Snow Boot Removal Apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus for assisting the removal of snow sports boots such as alpine ski boots and snowboard boots is described. The device includes a boot heel engagement member that cooperates with and engages the standard heel edge on a ski boot and a boot sole support that is forward from the heel engagement member. The heel engagement member and the boot sole support are either integral parts of a stable floor plate, or mounted to the floor plate and the floor plate has an extended rear portion. The boot sole support is elevated relative to the heel engagement member and has an angled surface that slopes downwardly toward the heel engagement member.

1 . A snow sports boot remover comprising:
 a base plate;   a heel binding edge engaging member having a lip at a first elevation relative to the base plate;   a sole support member forward of said heel binding edge engaging member, the sole support member having an angled boot-sole-supporting surface.   
     
     
         2 . The boot remover according to  claim 1  in which the boot-sole-supporting surface defines at least one surface that is at a second elevation relative to the base plate and wherein the second elevation is greater than the first elevation. 
     
     
         3 . The boot remover according to  claim 2  wherein the heel binding edge engaging member is removably attached to the base plate. 
     
     
         4 . The boot remover according to  claim 2  wherein the angled boot-sole-supporting surface is defined by a surface that slopes downwardly from the forward end of said surface toward said heel binding edge engaging member. 
     
     
         5 . The boot remover according to  claim 4  in which the heel binding edge engaging member is defined by a substantially U-shaped and forward-facing member in which the opening into the U-shaped cupped member faces said sole support member. 
     
     
         6 . The boot remover according to  claim 5  in which the U-shaped and forward-facing member includes boot heel edge engaging lip extending around the U-shaped and forward-facing member. 
     
     
         7 . The boot remover according to  claim 6  in which the U-shaped and forward-facing member further defines a sloped surface that extends from the boot heel edge engaging lip in an upward and rearward direction. 
     
     
         8 . The boot remover according to  claim 7  in which the sloped surface extends at least partially around the U-shaped and forward-facing member. 
     
     
         9 . The boot remover according to  claim 8  wherein the sloped surface has its greatest angular slope at the rearward-most point of the U-shaped and forward-facing member. 
     
     
         10 . The boot remover according to  claim 8  in which the base plate includes plural openings therethrough. 
     
     
         11 . The boot remover according to  claim 1  in which the base plate includes a foot-supporting platform rearward of the heel binding edge engaging member. 
     
     
         12 . A method of removing a snow sports boot from a user's foot, the boot having a sole plate and a heel edge, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) engaging the heel edge on said boot under a heel edge engaging member so that said heel edge of said boot is captured beneath the heel edge engaging member and so that said heel edge is at a first elevation relative to a reference surface;   b) supporting the sole plate of the boot on a sole supporting surface so that the toe of said boot is oriented at a second elevation that is greater than said first elevation relative to the reference surface; and   c) removing said boot from said foot.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  including the step of providing the heel edge engaging member and the sole supporting surface on a base plate that defines the reference surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  including the step of the user placing one foot on the base plate rearward of the heel edge engaging member while removing the snow sports boot from the user's other foot. 
     
     
         15 . A snow sports boot remover comprising:
 a base plate;   a forward-facing and U-shaped heel binding edge engaging member having a lip extending around the member;   a sole support member forward of the U-shaped heel binding edge engaging member, the sole support member having a boot-sole-supporting surface.   
     
     
         16 . The snow sports boot remover according to  claim 15  including boot heel guiding means for guiding the heel of a boot into the forward-facing and U-shaped heel binding edge engaging member. 
     
     
         17 . The snow sports boot remover according to  claim 15  wherein the boot heel guiding means is defined at least in part by the forward-facing member further defining a sloped surface that extends from the lip in an upward and rearward direction 
     
     
         18 . The snow sports boot remover according to  claim 15  wherein the boot heel guiding means is defined in part by the outer lateral edges of the U-shaped heel binding edge engaging member. 
     
     
         19 . The snow sports boot remover according to  claim 15  in which the lip is at a first elevation relative to the base plate and the sole support member is at a second elevation relative to the base plate and wherein the second elevation is greater than the first elevation. 
     
     
         20 . The snow sports boot remover according to  claim 19  in which the sole support member is defined by a surface that slopes downwardly from a forward end of said surface toward said heel binding edge engaging member and including plural openings formed in said surface.