Article for transportation and/or storage of shoes

Abstract

A shoe case comprising right and left shoe containers connected via a tether. The shoe containers comprise base portions, top portions, hinges connecting the base and top portions, and latches to secure the top portions in a closed position on the bottom portions. The top portions have lace reliefs with vent apertures disposed therethrough and disguised to give the appearance of lace holes of a shoe. A recess is included on the top portions of the containers to receive a label. In an alternate embodiment, the present invention can include a replaceable deodorizer compound.

1 . A case for storing and transporting a shoe, said case comprising: 
 a container adapted to receive a shoe, said container comprising an upper surface, wherein said upper surface comprises at least one ventilation hole disposed therethrough.    
   
   
       2 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein said shoe carrying case comprises a shoe shape.  
   
   
       3 . The case of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for deodorizing selected from the group consisting of clips, compartments, liners, inserts, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the shoe is dried by airflow through said at least one ventilation hole.  
   
   
       5 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein said upper surface comprises lace reliefs, and wherein said at least one ventilation hole is disposed within said lace reliefs.  
   
   
       6 . The case of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one ventilation hole is disguised by said lace reliefs.  
   
   
       7 . The case of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of ventilation holes arranged over and disposed through said upper surface to provide an appearance of shoelace holes.  
   
   
       8 . The case of  claim 1 , further comprising a second container, wherein said second container is a structural mirror image of said container, and wherein said shoe case is adapted to receive a pair of shoes.  
   
   
       9 . The case of  claim 8 , wherein said container and said second container are in tethered communication.  
   
   
       10 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein said case comprises a hard surface shell.  
   
   
       11 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein said case further comprises a base and a top, and wherein said top is hingedly attached to said base.  
   
   
       12 . The case of  claim 11 , wherein said top comprises a ridge member and said base comprises a latch member.  
   
   
       13 . The case of  claim 12 , wherein said latch member cooperatively engages said ridge member, whereby said shoe case is retained in a closed position.  
   
   
       14 . A method of protecting, storing and transporting shoes, said method comprising the step of: 
 ventilating an upper portion of a shoe case, wherein moisture can escape therefrom.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said step of ventilating further comprises the step of: 
 providing apertures through said upper portion.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said step of ventilating further comprises the step of: 
 camouflaging said apertures to appear as shoelace holes.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of: 
 hingedly closing said shoe case.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of: 
 securing said shoe case via a locking mechanism, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a latch and a ridge.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing a means for deodorizing.    
   
   
       20 . A shoe case comprising: 
 disguised ventilation apertures.