Shoe rack and shoe rack kit

Abstract

A shoe rack includes a rigid frame and a net defining a plurality of openings. The net is attached to the rigid frame such that the net is supported by the rigid frame in a substantially planar configuration at an offset dimension from a support surface, the plurality of openings are configured to allow a shoe or pair of shoes to be at least partially positioned within each of the plurality of openings so that the net at least partially supports the shoe or pair of shoes relative to the support surface.

1 . A shoe rack comprising:
 a rigid frame; and   a net made of an elastic material defining a plurality of openings, the net being attached to the rigid frame such that the net can be supported by the rigid frame in a substantially planar configuration at an offset dimension from a support surface, the plurality of openings being configured to allow a shoe or pair of shoes to be at least partially positioned within each of the plurality of openings so that the full weight of the shoe or pair of shoes need not be supported by the net and the rigid frame alone but a percentage that is less than 100% of the full weight of the shoe or pair of shoes can be supported by the support surface via contact between the shoe or pair of shoes and the support surface.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe rack of  claim 1 , wherein the shoe rack being configured to allow a portion of weight of the shoe or pair of shoes to be supported by the support surface allows the net to be made with less elastic force than would be needed if the net were required to support the full weight of the shoe or pair of shoes. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe rack of  claim 1 , wherein the net remains in a stretched configuration while the net is attached to the rigid frame. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe rack of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings are deformable to conform to the shoe or pair of shoes when the shoe or pair of shoes is positioned within each of the openings of the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe rack of  claim 1 , wherein the shoe rack is configured to allow a percentage of weight of the shoe or pair of shoes positioned within the plurality of openings to be supported via contact between the shoe or pair of shoes and the support surface while the rigid frame is resting upon the support surface under the force of gravity alone. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe rack of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid frame includes a perimeter portion that defines a plane and the net is held parallel to the plane by the rigid frame. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe rack of  claim 6 , wherein the shoe rack is configured to orient the plane horizontally. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe rack of  claim 6 , wherein a standoff structure includes four legs, with each of the four legs being attached near a corner of the perimeter portion. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe rack of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic material is bungee cord. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe rack of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid frame measures between 12 inches by 12 inches and 12 inches by 48 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe rack of  claim 1 , wherein the shoe rack is configured such that the offset dimension measures between 4 and 10 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe rack of  claim 1 , wherein the planar configuration is about parallel to the support surface. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe rack of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid frame is tubular. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe rack of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings are substantially rectangular in shape when the net is in an unstretched configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe rack of  claim 3 , wherein the net is attached to the rigid frame with fasteners. 
     
     
         16 . A shoe arranging apparatus, comprising:
 a frame; and   a net being made of a fully elastic material being attachable to the frame in a stretched configuration such that the net is supported in a plane about horizontally at an offset dimension from a support surface relative to which the frame is configured to rest under the force of gravity alone, the net further being configured to at least partially support at least one shoe within each of a plurality of openings defined by the net such that one but no more than one part of the at least one shoe contacts the support surface.   
     
     
         17 . A shoe rack kit, comprising:
 a plurality of members configured to be assembled to form a rigid frame; and   a net made of an elastic material defining a plurality of openings, the net being attachable to the rigid frame such that the net can be supported by the frame in a substantially planar configuration and offset from a support surface, the plurality of openings being sized to allow a shoe or pair of shoes to be at least partially positioned within each of the plurality of openings so that a first percentage that is less than 100% of the full weight of the shoe or pair of shoes is supportable via contact between the shoe or pair of shoes and the support surface while the net and/or the rigid frame supports at least a second percentage that is less than 100% of the full weight of the shoe or pair of shoes.   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The shoe rack kit of  claim 17 , wherein the rigid frame is configured to rest upon the support surface under the force of gravity alone such that the planar configuration of the net is oriented about horizontally. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe rack kit of  claim 17 , wherein the elastic material is bungee cord.