US20190290043A1

US20190290043A1 - Extension tool for helping a user remove or put on footwear

Info

Publication number: US20190290043A1
Application number: US16/159,668
Authority: US
Inventors: Hagop Zoulamian
Original assignee: Ziplace Inc
Current assignee: Ziplace Inc
Priority date: 2018-03-23
Filing date: 2018-10-14
Publication date: 2019-09-26
Also published as: CA3020764A1

Abstract

Described is an extension tool for manipulating a component of an item of footwear such as a zipper or heel loop to help with removing the item or putting on the item of footwear. The extension tool includes an extension defining a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an extension axis. There is a handle at the first end of the extension and an interactive element at the second end of the extension. The interactive element includes a main projection forming an obtuse angle to the extension axis which is provided for engaging the component of the item of footwear for pushing or pulling the component. The user grasps the handle and manipulates the interactive element to push or pull the component of the shoe to help with removing the item of footwear or putting on the item of footwear.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present specification relates generally to footwear, and more specifically relates to footwear fasteners and associated tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Footwear is widely recognized as an important personal possession used daily by many people. For many footwear users, their use of footwear also serves important fashion and social functions. The quantity and range of footwear available for purchase in the marketplace is huge. In addition to variation reflective of quality, dimensions, and intended use, much variety is provided to satisfy individual preferences with regard to such aspects as color, design, and material.
Many items of footwear incorporate laces as a means of closing the items of footwear to assist in holding the footwear securely around a foot. Some people have difficulty using laces or related closing features. For example, many young children have not yet learned to tie laces, many people may have trouble tying laces due to age-related decline, illness, injury, the effects of medication, developmental disabilities, or physical disabilities.
People who have difficulty with laces and related closing features and tools may accordingly lose access to a great number of potential footwear selections, and may find themselves limited to a comparatively small selection from which to satisfy their needs and desires. This may be particularly true for casual and athletic footwear, which are generally manufactured in a lace-up configuration and which may not function as well when in a non-lace-up configuration such as a slip-on, front-zipper, or Velcro™ configuration.
Many people may also find the act of bending down to hold, pull, or push a component of a footwear item when putting on or taking off the footwear item uncomfortable, difficult or otherwise undesirable. In some cases, some degree of bending may be acceptable, while in other cases the user may wish to avoid bending as much as possible.
Accordingly, there remains a need for improvements in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided an extension tool for manipulating a component of an item of footwear, comprising an extension defining a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an extension axis; a grip at the first end of the extension; and an interactive element at the second end of the extension, the interactive element including a main projection forming an obtuse angle to the extension axis and provided for engaging the component of the item of footwear for pushing or pulling the component, the interactive element configured to be deployed by a user grasping the grip to push or pull the component of the shoe while removing the item of footwear or putting on the item of footwear.
Other aspects and features according to the present application will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, embodiments of the invention, and how they may be carried into effect, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a shoe fastener according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is another front view of the shoe fastener of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the shoe fastener of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another back view of the shoe fastener of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of lace-up shoes of the prior art;

FIG. 6 is a partial top perspective view of the shoe fastener of FIG. 1 inserted in and secured to a shoe, with the zipper in a closed position;

FIG. 7 is another partial top perspective view of the shoe fastener of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is another partial top perspective view of the shoe fastener of FIG. 6, with the zipper in an open position;

FIG. 9 is another partial top perspective view of the shoe fastener of FIG. 6, with the zipper in an open position;

FIG. 10 is another partial top perspective view of the shoe fastener of FIG. 6, with the zipper in an open position;

FIG. 11A is a front perspective view of a shoelace having a stop in the form of a knot at a free end, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 11B is a front perspective view of a shoelace having a stop in the form of a spherical bead at a free end, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 12A is a fragmentary perspective view of a shoe fastener kit without extra laces, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 12B is a fragmentary perspective view of a shoe fastener kit provided with extra laces, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a top view of a shoe fastener having an extension element, according to an embodiment,

FIG. 14 is a front view of a telescoping tool for assisting with manipulation of a footwear component, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a front view of a non-telescoping tool for assisting with manipulation of a footwear component, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a front view of a telescoping tool for assisting with manipulation of a footwear component, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 17A is a front view of a non-telescoping tool for assisting with manipulation of a footwear component, according to an embodiment and in a use configuration;

FIG. 17B is a front view of the non-telescoping tool of FIG. 17A in a storage configuration; and

FIG. 18 is a side view of an example footwear item.

