BOOT ASSEMBLY
A boot assembly for use with a dry suit includes an external boot assembly and a dual-layered insert. The external boot comprises a reinforced upper portion and a back portion having a reinforced outside surface and an inside surface. The boot is connected to a pant leg by a top connecting cuff. The dual-layered insert comprises an inner fabric sock for over-foot wear and a waterproof outer elastomeric sock for nesting in the inner fabric sock in a water-tight manner.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/106,574 filed in the USPTO on Oct. 18, 2009.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to the field of boots, shoes and leggings and more particularly to a boot assembly used in diving.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDiving boots are often fixed to diving pants in a permanent combination. The diving boot will often experience greater wear than the pant because it is the base upon which diver stands. Furthermore, the diver will be placing fins on and off the boot which will cause additional wear. In situations where the boots are permanently fixed to the diving pant leggings, the boots cannot be replaced without cutting them off of the pant leggings and fixing a new pair of boots to the pant leggings. This is a costly and time-consuming process. Additional problems arise in trying to find a set of new boots of the proper size for the diver. Therefore, there is a continuing need for a diving boot assembly that can be used as replacements for worn boots and come in a size that is adaptable to most divers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTo overcome the deficiencies in the prior art and to provide a boot assembly for use with a dry suit comprising an outer pant and an inner pant my invention comprises a boot assembly comprising an external boot assembly and a dual-layered insert. The external boot comprises a reinforced upper portion and a back portion having a reinforced outside surface and an inside surface. The external boot has a durable outer sole, an inner sole, a reinforced outer heel portion and an inner heel. The boot is connected to a pant leg by a top connecting cuff. The dual-layered insert comprises an inner fabric sock for over-foot wear and a waterproof outer elastomeric sock for nesting in the inner fabric sock in a water-tight manner. The waterproof outer elastomeric sock includes a cuff connected to the dry suit inner pant leg bottom cuff creating a water-tight seal between the waterproof outer elastomeric sock and the dry suit inner pant leg bottom cuff so that said inner fabric sock remains dry when the assembly is submerged in water. In one embodiment of the invention the outer sock is sewn to the pant cuff. In another embodiment of the invention a temporary connection can be used such as one of a hook and loop connection means; a zipper, a magnetic connection or a quick disconnect ring-seal. In one embodiment of the invention, the outer elastomeric sock nests within the external boot and creates an intermittent void between them. This void is water filled when the boot assembly is submerged.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuring description and drawings.
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In one embodiment of the invention second connection means 50 comprises a permanent sewn connection. In another embodiment of the invention second connection means comprises a temporary connection comprising one of a hook and loop connection means, a zipper, a magnetic seal or a quick disconnect ring-seal. Other connections means can be used as long as they are suitable for underwater use.
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In one embodiment of the invention the outer elastomeric sock 46 and the external boot 15 are temporarily fixed together by fixing means. In one embodiment of the invention the temporary fixing means comprises a hook and loop fastening system. For example, in
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In one embodiment of the invention the external boot further includes a tightening strap 16 on the outer surface thereof for constricting the upper portion.
In another embodiment of the invention there is contemplated a boot assembly for wearing as an all weather boot, winter boot or fishing boot. In this embodiment there is a boot assembly comprising an external boot comprising a reinforced upper portion and a back portion having a reinforced outside surface and an inside surface. The boot has a durable outer sole and an inner sole, a reinforced outer heel portion and an inner heel. The boot further has a top connecting cuff for connection by connection means to a dual-layered insert. The dual layer insert comprises an inner fabric sock for over-foot wear and a waterproof outer elastomeric sock for nesting the inner fabric sock in a water-tight manner. The waterproof outer elastomeric sock includes a cuff connected by connection means to the external boot thereby affording a water-tight seal between the external boot and the outer elastomeric sock.
Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the present preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.
