which they can be interengaged. These parts 183,184 extend longitudnally of the jack 12, inducing its curved portion that forms engagement means 20. For this purpose, tongue 52 can be pressed sideways into groove 54 so that parts 183,184

30 are a press-fit, i.e. the parts 183,184 mutually engage by being pressed together sideways. Alternatively, if tongue-and-groove means 52,54 extend only along a straight stretch of the base, from the toe end 185 to point 186, they can be slid together longitudnally to form a slide-fit Said parts 183,184 are made mutually identical in order to facilitate manufacture.

35 In the embodiments of Rgures 3 to 8, the jack 12 also comprises connecting and/or reinforcing means 56 to interconnect sad parts 181,182 or 183,184, which means 56 comprise a connecting andfor reinforcing member 562 and recess means 561 to accommodate member 562.

The jack 12 may be sold in combination with a pair of footwear 14 to use with the jack 12.

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• •

• • • •••

The jack member 183 or 184 (for use in removing boots or other footwear 14 having a heel 22 with an upward- and backward-facing shoulder 16) comprises a base 18 tpon which a foot encased in the footwear 14 can be placed, and heel-gripping means 20 mounted to the base18, the member 183 or 184 having means 52,54 to connect it side by 5 side to another such member 184 or 183, respectively to form a jack 12 as described above in relation to Figure 7. Sad connecting means 52,54 comprise part 52 of tongue-and-groove means 52,54 along one side of sad base 18 and a complementary-shaped part 54 of such tongue-and-groove means 52,54 along an opposite side of sad base 18. Preferably, said connecting andfor reinforcing means 52,54,56 comprise recess means 561 to accommodate connecting and/or reinforcing member 562. The member 562 is adapted to be accommodated by both members 10 183, 184 at once to hold them together as well as re-intorce the combination of held-together members 183, 184. Thus, the jack 12 may be sold in the form of a kit of parts comprising a par of jack members 183,184.

Thus, there is employed a method of removing a pair of boots or other footwear items 14 each having a rearward, upward-facing shoulder 16, in which method there is used a jack 12 comprising a base 18 and two engagement 15 means 20, and each engagement means 20 in turn is engaged over a said shoulder 16 (by placing each boot 14 in turn with its heel 22 in to one or other recess 202 of engagement means 20 so that its shoulder 16 engages under the edge defining recess 202) and the foot pulled out of that item 14 of the pair. This is done while holding down the jack 12 by means of the other foot placed on said base 18. The feet are placed side by side on sad base 18 for the extraction. The extraction of each foot is performed without the use of the hands; and the total extraction of both feet

• •••

• •••* 20 is performed without the use of the hands, apart from possbty to remove from the base 18 an item 14 erf said par from which its foot has been extracted.

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Claims

• •

• • • •• • • •

• •

I. A jack for removing boots or other footwear having a rearward, upward-fadng shoulder, the jack comprising a base and two engagement means each adapted to engage over a said shodder.

5 2. A jack for removing boots or other footwear that have a heel with an upward and backward facing shodder, the jack comprising a base ipon which feet encased in the footwear can be located side by side, and two engagement means to engage over a said shoulder moulted side by side b the base, facing towards the location for the footwear.

3. A jack as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the base is plate-like.

10 4. A jack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the engagement means define a recess drected towards the location for the footwear to fit over a said shoulder.

5. A jack as claimed in claim 4, in which the recess is curved to accommodate the heel of the footwear.

6. A jack as claimed in claim 4, in which the recess is sii»tantially semicircular.

7. A jack as claimed in any one of clams 1 to 6, in which the engagement means have rounded comers. 15 6. A jack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the engagement means are plate-like.

9. A jack as clamed in any one of claims 1 to 8, in which a single monolithic member comprises said base and sad engagement means.

10. A jack as claimed in claim 9, in which said member is of sheet-like form.

II. A jack as claimed in claim 10, in which said form has a U-shape with a long arm to provide said base and a 20 short arm to provide sad engagement means.

12. A jack as claimed in anyone of dams 9 to 11, in which sad member is of metal.

13. A jack as daimed in anyone of daims 9 to 11, inwhich said member is of plasties material

14. A jack as daimed in daim 13, in which said memberis of thermoplastic plastics material.

15. A jack as daimed in 13 or 14, in which said material comprises polycarbonate.

25 16. A jack as daimed in any one of daims 13 to 15, in which sad material comprises ABS (acrilonitrfe-butadiene styrene).

17. A jack as daimed in any one of daims 13 to 16, in which sad material comprises PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol)

18. A jack as darned in daim any one of daims 14 to 17, in which said material comprises a 70% adnixture of 30 polycarbonate.

19. A jack as daimed in anyone of dams 1 to 18, in which said memberis injection-moulded.

20. A jack as daimed in any one of daims 1 to 19, in which said base has a non-slip upper surface portion.

21. A jack as daimed in any one of daims 1 to 20, comprising security means.

22. A jack as daimed in any one of daims 1 to 21, comprising floor-fixing means.

35 23. A jack as daimed in claim 22, in which sad floor-fixing means comprise aperture means in said base.