Like reference numerals indicate like or corresponding elements in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4 there are shown different views of a shoe fastener 10, according to an embodiment. As indicated, shoe fastener 10 is a zipper type fastener, and includes zipper elements such as a slider 12, a pull tab or puller 14, interlocking teeth 16, a top stop 18, and a box or bottom stop 20. For convenience, these elements, which function to close the zipper by bringing interlocking teeth 16 together, or open the zipper by separating teeth 16, may collectively be designated as zipper clasp 22
Shoe fastener 10 also includes a tape 24, which is a fabric that holds or is secured to elements of zipper clasp 22. Shoe fastener 10 may accordingly be viewed as a fabric, namely tape 24, incorporating a central zipper clasp 22. In some embodiments, zipper clasp 22 may run the length of fastener 10 such that tape 24 can be separated into two strips of tape, while in some embodiments a bottom end of zipper clasp 22 may not be operable, and in some embodiments zipper clasp 22 may terminate some distance from a bottom edge of tape 24 and may be separated from the bottom edge by a width of fabric. A fully separable tape 24 may be desirable where a user wishes to more fully open a pair of shoes, while a closed bottom end of zipper clasp 22 may make the use of fastener 10 less complicated or more durable or user friendly. As shown in the figures, tape 24 has a tape width 26 on either side of zipper clasp 22, which may be measured to include the width of the teeth 16 as in FIG. 2 or without including the teeth 16 as in FIGS. 3 and 4,
FIGS. 1 and 3 are front and back views, respectively, of shoe fastener 10 in which slider 12 is pulled to the top of zipper clasp 22 so that fastener 10 is closed. Similarly, FIGS. 2 and 4 are front and back views, respectively, of shoe fastener 10 in which slider 12 is pulled to the bottom of zipper clasp 22 so that fastener 10 is fully or mostly opened.
According to an embodiment, shoe fastener 10 further includes a plurality of eyelets 28 in tape 24. Eyelets are small holes, usually round, and may be finished along the edge, as in cloth or leather or metal or plastic. Eyelets are provided for the passage of a lace or cord, In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 tape 24 has eight eyelets 28, with a set of four eyelets 28 on either side of zipper clasp 22. Eyelets 28 may also be referred to as tape eyelets 28 since they are in tape 24.
FIGS. 5A and 5B show lace-up shoes 30 of the prior art. As indicated, shoe 30 includes an upper 32, shoe eyelets 34 in upper 32, and shoelaces or laces 35 (laces not shown in FIG. 5B). As is well known, a pair of laces 35 are provided with a pair of shoes 30, so that there is one shoelace or lace 35 for each shoe 30. It is to be appreciated that lace-up shoes 30 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B can only be fastened by lacing or threading laces 35 through shoe eyelets 34.
According to an embodiment as shown in FIG. 6, laces 35 may be removed from shoe 30, and shoe fastener 10 inserted into shoe 30, adjacent to upper 32. Laces 36, as described further below, may be threaded through tape eyelets 28 and shoe eyelets 34 to secure shoe fastener 10 to shoe 30. Upon being secured, shoe 30 may be fastened and unfastened by operating zipper clasp 22 of shoe fastener 10.
Shoe fastener 10 may be sized and shaped to be substantially similar to the size and shape of the particular shoe 30, or general type of shoes 30, with which fastener 10 is to be used. In particular, there may be the same number of tape eyelets 28 as shoe eyelets 34, and the spacing of tape eyelets 28 from one another may be substantially similar to a spacing of shoe eyelets 34 from one another. In this way each tape eyelet 28 may be positioned substantially adjacent to its corresponding shoe eyelet 34.
In shoe fastener 10 of FIG. 1, each of the eight eyelets 28 has been designated to reflect its unique position: 28A1 to 28A4, and 28B1 to 28B4, where “A” and “B” indicate the two sides of zipper clasp 22, and “1” to “4” indicate position from higher to lower on tape 24. Similarly, in FIG. 7, which is a closer view of installed fastener 10 than FIG. 6, shoe eyelets 34 have been similarly labelled 34A1 to 34A4, and 34B1 to 34B4.
The spacing of tape eyelets 28 may be selected and oriented in two directions: spacing between eyelets on the same side of zipper clasp 22, and spacing between corresponding eyelets on opposing sides of zipper clasp 22. For example, the spacing between eyelets 28A1 and 28A2, and the spacing between eyelets 28A1 and 28B1.
It is to be appreciated when viewing these figures that the relative spacing between adjacent tape eyelets 28 on either side of zipper clasp 22 is substantially similar to that between adjacent eyelets 34 on shoe 30. For example, the spacing between tape eyelets 28A1 to 28A2 and that between shoe eyelets 34A1 and 34A2. Similarly, the separation distance between tape eyelets on opposing sides of zipper clasp 22, i.e. 28A1-28B1., 28A2-28B2, 28A3-28B3, and 28A4-28B4, is substantially similar to the separation distance between corresponding shoe eyelets, i.e. 34A1-34B1, 34A2-34B2, 34A3-34B3, and 34A4-34B4. For example, the separation distance 37 between tape eyelets 28A3 and 28B3 is substantially similar to separation distance 37 between shoe eyelets 34A3 and 34B3, as shown in respective FIGS. 1 and 7,
