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1. Device (3; 103; 203; 303) for storage of at least one boot (l;101;102;201;202;301;302) with a leg ( Ia; 101a; 102a;
5 201a; 202a; 301a; 302a) , comprising a leg fastening means (5;105;205a;205b;305a;305b) arranged to be fastened to at least one leg ( Ia; 101a; 102a; 201a; 202a; 301a; 302a) , a fixed point fastening means (β;20β;306), such as a loop, arranged to be fastened to a fixed point arranged higher than the leg w (la;101a;102a;201a;202a;301a;302a) , and an elongated part
(4; 204; 304) running therebetween, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the elongated part (4;204;304) is elastic along at least a section (4a) of its length, and in that the elongated part (4;204;304) comprises a means (7 ; 207a; 207b; 307a; 307b) by
15 the help of which it is possible to adjust the length of the elongated part (4; 204; 304) .
2. Device (3; 103; 203; 303) according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the leg fastening means 0 (5;105;205a;205b; 305a;305b) is a clamp.
3. Device (103) according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c te r i s e d i n that the leg fastening means (105) is arranged to be fastened at a pair of boot legs (101a; 102a), 5 positioned next to each other, and at the same time join together the legs (101a; 102a) .
4. Device (3; 103; 203; 303) according to any one of the pre ¬ ceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the elon- 0 gated part (4;204;304) is between 0.5 and 4.5 meters of length when unloaded.
5. Device (3; 103; 203; 303) according to any one of the preceding claims, ch a r ac te r i s e d i n that the elongated part (4;204;304) is between 1.0 and 2.0 meters of length when unloaded.
5
6. Device (203) according to any one of the preceding claims, ch a r a c te r i s e d i n that the elongated part (204) is arranged to run from a first leg fastening means (205a) , arranged to be fastened to a first leg (201a) , via a
W fixed point fastening means (206) , arranged to be fastened to a fixed point, and further to a second leg fastening means (205b, ) , arranged to be fastened to a second leg (202a) , so that the elongated part (204) runs essentially vertically from the first leg (201a) , via the fixed point fastening
15 means (206) and back, in an essentially double-folded manner, essentially vertically, to the second leg (202a) .
7. Device (303) according to any one of the preceding claims, ch a r a c te r i s e d i n that more than one 0 elongated parts (304a; 304b) are fastened to a common fixed point fastening means (306), and in that each elongated part (304a; 304b) also is fastened to a respective leg fastening means (305a;305b) . |
Device for storing boots
The present invention relates to a device for use with boots. More precisely, the invention relates to a device for keeping up boot legs in a vertical position during storage.
During upright storage of boots, the boot legs tend to fold down towards the floor, or to collapse, as a consequence of gravity. For several reasons, this is problematic.
Firstly, this is not aesthetically attractive, since it may give an impression of untidiness. At the same time, boots being stored in this way consume unnecessarily much space. These problems become especially apparent when more than one pair of boots is stored in the same location.
Secondly, the thus stored boots may be damaged, for example in case the boots are damp after use and need drying. In this case, storing may result in the boot legs assuming a non desirable form and/or that the material of the boot is damaged and that the useful life for the boot therefore is reduced.
Several devices aiming at solving the above described prob- lems are known. For example, there are hook devices over which the boots are hung upside down, whereby the boot legs are stretched by gravity. Moreover, there are devices comprising one or several arms in the ends of which boots are hung right side up, in the upper parts of the legs. In the latter case, the legs are stretched by the boot hanging freely.
However, these devices are generally bulky, clumsy constructions, that also frequently are intended for permanent installation on a wall or the like, and that hence decrease flexibility of use of space in which they are installed. This means that they require an unnecessarily large amount of space for example in a hallway, and that it is necessary to make holes in, or to cause other damage to, surface layers in the space during installation. Also, such devices are often complicated, and therefore costly to manufacture.
There are also devices comprising inserts, manufactured from wood, cardboard or another rigid material, which inserts are inserted into a boot leg and, because of its rigidity, forces the boot leg to assume a predetermined, upright form. How- ever, the predetermined form does not, generally, correspond to the form naturally assumed during the user' s use of the boot, thereby counteracting the adaptation of the boot to its user during long term use. Moreover, problems with too slow drying may arise when using such inserts, alternatively too heavy drying in case an absorbing material is used.
Thus, it would be desirable to achieve a simple and cheap device, with a minimal need for permanent installation, for achieving storage of boots with stretched legs, without hav- ing a negative influence on the form of the boot legs.
The present invention solves the above described problems.
Thus, the invention relates to a device for storage of at least one boot with a leg, comprising a leg fastening means arranged to be fastened to at least one leg, a fixed point fastening means, such as a loop, arranged to be fastened to a fixed point arranged higher than the leg, and an elongated
part running therebetween, and is characterised in that the elongated part is elastic along at least a section of its length, and in that the elongated part comprises a means by the help of which it is possible to adjust the length of the elongated part.
