Boot & spur combination

Abstract

A boot includes a heel with a rear side having embedded therein one component of a two-component coupling member. A detachable spur has a distal end with a barb element thereat and a proximal end with a second component of the two-component coupling member. The second component is detachably connected to the one component, with the distal end projecting outward from the heel to position the barb element for use while riding.

Description

RELATED PATENT APPLICATION & INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0001] This application is a utility application based on U.S. provisional patent application Serial No. 60/371,512 entitled “Boot & Spur Combination,” filed Apr. 10, 2002. This related application is incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this application. If any conflict arises between the disclosure of the invention in this utility application and that in the related provisional application, the disclosure in this utility application shall govern. Moreover, the inventor incorporates herein by reference any and all U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents cited or referred to in this application or cited or referred to in the U.S. patents and U.S. patent applications incorporated herein by reference.

DEFINITIONS

[0002] The words “comprising,” “having,” and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0003] Cowboy and other types of boots have a raised heel, typically at least 1.0 inches high, that allows a rider wearing such boots to grasp a stirrup with the boot heel when riding, for example, a horse. When riding, spurs are frequently used. These spurs usually employ a U-shaped collar that has a strap between an open mouth of the collar. A shank extends outward from a central portion of the collar and it has at its distal end mounted to rotate a raul or barb element. Upon attaching a spur to a boot heel, the U-shaped collar partially encompasses the rear side of the upper portion of the heel, typically at or nearby the junction between the heel and the upper leg section of the boot. The spur thus projects outwardly and centrally from the rear side of the heel, typically at least about an inch above the bottom of the heel. Spurs using the U-shaped collars are relatively large and bulky and are stored separately from the boot, and must be retrieved from a remote storage location when needed.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0004] This invention, with its several desirable features, is defined in the claims that follow. After reading the following section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THIS INVENTION,” one skilled in the art will understand the benefits this invention provides. These benefits include, but are not limited to: (a) convenience of storage of spurs ready for use without the need to retrieve from a remote location, (b) a novel way to promote the brand name or trademark of a boot manufacturer, and (c) an easy way to attach and detach a spur to a boot.

[0005] Without limiting the scope of this invention as expressed by the claims that follow, some, but not necessarily all, of its features are:

[0006] One, a boot of this invention includes a heel having one component of a two-component coupling member. This one component is adapted to interact with a second component of the coupling member attached to a spur. The heel has a rear side and the one component of the two-component coupling member may be embedded therein. The spur is detachable spur, with the second component of the two-component coupling member being at a proximal end of the spur. Typically, the heel has a height of at least about 1.0 inches, usually ranging height from about 1.0 inches to about 4.5 inches, and the one component is at least about 0.75 inch from a bottom of the heel.

[0007] Two, the detachable spur has a distal end with a barb element thereat. The second component is detachably connected to the one component so the distal end projects outward from the heel to position the barb element for use while riding. The boot may include a storage compartment that holds the detachable spur when not connected to the heel. The spur typically has a length from about 2.5 to about 4 inches. The barb may be rotatably mounted and may be in the shape of a trademark logo.

[0008] Three, the one component may be along a central plane that bisects the boot between a toe of the boot and the heel of the boot. The spur may have a shank between the proximal end and distal end. This shank may have at least a portion thereof lying along the central plane that bisects the boot between the toe and heel. The shank may be bent at an intermediate point between the distal end and proximal end, causing the distal end to be elevated relative to the proximal end with the spur connected to the heel. The shank may include an enlarged stop member nearby the proximal end that abuts the heel upon connecting the spur to the heel.

[0009] Four, a cap member may be detachably connected to the one component when the spur has been detached, said cap member being in view on an exterior surface of the rear side of the heel. The cap member may have an exterior surface bearing a trademark.

[0010] These features are not listed in any rank order nor is this list intended to be exhaustive.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

[0011] The preferred embodiments of this invention, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. These embodiments depict the novel and non-obvious boot and spur combination of this invention as shown in the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only. These drawings includes the following figures (Figs.), with like numerals indicating like parts:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the boot of this invention showing a spur used with the boot removed from a storage compartment on the boot for the spur.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the heel of the boot of this invention taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing a removable cap covering an open end of one component of a two-component coupling used in this invention.