The spacing between eyelets of fastener 10 will usually be in keeping with standard shoe configurations, which may mean unequal or irregular spacing depending on the shoe 30. For example, the shoes 30 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B have regular, equal spacing between shoe eyelets 34. Accordingly, shoe fasteners 10 designed for these shoes will have tape eyelets 28 that are similarly regular and equally spaced. By contrast, other shoes may have irregular spacing between adjacent eyelets on the same side of a zipper or between eyelets on opposing sides of a zipper. Some shoes may also have eyelets in a recognizable pattern other than standard eyelet patterns, such as eyelets on one side of a zipper offset from the opposing eyelets on the other side of the zipper. These and other arrangements of eyelets may be mirrored in various embodiments of fastener 10.
Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that when designing shoe fastener 10, tape width 26 of tape 24 is sized and shaped to accommodate the size, number, and spacing of tape eyelets 28. In particular, tape width 26 is sized and shaped so that separation distance 37 between tape eyelets 28 on opposing sides of zipper clasp 22 is substantially similar to separation distance 37 between corresponding shoe eyelets 34 on opposing sides of upper 32.
The diameter of tape eyelets 28 is substantially similar to the diameter of shoe eyelets 34, and further is sufficiently large to accommodate the thickness of laces used with shoe 30, with which fastener 10 is to be used.
In a conventional pair of shoes 30 there is provided a pair of laces, i.e. two laces 35, one for each shoe. Each lace 35 is threaded through all shoe eyelets 34 of shoe 30, crisscrossing between eyelets 34 on either side of upper 32.
According to an embodiment, a pair of shoe fasteners 10 for use with a pair of shoes 30 may use two pairs of modified laces 36 each, or four laces 36 in total for a set of two shoes. Laces 36 may be substantially similar to laces 35 but modified to each fasten one side of a shoe upper 32 to one side of a fastener 10 rather than to fasten one side of a shoe upper 32 to the other side of the shoe upper 32. Accordingly, each pair of two laces 36 may be used with each shoe 30, to secure shoe fastener 10 to shoe 30. Each lace 36 may be threaded through tape eyelets 28 and shoe eyelets 34 on one side of zipper clasp 22 and upper 32 only, rather than employing one lace per shoe in a criss-cross configuration.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, lace 36A is threaded through the “A” side, i.e. through eyelets 34A4 and 28A4, through eyelets 34A3 and 28A3, through eyelets 34A2 and 28A2, and through eyelets 34A1 and 28A1. Similarly lace 36B is threaded through the “B” side, i.e. through eyelets 34B4 and 28B4, through eyelets 34B3 and 28B3, through eyelets 34B2 and 28B2, and through eyelets 34B1 and 28B1. FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are other views showing how each lace 36 is threaded through eyelets on either side of upper 32 and zipper clasp 22.
Many conventional shoelaces include an aglet at each end of each lace. The aglet is a stiff section at the end provided primarily to increase the durability of the end and to make it easier to hold the lace and feed it through the shoe eyelets. According to an embodiment, lace 36 may have an aglet 38 at one end and a stop 40 at the other or opposing end, or termination point, of the lace, rather then having an aglet at each end. Stop 40 may be any type of material, item or structure that is sufficiently large and firm that it is difficult to pass through shoe eyelet 34 and/or tape eyelet 28. Stop 40 may be, for example, a knot 42 formed from the free end or termination point of lace 36, or a hard-spherical bead 44 with a central bore into which the free end of lace 36 may be inserted and glued, or a spherical bead formed on the end of lace 36 or some other stop. In these examples, the knot and spherical bead are sized and shaped to be at least as large as the open diameter of shoe eyelet 34 and/or tape eyelet 28. FIGS. 11A and 11B respectively show examples of laces 36 with stop 40 in the form of knot 42 and spherical bead 44, shown with eyelet 38 for reference.
Shoe fastener 10 may include or not include a set of extra laces 36. When laces 36 are included, there would be two pairs or four individual laces 36. Each lace 36 would have a stop 40 at one end and be sufficiently thin so that the other free end may be passed or threaded through tape eyelets 28. Each lace 36 would also be sufficiently long to thread through tape eyelets 28 of fastener 10 on a side of zipper clasp 22, and through corresponding shoe eyelets 34 on a corresponding side of upper 32. For example, each lace 36 provided with shoe fastener 10 of FIG. 1 would be sufficiently long to pass through the four tape eyelets 28A1-28A4, or equivalently eyelets 28B1-28B4, and their corresponding shoe eyelets 34 on a corresponding side of upper 32. Since different shoes 30 may be used with fastener 10, a standard or typical thickness of upper 32 of the type of shoe 30 that would use the particular shoe fastener 10 may be used to help determine the extra length needed to thread through shoe eyelets 34. In some embodiments the length of laces 36 would correspond to the number of eyelets expected in a shoe with which a fastener is to be used.