In the following, the invention will be described in detail, with reference to exemplifying embodiments of the invention and to the appended drawings, where:
- Figure 1 illustrates a device according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention.
- Figure 2 illustrates a device according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention. - Figure 3 illustrates a device according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention.
- Figure 4 illustrates a device according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 1 illustrates a boot 1, comprising a leg Ia and a base part Ib. The boot is stored on a support 2, such as a floor indoors, a shoe-rack, the ground or another suitable support.
A device 3 comprises a boot fastening means 5, fastened to the upper part of the boot leg Ia. According to a preferred embodiment, the boot fastening means 5 is a clamp, clipped to one of the upper edges of the boot leg Ia. Since the other parts of the boot leg Ia thereby are free, no negative effects on the boot leg Ia, in the form of forced deformation, arises, to the contrary the form naturally arising as a re ¬ sult of use essentially remains even after storage of the boot 1. However, it is realised that the boot fastening means 5 may be designed in other, suitable ways, depending on the
purpose, the design of the boot leg Ia, etc. Thus, it is also for example possible to design the boot fastening means 5 in the form of a hook.
The boot fastening means 5 is fastened to an elongated part 4. In the opposite end of the elongated part 4, a fixed point fastening means 6 is fastened. By aid of the fixed point fastening means 6, the device 3 may be hung on an existing fixed point arranged on, for example, a wall. According to a preferred embodiment, the fixed point is constituted by an existing point of attachment in for example a hallway, such as a hook on a hat rack, banisters, attachment details on another piece of furniture, etc. It is possible to arrange an attachment point especially for use together with the present device 3, but it is preferred to use existing attachment points, since then no additional permanent installation is required for the use of the present invention.
Depending on what types of attachment points the device 3 is intended for use with, the fixed point fastening means 6 may be designed in different ways. In Figure 1, the fixed point attachment means 6 is illustrated as a loop, which for example may be hung over a hook 9, which hook 9 is part of a piece of hanging furniture 8, permanently installed on the wall of a hallway. However, the fixed point attachment means 6 may also be in the form of a hook, a clamp, a through hole in the end of the elongated part 4, a VELCRO® fastening or in the form of another suitable means which is compatible with a selection of different existing fastening points.
A means 7 is arranged to make it possible to adjust the length of the elongated part 4. Such an adjustment means 7 may for example be comprised of an adjustable strap or cam-
buckle made of plastic, metal or another suitable material, a VELCRO® fastening or another suitable means which is known per se. The adjustment means 7 makes it possible for the device 3 to be adapted for use with boots 1 of different height and with attachment points arranged at various heights above the support 2.
Moreover, the elongated part 4 is arranged with a section 4a of its length designed with elastic properties, such as by the help of a rubber band, a section made from elastic ribbon, a coil spring or the like. Preferably, the rest of the length of the elongated part 4 is made from a suitable, flexible material, such as textile, leather of non-rigid plastic. Depending on the properties of the elastic section 4a and on the intended area of use for the device 3, the section 4a may constitute a smaller or larger part of the length of the elongated part 4. According to a preferred embodiment, the whole of the elongated part 4 is made from an elastic material.
It is essential that the fixed point fastening means 6 is fastened to an attachment point which is arranged at a higher location than the leg fastening means 5, preferably essentially vertically above the leg fastening means 5. Thereaf- ter, the length of the elongated part 4 is adjusted so that its elastic properties give rise to a certain pulling force in the elongated part 4 between the fastening means 5, 6. Thus, this pulling force pulls the boot leg Ia upwards, against gravity, towards a position in which the boot leg Ia stands in an essentially vertical, stretched out and erect position.
It is possible to reach such a pulling force without the boot 1 being lifted from the floor or the support 2. In other words, the boot 2 stays standing on the floor and does not hang freely in a manner suspended by the device 3. Thereby, the purpose of the boot leg Ia stretching out is reached, with the therewith associated advantages, without forcing the leg Ia to deform disadvantageously . At the same time, soiling, of for example a wall on which the attachment point is arranged, is avoided, something which would otherwise have happened in case the boot 1 was freely suspended from the device 3.
It is realised that the above described adaptation of the strength of the pulling force involves a balanced adaptation of the whole elongated part 4, i.e. its elastic section 4a in combination with its other sections. Thus, devices 3 intended for attachment points arranged at comparatively low heights above the support 2, and which therefore are relatively short, may advantageously be designed with elastic sections 4a extending over a large part of the length of the elongated part 4. On the other hand, longer devices 3 may be designed with shorter elastic sections 4a in comparison to their longer elongated parts 4.
Figure 2 illustrates a device 103 according to another pre ¬ ferred embodiment of the present invention. All figures share the same reference numerals for corresponding and similar parts. In Figure 2, a pair of boots 101, 102 is shown, each boot of which comprising a respective base part 101b, 102b and a respective leg 101a, 102a.
