Footwear donning assistance device
OwnerMelvin T. Wilkersoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims21
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.
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.