In some embodiments, only a subset of the eyelets of a shoe will be utilized in fastening fastener 10 to a shoe. For example, it may be convenient to manufacture one or more standard sizes of fasteners, such as large, medium and small sized fasteners, which may have dimensions and eyelet configurations designed to match average shoe dimensions and eyelet configurations. The use of laces to secure fasteners to shoes allows for some flexibility in aligning eyelets of fasteners and eyelets of shoes.
When laces 36 are not included with shoe fastener 10, the regular laces 35 provided with the shoe may be used. For example, in some embodiments regular laces 35 are cut at around their midpoint, and the free or terminal end so formed in each resultant segment may be tied into a knot 42 or otherwise attached to an appropriate item like spherical bead 44 to form stop 40. In this way, conventional laces 35 may be converted to laces 36 sized and shaped for use with shoe fastener 10.
Tape 24 of shoe fastener 10 may be a fabric made from a soft, pliant and flexible material. This material may include, for example, cloth or canvas fabrics, or a layer of other material such as leather or moulded plastic or rubber.
Shoe fastener 10 is a zipper type fastener that, unlike zippers of the prior art, is not stitched or otherwise fixedly attached to a shoe. Since shoe fastener 10 uses laces 36 threaded through eyelets 28 and 34 to attach to shoe 30, fastener 10 is removable since laces 36 may be unthreaded at any time.
Zipper clasp 22 may be a one-stage or a two-stage type. In a one-stage type the bottom of fastener 10 does not come apart, and in a two-stage type the bottom of fastener 10 may also be opened to allow the tape to be opened into two unconnected sections, as one may open the bottom of a zipper on a jacket. A benefit of the two-stage type is that it may be easier for a user to remove their foot from shoe 30 after the zipper is separated, as the tongue of shoe 30 can be raised higher. From an aesthetic perspective, it also provides a different style to the user.
Shoe fastener 10 may also be provided with shoes 30 as part of a shoe fastener kit 46. According to an embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 12A, shoe fastener kit 46 may include a pair of shoes 30, having uppers 32, eyelets 34 in uppers 32, and a pair of regular laces 35. Shoe fastener kit 46 would also include a pair of shoe fasteners 10, each fastener 10 having zipper clasp 22, tape 24, and a plurality of tape eyelets 28 in tape 24 on each side of zipper clasp 22.
Tape 24 of shoe fastener 10 provided with kit 46 may be sized and shaped so that separation distance 37 between tape eyelets 28 on opposing sides of zipper clasp 22 is the same as or substantially similar to separation distance 37 between shoe eyelets 34 on opposing sides of upper 32 of shoe 30 provided with shoe fastener kit 46. The number of tape eyelets 28 in fastener 10 may be the same as the number of shoe eyelets 34 in shoe 30. The spacing of tape eyelets 28 in fastener 10 from one another may be the same or substantially similar to the spacing of shoe eyelets 34 from one another in shoe 30.
According to an embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 12B, shoe fastener kit 46 may further include four extra laces 36, where each extra lace 36 is sized and shaped to thread through tape eyelets 28 on a side of zipper clasp 22 and shoe eyelets 34 on a corresponding side of upper 32. The extra laces 36 would include stops 40 at one end, the stops 40 being sized and shaped to be sufficiently large so that the stopped end cannot be threaded through tape eyelets 28.
It is to be appreciated that a user of shoe fastener kit 46 would have the option to select whether to wear shoes 30 as a lace-up with the provided regular laces 35, or alternatively insert fastener 10 and use shoes 30 with zipper clasp 22. In the embodiment of FIG. 12A, extra laces 36 are not provided, and a user may cut regular laces 35 to form two pairs, or four laces, 36, each with stops 40 such as knot 42 as shown in FIG. 11A. A user may also choose to obtain or prepare laces 36 separately, keeping regular laces 35 intact. In that case, as well as with the embodiment of FIG. 12B in which extra laces 36 are included in kit 46, the user could select either option, lace-up or zipper, and change between them as desired.
A further aspect of shoe fastener kit 46 is that, in addition to fastener 10 and laces 36 being sized and shaped to fit the particular shoe 30, tape 24 of fastener 10 may be comprised of the same material as upper 32 of shoe 30. This material may be soft, pliant, and flexible. Alternatively, if not exactly the same material, the material of tape 24 may have the same thickness, colour, style, and/or pattern as the material of upper 32. It is to be appreciated that, since in kit 46 the particular shoe 30 to be used with fastener 10 is known, the material of tape 24 may be selected to have a complementary or aesthetically pleasing look, composition, or combination of features when used as an insert with the particular shoe 30 in kit 46.
