Footwear Support

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting footwear includes a pair of inner support members having approximately a same length and a same width and having a continuous or detachable tether attached to extend between the support members. The pair of inner support members are configured to be inserted into a pair of footwear to support the sleeves of the footwear. The inner support members are typically made of a pliable but resilient foam material. End caps can support the tether and provide identifying indicia. Optionally, an air freshener can be attached to or embedded within the support members.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for supporting footwear, the apparatus comprising:
 a pair of inner support members having approximately a same length and a same width, the width suitable for fitting into a foot opening of footwear, the foot opening defined by a sleeve configured to extend over an ankle of a wearer, the length suitable for extending between a sole and the foot opening of the footwear;   a tether attached to extend between one end of each of the inner support members;   wherein the pair of inner support members are configured to be inserted into a pair of the footwear to support the sleeves of the footwear.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the length of the pair of inner support members is between about 2 inches to about 24 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pair of inner support members are configured to engage inner portion of the sleeve sufficient to support the sleeves of the footwear when the footwear are inserted onto a support structure of a storage shoe tree. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the width of the pair of inner support members is between about 3 inches to about 14 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the inner support members have a cross-sectional shape being one of circular, elliptical, octagonal, hexagonal, or oval. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pair of inner support members comprise a resilient foam material. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising end caps secured to the ends of the inner support members to which the tether is attached. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the tether is attached to the end caps. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an air freshener material disposed on or in the inner support members. 
     
     
         10 . A method for supporting footwear, the method comprising:
 engaging an inner portion of a footwear's sleeve configured to extend over an ankle of a wearer with a first inner support member having a length suitable for extending between a sole and the sleeve's foot opening for the footwear;   resiliently supporting the sleeve of the footwear with the inner support member's width when the inner support member is inserted in the sleeve;   withdrawing the inner support member from the footwear by tensioning a tether attached to extend from one end of the inner support member.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising supporting the sleeve of the footwear with the inner support member's width when the inner support member is inserted in the sleeve and a support structure of a storage shoe tree is inserted into the sleeve. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 engaging an inner portion of a second footwear's sleeve configured to extend over an ankle of a wearer with a second inner support member having a shape and size substantially similar to the first inner support member; 
 supporting the sleeve of the second footwear with the second inner support member's width when the second inner support member is inserted in the second footwear's sleeve and a support structure of a shoe tree is inserted into the second footwear's sleeve; 
 withdrawing the second inner support member from the second footwear by tensioning the tether, which is attached to extend from one end of the second inner support member. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the engaging the inner portion of the footwear's sleeve comprises engaging the inner portion of the footwear's sleeve with the first inner support member's resilient foam outer portion. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising modifying a scent of the footwear with an air freshener material disposed on or in the first inner support member.