A leg fastening means 105 is designed so that it may fasten the elongated part 4 to the two boot legs 101a, 102a simulta-
neously, and at the same time joining the two respective boot legs 101a, 102a one to the other. The leg fastening means 105 may be designed in any suitable way for reaching this purpose, such as for example as a clam, clipping together two adjoining edge portions of the boot legs 101a, 102a. In this way it is advantageously possible to arrange two boots in an upright position during storage, using only an elongated part 4 and only one fixed point fastening means 6.
Figure 3 also illustrates a device 203 in accordance with an additional preferred embodiment of the present invention, by the help of which a pair of boots 201, 202 may be arranged standing in an upright position during storage. The boots 201, 202 each comprises a base part 201b, 202b as well as a leg 201a, 202a.
At each respective leg 201a, 202a, a respective fastening means 205a, 205b is attached. An elongated part 204 runs, according to the reference numeral 204a, from the first leg fastening means 205a, upwards towards the attachment point, at which a fixed point fastening means 206 is constituted by the elongated part 204 itself, by the elongated part 204 running double-folded about, thereby hanging from, the at ¬ tachment point, in this case the hook 9, and runs further, according to the reference numeral 204b, down to the other leg fastening means 205b.
In Figure 3, two adjustment means 207a, 207b are illustrated, one along each section 204a, 204b of the elongated part 204, for adjusting its length. However, it is realised that it is also possible to arrange only one such adjustment means along the elongated part 204.
Naturally, a double-folded arrangement of the elongated part 204, such as is shown in Figure 3, may also be used in combination with a leg fastening means 105 such as is shown in Figure 2, whereby the pair of boots 201, 202 is positioned one adjoining the other, and whereby both ends of the elongated part 204 are fastened to one and the same leg fastening means. In this case, it is also possible to let only one of the ends of the elongated part 204 be fastened to a leg fastening means, whereby the other end of the elongated part 204 can constitute a part of a conventional device for adjusting the length of the elongated part 204. This may be accomplished by the use of for example an adjustable cambuckle, through which both ends of the elongated part 204 is arranged to run, in turn forming a loop hanging over the hook 9.
Furthermore, each leg fastening means 205a, 205b may be of the type being illustrated in Figure 2. Thus, in this case two pairs of boots may be stored in parallel, using the same device 203. In this case, the pairs of boots are suitably positioned one next to the other on the support 2.
Figure 4 illustrates another preferred device for upright storage of two or more boots 301, 302, whereby the boots each comprise a respective foot part 301b, 302b, as well as a respective leg 301a, 302a. A fixed point fastening means 306 is used herein for jointly supporting an elongated part 304 with two legs 304a, 304b.
It is realised that the elongated part 304 may be constituted by a single, elongated part 304, double-foldedly arranged about a yoke or the corresponding at the fixed point fasten ¬ ing means 306, in a manner similar to the one illustrated in Figure 3, but that the elongated part 304 also may comprise
two or more legs 304a, 304b, each being attached to the fixed point fastening means 306. It is also possible for several elongated parts to run double-foldedly through the fixed point fastening means 306, so that each respective elongated part forms a pair of legs, running down to the leg fastening means at two respective boots. In this way, two boots 301, 302, but also three or more boots, may be stored in an upright position using only one device 303 according to the present invention.
It is preferred that each respective elongated part 304, or in case the elongated part 304 does not run freely through the fixed point fastening means 206, each respective leg 304a, 304b, comprises at least one respective adjustment means 307a, 307b for adjustment of the length of each respective elongated part 304, alternatively of each respective leg 304a, 304b. In this way, the device 303 may be used together with a plurality of pairs of boots at the same time, even if the boots are of different height when they stand in an up- right position on the support 2.
According to another preferred embodiment, the fixed point fastening means 306 comprises an elongated, rigid part (not shown), extending essentially parallel to the support 2. In this case, several elongated parts or legs are fastened at different locations on the rigid part, preferably equidis- tantly, so that the elongated parts or legs, running down towards the boot legs, run essentially vertically from the fixed point fastening means 6.
Each elongated part, or when applicable each leg thereof, is preferably between 0.5 and 4.5 meters of length in a state without load. This length is heavily dependent on the in-
tended application, mostly concerning the type of existing attachment point together with which the device is intended to be used. For use together with hat racks, lengths of between 1.0 and 2.0 meters are preferred.
Of course, the present invention is also applicable for other types of footwear than boots, as long as the pieces of footwear have legs that tend to deform under their own weight when a piece of footwear is stored in an upright position.
Thus, the present invention solves the problems described in the introductory part, and makes a tidy and for the boots indulgent storage possible without requiring unnecessary space or any permanent installations. Moreover, the device according to the present invention can have a small and lightweight design and also be rollable, which for example makes the user capable of bringing it with him or her, or to put the device away when not used in a simple manner.
Above, preferred embodiments have been described. However, it is apparent to the skilled person that many modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, the invention shall not be limited to the described embodiments, but may be varied within the frame of the enclosed claims.
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