According to an embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 13, shoe fastener 10 may comprise a zipper having zipper clasp 22 and tape 24, where tape 24 is made of a soft, pliant, and flexible material, and an extension element 48 attached to each side of tape 24 that is also made of a soft, pliant, and flexible material. The plurality of eyelets 28 may be in each side of extension element 48.
Shoe fastener 10 in this embodiment may be inserted adjacent to the upper 32 of shoe 30. Laces 36 may be threaded through shoe eyelets 34 and fastener eyelets 28 in extension element 48 to secure fastener 10 to shoe 30, upon which shoe 30 may be fastened and unfastened by operating zipper clasp 22.
A user interested in having a zipper enclosure for a lace-up shoe may obtain shoe fastener 10 as an insert or as part of a kit 46. As an insert, shoe fastener 10 may be designed specifically for use with a particular shoe 30, or for a more general type of shoe 30. As a kit, shoe fastener 10 will be designed specifically for use with shoe 30 provided in the kit.
Upon selection, the user may remove laces 35 that are part of lace-up shoe 30, and insert shoe fastener 10 by placing fastener 10 adjacent to the upper 32 of the shoe, so that tape eyelets 28 are adjacent to shoe eyelets 34. The user will thread laces 36 through eyelets 28 and 34, securing fastener 10 to shoe 30. Laces 36 may either be provided with fastener 10 or as part of kit 46, or may be made by the user from laces 35 by cutting laces 35 and tying the free end to form stop 40, or may be provided separately. When inserted and secured to shoe 30, zipper clasp 22 may be used to fasten and unfasten shoes 30.
In the prior art, eyelets are located in thick leather material attached to another fabric. By contrast, the tape of shoe fastener 10 is made of a flexible material, and the eyelets 28 are located in the tape itself. In this way, shoe fastener 10 is integral and one-piece with zipper clasp 22. This design provides better flexibility, durability, and comfort to the user, particularly for a casual type of shoe 30.
People such as the elderly, the disabled, young children, and others unable to tie shoes will no longer be restricted to the tiny market of shoes that do not use laces. Shoe fastener 10 provides these groups of people the opportunity to select from the endless number of lace-up shoes, and use them with zipper fasteners. Since shoe fastener 10 is removable, young children and others who may have only a temporary problem using laces can use the zippers provided by fastener 10, and then go back to laces when they are ready. This is economically efficient, since it enables these users to preserve their investment in lace-up shoes as they do not have to purchase new shoes.
Tools may also be provided for use with footwear, to allow users of the tools to more easily reach components on footwear they are wearing. Such tools may incorporate an extension incorporating a grip on one end, to allow users to grasp the grip and manipulate relatively distant components using the footwear interaction end of the extension opposite the grip. In some embodiments, the grip may be a handle clearly differentiable from the extension, however in some embodiments the grip may simply be a part of the extension provided opposite the interaction end of the extension to be gripped by a user.
In some embodiments, an extension tool may be provided to mitigate bending; to enable a user to avoid bending all the way down when reaching a shoe. For example, such embodiments may be between one and three feet in total length. In some embodiments, an extension tool may be provided to avoid the need for a user to bend at all. For example, such embodiments may be between three and five feet in total length.
The tool may also include an interactive element on the extension opposite the handle, to more easily enable the user to manipulate a component or to more easily enable the tool to engage a footwear component. The interactive element is a projection extending away from the axis of the extension at an obtuse angle. In some embodiments, the extension is perpendicular to the axis of the extension, or close to perpendicular.
In some embodiments the extension may be of variable length, such as telescopic, while in other embodiments the extension may have a fixed length. In some embodiments in which the handle is separate from the extension and of a greater diameter, the extension can be folded or collapsed into the handle.
