BOOT
Amongst other things, a boot is provided having a foot portion for enclosing the foot of a user and a leg portion having a substantially circular cross-section and extending upwardly from the foot portion. A first strap portion is affixed to one or the foot portion and the leg portion, and extends more than 180° around the perimeter of the leg portion in a first circumferential direction. A second strap portion is affixed to one of the foot portion and the leg portion, and extends around the perimeter of the leg portion in a second circumferential direction substantially opposite to the first circumferential direction, to meet the first strap portion. A fastening means is provided for releasably joining the first and second strap portions in circumferentially adjustable relation, to cinch the strap portions around the perimeter of the leg portion in conjoined relation.
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The present invention relates generally to the field of footwear and, more specifically to an improved boot having strap portions adapted to be easily cinched around the leg portion of the boot,
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA snug fit around the leg of a user is essential in many footwear applications. This is particularly so with respect to boots which extend up the leg of a user well beyond ankle level. It is highly desirable in such instances to adjust the cross-sectional area (i.e., in a transverse plane of the leg portion of the boot) in order to achieve a snug fit around the leg of the user. Such a snug fit contributes not only to the comfort of the user, but also serves to resist entry of cold ambient air and foreign materials, such as snow, into the interior of the boot. As such, boot designs often require some means of cinching the leg portion of a boot around the leg of the user. Traditional means have included, for example, laces and straps. Laces are, of course, very well known in the art and require little further description. With more particular reference to straps, prior art designs have included a plurality of straps positioned at different locations on the boot in order to enable a user to snugly fit the boot to his or her leg via independent adjustment of each of the straps. It is desirable for a user to be able to quickly and easily adjust the fit of each of his or her boots around each of his or her legs, particularly in situations where the ambient temperature is below freezing temperature (i.e., below 0° C. or 32° F.) (hereinafter referenced in this specification and claims as “low-temperature environments”). Other means of achieving a tight fit, including the use of conventional hook and loop fasteners, often require the release of the fastening means prior to cinching and re-engagement of same in order to cinch the fastening means about the boot. Such additional steps are not only unnecessarily cumbersome, tedious and time consuming, but can be uncomfortable for the user when carried out in low-temperature environments.
Prior art boots including straps and laces, such as those mentioned hereinabove, also often require the use of both hands of the user (or the person altering the fit of the boot around the leg of a user) in order to effect changes in the fit of the boot, or require multiple adjustments using a single hand. Furthermore, a higher level of dexterity is often required than is possible while wearing gloves and/or mittens, as would be the case in low-temperature environments.
Accordingly, there exists an ongoing need for a boot providing a means of quickly and easily adjusting the fit of same about the leg of a user, particularly one which can be adjusted with the use of a single hand of the user while gloved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAmongst other things, the present invention allows for the adjustment of the fit of a boot around the leg of a user in a novel and unobvious manner by providing a boot having strap portions adapted to be easily cinched around the perimeter of same.
Accordingly, the present invention provides, amongst other things, a boot comprising a foot portion for enclosing the foot of a user and a flexible leg portion for enclosing the leg or a user and having a substantially circular cross-section, with the leg portion extending upwardly from the foot portion. The boot further comprises a first strap portion having a first end and a second end, and being affixed adjacent its first end to one of the foot portion and the leg portion at a first point of origin, and extending more than 180° from the first point of origin around the perimeter of the leg portion in a first circumferential direction. The boot further comprises a second strap portion having a first end and a second end, and being affixed adjacent its first end to one of the foot portion and the leg portion at a second point of origin, and extending from the second point of origin around the perimeter of the leg portion in a second circumferential direction, substantially opposite to the first circumferential direction, to meet the first strap portion adjacent its second end. The boot further comprises a fastening means for releasably joining the first strap portion to the second strap portion in circumferentially adjustable relation to cinch the first and second strap portions around the perimeter of the leg portion in conjoined relation.
It is an object of this invention to obviate or mitigate at least one of the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described hereinbelow.
