US20090039747A1

US20090039747A1 - Footwear storage device

Info

Publication number: US20090039747A1
Application number: US12/215,736
Authority: US
Inventors: II James L. Webster; Peter R. Bryson; John S. Loney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-10
Filing date: 2008-06-30
Publication date: 2009-02-12

Abstract

A footwear storage device includes a housing member having a generally hollow interior portion. Such housing member is manufactured from a first predetermined material and has a first predetermined size and shape. At least one drawer type member manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined size and shape is operably connected to such housing member at a predetermined location within such generally hollow interior portion. A supporting means is operably disposed within such at least one drawer member for supporting a plurality of predetermined items of footwear. A means having a first portion operably disposed on such drawer type member at a predetermined location thereon and a second mating portion operably disposed on such housing member at a predetermined location thereon enables such drawer type member to extend to a position outside of such interior portion and to retract to a position within such interior portion.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/964,361 filed Aug. 10, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to storage devices and, more particularly, this invention relates to footwear storage devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, shoe storage devices, as are generally well known in the prior art, have been used to store shoes.
Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following: U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,171 discloses a carousel shoe cabinet for storing shoes in an organized manner. The carousel shoe cabinet includes a cabinet with an upper compartment therein. A carousel assembly is provided in upper compartment. The carousel assembly includes shoe sleeves for housing shoes and is rotatable.
Gesing, U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,208, discloses a shoe storage cabinet structure having horizontally pivoted front door panel members opening to display at least two compartments with platforms for storing side by side pairs of shoes of various styles and sizes. The shoe storage compartments are easy to assemble by means of two hinging plates which permit shelves to be retained without the necessity of screws between matrixed cavities of two spaced hinge plates. The hinges provide compact cabinet housing structure for neatly storing behind a pivotable front panel compartment many shoes in a small space so that the shoes are projected into view by pivoting the front panel for mass viewing and convenient selection.
Simonek, U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,063 discloses a vertical panel mounted in a cabinet for movement into and out of the cabinet. A plurality of removable accessory holders are attached to the panel for holding accessories. A drawer front is attached to the panel for closing the cabinet when the panel is in the cabinet. The drawer front is attached to the panel along a line that is offset from the midline of the drawer front, to provide more room on one side of the panel for larger accessories. In some embodiments, the panel is a pegboard. The accessories holders include racks for shoes, pegs on which accessories can be hung, or trays for holding rings, earrings, and similar items.
Motley, U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,176, discloses a housing having a carousel mounted rotatably interiorly thereof. The carousel includes a plurality of planar support plates angularly inclined relative to each vertical wall of the carousel, with a window opening mounted overlying an upper terminal edge of each planar support for securing an upper portion of a shoe there within.
Hakeem, U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,442 discloses a shoe organizational system includes a slider assembly adapted to be mounted in a closet and a panel secured to a slide member of the slider assembly for movement between a retracted or storage position within the closet or an extended position for viewing shoe selection purposes. A plurality of horizontally disposed and vertically spaced shoe rack units are secured on one or both sides of the panel to extend there across. A plurality of pairs of laterally spaced shoe supports are secured on each of the shoe rack units to accommodate the storage of shoes thereon. A plurality of the systems can be mounted in side-to-side relationship in a closet, should the need arise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a footwear storage device. Such footwear storage device includes a housing member having a generally hollow interior portion. Such housing member is manufactured from a first predetermined material and has a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape. At least one drawer type member is manufactured from a second predetermined material and has a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape and is operably connected to such housing member at a predetermined location within such generally hollow interior portion. A supporting means is operably disposed within such at least one drawer member for supporting a plurality of predetermined items of footwear. A means having a first portion operably disposed on such drawer type member at a predetermined location thereon and a second mating portion operably disposed on such housing member at a predetermined location thereon enables such drawer type member to extend to a position outside of such interior portion and to retract to a position within such interior portion.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a footwear storage device which easily and conveniently provided storage for a plurality of pairs of footwear.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a footwear storage device that is aesthetically appealing.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet with sliding drawer type members for housing footwear such that a user can easily slide the drawer type member open to retrieve footwear housed in a back portion of the cabinet.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a storage cabinet with telescopic sliding shoe racks capable of holding between a plurality of pairs of shoes.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a footwear storage device which is stackable with additional ones of such footwear storage device such that a user may easily implement adequate storage for his or her shoes.
In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.
Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-2.
A footwear storage device, generally designated 10, is provided. Such footwear storage device 10 includes a housing member 12 having a generally hollow interior portion 14.
Such housing member 12 is manufactured from a first predetermined material and has a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape. It is presently preferred that such first predetermined material is at least one of wood, plastic, and metal. It is presently preferred that such first predetermined material is wood.
It is presently preferred that such first predetermined shape is substantially rectangular.
At least one drawer type member 16 is manufactured from a second predetermined material and has a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape. It is presently preferred that such first predetermined material and such second predetermined material are substantially identical.
Such at least one drawer type member 16 is operably connected to such housing member 12 at a predetermined location within such generally hollow interior portion 14.
A supporting means 18 is operably disposed within such at least one drawer member 16 for supporting a plurality of predetermined items of footwear 22.
A means 24 having a first portion 26 operably disposed on such drawer type member 16 at a predetermined location thereon and a second mating portion 28 operably disposed on such housing member 12 at a predetermined location thereon enables such drawer type member 16 to extend to a position outside of such interior portion and to retract to a position within such interior portion 14.
It is presently preferred that such means 24 for enabling such drawer type member 16 to extend and retract is at least one drawer slide 32. It is presently preferred that such means 24 for enabling such drawer type member 16 to extend and retract is a pair of side mounted drawer slides 32. It is presently preferred that such pair of drawer slides 32 are ball bearing type drawer slides 34.
It is presently preferred that such housing member 12 includes at least one of a back wall 36, a bottom wall 38, at least one side wall 42, a top wall 44 and a combination thereof.
It is presently preferred that such at least one drawer type member 16 further includes a front portion 46 having a first end 48 and a second end 52, a rear portion 54 having a first end 56 and a second end 58, and a pair of side portions 62 each having a first end 64 and a second end 66 and such side portions 62 being perpendicularly disposed between such front portion 46 and such rear portion 54 closely adjacent each end thereof. It is presently preferred that such front portion 46 includes a handle member 68 operably disposed on a predetermined exterior portion thereof.
It is presently preferred that such supporting means 18 for supporting such plurality of predetermined items of footwear 22 includes at least one footwear support member 74 manufactured from a third predetermined material and having a third predetermined size and a third predetermined shape.
Such footwear support member 74 has at least one horizontally disposed portion 76 and a plurality of vertically disposed portions 78 operably connected thereto, each one of such plurality of vertically disposed portions 78 being for receiving and supporting a predetermined portion of a predetermined item of footwear 22. Such footwear support member 74 is perpendicularly disposed between at least one of such front portion 46 and such back portion 54, such side portions 62, and a combination thereof.
It is presently preferred that such footwear storage device 10 includes at least six vertically disposed portions per each horizontally disposed portion.
It is further presently preferred that such footwear storage device 10 includes at least three horizontally disposed portions per each drawer type member 16.
It is presently preferred that such third predetermined material is at least one of metal, plastic and a combination thereof.
It is presently preferred that such drawer type member 16 includes a plurality of such footwear support members 74.
It is presently preferred that such footwear storage device 10 is stackable with at least one additional footwear storage device.
It is presently preferred that such footwear storage device 10 further includes a plurality of wheel members 82 operably disposed on a bottom surface of such housing member 12 at predetermined locations thereon.
It is presently preferred that such footwear storage device 10 can hold between about 12 and about 24 pairs of shoes.
While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A footwear storage device comprising:

a. a housing member having a generally hollow interior portion, said housing member being manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape;

b. at least one drawer type member manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape being operably connected to said housing member at a predetermined location within said generally hollow interior portion;

c. a supporting means operably disposed within said at least one drawer member for supporting a plurality of predetermined items of footwear; and

d. a means having a first portion operably disposed on a said drawer type member at a predetermined location thereon and a second mating portion operably disposed on said housing member at a predetermined location thereon for enabling said drawer type member to extend to a position outside of said interior portion and to retract to a position within said interior portion.

2. A footwear storage device according to claim 1 wherein said housing member includes at least one of a back wall, a bottom wall, at least one side wall, a top wall and a combination thereof.

3. A footwear storage device according to claim 1 wherein said at least one drawer type member further includes a front portion having a first end and a second end, a rear portion having a first end and a second end, and a pair of side portions each having a first end and a second and said side portions being perpendicularly disposed between said front portion and said rear portion closely adjacent each end thereof.

4. A footwear storage device according to claim 3 wherein said means for supporting said plurality of predetermined items of footwear includes at least one footwear support member manufactured from a third predetermined material and having a third predetermined size and a third predetermined shape, said footwear support member having at least one horizontally disposed portion and a plurality of vertically disposed portions operably connected thereto, each one of said plurality of vertically disposed portions for receiving and supporting a predetermined portion of a predetermined item of footwear, and wherein said footwear support member is perpendicularly disposed between at least one of said front end and said back end, said side portions, and a combination thereof.

5. A footwear storage device according to claim 4 wherein said drawer type member includes a plurality of said footwear support members.

6. A footwear storage device according to claim 1 wherein said means for enabling said drawer type member to extend and retract is at least one drawer slide.

7. A footwear storage device according to claim 6 wherein said means for enabling said drawer type member to extend and retract is a pair of side mounted drawer slides.

8. A footwear storage device according to claim 7 wherein said pair of drawer slides are ball bearing type drawer slides.

9. A footwear storage device according to claim 1 wherein said first predetermined shape is substantially rectangular.

10. A footwear storage device according to claim 1 wherein said footwear storage device is stackable with at least one additional footwear storage device.

11. A footwear storage device according to claim 3 wherein said front portion includes a handle member operably disposed on a predetermined exterior portion thereof.

12. A footwear storage device according to claim 1 wherein said first predetermined material is at least one of wood, plastic, and metal.

13. A footwear storage device according to claim 14 wherein said predetermined material is wood.

14. A footwear storage device according to claim 1 wherein said first predetermined material and said second predetermined material are substantially identical.

15. A footwear storage device according to claim 1 wherein said footwear storage device further includes a plurality of wheel members operably disposed on a bottom surface of said housing member at predetermined locations thereon.

16. A footwear storage device according to claim 4 wherein said third predetermined material is at least one of metal, plastic and a combination thereof.

17. A footwear storage device according to claim 1 wherein said footwear storage device can hold between about 12 and about 24 pairs of shoes.

18. A footwear storage device according to claim 4 wherein said footwear storage device includes at least six vertically disposed portions per each of said at least one horizontally disposed portions.

19. A footwear storage device according to claim 4 wherein said footwear storage device includes at least three horizontally disposed portions per each of said at least one drawer type member.