[0014] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view of the heel of the boot of this invention taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

[0015] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the heel of the boot of this invention similar to that of FIG. 3 but with the cap removed and the spur of this invention connected to the boot heel.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the heel of the boot of this invention taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3A.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the boot of this invention showing a storage compartment on the boot on the outside surface of the upper leg portion of the boot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THIS INVENTION

[0018] This invention is a unique combination of a distinctively designed heel 10 of a boot 12 and a distinctively designed detachable spur 14, each including one component of a two-component coupling 16. As best shown in FIGS. 3A and 4, the two-component coupling 16 comprises a male component 16a on the proximal end 14a of the spur 14 and a female component 16b in the heel 10. The heel 10 has a height of at least 1.0 inches, and typically has a height from 1.0 inches to 4.5 inches. The spur 14 typically has a length L from 2.5 to 4 inches. The female component 16b is nearby, preferably as close as practically possible, the junction J between the heel and the upper leg section 12a of the boot 12 a distance d (FIG. 1) of at least about 0.75 inch from a bottom 10b of the heel 10.

[0019] The spur 14 has shank 20 that extends between the spur's distal end 14a and proximal end 14b. The shank 20 is bent at an intermediate point p′ between the distal end 14a and proximal end 14b, causing the distal end of the spur 14 to be elevated relative to its proximal end upon connecting the spur 14 to the heel 10 as shown in FIG. 3A. An enlarged stop member 40 integral with the shank 20 and positioned along the shank 20 between the point p′ and the proximal end 14b abuts the heel 10 upon connecting the spur 14 to the heel. There is a raul or barb element 22 at the distal end 14a that optionally is in the shape or configuration of a trademark logo of the boot manufacturer. This barb element 22 is mounted on a shaft 24 that is seated in a yoke 26 at the distal end 14a to enable the barb element to rotate.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the boot 12 has sewed to an inside surface S1 of its upper leg section 12a a pocket 28 with a flap 30 (shown in the uncovered position) that covers and uncovers an open upper end 28a of the pocket. The pocket 28 may be located on other parts of the boot 12, for example, in an alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the pocket 28 is on an outside surface S2 of its upper leg section 12a. The pocket 28 provides a convenient storage compartment for the spur 14 when the spur is not being used. A conventional snap connector 32 is used to hold the flap 30 closed as shown in FIG. 5, with one connector element A on the flap and the other connector element B along the upper edge 28b (FIG. 1) of the pocket 28.

[0021] There is a central reference plane P bisecting the boot 12 between the boot's toe 18 and heel 10. The spur 14, including the male component 16a, and the female component 16b lie along this plane P when the spur is connected to the heel 10. The female component 16b is embedded in a rear side 11 of the heel and has its longitudinal axis X (FIG. 3) within the plane P. The male component 16a is at the proximal end 14a of the spur 14 and has its longitudinal axis Y (FIG. 1) within the plane P when the male component is connected to the female component 16b as shown in FIGS. 3A and 4. As best shown in FIG. 4, the central reference plane P bisects the spur 14 when it is attached to the heel 10.

[0022] The two-component coupling 16 may have several different configurations, for example, it may be a quick connect and disconnect coupling typically used with hose connections or simply be a screw type coupling 16 as depicted in FIGS. 3A and 4. In this example, the female component 16b comprises a cylinder 34 having an internal threaded side wall 34a with a closed bottom 36 and an open mouth 38. The open mouth 38 is substantially flush with the rear surface 11a of the rear side 11 of the heel 10. The male component 16a is formed by threading the proximal end 14b of the spur 14.

[0023] The threaded end forming the male component 16a enables the spur 14 to be detachably connected to the heel 10 by manually screwing the male component 16a into the female component 16b with the spur oriented as shown in FIG. 3A so that the distal end 14a is elevated above the proximal end 14b and the stop member 40 abuts the heel 10. The spur 14 is easily detached by unscrewing the male component 16a from the female component 16b and storing the spur in the pocket 28.

