SHOE FITTING AID

Abstract

 A shoe fitting aid (1) comprises an elongate shaft (2) having a handle (3) at one end and a shoe engaging head (4) mounted spaced-apart from the handle (3) at an opposite end of the shaft (2). The shoe engaging head (4) has a body (5) forming an extension of the shaft (2) with a narrowed outer cylindrical tip (6). A laterally projecting hook (7) on the body (5) is spaced inwardly from the outer tip (6) and curves inwardly away from the tip (6) of the body (5). In use, the handle (3) of the shoe fitting aid (1) is gripped by the user and the hook (7) is engaged with an eye in an outer closure flap of a shoe which folds over the instep to engage and disengage the outer closure flap to put on or remove the shoe on the foot of the wearer.

Description

Introduction

[0001] This invention relates to a shoe fitting aid.

[0002] Many people with limited mobility and strength have difficulty in dressing and putting on footwear. Various devices, for example with grabs of one type or another, have been proposed to assist with dressing and putting on shoes. These have met with varying degrees of success, particularly when they are primarily designed to aid dressing, in which case they are not always ideal to aid with putting on shoes. For example, US 9,907,364 B1 discloses a shoe aid appliance having a pole with a pair of hooks at an outer end of the pole for engaging and manipulating flaps on a shoe. Another device, comprising an elongate rod with a handle at one end and a shoe-engaging hook at the other end, is disclosed in US 2011/0226821 A1. US 8,898,936 B1 discloses a footwear fastening aid comprising a dressing stick with a hook at one end. A shoe donning enabler is described in US 5,974,701 A comprising a rod with a hook at a lower end for engaging closure flap on a shoe. CN 2223943Y and JP 20171313018 disclose shoe horn type devices for fitting shoes.

[0003] The present invention is primarily concerned with an aid to assist with putting on shoes. In particular the invention is an aid for shoes of the type having a closure flap which folds across an instep of the shoe and is releasably secured by a fastener to retain the shoe on a wearer's foot. The fastener is commonly provided by a hook and pile faster to facilitate ease of engagement and disengagement. However, even so, persons of limited mobility and strength can have difficulty in engaging the closure flap firmly and securely and subsequently releasing the closure flap.

[0004] The present invention is directed towards overcoming this problem.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to the invention there is provided a shoe fitting aid for a shoe of the type having a closure flap which folds across an instep of the shoe and is releasably secured by a fastener to retain the shoe on a wearer's foot, the shoe fitting aid comprising an elongate shaft having a handle and a shoe engaging head mounted on the shaft spaced-apart from the handle, the shoe engaging head having means to engage the closure flap on the shoe for folding the closure flap between open and closed positions.

[0006] In one embodiment of the invention the shoe engaging head has a body forming an extension of the shaft with a laterally projecting hook spaced inwardly from an outer tip of the body.

[0007] In another embodiment of the invention the hook curves inwardly away from the tip of the body.

[0008] In another embodiment of the invention the hook is L-shaped, having an inner portion substantially perpendicular to the body and an outer portion substantially parallel to the body. An arcuate or curved hook, curving away from the tip would also be possible.

[0009] In another embodiment of the invention a lever element projects laterally outwardly of the body at an opposite side of the body to the hook.

[0010] In another embodiment of the invention the lever element has an inner end extending perpendicularly outwardly from the body and an outer end angled forwardly from the inner end in the direction of the tip.

[0011] In another embodiment of the invention the outer end is angled in the range 30° to 60° relative to the inner end.

[0012] In another embodiment of the invention the outer end is angled at 45° to the inner end.

[0013] In another embodiment of the invention the inner end of the lever element and the inner portion of the hook are in alignment.

[0014] In another embodiment an annular shoulder is formed on the body where the inner end of the tip joins the body.

[0015] In another embodiment of the invention the handle comprises a flat hand grip.

[0016] In another embodiment of the invention the handle forms a shoe horn.

