Adaptable shoe tree to stabilize backless and other shores

Abstract

A shoe tree for backless and other shoes, includes an elongated insert member for longitudinal installation into a the toe portion of a backless shoe. This insert member stretches at least the toe, wherein the toe insert has a mechanically or air expandable form-fitting toe block which is receivable within the closed or open toe portion of the backless shoe. The toe block fits fitting into and expansively stresses the toe portion of the backless shoe. To compensate for the fact that the backless shoe has no heel for the shoe tree to push against, this insert member may have an optional user controllable holder to hold the toe insert member in place and to stabilize the shape of the shoe. The shoe tree may be adapted for use with shoes with heels also.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A shoe tree for backless shoes said backless shoes having a hollow front toe portion and a flat, rear heal-portion, comprising: 
 an elongated insert member for longitudinal installation into a backless shoe, said insert member having opposite toe and heel ends and a stretching shaft extending therebetween, said toe end having a form-fitting toe block receivable within the closed toe portion of said backless shoe, said toe block fitting into and expansively stressing said closed toe portion of the backless shoe;    said insert member having user controllable clamp disposed near a heel end of the backless shoe, said clamp removably affixing said insert member in a user-selected installed position on the backless shoe.    
     
     
         2 . The shoe tree of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said elongated insert member comprises at least two centrally articulated members, said central articulation members comprising a hinge and threaded shaft-and-nut length adjuster, said length adjuster for user selection of a desired magnitude of force of said expansively stressing said closed toe portion of the backless shoe.    
     
     
         3 . The shoe tree of  claim 1 , wherein said clamp grasps respective top and bottom portions of the heel of the backless shoe.  
     
     
         4 . The shoe tree of  claim 3 , wherein said clamp grasps respective left and right side portions of the heel of the backless shoe.  
     
     
         5 . The shoe tree of  claim 4 , wherein said clamp simultaneously grasps said respective top, bottom, left and right side portions of the heel of the backless shoe.  
     
     
         6 . The shoe tree of  claim 5 , wherein said clamp comprises user-operable wing-nut and threaded shaft means, said threaded shaft means having a suitable compression end-plate contact grasping the heel portion of the backless shoe.  
     
     
         7 . The shoe tree of  claim 5 , wherein said clamp comprises user-openable and closable contact adhesion straps, said straps surrounding and grasping the heel portion of the backless shoe.  
     
     
         8 . The shoe tree of  claim 7 , wherein said adhesion straps comprise user-openable and closable hook-and-loop fastener means; said hook-and-loop-furnished straps surrounding and grasping the heel portion of the backless shoe.  
     
     
         9 . The shoe tree of  claim 1 , wherein said clamp comprises a user-openable and closable spring clamp simultaneously grasping with force suitable to lock together said heel end of said insert member and the heel portion of the backless shoe.  
     
     
         10 . A shoe tree for backless shoes, comprising: 
 an elongated insert member for longitudinal installation into a backless shoe, said insert member having a form-fitting toe block receivable within the closed toe portion of the backless shoe.    
     
     
         11 . The shoe tree as in  claim 10  wherein said toe block comprises a pre-inflated compressible air bladder expansively stressing said closed toe portion of the backless shoe.  
     
     
         12 . The shoe tree of  claim 10 , wherein said toe block comprises a solid lightweight cellular compressible material expansively stressing said closed toe portion of the backless shoe.  
     
     
         13 . The shoe tree as in  claim 12 , wherein said lightweight cellular compressible material is foam.  
     
     
         14 . The shoe tree as in  claim 12 , wherein said lightweight cellular compressible material is latex foam rubber.  
     
     
         15 . The shoe tree as in  claim 12 , wherein said lightweight cellular compressible material is rubber.  
     
     
         16 . The shoe tree as in  claim 10 , wherein said toe block comprises an inflatable compressible air-bladder controlled by a user controllable pump introducing air through a valve.  
     
     
         17 . The shoe tree as in  claim 10 , wherein said toe block is a closed sleeve filled with discrete particle stuffings.  
     
     
         18 . The shoe tree as in  claim 10 , wherein said closed toe portion comprises an air bladder portion adjacent to a solid lightweight compressible material.  
     
     
         19 . The shoe tree of  claim 10 , further comprising a user controllable clamp disposed near a heal end of said backless shoe, said clamp connected to said form-fitting toe block by a shaft.  
     
     
         20 . The shoe tree of  claim 10 , wherein said clamp grasps respective toe and bottom portions of the heel of the backless shoe.  
     
     
         21 . The shoe tree of  claim 10 , wherein said clamp grasps respective left and right side portions of the heel of the backless shoe.  
     
     
         22 . The shoe tree as in  claim 19 , wherein said clamp grasps respective top, bottom, left and right portions of the heel of the backless shoe.  
     
     
         23 . The shoe tree of  claim 19 , wherein said clamp comprises user-operable wing-nut and threaded shaft, said threaded shaft having a suitable compression end-plate contact-grasping the heel portion of the backless shoe.  
     
     
         24 . The shoe tree of  claim 19 , wherein said clamp comprises user-openable and closable contact adhesion straps said straps surrounding and grasping the heel portion of the backless shoe.  
     
     
         25 . The shoe tree of  claim 24 , wherein said adhesion straps comprise user-openable and closable hook-and-loop fasteners said hook-and-loop-furnished straps surrounding and grasping the heel portion of the backless shoe.  
     
     
         26 . The shoe tree of  claim 19 , wherein said clamp comprises a user-openable and closable spring clamp simultaneously grasping with force suitable to lock together said heel end of said insert member and the heel portion of the backless shoe.  
     
     
         27 . A shoe tree for backless shoes comprising a form fitting toe block expandable within a toe portion of the backless shoe, said for a fitting toe block comprising a pluality of members movable away from each other and toward an inside surface of the toe portion of the backless shoe.  
     
     
         28 . The shoe tree as in  claim 27 , wherein said movable toe block members are urged apart from each other by a hinged piece having at least one pivot point and connecting arms controlled by depression of a plunger towards said pivot point.  
     
     
         29 . A shoe tree for a shoe having a toe portion and a heel portion, said shoe tree comprising a form fitting compressible member have a toe portion urged away from a heel portion by a compressible connecting portion.  
     
     
         30 . The shoe tree as in  claim 29 , wherein said shoe tree is a pre inflated compressible air bladder expansingly stressing within said shoe.  
     
     
         31 . The shoe tree as in  claim 29 , where said shoe tree comprises a solid, lightweight cellular compressible material expansively stressing within said shoe.  
     
     
         32 . The shoe tree as in  claim 31 , wherein said lightweight cellular compressible material is foam.  
     
     
         33 . The shoe tree as in  claim 31 , wherein said lightweight cellular compressible material is latex foam rubber.  
     
     
         34 . The shoe tree as in  claim 31 , wherein said lightweight cellular compressible material is rubber  
     
     
         35 . The shoe tree as in  claim 29 , wherein said shoe tree comprises an inflatable compressible air-bladder controlled by a user controllable pump introducing air through a valve.  
     
     
         36 . The shoe tree as in  claim 29 , wherein said shoe tree is a closed sleeve filled with discrete particle stuffings.  
     
     
         37 . The shoe tree as in  claim 29 , wherein said closed shoe tree comprises an air bladder portion adjacent to a solid lightweight compressible material.