Claims
1. A boot assembly for use with a dry suit, said dry suit comprising an outer pant and an inner pant, said assembly comprising:
- a. An external boot comprising: i. A reinforced upper portion and a back portion having a reinforced outside surface and an inside surface; ii. a durable outer sole and an inner sole; iii. a reinforced outer heel portion and an inner heel; and, iv. a top connecting cuff for connection by first connection means to said dry suit outer pant leg bottom cuff; and,
- b. a dual-layered insert comprising: i. An inner fabric sock for over-foot wear; ii. A waterproof outer elastomeric sock for nesting said inner fabric sock in a water-tight manner; iii. Wherein said waterproof outer elastomeric sock includes a cuff connected by second connection means to said dry suit inner pant leg bottom cuff; and, iv. Wherein said second connection means affords a water-tight seal between the waterproof outer elastomeric sock and the dry suit inner pant leg bottom cuff so that said inner fabric sock remains dry when the assembly is submerged in water.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said first connection means comprises a permanent sewn connection
3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said first connection means comprises a temporary connection means comprising one of a hook and loop connection means; a zipper, a magnetic connection or a quick disconnect ring-seal.
4. The assembly of claim 1 and claim 2 wherein the second connection means comprises a permanent sewn connection.
5. The assembly of claim 1 and claim 2 wherein the second connection means comprises a temporary connection comprising one of a hook and loop connection means, a zipper, a magnetic seal or a quick disconnect ring-seal.
6. The assembly of claims 1 to 5 wherein the outer elastomeric sock conforms substantially to the shape of the waterproof external boot.
7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the outer elastomeric sock nested within the external boot creates an intermittent void between them, and wherein said intermittent void is water filled when the assembly is submerged.
8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the external boot comprises at least one drainage hole proximate to said durable sole portion thereof, said at least one drainage hole adapted for draining said water from the intermittent void when the assembly is removed from water.
9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the outer elastomeric sock comprises a cuff, a heel having an outside surface, a back panel having an outside surface, a gusset, a sole having an outside surface, a toe and an instep.
10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the outer elastomeric sock and the external boot are temporarily fixed together by fixing means.
11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said temporary fixing means comprises a hooks and loops fastening system.
12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said external boot inner sole is covered in said hooks and said outer elastomeric sock outside surface is covered in said loops from said heel to said toe.
13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein said inside surface of said external boot back portion includes a strip of hooks running from the cuff to the heel and wherein said back panel outside surface of the outer elastomeric sock includes a strip of loops running from the cuff of the outer elastomeric sock to the heel of the outer elastomeric sock.
14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the outer elastomeric sock is inserted into the external boot so that the hooks on the boot and the loops on the elastomeric sock mesh to hold the elastomeric sock to the boot.
15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said external boot top connecting cuff first connection means comprises a circumferential outer ring of hooks and a plurality of tabs spaced radially around the connecting cuff, wherein each of said tabs has an inside surface comprising fastening hooks and a clean outside surface.
16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the dry suit outer leg bottom cuff comprises a circumferential ring of loops disposed on the dry suit bottom cuff inside and outside surfaces.
17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein said circumferential ring of loops inside surface meshes with said outer ring of hooks and wherein said circumferential ring of loops outside surface meshes with said inside surfaces of the plurality of tabs thereby creating a temporary connection.
18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer elastomeric sock includes a stiffening insole inserted therein so that the sole of the outer elastomeric sock will engage the adjacent inside surfaces of the external boot and provide resistance to lifting of the elastomeric sock within the external boot.
19. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the external boot further includes a tightening strap on the outer surface thereof for constricting said upper portion.
20. A boot assembly comprising:
- a. An external boot comprising: i. A reinforced upper portion and a back portion having a reinforced outside surface and an inside surface; ii. a durable outer sole and an inner sole; iii. a reinforced outer heel portion and an inner heel; and, iv. a top connecting cuff for connection by connection means to;
- b. a dual-layered insert comprising: i. An inner fabric sock for over-foot wear; ii. A waterproof outer elastomeric sock for nesting said inner fabric sock in a water-tight manner; iii. Wherein said waterproof outer elastomeric sock includes a cuff connected by said connection means to said external boot thereby affording a water-tight seal between the external boot and said outer elastomeric sock.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 20, 2009
Publication Date: Apr 21, 2011
Inventor: RICHARD KERR MYERSCOUGH (Victoria)
Application Number: 12/581,882
International Classification: A43B 17/00 (20060101); A43B 13/38 (20060101); A43B 13/00 (20060101); A43C 11/00 (20060101);