[0017] In another embodiment of the invention the shaft is length adjustable.

[0018] In another embodiment of the invention the shaft is collapsible.

[0019] In another embodiment of the invention the shaft comprises a plurality of shaft sections with threaded connectors therebetween.

[0020] In another aspect of the invention the invention provides a kit comprising the shoe fitting aid in combination with a punch for punching a hole in a shoe closure flap, a reinforcing grommet for mounting in the hole to reinforce a periphery of the hole and a tool for clamping the grommet in the hole about the periphery of the hole to form an eye for engagement by the shoe fitting aid.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe fitting aid according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail side view of a handle portion of the shoe fitting aid;

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing an alternative handle portion for the shoe fitting aid;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of an alternative shoe engaging head portion for the shoe fitting aid;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a shoe with a closure flap in a closed position; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the shoe with the closure flap shown in an open position.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0022] Referring to the drawings, and in initially to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 thereof, there is illustrated a shoe fitting aid according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The shoe fitting aid 1 comprises an elongate shaft 2 having a handle 3 at one end and a shoe engaging head 4 mounted spaced-apart from the handle 3 at an opposite end of the shaft 2. The shoe engaging head 4 has a body 5 forming an extension of the shaft 2 with a narrowed outer cylindrical tip 6. A laterally projecting hook 7 on the body 5 is spaced inwardly from the outer tip 6.

[0023] It will be noted that the hook 7 curves inwardly away from the tip 6 of the body 5. In this case the hook 7 is L-shaped, having an inner portion 8 extending perpendicularly outwardly from the body 5 and an outer portion 9 which is substantially parallel to the body 5. The handle 3 in this case comprises a substantially flat hand grip as best seen in Fig. 2.

[0024] Referring to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, there is shown a shoe 15 having an instep flap 16, and a closure flap which in this case comprises an inner closure flap 17 and an outer closure flap 18 which fold together to secure the shoe 15 on the foot of a wearer. Hook and pile fastener elements 19 are provided on an inner face 20 of the outer closure flap 18 and an outer face 21 of the inner closure flap 17 to secure the shoe 15 on the foot of the wearer. It will be noted that the outer closure flap 18 is provided with an eye 22, or through-hole, for engagement by the shoe engaging head 4 of the shoe fitting aid 1.

[0025] The hook 7 on the body 5 is engagable with the eye 22 for manoeuvring the flap 18. An annular shoulder 10 is formed on the body 5 at an inner end of the tip 6 where it joins the body 5. Thus, if required, the top 6 may be inserted through the eye 22 with the shoulder 10 abutting a periphery of the eye 22 to allow manipulation of the flap 18 by the aid 1. That is the tip 6 is sized to pass through the eye, however, the body 5 will not pass through the eye 22.

[0026] In use, the handle 3 of the shoe fitting aid 1 is gripped by the user and the hook 7 is engaged with the eye 22 in the outer closure flap 18 to engage and disengage the outer closure flap 18 with the inner closure flap 17 to put on or remove the shoe 15 on the foot of the wearer. It will be noted that the wide flat handle 3 facilitates rotation of the shaft 2 and hence the hook 7 to fold the outer closure flap 18 between the closed and open positons.

[0027] Referring now in particular to Fig. 3, there is shown an alternative handle 25 for the shoe fitting aid 1. In this case the handle 3 forms a shoe horn 25.

[0028] Referring now to Fig. 4, there is shown an alternative shoe engaging head 30 for the shoe fitting aid 1. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case a lever element 31 projects laterally outwardly of the body 5 at an opposite side of the body 5 to the hook 7. The lever element 31 has an inner end 32 which extends perpendicularly outwardly from the body 5, in line with the inner portion 8 of the hook 7, and an outer end 33 angled forwardly from the inner end 32 in the direction of the tip 6. In this case the outer end 33 is angled at about 45° to the inner end 32.

