US2475390A

US2475390A - Shoe tree

Info

Publication number: US2475390A
Application number: US690719A
Authority: US
Inventors: Florence S Hurwitz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-08-15
Filing date: 1946-08-15
Publication date: 1949-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 1966-07-05

Description

July 5, 1949. F. s. HURWITZ 2,475,390

SHOE TREE Filed Aug. 15, 1946 INVENTOR.

lorepce J Hurwfif 6 j I I 47703 y Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE TREE Florence S. Hurwitz, New York, N. Y.

Application August 15, 1946, Serial No. 690,719

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in shoe trees and has reference more particularly to a shoe tree for use with open heel shoes.

One of the important objects of the present invention. is to provide a shoe tree that includes a body portion adapted to fit snugly within the toe portion of a shoe and a spring pressed member for engaging the inner sole of the shoe.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a shoe tree that can be readily inserted and removed and when in position within the toe portion of the shoe, will maintain the shoe distended and free of wrinkles while the shoe is not being worn.

A still further object is to provide a shoe tree that is inexpensive, strong and durable and at all times positive and efficient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, forming part of the specification and in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a perspective view of a womans open heel shoe showin my improved shoe tree positioned therein;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through one form of the shoe tree; taken on the line 22 of Fi 4;

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation thereof, with parts broken away;

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the shoe tree, and

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the shoe tree, showing the various parts disconnected.

In the drawings, with reference more particularly to Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the numeral I designates the body of the shoe tree, the same being formed of wood, metal or plastic. This body is in the form of a shell shaped to fit within the toe portion of a shoe, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1.

The body is formed with a convex outer face 2 and a concave inner face 3. It will also be noted that the body is suitable thickness. The bottom of the shell is open. An elongated slot d is formed in the concave inner face 3 and the same extends inwardly from the arcuate rear edge 5 of the body I. Grooves 6 are formed in the side walls of the slot 4, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 5.

Forming a salient part of the present invention is the V-shaped member 1 formed of flat spring steel. This member includes the upper arm or 2 leg 8 and the lower arm or leg 9, the same being interconnected at their forward ends by the looped portion It.

The rear end portion H of the upper arm or leg is slightly bent upwardly and terminates in a curved downwardly extending finger portion ii.

The lower arm or leg 9 is straight throughout its length and terminates at its rear end in an upwardly curved hook portion l3, that coacts with the finger portion I2, in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described.

The forward portion of the upper arm or leg 8 is disposed within the slot 4 of the body I and for the purpose of securing the V-shaped spring memher to the body, I employ a locking strip 1 4.

This locking strip is wider than the arm or leg 8 and underlies the forward portion of said arm or leg 8, with the side edges of the locking strip being receivable in the respective grooves 5. Teeth l5 extend upwardly from the upper face of the locking strip and are adapted to be forced into the bottom face of the arm or leg 8 when the strip I4 is positioned within the grooves 6. The rear end of the locking strip is bent downwardly to provide a gripping portion I6, whereby the locking strip I 4 can be inserted or removed from the grooves 6.

When the parts are assembled in the manner as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the shoe tree can be readily and easily inserted in position within the toe portion of a shoe by merely grasping the finger portion l2 and the hook portion I3 and urging them together.

After the shoe tree has been properly inserted within the toe portion of a shoe, the finger portion l2 and the hook portion l3 are released and the resiliency of the V-shaped member will automatically force the convex face 2 of the body upwardly against the inner face of the toe portion of the shoe, while the rear portion of the lower arm or leg 9 will engage and bear against the insole of the shoe, near the shank portion thereof.

In this manner the shoe tree will hold the shoe distended and free of wrinkles while the shoe is not being worn. This type of shoe tree is especially adapted for use in connection with ladies shoes of the open heel types, although the same can be equally as well used in shoes that are provided with closed counters at the heel portion.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a shoe tree that will at all times be positive and efficient in its operation and due .to its simplicity can be readily inserted and removed.

Further, due to its simplicity, the shoe tree can be manufactured and sold at a very nominal cost and the same will be strong and durable.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

A shoe tree comprising a body portion shaped to fit within the toe portion of a shoe, a resilient member attached to said portion for holding the shoe tree in a fixed position within the toe portion of the shoe, said resilient member comprising upper and lower fiat spring arms connected together at their forward ends, said body portion having a slot formed in the underface of the top portion thereof to receive the forward portion of the upper arm, the sides of the slot being formed with grooves, a locking strip engaging the under face of the forward portion of the upper arm and having its side edges receivable in said grooves to secure the upper arm in said slot, teeth projecting upwardly from the upper face of the locking strip and adapted to be forced into the bottom face of the forward portion of the upper arm, said lower spring arm having a portion thereof engaging and bearing against the insole of the shoe, the rear end portions of the arms extending beyond the rear end of the body portion, a finger piece formed on the rear end of the upper arm, an upwardly disposed hook formed on the rear end of the lower arm to provide means for disengagement of the lower spring arm from the insole and to permit the removal of the shoe tree from the toe portion of the shoe.

FLORENCE S. HURWITZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Nurnber Name Date 904,639 Partridge Nov. 24, 1908 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 495,811 Great Britain Nov. 21, 1938