In some embodiments in which the grip is a separate handle, the handle may be adjustable relative to the extension, to allow a user to adjust the orientation of the handle relative to the extension or relative the projection of the interactive element for a more convenient and effective manipulation of a footwear component. Such adjustments may include rotating the handle about the axis of the extension and rotating the angle of the handle relative to the axis of the extension. Such a tool may also be designed to be easily and conveniently stored, such as by incorporating a hook or clip or other hanging element, such as a hanging element secured to the handle, to allow the tool to be easily hung up when not in use. In embodiments incorporating a clip, the clip may be provided for use in clipping the extension tool to a pocket or other environmental element. A clip may be particularly preferred in some embodiments in which the extension can be collapsed or folded into the grip or a handle.
FIG. 14 shows an extension tool 1300 for use with zippers. Tool 1300 is provided for use with footwear, such as boots or shoes, which incorporate a zipper. Tool 1300 may be used to pull up a zipper or to push down a zipper without requiring the user to stoop down to reach the zipper with one or both of their hands. As depicted, tool 1300 includes a handle 1310 for gripping in the hand of a user, and a telescopic extension 1320. The telescopic structure of telescopic extension 1320 allows a user to choose a desired length of tool 1300, for example a taller user may require telescopic extension 1320 to extend further in order for the user to easily manipulate a zipper on an item of footwear when the user is wearing the item of footwear. However, in some embodiments only one extended length is available or only a few extended length options, such as when the telescoping feature is provided for ease of storage and transport rather than customized length.
In some embodiments, telescopic portions of a telescopic extension may be held relative to one another so that a user may choose a desired length of the telescopic tool and may subsequently use the tool to push or pull on a footwear component without loss of the desired length setting. Such a hold may be a friction hold or may be a result of structural components, such as mechanical or magnetic elements provided on the tool. In some embodiments, structural locking elements may include pop-out studs biased in an expanded position and corresponding to openings in the telescopic components of the extension such that when the tool is extended to the designated open length, or one of the designated open lengths, the pop-out studs are extended through the openings to hold the telescopic components of the extension relative to one another. In some embodiments in which a telescoping structure includes a locking feature, the tool also includes one or more buttons to enable a user to disengage the locking feature. A disengaging button or buttons may be provided as part of a locking mechanism, for example a disengaging button may mechanically disengage a pop-out stud to allow the extension to be collapsed.
Telescopic extension 1320 includes an interaction element on the end opposite the handle, the interaction element provided to allow a user to more easily manipulate a zipper using tool 1300. As depicted, the interaction element is a rigid v-shaped projection 1330, including a first projection 1331 extending parallel to the body of extension 1320 and a second projection 1332 extending perpendicular to the body of extension 1320. Projection 1330 allows a user to deploy second projection 1332 as a hook, while first projection 1331 acts as a support for the material manipulated by second projection 1332.
Handle 1310 includes a hook or projection 1340 provided to allow the tool to be hung up, such as to allow tool 1300 to be hung up in an entry way or other convenient location.
An extension tool similar to tool 1300 is depicted in FIG. 15. As depicted in FIG. 15, a tool 1400 may be provided, including a handle 1410 and an extension 1420. Extension 1420 is of fixed length. A fixed length may be preferred in some embodiments as a telescopic structure may be more expensive to manufacture or less durable or for other reasons. Handle 1410 may pivot to allow a user to freely adjust the handle rotationally relative to the extension, to allow the user to adjust the handle's orientation relative to the interaction element 1430 on extension 1420. Tool 1400 also includes a projection 1440 provided to cooperate with a hook.
Another embodiment of an extension tool is shown in FIG. 16. Tool 1600 is a telescoping extension tool and includes an interactive element 1610, a handle 1620, and an extension 1630 therebetween. The interactive element 1610 of tool 1600 is a single projection 1611 extending out from the axis of the extension at an angle roughly perpendicular to the axis of the extension. While the projections of the interactive elements of tools 1300 and 1400 were curved, projection 1611 is a straight projection between the endpoint 1612 and a midpoint from the extension axis.
A straight projection having no curve between the mid-length of the projection and the outer point of the projection may make disengaging the projection from a shoe component easier for a user. For example, a user employing tool 1600 to draw up a zipper may wish to easily disengage the tool from the zipper when the zipper has been drawn up. Similarly, a user may wish to easily disengage the tool after employing tool 1600 to engage a loop provided on the heel of a shoe, such as to engage the loop to allow the user to draw the heel of the shoe over a heel of the user.
