Footwear donning assistance device

• US 6,283,342 B1
• Filed: 06/01/2000
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Melvin T. Wilkerson
• Original Assignee: Melvin T. Wilkerson
• Inventors: Wilkerson, Melvin T.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOHANTY, BIBHU R
• Application Number:
  US09/585,048
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 223/111, 223/112, 223/113, 223/114, 223/120
• US Class Current: 223/112
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 25/82 Shoe horns
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 25/905 for stockings

Abstract

A footwear donning assistance device is provided. The footwear donning assistance device includes a handle or looped web and an insertion member. The insertion member is made from resilient materials and includes a central element and two wing elements. The central member and wing elements prevent the footwear piece from being folded or rolling inwardly when being donned. An upper portion of the central element is concavely shaped to guide the user'"'"'s heel into the shoe. The wing elements may be flared to guide the user'"'"'s foot and to prevent adjacent portions of the shoe from being folded or rolled when being donned.

Claims

1. A footwear donning assistance device, comprising:

a substantially resilient positioning member; and

a substantially resilient insertion member generally C-shaped in cross-section and displaying a first end and a second end, the insertion member attached to the positioning member at the insertion member first end, the insertion member including a central element and first and second wing elements, each wing element including an upper, outwardly flared portion the central element and first and second wing elements displaying a lower rim at the insertion member second end, the lower rim including a generally central notch, the wing elements extending generally transversely from the central element, said first and second wing elements spaced apart to accommodate a user'"'"'s foot therebetween and to spread and maintain the footwear proximate a footwear opening.

2. The device of claim 1, the central element lower rim further defining angled portions flanking the notch.

3. The device of claim 1, the central element lower rim defining curved portions flanking the notch.

4. The device of claim 1, the central element including a generally longitudinally extending crease.

5. The device of claim 1, the central element including an upper extension, the upper extension attached to the positioning member.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising fasteners attaching the insertion member and the positioning member.

7. The device of claim 6, the fasteners comprising rivets.

8. The device of claim 1, the positioning member including first and second ends, the positioning member attached to the insertion member proximate the first end, the positioning member comprising a grip proximate the second end.

9. The device of claim 8, the positioning member further comprising a looped web attached proximate the handle.

10. The device of claim 1, the positioning member comprising a web.

11. The device of claim 10, in which the web is looped.

12. A method of making a device to assist a user in donning footwear, comprising:

forming a substantially resilient positioning member;

forming a substantially resilient insertion member generally C-shaped in cross-section and displaying a first end and a second end, the insertion member including a central element and first and second wing elements, each said wing element with an upwardly and outwardly flared portion, the wing elements extending generally transversely from the central element, the central element and first and second wing elements displaying a lower rim at the insertion member second end, the lower rim including a generally central notch, said first and second wing elements spaced apart to accommodate a user'"'"'s foot therebetween and to spread and maintain the footwear proximate a footwear opening; and

attaching the positioning member to the insertion member proximate the insertion member first end.

13. The method of claim 12, in which the positioning member and the insertion member are substantially unitary and in which the positioning member and the insertion member are attached when being formed simultaneously.

14. The method of claim 12, in which forming the insertion member includes forming a central element upper extension.

15. The method of claim 12, in which attaching the positioning member to the insertion member includes riveting the positioning member to the insertion member.

16. The method of claim 12, in which forming the positioning member includes forming a positioning member handle.

17. The method of claim 16, in which forming the positioning member includes positioning the handle on the positioning member.

18. The method of claim 12, in which forming the positioning member includes attaching a web to the positioning member.

19. The method of claim 12, in which forming the positioning member includes attaching a looped web to the positioning member.

20. A method of donning a footwear item, comprising:

providing a footwear donning assistance device, the device comprising a substantially resilient positioning member and a substantially resilient insertion member generally C-shaped in cross-section and displaying a first end and a second end, the insertion member attached to the positioning member at the insertion member first end, the insertion member including a central element and first and second wing elements, the wing elements extending from the central element and including an upper, outwardly flared portion, the central element and first and second wing elements displaying a lower rim at the insertion member second end, the lower rim including a generally central notch, said first and second wing elements spaced apart to accommodate a user'"'"'s foot therebetween and to spread and maintain the footwear proximate a footwear opening;

positioning the insertion member in a footwear opening; and

maneuvering a user'"'"'s foot into the positioned insertion member such that the user'"'"'s foot is in the footwear.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising removing the insertion member from the footwear opening.