ADJUSTABLE LEG FOOTWEAR ITEM

Abstract

An adjustable leg footwear item that is adjustable and cinchable relative to a leg of the wearer. The adjustable leg footwear item may include an outer sole made from a leather material, a rubber material, or a plastic material.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/442,134 filed on Feb. 11, 2011.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

This disclosure is protected under United States and International Copyright Laws. © 2012 Swootz. All Rights Reserved. A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure after formal publication by the U.S. Patent Office, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to an adjustable leg footwear item.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

FIGS. 1A-1D show an adjustable leg footwear item configured to adjust upward and downward according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

At least one embodiment of the present invention is generally directed to an adjustable leg footwear item that may be sized to fit infants, children, and adults. The adjustable leg footwear item may be made from a material that is adjustable and cinchable. The adjustable leg footwear item may further include an outer sole made from at least one of a leather material, a rubber material, a plastic material, or some other material that would adequately serve the function of an outer sole. For purposes of the description herein, the adjustable leg footwear item may also be referred to as a bootie-based footwear product.

The adjustable leg footwear item adjustable leg footwear item is configured to adjust upward and downward relative to the leg. By way of example, the adjustable leg footwear item may adjust from approximately just above the ankle to about the middle of the thigh. This adjustability range allows for a variety of aesthetic appearances, different levels of warmth, and different levels of protection from the elements.

In one embodiment, the adjustable leg footwear item is comprised of a fabric, which may take the form of a sweatshirt material, a fleece material, a terry cloth material, fur, flannel, wool, or some other material that would be comfortable against the skin of a wearer. The adjustable leg footwear item may be cinched at the top using an elastic string and a toggle clasp. Other cinching techniques and systems may also be employed such as, but not limited to, a sewn elastic band with snaps.

This design and cinching/tightening ability, along with the natural draping of the sweatshirt material, allows for the adjustable leg footwear item to be worn at a variety of different heights. For example, the top of the adjustable leg footwear item could be scrunched down to just above the ankle or it could be cinched in place at mid-calf height, just below the knee. The height of the adjustable leg footwear item may range from just above the ankle to about above the knee, and in some embodiments may extend to as high as the upper thigh.

By as of example, the adjustable leg footwear item may be pulled up to its highest point, which would allow for a majority of the leg to be protected from the elements. The wearer may have shorts or a skirt on when the weather changes and/or the temperature cools down. The wearer would be able to pull the adjustable leg footwear item all the way up for warmth.

The foot or bootie area of the adjustable leg footwear item is preferably assembled with two or more layers, which may take the form of art inner layer comprised of a fleece laminated leather lining and outer layer comprised of leather, sweatshirt fleece, or some other fabric. The heel and/or toe may be reinforced with a firm and durable material, which may take the form of a plastic material, a fiber reinforced composite material, or an elastomeric material that can assist in providing stability, structure and form for the adjustable leg footwear item. The insole may be constructed from a foam or rubber material, and then lined with a thin leather or other fabric. The outer sole may be constructed from a rubber material, a foam material, some other material that may adequately serve the function of an outer sole.

The adjustable leg footwear item may advantageously be easy to put on and remove for the wearer or a parent or caregiver of the wearer, eliminate the necessity to pack a pair of pants if initially wearing a non-leg covering clothing apparel item, easily washable, and be configured in various styles that would be attractive to both males and females.

The adjustable leg footwear item may include a zipper, buttons, a hook and loop fastening system such as a VELCRO® fastening system, grommets, laces, some other fastening system, or any combination thereof that rims from the ankle area to the top of the adjustable leg footwear item. The fastening system may be located on any side of the adjustable leg footwear item. There may be grommets that run from the ankle area of the boot all the way to the top of the adjustable leg footwear item.

The adjustable leg footwear items could be interchangeable, allowing for the wearer to attach any color, design, or pattern to the adjustable leg footwear item. The adjustable leg footwear item may be detachable near the ankle area.

There may be an additional length of material at the top of the adjustable leg footwear item, attached near and/or at the cinch line, that has a pattern and/or color on the inside that is either the same and/or different than the pattern and/or color of the other parts of the boot and/or adjustable leg footwear items. This additional length of material may be draped on the inside of the adjustable leg footwear item when it is not being shown. It can be draped over the outside of the adjustable leg footwear item when it is being shown. The inside of the adjustable leg footwear item may have additional layering of material for further insulation and or warmth. This layering could be additional sweatshirt fleece material and/or any other type of fabric (e.g., furs, terry cloth, fleece, flannel, etc.). This additional layer can be permanently affixed to the adjustable leg footwear item (i.e., part of the actual product) and/or detachable from the adjustable leg footwear item. There may be a pocket or pockets on the inside or outside of the boots. There may be a high or platform heel.

There may be an embodiment that encases the outer sole—with a fabric material tor an indoor “slipper bootie” version. This fabric would then be considered the outer sole lining.

In another embodiment the sole may be below the sweatshirt fabric and stitched/adhered to the foot of the boot.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.

Claims

1. An adjustable leg footwear item comprising:

a fabric; and

a sole overlaying the fabric, wherein the fabric is adjustable relative to a leg of the wearer from a range of about proximate the ankle to proximate a region on the thigh.

2. The adjustable leg footwear item of claim 1, wherein the fabric is a sweatshirt fabric.

3. The adjustable leg footwear item of claim 1, wherein the fabric is a sweatshirt fabric.

4. The adjustable leg footwear item of claim 1, wherein the region on the thigh includes an upper portion of the thigh.

5. The adjustable leg footwear item of claim 1, wherein the region on the thigh includes a lower portion of the thigh.

6. The adjustable leg footwear item of claim 1, wherein the fabric is cinchable.

7. The adjustable leg footwear item of claim 1, wherein the sole is made from a leather material.

8. The adjustable leg footwear item of claim 1, wherein the sole is made from a rubber material.

9. The adjustable leg footwear item of claim 1, wherein the sole is made from a plastic material.