A projection such as projection 1611 may extend a short distance out from the axis of the extension, such as extending less than ¼ cm or less than ½ cm or less than 1 cm out from the axis of the extension.
Interactive element 1610 includes a root 1613 extending from extension 1630 along the axis of extension 1630, with the projection 1611 and the root 1613 forming a roughly perpendicular angle and joined by a curved elbow. However, in some embodiments the angle between the projection and the root may be greater or less than 90 degrees depending on the desired ease of use, for example a greater angle may make intentional disengagement easier and a lesser angle may make unintentional disengagement more difficult. Additionally, the length to which the curved elbow extends out towards the full extension of the projection may be varied, such as to ensure that there is no curve in the projection between a point mid-length from the root and the most distant point.
Tool 1600 also includes a clip 1640. Clip 1640 may be used to hang the tool, such as to hang the tool from a user's shirt or pants pocket in much the way a pen clip may be used to hang a pen from the wall of a shirt or pants pocket. Particularly in embodiments in which the extension can be collapsed against or into the handle, a clip may enable a user to easily, securely, or conveniently retain the tool on their person or in a storage area. For example, in some embodiments similar to tool 1600, a handle similar to handle 1620 may include a cavity, and a telescoping extension similar to extension 1630 may be collapsible into the cavity such that a projection of an interactive element may rest against or even be moved inside the handle.
Interactive element 1610 only includes a single projection, extending obtuse to the axis of the extension. As second projection cooperating with the first may not be necessary in some embodiments, particularly in some embodiments primarily provided for use in pulling up a component of a shoe. While a cooperating second projection may be used in some embodiments as a brace for the first projection, in other embodiments the extension or another component of the extension tool may be used instead, or no brace may be needed.
A further embodiment of an extension tool is shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B. Tool 1700 is similar to tool 1600 but having a fixed-length extension 1710 similar to the extension of tool 1400 of FIG. 15. In some embodiments, even a fixed-length extension may be collapsed into or against a handle. As depicted in FIG. 17B, the handle 1720 of tool 1700 may be collapsed at pivot point 1730 to fold alongside extension 1710. In some embodiments, a pivot point between a handle and an extension for use in folding the handle alongside the extension is a knuckle joint, and the knuckle joint may in some embodiments be lockable or frictionally held in an extended configuration and may include a button or other release toggle.
An example of a piece of footwear is shown in FIG. 18. Shoe 1800 includes a loop 1810 on the heel of the shoe. While an extension tool may be used to manipulate other components of an item of footwear, an extension tool may be particularly helpful for users when putting on or removing footwear incorporating a heel loop, as a heel loop provides a point with which the user may engage the heel of a shoe to draw the heel of the shoe over the user's heel or to push the heel of the shoe off of a user's heel.
In some embodiments, the tool is made of plastic, metal, wood, or similar material(s). For example, an extension and an interactive element may be formed of a strong and rigid material such as aluminum, while a grip is formed of a semi-malleable plastic allowing the user to grip the tool securely. in some embodiments, the interactive element may be formed of a metal coated with a softer material having a higher abrasion resistance. For example, a rubber coated aluminum or steel projection may enable a user to more easily engage a heel loop without substantial risk that the projection will break off, tear or puncture the heel loop, or slide out of the heel loop.
In particular, many running or walking shoes and many boots incorporate a heel loop. An extension tool may enable a user to avoid needing to reach down to their shoes at all when removing or putting on their shoes, regardless of whether the shoes are laced or zipped provided the laces are pre-tied.
An extension tool may also be used in cooperation with another tool, such as a shoehorn; for example, a shoehorn could be used to facilitate a heel of a shoe being passed over a heel of the user while an extension tool is used to pull up a tongue of the shoe so that the user does not find themselves in a position in which the shoe is on but the tongue of the shoe has been pushed into the shoe along with their foot.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Certain adaptations and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the presently discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An extension tool for manipulating a component of an item of footwear, comprising:

