The present invention relates to a shoetree with high versatility of use. More specifically, the invention relates to a shoetree with a twofold function.

As is known, shoetrees are available on the market the function of which is to maintain the shape of the shoes into which they are inserted. Conventional shoetrees are usually constituted by a front portion that reproduces the shape of the toe of the shoe and a rear portion, connected to the front portion, which is adapted to engage, by digging in, against the heel of the shoe.

In this manner, the shoetree is under tension inside the shoe and this contributes to maintaining the shoe in shape.

Also known is the fact that often, in order to put on some types of shoes, it is mandatory for users to resort to a shoehorn.

Conventional shoehorns are constituted by a sort of blade that is contoured so as to be interposed between the heel of the foot of the user and the heel of the shoe, so as to facilitate the entry of the foot into the shoe and thus the donning of the shoe.

It often occurs that, when the shoehorn would be useful, it is not within reach of the user.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a shoetree with high versatility of use.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a shoetree that has a twofold function.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoetree that substantially maintains the space occupation of conventional shoetrees.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoetree that is highly reliable, easily and practically implemented and low cost.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a shoetree, comprising a tubular element adapted to be inserted in a shoe and to bear at one end a portion that substantially reproduces the shape of the toe of a shoe, said tubular element being provided, at the opposite end, with a shoehorn-shaped portion, which is pivoted to said tubular element, in order to pass from a condition for use as a shoetree to a condition for use as a shoehorn.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the shoetree according to the invention, which are illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the shoetree according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a further perspective view of the shoetree of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the shoetree according to a first embodiment, in an active configuration for use as a shoetree;

Figure 4 is a further perspective view of the shoetree of Figures 1 , 2 and 3;

Figure 5 and Figure 6 are respectively a plan view and a side view of the shoetree according to a first embodiment, in a second active configuration;

Figure 7 is a side view of the shoetree according to the invention in the active configuration in the shoetree mode;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the shoetree according to the invention;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the shoetree according to the second embodiment, in a second active condition;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the shoetree of the second embodiment;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the shoetree according to the second embodiment; Figure 12 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the shoetree according to the present invention;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the shoetree according to the present invention, in a third active condition that is different from that shown in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the shoetree according to the invention shown in Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a perspective view of the shoetree according to the invention in the same active condition shown in Figure 12;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the shoetree, in an active condition for use not as a shoetree;

Figure 17 is a view of the shoetree in Figure 16 in the active configuration for use as a shoetree,

Figure 18 is a further perspective view, from below, of the shoetree according to the invention, in the active condition shown in Figure 16;

Figure 19 is a further perspective view of the shoetree according to the fourth embodiment.

With reference to the figures, the shoetree according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, in the first embodiment, comprises a substantially tubular elastic body 2, which is provided at one end with a portion 3 that is adapted for example to be engaged by a shape that reproduces the toe of a shoe, not shown.

The opposite end of the elastic tubular element 2 is coupled by way of hinged means 5 to a portion 4 shaped like a shoehorn. Conveniently, the portion 4 is arranged so as to be positioned substantially along the same axis of the elastic tubular element 2 when the shoetree 1 is to be used in the shoehorn configuration.

In such case, in fact, the shoehorn- shaped portion 4 and the tubular element 2 are substantially aligned as shown in Figures 1, 2.

In the active configuration as a shoetree, illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, and also 7, the shoehorn-shaped portion 4 is arranged so as to be substantially perpendicular to the elastic tubular element 2, so as to allow the user to insert the shoehorn-shaped portion 4 in contact with the heel of the shoe, in the position opposite the front end 3 of the elastic tubular element.

The pivoting between the tubular element 2 and the shoehorn-shaped portion 4 occurs at the substantially central region of the shoehorn 4.

By contrast, in the second embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11, the shoehorn according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, comprises, similarly to the first embodiment, a shoehorn-shaped portion 4 that is connected by way of a hinge 5 to a tubular element 2, but in which the hingeing occurs at one end of the shoehorn-shaped portion 4.

It should be noted that, in the figures, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same elements. Therefore, in the different embodiments, these reference numerals are used to indicate elements that are common to the different embodiments.

Figures 12-15 show a third embodiment of the shoetree according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 100, in which the portion of tubular element 2 is coupled to the shoehorn-shaped portion 4 by way of a flat portion 6, which is integral with the shoehorn-shaped portion 4, by way of the hingeing 3 as in the previous embodiments.

In this case, in the condition for use as a shoetree, illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, the portion of shoetree 4 arranges itself in a position substantially parallel to the tubular element 2.

In the fourth embodiment, illustrated in Figures 16-19, and designated by the reference numeral 200, the shoetree according to the invention again has a tubular portion 2 that is connected by way of hingeing 5 to a shoehorn-shaped portion 4. In this case, the hingeing portion is defined in a hemispherical element 7 that is integral with the shoehorn-shaped portion 4 and is oriented according to an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shoehorn-shaped portion 4. In this manner, in the condition for use as a shoehorn, shown in Figure 1, the tubular element 2 will arrange itself substantially perpendicular to the shoehorn- shaped portion 4, while, in the condition for use as a shoetree, the shoehorn-shaped portion 4 will arrange itself in a position substantially parallel to the tubular element 2.

It should be noted that if the elastic tubular element 2 is arranged in the condition of maximum extension, accommodated inside the hemispherical element 7, the shoetree can be used as a shoehorn without requiring the user to bend.

In this condition the elastic tubular element 2 is locked in the hemispherical element 7 which, thanks to its geometric shape structure and to the elasticity of the plastic material with which the hemispherical element is made, is capable of widening upon the transition of the elastic tubular element and then narrowing again after the transition of the elastic tubular element, in this way acting as a lock for the shoehorn-shaped element 4 (which is integrally connected to the hemispherical element) in the extended position. In this shape structure the elastic tubular element, integrally connected with the front portion, substantially reproducing the shape of the toe of a shoe, acts as a handle for the shoehorn-shaped portion 4 in the extended position.

In practice it has been found that the shoetree according to the present invention fully achieves the set aim and objects, in that it makes it possible to be used both as a shoetree and, in conjunction, as a shoehorn.

The shoetree, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

In practice the materials employed, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art. The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MI2013A000890 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.