Apparatus for the storage of boots and shoes

Abstract

An apparatus for the storage of boots, shoes and other objects. The apparatus comprises one or more shelves that are supported by one or more support members, and a storage vessel positioned generally beneath the one or more shelves. The one or more shelves receive one or more boots, shoes or objects and are held by the one or more support members at an inclined horizontal angle such that water and debris from the boots, shoes or objects deposited on the one or more shelves is encouraged, through the operation of gravitational forces, to run or flow off the one or more shelves and to be deposited into the storage vessel.

1 . An apparatus for the storage of boots, shoes and other objects, the apparatus comprising: 
 one or more shelves supported by one or more support members; and,    a storage vessel positioned generally beneath said one or more shelves, said one or more shelves receiving one or more boots, shoes or objects and held by said one or more support members at an inclined horizontal angle such that water and debris from the boots, shoes or objects deposited on said one or more shelves is encouraged, through the operation of gravitational forces, to run or flow off said one or more shelves and to be deposited into said storage vessel.    
   
   
       2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each of said one or more shelves has a front and a rear edge, said one or more shelves held by said one or more support members such that said one or more shelves are sloped vertically downward toward said rear edge.  
   
   
       3 . The device as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said one or more shelves includes a pair of opposed side surfaces, said one more support members including first and second side panels, said opposed side surfaces of each of said one or more shelves secured to said first and second side panels such that said shelves are thereby held at said inclined horizontal angle.  
   
   
       4 . The device as claimed in  claim 3  including a rear panel extending between said first and second side panels.  
   
   
       5 . The device as claimed in  claim 4  including a top panel extending between said first and second side panels such that said rear panel, said first and second side panels and said top panel together form an enclosure having an open front with said one or more shelves situated therein.  
   
   
       6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said storage vessel comprises a removable tray.  
   
   
       7 . The device as claimed in  claim 2  including means on said one or more shelves to limit the movement of boots, shoes or objects thereon toward said rear edge.  
   
   
       8 . The device as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said means on said one or more shelves to limit the movement of boots, shoes or objects thereon comprises a plurality of posts extending upwardly from the upper surface of said shelves.  
   
   
       9 . The device as claimed in  claim 3  including a plurality of shelves in general vertical alignment with one another and with said storage vessel.  
   
   
       10 . The device as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said first and second side panels are formed from a plurality of modular sections permitting the height of the apparatus to be altered through the addition or removal of sections of said side panels.  
   
   
       11 . The device as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said rear panel includes a debris passageway such that water and debris running off the surface of said one or more shelves is directed to said storage vessel by means of said debris passageway.  
   
   
       12 . The device as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said one or more shelves contain means to direct water and debris deposited onto said shelves to said debris passageway.  
   
   
       13 . The device as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said means to direct water and debris to said debris passageway comprises one or more upwardly extending ribs upon the upper surface of said shelves.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for the storage of boots, shoes and other objects, the apparatus comprising: 
 a support frame formed from a pair of opposed side members;    one or more shelves positioned between said opposed side members and supported by one or more of said side members; and,    a tray receivable between said side members beneath said one or more shelves and in general vertical alignment with said one or more shelves, wherein said one or more shelves are held by one or more of said side members at an inclined horizontal angle such that water and debris from boots, shoes or objects deposited thereon is encouraged to flow, under the force of gravity, off the surface of said one or more shelves and into said tray.    
   
   
       15 . The device as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said one or more shelves have a front edge and a rear edge and are supported by said one or more side members such that said shelves slope vertically downward toward said rear edges.  
   
   
       16 . The device as claimed in  claim 15  wherein at least one of said one or more shelves includes means to limit the movement of boots, shoes or objects thereon toward said rear edge of said shelves.  
   
   
       17 . The device as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said means to limit the movement of boots, shoes, or objects on said shelves comprises a plurality of posts extending upwardly from the upper surface of said shelves.  
   
   
       18 . The device as claimed in  claim 14  including a rear panel extending between said opposed side members.  
   
   
       19 . The device as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said rear panel includes a debris passageway.  
   
   
       20 . The device as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said one or more shelves include means to direct water and debris deposited onto said shelves to said debris passageway.  
   
   
       21 . The device as claimed in  claim 20  wherein said means to direct water and debris to said debris passageway comprises one or more upwardly extending ribs upon the upper surface of said shelves.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for the storage of boots and shoes, the apparatus comprising: 
 an enclosure having a pair of opposed sides, an enclosed back, an enclosed top, a generally open front and a generally hollow interior;    one or more shelves received within said generally hollow interior and supported by one or more of the sides, rear and top of said enclosure; and,    a tray releasably receivable within said enclosure beneath said one or more shelves and in general vertical alignment with said one or more shelves, wherein said shelves are retained within said enclosure at an inclined horizontal angle such that water and debris from boots or shoes deposited thereon is encouraged to flow, under the force of gravity, off the surface of said one or more shelves and into said tray.    
   
   
       23 . The device as claimed in  claim 22  wherein at least one of said one or more shelves includes a plurality of posts extending upwardly from its upper surface to limit the movement of boots, shoes or objects on said shelf toward said back of said enclosure.  
   
   
       24 . The device as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said one or more shelves include one or more upwardly extending ribs upon their upper surfaces to direct water and debris deposited on said shelves toward said back of said enclosure.