24. A jack as daimed in any one of dams 1 to 23, in which the base has a handle at an end opposite to the engagement means.

25. A jack as daimed in clam 24, in which the handle is suitable to use as means by which to hang ip the jack.

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26 A jack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 25, comprising means to enable elevation of the jack to an angled position to enable seated removal of the footwear.

27. A jack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26, in which the width of said base is substantially equal to that of a pairof sad footwear placed side by side.

5 28 A jack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26, in which the width of said base is in the ranged from 15 to 30 cm.

29. A jack as claimed in claim 28, in which the width of said base is in the range of from 20 to 25 cm.

30. A jack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29, which has a length equal to substantially the length of the intended footwear.

10 31. A jack as claimed in any one of clams 1 to 30, which can be folded to facilitate portability.

32. A jack as clamed in any one of claims 1 to 31, which is foimed as interengageable parts that can be disengaged to facilitate portability

33. A jack as darned in clam 32, in which said parts have tongue-and-groove means by which they can be interengaged.

15 34. A jack as claimed in clam 33, in which said parts are substantially identical.

35. A jack as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 34, which comprises connecting andfor reinforcing means to interconnect sad parts, which means comprise recess means to accommodate a connecting andfor reinforcing

• • member and such member.

' 36. A jack for removing boots or other footwear and substantially accofding to any embodiment hereinbefore

"••••* 20 described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

a 37. A jack for removing boots or other footwear and substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore

• • described.

m

•J"*; 38. Ajack as claimed in any one of daims 1 to 37, in combination with a pair of footwear to use with the jack.

39. A jack member having connecting means to connect it side by side to another such member to form a jack

• • ••

* * • * 25 as darned in any one of daims 1 to 37.

40. A jack member as darned in daim 39, in which said connecting means comprise part of tongue-and-groova means.

41. A jack member as darned in daim 39, in which said connecting means comprise part of tongue-and-groove means along one side of said base and a complementary-shaped part of such tongue-and-groove means

30 along an opposite side of said base.

42. A jack member as daimed in any one of daims 39 to 41, in which said connecting means is part of connecting and/or reinforcing means which comprise recess means to accommodate a connecting arttfor reinforcing member.

43. A kit of parts for a jack as daimed in dam 1, comprising a pair of jack members, each as daimed in any 35 one of daims 39 to 42.

44. A jack comprising a pair of jack members each separately as daimed in any one of dams 39 to 42.

45. A jack comprising a pair of jack members each separately as daimed in any one of daims 39 to 42 and a connecting and/or reinforcing member adapted to be accommodated by both members at once to hold them together.

46. A method of removing a par of boots or other footwear items each having a rearward, ipward-facing shoulder, in which method there is used a jack conprising a base and two engagement means, and each engagement means in turn is engaged over a said shoulder and the foot pulled out of that item of the pair.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWERS:-

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• • « • ••

• •ft

• • « •

• • • #

1. A jack for use in removing one's feet from a pair of boots or other footwear items, each having a rearward, upward-facing shoulder, the jack comprising a base upon which the footwear items encasing the feet can be placed

5 side by side, and two engagement means mounted side by side towards the rear of the base, each adapted to engage over a sad shoulder of a respective said item placed as aforesaid to the front thereof.

2. A jack for use in removing one's feet from a pair of boots or other footwear items, each having a rearward, upward-facing shoulder, the jack comprising a base upon which the footwear items encasing the feet can be placed side by side; and two engagement means mounted side by side to the base, each adapted to engage over a sad

10 shoulder of a respective said item placed as aforesaid to the front thereof, and each being spaced a substantial distance from the front of the base whereby a foot in one said item can be used to hold down the base while the other foot is pulled ip to remove it from the other said item.

3. A jack as claimed in claim 1 or 2, suitable for said items to be ski boots or like footwear items that have a heel with said upward and backward lacing shoulder.

15 4. A jack as daimed in any one of clams 1 to 3, each said engagement means having a substantially rigid part adapted to engage over a said shoulder.

5. A jack as claimed in any one of daims 1 to 4, in which the base is plate-like.

6. A jack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the engagement means define a recess cSreeled towards the location for the footwear to fit over a said shoulder.

20 7. A jack as daimed in dam 6, in which the recess is curved to accommodate the heel of the footwear.

8. A jack as daimed in dam 6, in which the recess is substantially semicircular.

9. A jack as daimed in any one of daims 1 to 8, in which the engagement means have rounded comers.

10. A jack as claimed in any one of daims 1 to 9, in which the engagement means are plate-like.

11. A jack as daimed in any one of dams 1 to 10, in which a single monolithic member comprises said base 25 and said engagement means.

12. A jack as daimed in claim 11, in which said member is of sheet-like form.

13. A jack as daimed in claim 12, in which said form has a U-shape with a long arm to provide sad base and a short arm to provide said engagement means.

