Shoe tree having expansible side pieces

Abstract

A shoe tree includes a front piece, a heel piece, a coupling device adjustably coupled between the front piece and the heel piece, and two side pieces coupled to the front piece, and movable and expansible and adjustable relative to the front piece, for suitably forming various curvatures or contours or shapes for the shoes. The side pieces are pivotally coupled to the front piece with a pivot axle. The side pieces each includes a spring member engaged with the front piece, to bias the side pieces away from the front piece. The side pieces may be guided to move relative to the front piece. The coupling device includes a link having a latch adjustably coupled to the front piece.

1 . A shoe tree comprising: 
 a front piece,    a heel piece,    a coupling device adjustably coupled between said front piece and said heel piece, and    two side pieces coupled to said front piece, and movable and expansible and adjustable relative to said front piece.    
   
   
       2 . The shoe tree as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said front piece includes a pivot axle extended therefrom, and said side pieces are pivotally coupled to said pivot axle of said front piece respectively.  
   
   
       3 . The shoe tree as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said side pieces each includes an arm extended laterally therefrom and pivotally coupled to said pivot axle of said front piece respectively.  
   
   
       4 . The shoe tree as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said side pieces each includes a spring member engaged with said front piece, to bias said side pieces away from said front piece.  
   
   
       5 . The shoe tree as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said side pieces each includes a barrel extended therefrom, to receive said spring member therein.  
   
   
       6 . The shoe tree as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said front piece includes two studs laterally extended therefrom, and said side pieces each includes a tube extended therefrom and slidably engaged onto said studs of said front piece, to guide said side pieces to move relative to said front piece.  
   
   
       7 . The shoe tree as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said front piece includes an open top formed therein, and a cap enclosing said open top of said front piece.  
   
   
       8 . The shoe tree as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said front piece includes a channel formed therein and defined between two flanges, each flange includes a plurality of teeth formed thereon, for adjustably coupling to said coupling device.  
   
   
       9 . The shoe tree as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said coupling device includes a link, and a latch attached to said link, for adjustably coupling to said front piece.  
   
   
       10 . The shoe tree as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said latch includes a pair of levers extended therefrom and each having a tongue extended therefrom, for engaging with selective teeth of said flanges of said front piece, and for adjustably securing said latch and thus said link to said front piece.  
   
   
       11 . The shoe tree as claimed in  claim 10  further comprising a pawl including a protrusion extended therefrom and slidably engaged between said levers, for selectively forcing said tongues of said levers to engage with said teeth of said flanges of said front piece.  
   
   
       12 . The shoe tree as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said latch includes a base having at least one aperture formed therein, said link includes a shaft extended therefrom and pivotally received in said at least one aperture of said base, to pivotally couple said latch to said link.