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which but a single embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:
Referring now to
The boot 10 further comprises a first strap portion 16 having a first end 16a and a second end 16b, which first strap portion 16 may be affixed adjacent its first end 16a to one of ne foot portion 12 and the leg portion 14 at a first point of origin 18. As shown in
The boot 10 further comprises a second strap portion 20, shown
The boot 10 further comprises a fastening means 24 for releasably joining the first strap portion 16 to the second strap portion 20, when they meet as described hereinabove. The strap portions 16, 20 are so joined by the fastening means 24 in circumferentially adjustable relation, so as to allow for cinching of the conjoined strap portions 16, 20 around the perimeter of the leg portion 14. The effects of such cinching on the cross-sectional area of the leg cavity 15 will be apparent from a comparison of
While the pair of matable fastening portions 26 are shown in the Figures to comprise a female buckle member 28 having two or more detent openings 32 formed therein and a male buckle member 30 having two or more spring detents 34 formed thereon for lockably mating with respective ones of the detent openings 32, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that various other fastening means could be employed with similar utility in embodiments of the present invention. For example, the pair of fastening portions 26 may comprise a simple loop mounted on one of the strap portions 16 and 20 with matable hook and loop portions (such as those marketed under the Velcro® trademark by Velcro U.S.A. Inc. of Manchester , N.H., U.S.A.) mounted on the other of the strap portions 16 and 20 in spaced relation adjacent its respective second end 16b or 20b. With such an optional arrangement, the second end with the hook and loop portions is slid through the aforesaid simple loop and folded back upon itself in adjustable relation (not shown). Returning to the exemplary embodiment shown in the Figures, a commercially available fastening means 24 such as that shown is the World Side-release Buckle (available from ITW Nexus, of Des Plaines, Ill., U.S.A.). As best shown in
The fastening means 24 further comprises a restrainment member 38 oriented, as shown in
As seen in
As seen in EIGS. 3A, and 3B, the pair of fastening portions 26 may preferably, but need not necessarily, engage one another at a location 54 on a portion of the perimeter adjacent to an outer half of the leg of the user. This location 54 may preferably, but need not necessarily, be less distant from the common point of origin 23 than from a guide loop 52, as seen in
The boot 10 further comprises one or more bands 50, best seen in
In use, a user may insert his or her foot into the leg cavity 15 of the boot 10. The pair of fastening portions 26 may be attached to one another (preferably within a dwelling or other warm environment where gloves or mittens are not needed) prior to insertion of the foot (as seen in
Once the foot is inserted and the fastening portions 26 are engaged, the user may then cinch the strap portions 16 and 20 about the perimeter of the boot 10 by pulling on the second end 16b of the first strap portion 16 in the direction of arrow “C” of
To uncinch the strap portions 16 and 20, either for the purpose of removal of the boot, or merely to adjust the fit of same, the user may outwardly angle the fastening means 24 with relation to the medial plane of the leg portion 14. To achieve such a configuration (not shown), the male buckle member 30 would be pulled outwardly in the direction of arrow “D” of
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, in order to remove his or her foot from the boot 10, the user need not disengage the pair of fastening portions 26. He or she need only uncinch the strap portions 16, 20 to a point whereat he or she is able to remove his or her foot from the boot 10. In order to remove his or her foot from the boot 10, the user may alternatively disengage the fastening portions 26, if he or she so chooses, in addition to, or in place of, uncinching the strap portions 16, 20. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the Figures, such disengagement may be achieved by depressing both spring detents 34 toward one another, and then pulling apart the male 30 and female 28 buckle members. The tension in the conjoined strap portions 16 and 20 generated during the previous cinching operation may be sufficient to pull apart the fastening portions 26 (if they have not already been disengaged by the user) once the spring detents 34 are so depressed.
Other modifications and alterations may be utilized in the design and manufacture of other embodiments according to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is limited only by the accompanying claims. For example, in embodiments of the present invention having leg portions which extend above the knee of the user, additional strap portions (and accompanying fastening means) may be included in configurations similar to that described herein with respect to the first and second strap portions. In such embodiments, more than two strap portions could meet at a single fastening means, or a bank comprising a plurality of same.
The boot 10 may alternatively be constructed as a unitary piece (not shown), rather than as having the separate foot 12 and leg portions 14 shown in the Figures.
Claims
1. A boot comprising:
- a foot portion for enclosing the foot of a user;
- a flexible leg portion having a substantially circular cross-section and extending upwardly from said foot portion;
- a first strap portion having a first end and a second end, and being affixed adjacent said first end to one of said foot portion and said leg portion at a first point of origin, and extending more than 180° from said first point of origin around the perimeter of said leg portion in a first circumferential direction;
- a second strap portion having a first end and a second end, and being affixed adjacent said first end to one of said foot portion and said leg portion at a second point of origin, and extending from said second point of origin around the perimeter of said leg portion in a second circumferential direction substantially opposite to said first circumferential direction, to meet said first strap portion adjacent its second end;
- a fastening means for releasably joining said first strap portion to said second strap portion in circumferentially adjustable relation to cinch said first and second strap portions around the perimeter of said leg portion in conjoined relation.