14. A jack as darned in any one of daims 11 to 13, in which sad member is of metal.

30 15. A jack as daimed in any one of daims 11 to 13, in which said member is of plastics material.

16. A jack as darned in claim 15, in which sad member is of thermoplastic plastics material.

17. A jack as daimed in 15 or 16, in which said material comprises polycarbonate.

18. A jack as daimed in any one of claims 15 to 17, in which said material comprises ABS (acrilonitrile-butacfienestyrene).

35 19. A jack as daimed in any one of claims 15 to 18, in which said material comprises PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol).

20. A jack as daimed in daim any one of daims 15 to 19, in which said material comprises a 70% adnixtune of pdycartxmate.

21. A jack as daimed in any one of dams 1 to 20, in which said member is injection-moulded.

• •• • # • • •• • • • ♦

• • - t

• • • • • « ••• •

• • • • • • • • -

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22. A jack as daimed in any one of dams 1 to 21, in which said base has a non-slip upper surface portion.

23. A jack as claimed in any one of daims 1 to 22, comprising security means

24. A jack as claimed in any one of daims 1 to 23, comprising floor-fixing means.

25. A jack as claimed in claim 24, in which said floor-fixing means comprise aperture means in sad base.

5 26. A jack as daimed in any one of daims 1 to 25, in which the base has a hande at an end opposite to the engagement means.

27. A jack as daimed in claim 26, in which the hande is suitable to use as means by which to hang up the jack.

28. A jack as daimed in any one of claims 1 to 27, comprising means to enable elevation of the jack to an angled position to enable removal of the footwear while the wearer is seated.

10 29. A jack as claimed in any one of daims 1 to 28, in which the width of said base is sii>stant'ially equal to that of a par of the intended said footwear placed side by side.

30. A jack as claimed in any one of daims 1 to 28, in which the wicfth of said base is in the range of from 15 to 30 cm.

31. A jack as daimed in claim 30, in which the width of sad base is in the range of from 20 to 25 cm.

15 32. A jack as darned in any one of claims 1 to 31, which has a length equal to substantially the length of the intended said footwear.

33. A jack as claimed in any one of daims 1 to 32, which can be folded to facilitate portability.

34. A jack as claimed in any one of daims 1 to 33, which is formed as interengageable parts that can be disengaged to facilitate portability.

20 35. A jack as daimed in dam 34, in which said parts have tongue-anc^groove means by which they can be interengaged.

36. A jack as claimed in claim 35, in which sad parts are substantially identical.

37. A jack as claimed in any one of daims 34 to 36, which comprises connecting andfor reinforcing means to interconnect said parts, which means comprise recess means to accommodate a connecting andfor reinforcing

• • •

'• *•! 25 member and such member.

38. A jack for removing boots or other footwear and substantially acconing to any embodiment hereinbefore described

39. A jack for removing boots or other footwear and substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

30 40. A jack as claimed in any one of dams 1 to 39, in combination with a pair of footwear items intended for use with the jack.

41. A jack as claimed in daim 40, in which the spadng between said base and a said engagement means is substantially equal to the dstance between a said shoulder and the bottom of the acfacent part of the respective said footwear item.

35 42. A jack member having connecting means to connect it side by side to another such member to form a jack as darned in any one of daims 1 to 39.

43. A jack member as darned in daim 42, in which said connecting means comprise part of tongue-and-groove means.

• • • • • • • • • • ••• • ♦

M*

• ••

• • fl • • .

• • 1

• ♦ l

-13-

44. A jack member as claimed in claim 42, in which said connecting means comprise part of tongue-and-groove means along one side of said base and a complementary-shaped part of such tongue-and-groove means along an opposite side erf said base.

45. A jack member as claimed in any one of dams 42 to 44, in which said connecting means is part of 5 connecting and/or reinforcing means which comprise recess means to accommodate a connecting ancVor reinforcing member.

46. A kit of parts for a jack as claimed in claim 1, comprising a pair of jack members, each as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 45.

47. A jack comprising a par of jack members each separately as claimed in any one erf claims 42 to 45.

10 48. A jack comprising a pair of jack members each separately as claimed in any one of clams 42 to 45 and a connecting and/or reinforcing member adapted to be accommodated by both members at once to hold them together.

49. A method of removing a par of boots or other footwear items each having a rearward, ipward-facing shoulder, in which method there is used a jack comprising a base and two engagement means mounted to the rear of the base, said items are placed side by side on the jack and each engagement means in tivn is engaged over a sad

15 shoulder and the foot pulled out of that item of the pair.

50. A method of removing a par of boots or other footwear items each having a rearward, upward-facing shoulder, in which method there is used a jack comprising a base and two engagement means mounted to the base, sa'd items are placed side by side on the jack to the front of the engagement means and each engagement means in turn is engaged over a said shoulder of a respective said item and the foot pulled out of that item o# the pair while

• 20 pressing aga'nst the base with the other toot with a substantially equal aid opposite force.