[0024] When the spur 14 is detached and stored in the pocket 28, a cap 42 is detachably connected to the female component 16b. It has a head end 42a and a threaded end 42b that is screwed into the open mouth 38 of the female component 16b, with its exposed head end abutting the exterior surface 11a of the rear side 11 of the heel 10. When disconnected, the cap member is stored in the pocket 28. The head end 42a of the cap 42 is exposed so that its exterior surface 42c may be in viewed. This exterior surface 42c preferably carries a trademark of the boot manufacturer.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The above presents a description of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the present invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use this invention. This invention is, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from that discussed above which are fully equivalent. Consequently, it is not the intention to limit this invention to the particular embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of the invention as generally expressed by the following claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of the invention:

Claims

1. A boot comprising

a heel with a rear side having embedded therein one component of a two-component coupling member, and

a detachable spur having a distal end with a barb element thereat and a proximal end with a second component of said two-component coupling member,

said second component being adapted to be detachably connected to the one component with the distal end projecting outward from the heel to position the barb element for use while riding.

2. The boot of claim 1 where the one component is along a central plane that bisects the boot between a toe of the boot and the heel of the boot.

3. The boot of claim 2 where the spur has a shank between the proximal end and distal end, said shank having at least a portion thereof lying along the central plane that bisects the boot between the toe and heel.

4. The boot of claim 3 where the shank is bent at an intermediate point between the distal end and proximal end, causing the distal end to be elevated relative to the proximal end with the spur connected to the heel.

5. The boot of claim 3 where the shank includes an enlarged stop member nearby the proximal end that abuts the heel upon connecting the spur to the heel.

6. The boot of claim 1 including a storage compartment that holds the detachable spur when not connected to the heel.

7. The boot of claim 1 including a cap member that is detachably connected to the one component when the spur has been detached, said cap member being in view on an exterior surface of the rear side of the heel.

8. The boot of claim 7 where the cap member has an exterior surface bearing a trademark.

9. The boot of claim 1 where the heel has a height of at least 1.0 inches and the one component is at least 0.75 inch from a bottom of the heel.

10. The boot of claim 1 where the heel has a height from 1.0 inches to 4.5 inches.

11. The boot of claim 1 where the spur has a length from 2.5 to 4 inches.

12. The boot of claim 1 where the barb is rotatably mounted and is in the shape of a trademark logo.

13. A boot comprising a heel having one component of a two-component coupling member, said one component being adapted to interact with a second component of the coupling member attached to a spur.

14. A spur comprising a shank with a distal end having thereat a barb element and a proximal end having thereat one component of a two-component coupling member, said one component being adapted to interact with a second component of the coupling member in a heel of a boot.

15. A boot in which a central plane bisects the boot between a toe of the boot and a heel of the boot, said boot including

one component of a two-component coupling member, said one component being embedded in a rear side of the heel and lying along said central plane, and

a detachable spur having an elongated shank with a distal end having a barb element rotatably mounted thereat and a proximal end with a second component of said two-component coupling member,

said second component being adapted to be detachably connected to the one component to position the spur relative to the heel so that at least a portion of the shank is along said central plane with the barb element projecting outward from the heel to position said barb element for use while riding.

16. The boot of claim 15 where the shank

(a) is bent at an intermediate point between the distal end and proximal end, causing the distal end to be elevated relative to the proximal end upon connecting the spur to the heel, and includes

(b) an enlarged stop member nearby, the proximal end that abuts the heel upon connecting the spur to the heel.

17. The boot of claim 15 including a storage compartment for holding the detachable spur when not connected to the heel.

18. The boot of claim 15 where the heel has a height from 1.0 inches to 4.5 inches, and the spur has a length from 2.5 to 4 inches.

19. A boot including

a raised heel having a height of at least 1.0 inches, and

a detachable spur having at one end a barb element and at another end a first coupling element that is detachably connected to a second coupling element in a rear side of the heel, said spur projecting rearwardly outward from the heel to position the barb element for use while riding.

20. The boot of claim 19 where the spur and coupling elements are disposed along a central plane that bisects the boot between a toe of the boot and the heel of the boot.