[0029] In use, the lever element 31 can be braced against the side of the shoe 15 while pivoting the hook 7 to fold the outer closure flap 18 across the instep 16 to facilitate a more firm and tight closure of the closure flap 18 to securely fasten the closure flap 18 and firmly secure the shoe 15 on the foot of the wearer.

[0030] While the shoes 15 may incorporate an eye 22 on each closure flap 18 it is envisaged that more usually the eye 22 will be retro-fitted to the closure flap 18 of each shoe 15 as required after selection of the pair of shoes 15. A metal grommet forming the eye 22 can be easily inserted on each closure flap 18.

[0031] The shaft 2 can be any suitable length for the convenience of the user. It can be of fixed length, or it could be length adjustable. It may be foldable or collapsible for convenience if desired. The shaft may comprise a plurality of shaft sections which screw together by means of complementary threaded connectors at the ends of each shaft section.

[0032] It will be noted that the shoe fitting aid may be provided in a kit which further comprises a punch for punching a hole in the shoe closure flap 18, a grommet for reinforcing a periphery of the hole, and a tool for crimping or clamping the grommet in the hole to form the eye 22 in the outer closure flap18 for engagement by the shoe fitting aid 1. The punch, grommet and associated grommet fitting tool could of course be supplied separately and retained by a shoe retailer for example so that the shoes 15 may be adjusted when purchased to form the eye 22 if required.

[0033] In the specification the terms "comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising" or any variation thereof and the terms "include, includes, included and including" or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be afforded the widest possible interpretation and vice versa.

[0034] The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A shoe fitting aid (1) for a shoe (15) of the type having a closure flap (18) which folds across an instep of the shoe (15) and is releasably secured by a fastener (19) to retain the shoe (15) on a wearer's foot, the shoe fitting aid (1) comprising an elongate shaft (2) having a handle (3) and a shoe engaging head (4, 30) mounted on the shaft (2) spaced-apart from the handle (3), the shoe engaging head (4, 30) having means (7) to engage the closure flap (18) on the shoe (15) for folding the closure flap (18) between open and closed positions, characterised in that the shoe engaging head (4, 30) has a body (5) forming an extension of the shaft (2) with a laterally projecting hook (7) spaced inwardly from an outer tip (6) of the body (5).

2. The shoe fitting aid (1) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hook (7) curves inwardly away from the tip (6) of the body (5).

3. The shoe fitting aid (1) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the hook (7) is L-shaped, having an inner portion (8) perpendicular to the body (5) and an outer portion (9) parallel to the body (5).

4. The shoe fitting aid (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a lever element (31) projects laterally outwardly of the body (5) at an opposite side of the body (5) to the hook (7).

5. The shoe fitting aid (1) as claimed in claim 4 wherein the lever element (31) has an inner end (32) extending perpendicularly outwardly from the body (5) and an outer end (33) angled forwardly from the inner end (32) in the direction of the tip (6).

6. The shoe fitting aid (1) as claimed in claim 5 wherein the outer end (33) is angled in the range 30° to 60° relative to the inner end (32).

7. The shoe fitting aid (1) as claimed in claim 6 wherein the outer end (33) is angled at 45° to the inner end (32).

8. The shoe fitting aid (1) as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the inner end (32) of the lever element (31) and the inner portion (8) of the hook (7) are in alignment.

9. The shoe fitting aid (1) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an annular shoulder (10) is formed on the body (5) where an inner end of the tip (6) joins the body (5).

10. The shoe fitting aid (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the handle (3) comprises a flat hand grip.

11. The shoe fitting aid (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle (3) forms a shoe horn (25).

12. The shoe fitting aid (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaft (2) is length adjustable.

13. The shoe fitting aid (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaft (2) is collapsible.

14. The shoe fitting aid (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaft (2) comprises a plurality of shaft sections with threaded connectors therebetween.

Drawing