Apparel apparatus – Putting on or removing garments – Boot and shoe
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-02
2001-11-20
Mohanty, Bibhu (Department: 3765)
Apparel apparatus
Putting on or removing garments
Boot and shoe
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318607
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a shoe horn of a flexible, thin material, for example, plastic or metal, which, in use, changes its shape to correspond approximately to the inner rear portion of a shoe where the heel of the user is inserted.
STATE OF THE ART
Shoe horns of the conventional type, that is, that are made of a hard material and are C-shaped, are bulky to carry.
U.S. Pat No. 2,171,310 (Morgan) describes a flexible, flat shoe horn with the ability to adjust its shape. It consists of a casing of leather with an enclosed packet of threads or feathers that can be pulled out when the shoe horn is to be used. Even this shoe horn is relatively clumsy and thick and cannot easily be stored in, for example, a wallet.
The same is true for the shoe horn that is described in DE, A, 341,089 (Harper).
U.S. Design Pat. Nos. 355,522 and 360,743 (both in the name of Simpson) have handle portions that extend from a flat surface and that make storing them difficult.
The Swiss patent text 183,654 (Urban-Klump) describes a shoe horn of a thin, flexible material that allows it to adjust it to a heel that is to be inserted into a shoe. The shoe horn has an outer, approximately oval handle portion; a lower portion of the shoe horn has such a length that the handle portion, when the shoe horn is being used, is located a considerable distance above the heel of the shoe in which the shoe horn is to be used. The length of the shoe horn is such that it cannot be stored in, for example, a wallet.
SE, A, 9,202,512 (Furendal) describes a shoe horn for disabled persons, whose main idea is that, by using a “clip,” one can anchor the shoe horn in place on the shoe before an attempt is made to put it on. A clip of this type has elements that extend from the plane of the shoe horn; this not only makes it more difficult to insert the foot into the shoe, but also makes the shoe horn less suitable for storing in, for example, a wallet.
U.S. Pat No. 865,462 (Weeks) describes a shoe horn that has the disadvantage that it cannot assume a definite position relative to the shoe when the foot is inserted, so that one must as a rule hold the shoe horn when the foot is inserted into the shoe, which complicates the procedure.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a shoe horn that, more securely than known shoe horns, cooperates with the shoe when the shoe is being pulled on so that this is made easier and also so that one can easily carry it without it being too bulky.
The shoulders or hook-shaped portions between the portions of the shoe horn contribute to fixing the shoe horn in position on the shoe in connection with the procedure of putting the shoe on, which means that this can be done essentially without having to hold the shoe horn, whereby the procedure of putting the shoe on is made easier and, if desired, can be done while standing.
At least one side can be coated or treated in order to reduce friction so that it is easier to insert the foot.
Because of the shape of the shoe horn, it can with advantage have print, for example, an advertising message.
Some embodiments of the shoe horn according to the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 803135 (1905-10-01), Rorback
patent: 990283 (1911-04-01), Merrow
patent: 1403338 (1922-01-01), Minkoff
patent: 1690516 (1928-11-01), Wickers
patent: 1832339 (1931-11-01), Wilke
patent: 2133068 (1938-10-01), Wiegman
patent: 2171310 (1939-08-01), Morgan
patent: 3107830 (1963-10-01), Teague
patent: 3175307 (1965-03-01), Evans
patent: 4007928 (1977-02-01), Doubt
patent: 4290539 (1981-09-01), Lowery
patent: 5741569 (1998-04-01), Votino et al.
Mohanty Bibhu
Slusher Jeffrey
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