2. A boot according to claim 1, wherein said first point of origin is located on said leg portion.
3. A boot according to claim 2, wherein said second point of origin is located on said leg portion.
4. A boot according to claim 3, wherein said first point of origin and said second point of origin are both located at a common point of origin.
5. A boot according to claim 4, wherein said common point of origin is anteriorly positioned in substantial alignment with a medial plane of said leg portion.
6. A boot according to claim 5, wherein said second strap portion extends more than 180° around the perimeter of said leg portion from said second point of origin in said second circumferential direction to meet said first strap portion adjacent its second end.
7. A boot according to claim 6, wherein one or more bands are mounted on the perimeter of said leg portion so as to define one or more guide loops for passage of one or more of said first strap portion and said second strap portion between said bands and said leg portion.
8. A boot according to claim 7, wherein one or more of said guide loops are substantially vertically oriented on said leg portion.
9. A boot according to claim 8, wherein one or more of said guide loops are posteriorly positioned in substantial alignment with said medial plane of said leg portion.
10. A boot according to claim 9, wherein said first strap portion and said second strap portion pass through a common one of said guide loops.
11. A boot according to claim 10, wherein said fastening means comprises a pair of matable fastening portions with a respective one of said pair each being mounted on said first strap portion and said second strap portion so as to be in releasably attachable relation to one another.
12. A boot according to claim 11, wherein one or both of said pair of fastening portions further comprises one or more cross members mounted thereon, and wherein one of said first strap portion and said second strap portion is frictionally engagable with said cross member in slidably adjustable relation therearound.
13. A boot according to claim 12, wherein one of said first strap portion and said second strap portion is frictionally engagable with a first one of said pair of fastening portions and the other of said first strap portion and said second strap portion is attached in non-adjustable relation to the other of said pair of fastening portions.
14. A boot according to claim 13, wherein said fastening means further comprises a restrainment member oriented in substantially parallel relation to each of said cross members, and wherein the respective one of said first strap portion and said second strap portion that is frictionally engagable with said cross member is also frictionally engagable in seriatum with said restrainment member.
15. A boot according to claim 14, wherein the second end of said cone of said first strap portion and said second strap portion is passed through a first slot defined adjacent the cross member of said first one of said pair of fastening portions and wrapped around said cross member and passed through a second slot defined between the cross member and the restrainment member of said first one of said fastening portions, such that said first and second strap portions may, when conjoined, be cinched around the perimeter of said leg portion by pulling on said second end of said one of said first strap portion and said second strap portion.
16. A boot according to claim 15, wherein said pair of matable fastening portions comprises a female buckle member having two or more detent openings formed therein and a male buckle member with two or more spring detents formed thereon for lockably mating with respective ones of said detent openings.
17. A boot according to claim 16, wherein said first one of said pair of fastening portions comprises said male buckle member and said mating second one of said fastening portions comprises said female buckle member.
18. A boot according to claim 17, wherein said first slot is proximal to said spring detents and said second slot is distal to said spring detents.
19. A boot according to claim 18, wherein one or more edges of said restrainment member are angled to grippingly engage said one of said first strap portion and said second strap portion so as to resist said first and second strap portions against uncinching around the perimeter of the leg portion.
20. A boot according to claim 19, wherein said one of said first strap portion and said second strap portion comprises said first strap portion.
21. A boot according to claim 20, wherein said pair of fastening portions engages one another at a location on a potion of said perimeter adjacent to an outer half of the leg of the user.
22. A boot according to claim 21, wherein said location is less distant from said common point of origin than from said guide loops posteriorly positioned in substantial alignment with said medical plane.
23. A boot according to claim 22, wherein said second strap portion is affixed adjacent its second end to said cross member of said female buckle member.
24. A boot according to claim 23, wherein a gripping member is affixed to said first strap portion adjacent its second and for facilitating said pulling.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 22, 2006
Publication Date: Dec 27, 2007
Applicant: Baffin Inc. (Stoney Creek)
Inventor: Paul Hubner (Burlington)
Application Number: 11/425,953