Boot-jacks

Abstract

A monolithic jack ( 12 ) of sheet-like form ( 28 ) for removing ski-boots ( 14 ) having a rear shoulder ( 16 ), comprises a plate-like base ( 18 ) and two engagement means ( 20 ) each adapted to engage over a shoulder ( 16 ) of, and having a recess ( 202 ) to accommodate the heel ( 22 ) of, a respective one of a pair of the boots ( 14 ) when placed side by side on the base ( 18 ) in front of the means ( 20 ) which are to the rear of base ( 18 ) and face forwards. The member ( 28 ) is of metal, e.g. steel, or injection-moulded of thermoplastic plastics material, comprising a polycarbonate, with ABS or PETG. The base ( 18 ) has a non-slip upper surface portion ( 32 ), and comprises security means, e.g. aperture means ( 34 ), so it can be secured by screws to the floor. The base ( 18 ) also has a handle ( 36 ) for hanging up the jack ( 12 ). Integral strut means ( 38 ), to enable elevation of jack ( 12 ) to an angled position, are hinged at points ( 42 ), retracting into slots ( 44 ) in the bottom of base ( 18 ), and provided with stops ( 46 ) to prevent them from opening out too far. For carrying, jack ( 12 ) can be folded across its length at a hinge ( 50 ) or formed as two parts ( 183, 184 ), mutually identical, interengageable along its length by press-fit or slide-fit, by tongue-and-groove means ( 52, 54 ), with a connecting and/or reinforcing member ( 562 ) accommodated in recess means ( 561 ).

1 . A jack for use in removing one's feet from a pair of boots or other footwear items, each having a rearward, upward-facing shoulder, the jack comprising a base portion upon which the footwear items encasing the feet can be placed side by side, and two engagement means arranged side by side towards the rear of the base portion, each adapted to engage over a said shoulder of a respective said item placed as aforesaid to the front of the engagement means, the base portion and both engagement means together being of a sheet-like form with the engagement means having the form of being bent up from the base portion. 
   
   
       2 . A jack for use in removing one's feet from a pair of boots or other footwear items, each having a rearward, upward-facing shoulder, the jack comprising a base portion upon which the footwear items encasing the feet can be placed side by side, and two engagement means arranged side by side to the base portion, each adapted to engage over a said shoulder of a respective said item placed as aforesaid to the front of the engagement means, and each being spaced a substantial distance from the front of the base portion whereby a foot in one said item can be used to hold down the base portion while the other foot is pulled up to remove it from the other said item, the base portion and both engagement means together being of a sheet-like form with the engagement means having the form of being bent up from the base portion. 
   
   
       3 . A jack as claimed in  claim 1 , in which said form has a U-shape with a long arm to provide said base portion and a short arm to provide said engagement means. 
   
   
       4 . A jack as claimed in any one of  claims 1 , in which a single monolithic member comprises both of said engagement means. 
   
   
       5 . A jack as claimed in  claim 4 , in which said member is continuous across from one said engagement means to the other. 
   
   
       6 . A jack as claimed in any one of  claims 1 , in which a single monolithic member comprises said base portion and said engagement means. 
   
   
       7 . A jack as claimed in any one of  claims 1 , in which the base portion has a handle at an end opposite to the engagement means. 
   
   
       8 . A jack as claimed in  claim 7 , in which the handle is suitable to use as means by which to hang up the jack. 
   
   
       9 . A jack as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the handle is formed in the sheet-like form. 
   
   
       10 . A jack as claimed in any one of  claims 1 , which can be folded to facilitate portability. 
   
   
       11 . A jack as claimed in any one of  claims 1 , in combination with a pair of footwear items intended for use with the jack. 
   
   
       12 . A jack as claimed in  claim 11 , in which the spacing between said base portion and a said engagement means is substantially equal to the distance between a said shoulder and the bottom of the adjacent part of the respective said footwear item. 
   
   
       13 . A method of removing a pair of boots or other footwear items each having a rearward, upward-facing shoulder, in which method there is used a jack comprising a base portion and two engagement means arranged to the rear of the base portion, the base portion and both engagement means together being of a sheet-like form with the engagement means having the form of being bent up from the base portion, said items are placed side by side on the jack and each engagement means is engaged over a said shoulder and the foot pulled out of that item of the pair. 
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , in which said items are placed side by side on the jack to the front of the engagement means and each engagement means in turn is engaged over a said shoulder of a respective said item and the foot pulled out of that item of the pair while pressing against the base portion with the other foot.