an extension defining a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an extension axis;

a grip at the first end of the extension; and

an interactive element at the second end of the extension, the interactive element including a main projection forming an obtuse angle to the extension axis and provided for engaging the component of the item of footwear for pushing or pulling the component, the interactive element configured to be deployed by a user grasping the grip to push or pull the component of the shoe while removing the item of footwear or putting on the item of footwear.

2. The extension tool of claim 1, wherein the extension is a telescoping extension movable between a collapsed configuration and at least one extended configuration.

3. The extension tool of claim 2, wherein the extension incorporates a locking mechanism to hold the extension in the at least one extended configuration.

4. The extension tool of claim 3, wherein the locking mechanism includes a release toggle to release the locking mechanism.

5. The extension tool of claim 3, wherein the locking mechanism is one of a magnetic locking mechanism and a button locking mechanism.

6. The extension tool of claim 1, wherein the extension tool further includes a hanging element for use in hanging up the extension tool.

7. The extension tool of claim 6, wherein the hanging element is a clip.

8. The extension tool of claim 1, wherein the interactive element further includes a support projection for supporting the main projection.

9. The extension tool of claim 8, wherein the support projection is parallel to the extension axis.

10. The extension tool of claim 9, wherein the support projection is in line with the extension axis.

11. The extension tool of claim 8, wherein the support projection is parallel to the extension axis and the main projection is perpendicular to the extension axis.

12. The extension tool of claim 1, wherein the main projection defines a main projection end, the main projection end located a main projection length from the extension axis.

13. The extension tool of claim 12, wherein the main projection is straight along an extent between the main projection end and a midpoint.

14. The extension tool of claim 13, wherein the midpoint is at least a third of the main projection length from the main projection end.

15. The extension tool of claim 12, wherein the main projection length is at least a quarter centimetre.

16. The extension tool of claim 1, wherein the grip is a handle.

17. The extension tool of claim 16, wherein the handle has at least one degree of freedom relative to the extension.

18. The extension tool of claim 17, wherein the handle is free to rotate about the extension axis relative to the main projection.

19. The extension tool of claim 17, wherein the handle is free to rotate relative the extension axis.

20. The extension tool of claim 1, wherein the grip defines a cavity, and the extension is configured to be collapsed or folded into the cavity.