GB2305118A

GB2305118A - Device for drying footwear

Info

Publication number: GB2305118A
Application number: GB9619129A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Glen Stanton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-09-13
Filing date: 1996-09-13
Publication date: 1997-04-02
Also published as: GB9619129D0; GB9518708D0

Abstract

A modular device for drying footwear comprises two hooks 2 having depending portions 8 and 9 which are interconnected by two crossbars 3 and 10. Secured to the crossbar 3 are offset portions 4 and 5 each having upstanding portions 6 and 7. The crossbar 10 supports a driptray 11 and improves the stability of the device. In use, the device is mounted on a radiator by means of its hooks and boots or shoes are hung toes uppermost on portions 6 and 7 to dry without contacting the radiator. Alternatively, one hook may have a single depending and an upstanding portion so that two devices are required for a pair of shoes or one hook may carry two depending portions and two upstanding portions so that the device can carry a pair of shoes.

Description

DRYING FOOTWEAR This invention relates to the drying of footwear and has for its object the utilisation of heat from a radiator whilst avoiding any contact of the footwear with the radiator surface.

According to the present invention, a device for use in drying footwear comprises a downwardly extending hook portion, at least one depending portion extending from one side of the hook portion, at least one offset portion extending from the depending portion to the opposite side to the hook portion, and at least one upstanding portion on the end of the offset portion remote from the depending portion for engagement by any item of footwear.

Thus the device for use in drying footwear utilizes a radiator, the downwardly extending hook portion engaging over the top of a radiator such that the at least one downwardly extending portion lies alongside the outer face of the radiator to present the offset portion and its upstanding portion such that it can be engaged by a boot or shoe preferably with the toe of the boot or shoe facing uppermost.

The depending portion preferably extends below the offset portion and upstanding portion to such an extent as to ensure that an item of footwear engaged with the latter will not contact the radiator in the heel region of the uppers.

While a device according to the invention could merely have a single depending portion and a single offset portion and upstanding portion, so that a pair of such devices would be needed to support a pair of boots or shoes, it is preferred to have a modular device having two depending portions from a single hook but more desirably a pair of interconnected hook portions, each depending portion being provided with its own offset portion and upstanding portion, so that the modular device can receive a pair of boots or shoes.

The lower ends of the depending portions are preferably connected by a crossbar, which may incorporate a drip tray or an upwardly facing hook for supporting a drip tray or another similar modular device by its downward hook portion, possibly with a drip tray on the lower one.

One or more similar modular devices may be employed side-by-side upon a radiator of appropriate capacity width- wise, alternatively, or in addition to, one below another depending on the height of a radiator.

A device in accordance with the invention may be fabricated from metal sheet or plastics pieces, or may be moulded in one-piece in plastics.

The or each upstanding portion preferably has a profile conforming to the inside shape of the toe of footwear, and two or more different sizes of devices or upstanding may be provided to suit adult footwear and one or more sizes of childrens' footwear.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which is an isometric perspective view of a modular device in accordance with the invention.

In the drawing a modular device 1 comprises downwardly extending hook portions 2 interconnected by a crossbar 3. Secured to the crossbar are offset portions 4, 5 each having a respective upstanding portion 6, 7. Depending portions extend beyond the crossbar and its offset portions 8, 9 extend beyond the crossbar 3, and at the lower end of the depending portions 8, 9 a further crossbar 10 is provided to improve the stability of the modular device.

The crossbar 10 serves the secondary purpose of being a support for a drip tray 11 having hooks 12 to engage the crossbar 10.

Thus, with the modular device located on a radiator by its hook portions 2 engaging over the top of the radiator, the depending portions extend down the front of the radiator and contact the radiator such that the modular device is relatively securely attached to the radiator Boots or shoes (not shown) can be hung on the upstanding portions 6, 7 by presenting the boots or shoes to the upstanding portions with the boot or shoe toe uppermost and such that the upstanding portions lie within the respective boot or shoe.

As a result, and in the circumstance where the boots or shoes are exceedingly wet, the boots or shoes can be hung in close proximity to a radiator but not themselves contact the radiator, the drip tray can catch excess water draining from the boots or shoes, and the heat from the radiator applies a gently drying action to the boots or shoes, to dry them without causing damage to the boot or shoe material.

Claims

CLADS

1. A device for use in drying footwear comprising a downwardly extending hook portion, at least one depending portion extending from one side of the hook portion, at least one offset portion extending from the depending portion to the opposite side to the hook portion, and at least one upstanding portion on the end of the offset portion remote from the depending portion for engagement by any item of footwear.

2. A device for use in drying footwear utilising a radiator comprising a downward hook portion for engaging over the top of a radiator, at least one depending portion from one side of the hook portion, at least one offset from the depending portion facing oppositely to the hook portion, and at least one upstand on the end of the offset remote from the depending portion for engagement by an item of footwear with its toe pointing upwards.

3 A device as in Claim 1, wherein the downwardly extending hook portion is adapted to engage over the top of a radiator such that the at least one downwardly extending portion lies alongside the outer face of the radiator to present the offset portion and its upstanding portion such that it can be engaged by a boot or shoe.

4. A device as in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the depending portion extends below the offset ponion and upstanding portion to such an extent as to ensure that an item of footwear engaged xxith the latter will not contact the radiator in the heel region of the uppers.

5. A device as in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein there is provided a single depending portion and a single offset portion and upstanding portion, so that a pair of such devices is needed to support a pair of boots or shoes.

6. A device as in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein a modular device is provided having two depending portions from a single hook.

7. A device as in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein a modular device is provided having a pair of interconnected hook portions, each depending portion being provided with its own offset portion and upstanding portion, so that the modular device can receive a pair of boots or shoes.

8. A device as in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the lower ends of the depending portions are connected by a crossbar.

9. A device as in Claim 8, wherein the crossbar has secured thereto a drip tray or an upwardly facing hook for supporting a drip tray or another similar modular device by its downward hook portion.

10. A device as in any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the device is fabricated from metal sheet or plastics pieces, or is moulded in one-piece in plastics.

11. A device as in any of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the or each upstanding portion has a profile conforming to the inside shape of the toe of footwear, and two or more different sizes of devices or upstanding are provided to suit adult footwear and one or more sizes of childrens' footwear.

12. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.